You are very welcome Marc - high praise from a storyteller such as yourself. Thank you for your feedback :)
Three little known Irish American Connections
Written by Ciaran on Jun 25, 2026 | 4 Comments
America's 250th anniversary this year got us thinking about all the ways that Ireland and the USA are connected. As you can imagine, it is quite a long list with strong ancestral ties spanning the centuries and many miles across the Atlantic.
Here are three interesting connections you may not know about that link Ireland to iconic symbols of America.
1. What's in a name?
The first of these three connections is the coining of the name "The United States of America" itself. There has long been speculation about who first came up with the name and when! Historical records have pushed the "when" back to before the Declaration of Independence. These same records give us a "who" too - Stephen Moylan, a man that hailed from Co. Cork in Ireland's southwest.
An excerpt from a letter from Stephen Moylan to Col. Joseph Reed, dated January 2, 1776 which is the first known written use of the name "United States of America."
Photo Credit: Joseph Reed Papers
This letter from Moylan predates all uses of the name “United States of America” by several months, making it possible that this was the first time it was ever written down.
Some say Moylan may have coined the name himself. Given he was an aide-de-camp to general George Washington during the American Revolutionary War, it also seems entirely possible that he would only be using the term if it had approval of his boss!
So until any further dusty records are uncovered, all we can say is a Cork man is credited with being the first to use the name, if not to coin it!
And Moylan was just one of ten of Washington's generals that were born in Ireland, with Wexford-born John Barry, the "Father of the American Navy" another notable name.
Washington Crossing the Delaware by Emanuel Leutze (1851)
Photo Credit: Public Domain
Those generals also oversaw a fighting force filled with Irish immigrants and their descendants. Some contemporary estimates suggest that between 40 to 50% of Washington's Continental Army were Irish or of Irish decent.
This fact was not lost on the British. Records show one British official at the time commenting that “the Irish language was as commonly spoken in the American ranks as English." Luke Gardiner (the future Lord Mountjoy) even proclaimed in the British Parliament that, “You have lost America by the Irish.”
2. The Irish ‘White House’
The second connection sits somewhat hidden in the beautiful Phoenix Park in the center of Dublin. A neighbour to the beautiful Deerfield Residence, home to the American Ambassador in Dublin, Áras an Uachtaráin, meaning House of the President, in Irish, is Ireland’s answer to the iconic White House.
A Presidential Place
‘The Áras’ as it is affectionately known, is more than just a neighbour to the American Ambassador's residence. As well as being the home of the Irish President, the Áras has received many American Presidents in it’s history including Presidents Kennedy, Reagan, Clinton, Obama, and Biden. And famous Irish welcomes and hospitality aside, they all must have felt right at home.
Photo Credit: Richie McCann (president.ie)
Although it is a little smaller, the Áras bears more than a passing resemblance to The White House. The angled portico, stoic Greek columns and gleaming white facade would have even American Presidents seeing double. So is it the White House?
More Than a Coincidence?
This similarity is so strong that it has lead many to claim that it was no coincidence, and that the Áras was inspiration for the White House. Indeed the architect involved was Irish, and there is little doubt James Hoban would have known of the Áras. So was this inspiration for his design of the White House in Washington, D.C? This seems to be a bit of a fanciful story, as the White House porticoes were not part of Hoban's original design but were added later by Benjamin Henry Latrobe.
A Colorful History
Built in 1751, the Áras does pre-date the White House, and given the involvement of an Irish architect in the design of the White House, we can see how the story got started. Though it's also not the only story associated with the building, which had a long and colorful history before becoming the Residence of the President of Ireland in 1938.
The original house was known as “Ranger’s House” built by the Chief Ranger for Phoenix Park. It was bought for £25,000 in 1782 by the Viceroys who oversaw British rule in Ireland and was the site of the infamous murders of Lord Cavendish, and his Undersecretary, Thomas Henry Burke in 1882. There were happier times in 1911 with the Royal visit of newly crowned King George V and Queen Mary.
A drawing of the Vice Regal Lodge as it was known in 1837 shortly after the infamous murders!
Photo Credit: Public Domain
Still Standing
The house saw extensive refurbishment and improvements at this time. However a subsequent period of neglect lead to plans for it to be demolished and a new residence built for the President in the late 1930’s. But the outbreak of World War II paused those plans and by the time peace reigned again in Europe, the building was synonymous with the Irish President and it was saved. Irish people today are delighted it is still standing and are very proud of our own “White House” in the Park.
3. The Star Spangled Banner
Every American school child likely knows the origins of the lyrics of their iconic anthem. The famous words were adapted from a poem written by Francis Scott Keys on September 14, 1814, at Fort McHenry in Baltimore during the War of 1812.
An English Club Song from an Irish harpist?
But the tune traces it's origins back first to England and then Ireland. “Anacreon in Heaven” was the anthem of a London gentleman's club, written by John Stafford Smith. But Smith never claimed credit for the melody, only the lyrics of the anthem. So we go back father still for the origins of the now famous melody, first written for harp by one of Ireland's greatest composers, Turlough O’Carolan. Something to consider as you hear the lovely melody ring out over the coming weeks.
We hope you've enjoyed reading about these lesser known, curious Irish - American connections. And of course if you have your own Irish - American connection to share please comment below. For now we hope our American friends enjoy a happy, healthy July 4th!
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Ciaran
My Irish Jeweler
Born in Co. Antrim and reared in Dublin, I was fascinated with Gaelic culture from an early age. I suppose it's not surprising given my mother inherited a grá for the Irish language from my grandfather, an Irish school headmaster. And that grá continues! My brother and sister are now Gaelic teachers here in Ireland, my niece is an award winning Irish dancer, and I proudly work to share Irish culture through our Irish and Celtic Jewelry at My Irish Jeweler!
I love researching and reading about the history of Irish design. It's at the core of what we do here at My Irish Jeweler. I find much of it so interesting that I have to share what I find. I hope you enjoy it!
Comments
Nice story. All 4 of my grandparents were born and raised in Ireland 🇮🇪 They came to the states in the early nineteen hundreds. Surprise Surprise one grandfather became a NYC cop. The other grandfather (Michael) got drafted in the First World War.
Thank you John. We appreciate you taking the time to get in touch. By the sounds of it there are some great stories in your family tree too! Fantastic to have those connections.
Ask Gemma
Fascinating bits of history! Thanks for sharing.