On July 24, 2026, Dutch DJ Martin Garrix and Irish band U2 released “Fireflies,” a collaboration that premiered live during Garrix's headline set at Belgium's Tomorrowland the previous weekend. This performance featured a surprise appearance from U2’s Edge.
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Irish actress Brenda Fricker died on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at the age of 81. Her death was confirmed by her agent, Phil Belfield. She died in Dublin after a period of illness.
Fricker was born on February 17, 1945, to Bina Murphy, a language teacher, and Desmond Frederick Fricker, a journalist for the Irish Times. Initially, she wanted to be a journalist, working as an assistant to the arts editor at the Irish Times.
From now until the end of 2026, Irish America 250 is collecting stories of those with Irish connections for their America Éire site. The project was launched on July 1, 2026, and submissions are due by December 31, 2026.
From July to December 2026, Ireland is taking over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union as part of their rotating Presidency. This is Ireland’s eighth time holding this Presidency role.
Ireland’s Presidency officially kicked off on July 1, 2026,
and will end on December 31, 2026. During the Presidency, Ireland will
represent the Council in negotiations, help advance various EU laws, and contribute to shaping the EU
agenda as the EP and Council co-legislate.
“We commit to doing a good job for the EU and its citizens,”
the website
for the Presidency says, “and we will work throughout our term to make the
Union more prosperous and more secure, and to uphold our shared fundamental
values.”
The Presidency kicked off with a visit of the College of
Commissioners to Cork to help set priorities for the Presidency. They discussed
their priority values and policy program, which focus on competitiveness,
values, and security.
One of the focuses is “One Europe, One Market” to align with
the goal of making 2026 the year of European competitiveness. The Irish
Presidency will work together with members and others to meet this and other
goals. Another focus of the Presidency is to reinvigorate the Irish language
within Europe.
To mark Ireland’s Presidency, An Post has created a new
stamp. The stamp features the Irish EU Presidency’s official logo, which
consists of the spiral structure of the nebula. This was first identified by
the Earl of Rosse in 1845 in Birr, County Offaly.
Ireland put together a Spotify playlist in honor of the Presidency. It can be found here.
The Irish American Heritage Museum (IAHM), a museum in Albany, New York, that is dedicated to preserving Irish American history and culture, has elected Denise Murphy McGraw as its new Chair of its Board of Trustees. This is McGraw’s second three-year term on the Board of Trustees of the Museum.
Scottish police are investigating a wildfire that broke out
on Monday, May 25, 2026, as a result of the heatwave in Scotland. The fire broke
out in Holyrood Park near Arthur’s Seat. Crews were alerted to the situation at
6:50 pm on Monday, with crews still working at the scene a day later.
The fire started near the ruins of St. Anthony's Chapel. The
area near Arthur’s Seat was busy due to the nice weather and the bank holiday. As
the nice weather continues, police and other local agencies are encouraging
residents to be safe and responsible, especially when lighting fires.
As a precaution, local residents are advised to keep windows
and doors closed to mitigate the effects of the smoke. Holyrood Park pathways have been closed to
vehicles while crews continue to control the flames, working hard to dampen
hotspots and extinguish the remainder of the flames. There have been no reports
of injuries so far as a result of the fire.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation by
officials. Those with information that may aid in the investigation are asked
to reach out to Police Scotland at 101, quoting incident number 2975 of May 25,
2026. Those in Scotland who see an outdoor fire should call 999 immediately.
Residents are advised to avoid lighting outdoor fires as
these can lead to wildfires. Wildfires can destroy property, landscapes, and
wildlife. Residents and visitors are also advised to dispose of trash
responsibly. As the good weather continues, it is up to everyone to help mitigate
the risks of wildfires and other hazardous conditions.
From film festivals to hikes and everything in between, there is something for everyone to do this month, whether you want to embrace your own Celtic roots or learn more about Celtic culture. If you know of any upcoming events, either in May or otherwise, please reach out!
Team Céilí, led by Irish singer Raymond Coleman, is holding a fundraiser to support autism support rooms in local schools. The event will be held on Monday, April 27, from 6-10 pm at the Ashburner Inn in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The event, which is free to attend, will feature 20 musicians, raffle baskets, and a chance to donate at the door. Food and drinks will be available as well. Performers include Coleman himself, Luke Jardel, Stall the Digger, Natty Lite, and more.
From Highland Gatherings to jazz festivals and everything in between, there is something for everyone to do this month, whether you want to embrace your own Celtic roots or learn more about Celtic culture. If you know of any upcoming events, either in April or otherwise, please reach out!
A tribute album celebrating the songs of Shane MacGowan has been announced. “20th Century Paddy: The Songs of Shane MacGowan” is set to be released on November 13, 2026. The album was announced on March 12, 2026. Bruce Springsteen’s cover of “A Rainy Day in Soho” was released the same day.
On Monday, March 16, 2026, it was announced that Irish folk singer Dolores Keane died at the age of 72 at her home in Galway. She will be remembered as a leader in the Irish music world, receiving accolades for her contributions to the genre. She will be remembered for her musical legacy and her enduring spirit.
Philadelphia’s Nanny Goat Festival is set to take place on May 9, 2026. The festival will be held at American Street and Master Street in the Kensington section of Philadelphia, PA. It will feature live music, food and drink vendors, Irish dance, cultural exhibits, and activities for the whole family to enjoy.
From kilt runs to Irish festivals and everything in between,
there is something for everyone to do this month, whether you want to embrace
your own Celtic roots or learn more about Celtic culture. If you know of any
upcoming events, either in March or otherwise, please reach out!
The 2026 Winter Olympics have now come to a conclusion. It was a great couple of weeks of the best athletes in the world coming together to compete in front of a global audience. Congratulations to all athletes for your accomplishments, whether you won a medal or not. Just having the opportunity to compete in the Olympics is something so special. That said, here is a rundown of the Celtic athletes who did win medals for their performances in their chosen sport.
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Scottish folk quartet Dallahan is seeking fan support after losing £8,500 due to a canceled flight. The band was scheduled to take a flight from Scotland to the United States on January 7, 2026, with a connection in Amsterdam. However, due to cold weather and storms that hit Amsterdam, the flight was canceled the day before departure.
As someone who lives in a small town in Pennsylvania, it is quite rare that anything pertaining to Celtic culture makes the front page of my local newspaper, especially outside of March and St. Patrick’s Day. However, on a Friday in late January 2026, this exact thing happened.
