July 2026 Newsletter

A chairde,

Welcome to our summer newsletter!

It has been a busy first half of the year for the Consulate team, with lots of wonderful events, meetings and activities across the US Southwest. We have included some of the highlights below.

Summer is already well-underway, which usually means an increase in travel for many people. We advise all Irish citizens and residents here to read our Travel Advice pages, make sure they have a valid passport and to register with the Consulate.

We are looking forward to the rest of 2026, where there are a lot of exciting plans already taking shape. We have included information below on some events we can look forward to over the next few months.

Wishing everybody a happy and safe fourth of July weekend and a great summer ahead!

St. Brigid’s Day

In February, we were delighted to partner with the Great Game Lab at Arizona State University (ASU) for a special event to mark St. Brigid’s Day. This event, entitled “A Marathon, Not a Sprint: Women in the Olympic and Paralympic Games” brought together athletes, scholars, journalists and business leaders to explore the long arc of women’s participation in global sport, as we look ahead to LA28. Read more here.

Visit of Ceann Comhairle

In March, we were thrilled to welcome the Ceann Comhairle (Irish Speaker of Parliament), Verona Murphy T.D., to the Southwest over St. Patrick's Day. A busy and productive week saw important engagements across Los Angeles, Long Beach, Irvine, San Diego, and Phoenix, Arizona.

This programme brought together political, business, community and creative industry leaders, highlighting the growing ties in investment and job-creation, long-standing cultural connections and the depth of Ireland's impact in the region. For a closer look, please visit our LinkedIn page or view the highlights reel on our Instagram below.

March also saw the culmination of Awards season, with fantastic successes for Ireland at the Oscars! Our congratulations to Jessie Buckley, Richie Baneham and all Irish nominees this year, who have done Ireland proud!

Special film screening in Hollywood!

In April, we hosted a special screening of "From that Small Island: The Story of the Irish" at the Academy's Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood.

Supported by Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the documentary traces the historical development of Ireland and the impact of the large Irish diaspora around the world, including our pivotal role in shaping the development of the United States, which marks its 250th anniversary this year. This event was an opportunity for the Consulate to mark the ongoing US250 celebrations and the important enduring links between Ireland and the US.

Our thanks to Professor Jane Ohlmeyer of Trinity College Dublin, who served as Executive Producer and Historical Consultant for the film, and award-winning LA-based Irish comedian, David Nihill, for a lively Q&A discussion! Read more here.

GAA West Coast Sevens Tournament

In May, the Consul General travelled to San Diego for the annual West Coast Sevens GAA Tournament. The tournament is the second biggest GAA event in the United States, with around 700 players from all over the US, Canada, and Mexico competing for prizes in camogie, hurling, and Gaelic football.

Sport has a unique way of bringing people together. The GAA is a powerful example of how Irish communities stay connected while welcoming new friends and building lasting relationships across cultures.

Comhghairdeas le gach duine a ghlac páirt!

Meeting with Irish J1 students, San Diego

We visited San Diego again in early June for an excellent briefing session for Irish J1 students, organised by the Irish Outreach Center. It was great to meet with the students and speak about how the Consulate can assist during their time here. Wishing all students an unforgettable summer in sunny San Diego!

West HollyWood Pride Parade

On 7th June, the Consulate team was proud to participate in the West Hollywood Pride Parade, one of the largest Pride celebrations of its kind in the world. It was an honor to march in solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community and to celebrate this day of resilience, love, and allyship alongside our EU partners.

CIACLA Creatives Network

On June 11th, the Consul General was pleased to host the monthly CIACLA Creatives Network at the Official Residence of Ireland, celebrating the fantastic Irish creative community shaping the LA entertainment scene. CIACLA (Contemporary Irish Arts and Culture Los Angeles) cultivates vital connections between Ireland and Los Angeles through a multidisciplinary programme spanning visual arts, film, theatre, literature, music, performance and community engagement, while supporting cultural exchange and artistic collaboration.

