FRIDAY 13TH & SATURDAY 14TH NOVEMBER 2026
BUY TICKETS HERE
Irish America 250, the Consulate General of Ireland to the US Southeast, in association with the Northern Ireland Bureau, North America, and in collaboration with Fiona Prine of Oh Boy Records and Hello In There Foundation, present a special music concert showcase as part of the Saturday night broadcast of the Grand Ole Opry at Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville,
Tennessee, on Saturday, 14th November 2026.
The event is part of a weekend celebration honoring the historic, cultural, and ancestral ties between Ireland, Northern Ireland, and
America’s musical heartland while recognizing the profound contribution of emigrants from across the island of Ireland to the founding and development of the United States. To kick off the weekend’s program, the Consulate General of Ireland, in partnership with Belmont University, will host a Shared Home Place: Diaspora Voices Dialogue on Friday, 13th November, 2026.
Grand Ole Opry Music Showcase
Reflecting Nashville’s deep Irish connections, the performance will trace the enduring journey of Irish music, song, and dance and their influence on American musical traditions. It will celebrate the rich cultural exchange between Ireland, Northern Ireland, and the United States, highlighting how artists and communities on both sides of the Atlantic have shared stories, melodies, and
traditions across generations. The Opry showcase brings together champion Irish dancers and contemporary musicians from the island of Ireland and America for a powerful call‑and‑response that celebrates the roots of the music that crossed the Atlantic in both directions.
The curated line-up will include local artists based in Nashville and musicians from Ireland and Northern Ireland, in a celebration that honors Ulster-Scots heritage and the abiding connection between the island of Ireland and the United States. The acclaimed Grand Ole Opry house band will accompany the musicians. Jason Wilber, longtime lead guitarist and musical director of the legendary John Prine Band, will serve as musical director for the showcase.
Confirmed guest artists include award-winning Irish singer-songwriter Mick Flannery of Co. Cork; acclaimed contemporary folk and experimental folk singer, songwriter, producer, and Northern Irish performer Joshua Burnside from Co. Down, both making their Grand Ole Opry debuts; and legendary award-winning Co. Clare Irish singer Maura O’Connell. Joining them is Grammy-nominated Tennessean singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Valerie June, whose blend of folk, roots, blues, gospel, and soul music shares historical connections with traditional Irish sounds. Also performing on the night will be five-time world champion American born Irish dancers and viral social media stars, The Gardiner Brothers.
The Saturday night show is part of the longest-running radio broadcast in United States history, airing continuously since 1925, and carries deep cultural and historical significance as the centerpiece of American country music.
Tickets are on sale now.
“Irish America 250 is delighted to present this special concert and to showcase extraordinarily talented artists, some of whom are making their stage debuts at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.
This celebration is a fitting conclusion to the year of Irish America 250 commemorations honoring the United States' Semiquincentennial.”
Kevin Sullivan, CEO, Irish America 250
“I am honored to help facilitate this celebration of Irish America 250 by recognizing the contribution Irish music, both traditional and contemporary, has made to our significant transatlantic relationship.”
Fiona Prine, President, Oh Boy Records/Founder & President, Hello In There Foundation
“As sister cities, Belfast and Nashville share a rich tradition of music, storytelling and cultural exchange. We are proud to support this showcase which celebrates the lasting influence of Ulster Scots traditions on bluegrass and roots music and the artists and creative voices who continue to carry that shared cultural richness forward.”
Chyanne Holmes, Deputy Director, Northern Ireland Bureau, North America Share Home Dialogues Event
As part of the Government of Ireland’s Shared Home Place: Ireland and the World initiative, Irish communities across the United States are invited to participate in a conversation on identity, inclusion, reconciliation, and the future of the island of Ireland.
Recognizing the Irish diaspora as an integral part of Ireland’s national identity, this event seeks to ensure that Irish voices abroad help inform and shape these important discussions at home. Hosted at Belmont University in Nashville, a sister city of Belfast, the event takes place in a setting that reflects Ireland's deep and enduring ties with the United States. Tennessee’s rich Scots-Irish heritage makes Nashville a particularly fitting venue for a dialogue focused on identity, connection, and shared futures.
“We are delighted to bring this dialogue initiative to Nashville, where deep Irish and Scots-Irish roots, together with enduring ties to the island of Ireland, provide an ideal setting for a conversation about our shared heritage. As part of a wider weekend of celebrations, including a special Irish America 250 music showcase at the Grand Ole Opry, this event offers a valuable
opportunity to strengthen people-to-people connections and reflect on the ways in which our
historic bonds continue to shape our communities, cultures, and shared future.”
Frank Groome, Consul General of Ireland to the US Southeast
Following opening remarks by Consul General Frank Groome, Ms Amy Seigenthaler Pierce, Honorary Consul of Ireland in Nashville, will moderate a panel discussion featuring Dr Howard Keeley, Director of the Center for Irish Research and Teaching at Georgia Southern University, and Dr Peter McLoughlin, from Queen’s University Belfast, a leading scholar of Irish and Northern Irish political history whose work focuses on the Northern Ireland peace process and the role of international and diaspora communities in peace-building and reconciliation. The discussion will be followed by an interactive audience question-and-answer session, providing attendees with an opportunity to share their perspectives and contribute to the wider conversation on identity, reconciliation, and the future of a shared home place.
The event is free and open to the public, and guests may reserve their seat here.
