‘Never forget where we came from’: Global Donegal Diaspora to gather in Philadelphia

Donegal pride will be on full display in Philadelphia in March as the county’s global diaspora comes together for a landmark first gathering. 

From March 20-22, the inaugural Donegal Diaspora Initiative will unite Donegal people from across the world in a celebration of business, sport, music and culture.

The three-day event - which will include a business forum, a Gaelic football tournament and music festival - aims to strengthen the bond between Donegal at home and abroad. By linking global experience with local communities, organisers hope to turn shared identity into lasting social, cultural and economic opportunities for the county.

Raphoe native Ciaran Porter is the Chair of the Connect Donegal Committee 2026.

“We never forget where we came from,” Porter, who moved to Philadelphia 16 years ago, says. “You become more and more proud of Donegal being away from home. You get talking to people about places - even special places in Donegal you’d never be to and you think when you go back home you’ll go to see that place.

“It can be tough for people being away from home, but we never forget where we are from. We play for the jerseys abroad and we’re all the same all over the world - just look at where the teams and players for the tournament are coming from. It’ll be no surprise in years to come to see similar clubs popping up in the likes of Sydney and Perth.

“It will be a proud moment to see this come off now. We’re very proud of where we come from and very proud to wear the Donegal Philadelphia shirt as well. It’ll be great to see all the teams and groups - we have some former players in some of the other groups too - coming over to catch up again.”

The business forum will explore how Donegal’s business community connects with global opportunities.

Speakers will include: former Minister for Education Joe McHugh; Glencolmcille native Ann Cawley of Cawley’s Irish Pub; Aidan Blake from Letterkenny’s will talk about how AI will redefine industries, roles and opportunities; healthcare entrepreneur Steve Kelly whose mother was an emigrant from Milford; and Tip O’Neill Award winners Ann and Mark Baiada.

Aidan Blake

Athlete Caitriona Jennings and former Donegal hurler Sean McVeigh will also feature on the forum, which is co-chaired by Ray Porter and John McDaid.

Ciaran Porter says: “We are fortunate in Donegal Philadelphia to have so much expertise and experience of hosing big-scale tournaments. We have people here who run Continental Youth Championships and North American tournaments and we were able to build into the knowledge that they had. We are also fortunate to have been able to use the local tourism board, Visit Delco.

“We can help make links in so many areas and the business forum on the Friday can help people to expand their own reaches. 

A Gaelic Football tournament will see teams compete for the Charlie McElwee Cup, named in honour of the Glenfin native who was a founder member of the Philadelphia Donegal Football Club.

Teams from Donegal Dubai, Donegal New York, Donegal Boston, Tir Chonaill Gaels in London and Tir Conaill Gaels in Glasgow will travel to compete, while the Donegal Masters are also set to jet out for the weekend.

The music festival takes place at Springfield Country Club on March 21.

The festival will feature The Brothers Boyce and John McGroary, a Philadelphia-based Irish-American traditional music group who honour the spirit of their Donegal parents, and Ben Carr, a Ramelton singer-songwriter who competes in athletics for Finn Valley AC.

Ciaran Porter adds: “It has been a difficult few years for people, but the connection to home has been brilliant. The Donegal Association in Philadelphia has been great. They were a big part of the foundation of the Gaelic club in the 1980s and the Association is huge. They send back a Mary From Dungloe every year and they are great for keeping the connection alive.

“The world is better connected now too and we’d hope to make this a regular occurrence, maybe every year to 18 months.

“We’re delighted to be welcoming all the teams, but at the end of the day the football isn’t the be all and end all…It’s celebrating where we come from.”