A special thank you to CIACLA’s Director of Programming Jenn McGuirk and to our performers: virtuoso actor Alan Smyth, who performed an excerpt from “A Night in November,” and singer-songwriter Mairéad MacMullan, who will be performing at Electric Picnic later this year and who recently released an inspiring new album, Love Is Everything!

Bloomsday Book Giveaway!

On 16th June, we celebrate Ireland's rich literary heritage and one of its most iconic writers, James Joyce. Bloomsday honors Joyce's masterpiece Ulysses, which follows Leopold Bloom’s odyssey on a single day in Dublin and remains one of the most influential novels of the modern era. Celebrated globally, Bloomsday reflects the enduring reach of Irish storytelling and the continued impact of Ireland's writers.

In recognition of Bloomsday and Pride Month, the Consulate partnered with Skylight Books in Los Feliz for a special book giveaway, featuring classics by Joyce, alongside brilliant works by notable queer Irish authors.

Our giveaway encouraged readers to discover the diversity of Irish literary talent, both classical and contemporary.

Visit of Cinemagic students to LA

On 24th June, we hosted a special event to welcome the students from Ireland, Northern Ireland and beyond taking part in this year’s Cinemagic LA programme. Cinemagic is an award-winning, Belfast-based charity that provides opportunities to young people from diverse communities with an interest in the film industry. This was the 17th annual visit to LA, where participants engaged with key studio executives and representatives from across the creative industries here in LA. The students’ own talents were on full display at the Cinemagic Gala event, which rounded off the programme. Congratulations to all students involved and we look forward to witnessing your future successes in the industry!

From July to December 2026, Ireland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. For the next six months, Ireland will guide discussions and helpg shape priorities that will impact over 450 million citizens. The Presidency offers Ireland the opportunity to support cooperation, stability, and progress across the EU, while reinforcing links with the United States.

Los Angeles hosts one of the largest concentrations of Consuls General in the United States, second only to New York. Over the coming months, the Consulate will work closely with our EU and external partners to advance mutual areas of interest and exchange between the European Union and the United States.

Upcoming Events to Share

• Join the San Diego Outreach Center for a special Irish Heritage Night on Saturday, August 1, as the San Diego Padres go against the San Francisco Giants at 5:40pm. To learn more about the event and to purchase your tickets, visit the Irish Outreach center, here.

• In honor of the United State's 250th anniversary this July, the Consulate has partnered with the Irish Cultural Center and McClelland Library in Phoenix, Arizona to showcase its newest exhibition, "Ireland and the Making of America." The exhibition highlights the 250 years of Irish contributions to the founding and development of the United States. The exhibition it set to open its doors to visitors mid-June. To learn more about the exhibition, visit Ireland.ie. For updates on the exhibition and for additional cultural programming and resources, visit the Center's website, here.

• The Celtic Arts Center host a weekly gathering of Irish music and socialising every Monday night at the Mayflower Club in North Hollywood, from 7pm – 11pm. Admission is free and all are welcome. More information, here.

• The California Irish Arts Center in Harbor City hosts a weekly Traditional Irish Music Session, every Wednesday from 6pm – 9pm. Full details, here.

• Calling all hurlers! The Angel City Invitational Junior Hurling Tournament will take place in Carson, CA on Saturday, July 11th. Come and join hurling teams from across the US Southwest for a full day of hurling and lots of craic. Full information from LA Hurling below.

• Fergus Walks: Former Connacht Rugby player, Fergus Farrell, will be undertaking an extraordinary walk across the United States from August to November this year, to raise awareness and funds for the work of Spinal Injuries Ireland. This incredible feat will begin at the Brooklyn Bridge in New York and end in Santa Monica, CA and cover over 4,500 kilometres. Fergus and his team are keen to connect with Irish community groups along the route and we look forward to welcoming him to LA in November. To find out more about the Fergus Walks initiative and to support this great cause, visit his website, here.