Ireland and the Making of America

In this special bonus episode, co-hosts Liam Kennedy, Scott Lucas and producer Michelle May look back on Ireland and the Making of America, reflecting on the moments that surprised them most, the themes that connected every conversation, and why these stories matter in the era of America 250.

From the Scots-Irish on the frontier to Hollywood, politics, literature, sport and identity, they revisit the insights that challenged familiar narratives and ask what the Irish-American story still has to teach us about belonging, migration and the future.

For more than a century, Irish actors, directors and filmmakers have helped shape Hollywood, both on screen and behind the camera. In this episode, film historian Ruth Barton (Professor in Film Studies at Trinity College Dublin) traces the Irish influence on American cinema - from silent-film pioneer Rex Ingram and John Ford's iconic westerns to today's Oscar-winning generation of Irish actors.

Along the way, she explores how Hollywood created enduring images of Irishness. From the feisty Colleen and the Irish cop to modern stars like Cillian Murphy, Saoirse Ronan and Barry Keoghan - and asks what those changing portrayals reveal about the evolving Irish-American story.

Sport became one of the most important ways Irish immigrants connected with one another, maintained ties to home and found their place in American society. In this episode, historian Mike Cronin (Academic Director of Boston College in Ireland) explores the Irish sporting experience in America: from the arrival of Gaelic games in the nineteenth century to the Irish presence in baseball, boxing, basketball and beyond.

From a GAA tour that saw Irish athletes travel across the United States to the rise of Irish-American baseball players, managers and owners, this conversation examines how sport could preserve Irish identity while also becoming a powerful vehicle for assimilation, social mobility and belonging.

The story of Irish America is often told through the experiences of men, but Irish women played a central role in building immigrant communities across the United States. In this episode, historian Elizabeth Stack (Education Director for the Celtic Junction Arts Center) explores the lives of the largely forgotten women who crossed the Atlantic, often alone, to work, support their families and create networks that helped generations of Irish immigrants settle and thrive.

From the stereotype of "Bridget the maid" to the reality of women's ambition, independence and community-building, this conversation reveals a more complex story of Irish women in America - and the often overlooked ways they helped shape the country.

How did race shape the Irish experience in America? In this episode, historian Miriam Nyhan (Assistant Professor at Mary Immaculate College) explores how Irish immigrants navigated questions of race, identity and belonging in the United States, challenging many of the assumptions that surround the Irish-American story.

From nineteenth-century ideas about whiteness and citizenship to the ways Irish communities positioned themselves within American society, this conversation examines how race influenced opportunity, exclusion and identity - and why these histories continue to shape discussions about immigration and belonging today.

The story of Irish America is also a story of political influence. In this episode, historian and author Terry Golway explores how Irish immigrants integrated into and transformed American politics: from local political machines to the highest levels of public office.

Tracing the rise of Irish-American political power through New York and beyond, this conversation examines how immigrant communities built influence, reshaped cities and helped define American democracy. From Tammany Hall to the Kennedy era, Terry reveals why the Irish became one of the most influential political communities in the United States.

What can literature tell us about the Irish-American experience? In this episode, literary scholar and author Mary Burke (Professor of English at the University of Connecticut) explores how Irish-American writing has reflected changing ideas of identity, belonging and race across generations.

From forgotten writers of the 18th century through to Scott Fitzgerald and Margaret Mitchell in the 20th century, this conversation examines how literature reveals the complexity and diversity of Irish America - and why it's time to rethink what we mean by "Irish-American writing."

The story of Irish migration to America is often told through the Great Famine, but it began long before and continued long after. In this episode, historian Kevin Kenny (Professor of History at New York University) explores the waves of Irish emigration that transformed both Ireland and the United States.

From the Famine and post-famine exodus to changing immigration patterns in the twentieth century, this conversation examines why millions left Ireland, how migration became part of everyday life, and how Irish America continues to evolve today.

Long before the Great Famine, thousands of Scots-Irish migrants crossed the Atlantic in search of opportunity, helping to shape the American frontier and the nation's early identity.

In this episode, historian Patrick Griffin (Professor of History at the University of Notre Dame) traces their journey from Ulster to colonial America, exploring migration, settlement and the complex legacy they left behind. From the Great Wagon Road to the Revolutionary era, this conversation examines how a community from the margins became central to the making of America: and why their story still matters today.

Music: Look inside by Jahzzar

Album: Smoke Factory

License: CC-BY-SA

As America marks 250 years of independence, this series brings together leading historians and authors to uncover the people, ideas and events that connect Ireland and America over more than three centuries.

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