Westmeath represented at Irish event in Milwaukee

Westmeath County Council were among the participants promoting this country to potential American visitors at the 45th annual Milwaukee Irish Fest, the largest celebration of Irish culture and heritage in the United States.

The four-day festival, held on the shores of Lake Michigan in Wisconsin, attracted more than 130,000 visitors and provided an opportunity to showcase the island of Ireland as a holiday destination to an important diaspora audience.

A delegation of Irish tourism businesses, including Úna Doris and Helen de Lacy of Westmeath County Council, took part in this year’s festival, highlighting attractions and experiences available to visitors across the country.

The event was used to inspire people with Irish heritage, connections to Ireland or an interest in Irish culture to consider visiting the island.

Alison Metcalfe, Tourism Ireland’s head of North America, said Milwaukee Irish Fest provided an “excellent platform” to showcase Ireland’s heritage and culture to prospective American visitors.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to inspire some of the many people of Irish descent who’re living and working in the US, as well as those with Irish connections or an affinity for Ireland, to come and visit,” she said.

Tourism Ireland said overseas tourism contributed more than €6.4 billion to the island of Ireland’s economy in 2025.

The organisation is responsible for promoting the island of Ireland overseas as a leading holiday destination and operates international tourism websites across a range of markets and languages.