Have you wondered why you seem to encounter Irish culture everywhere right now? Ireland is experiencing a major moment, from cinema and theatre to television, folk music, and literature. If you need more to get convinced, listen to the Colin McEnroe podcast, where he confesses to being among the last people to notice this cultural surge.
This fascination with all things Irish may tie to Culture 2025, Ireland’s first national cultural policy framework. The initiative focuses on revitalizing Gaeltacht areas where people speak Irish, supporting the use of their native language in everyday life, and promoting traditional culture globally. The framework also aims to gain international recognition for Ireland’s unique cultural traditions while protecting and celebrating its natural habitats and biodiversity. Ireland is trending for a good reason. It is setting the stage for a thoughtful and strategic cultural renaissance that will capture the world.
Outreach is vital for Ireland, and the country is making bold moves to expand its global presence. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, along with other Government Ministers, launched ‘Global Ireland—Ireland’s Global Footprint to 2025.’’ This ambitious plan includes opening flagship hubs like Ireland House in Los Angeles, which serves as a center for diplomacy, trade, business, and cultural promotion.
Ireland is actually going further than that. Its presence in Asia-Pacific is growing, with a new flagship Ireland House open in Tokyo. At the same time, the country is strengthening its ties in North and West Africa, the Middle East, and the Gulf regions. This shift goes beyond traditional aid efforts, focusing on forging fresh partnerships and building lasting connections.
The creative boom of ‘Irishness’
When was the moment Ireland became cool? Derry Girls hit Netflix in December 2018, introducing a global audience to Northern Ireland’s ’90s pop-culture ephemera. A few months later, Sally Rooney’s Normal People arrived in the U.S. When The Banshees of Inisherin was released in 2022, a full-on Irish cultural invasion got underway. Actors Colin Farrell and Cillian Murphy returned to the spotlight, while Barry Keoghan went from art-film weirdo to pop-star boyfriend. Last year, we saw 14 Irish Oscar nominations, including Paul Mescal for Aftersun. Eve Hewson and Saoirse Ronan are dominating recently celebrated films. Call them the Craic Pack: Authors such as Anna Burns and Paul Lynch won major prizes, and singer-songwriter Hozier enjoyed great popularity. Brands got swept up, and to call yourself an Instagram baker you got to extol the virtues of Kerrygold butter!
Ayo Edibiri, an American actress from The Bear, joked about playing the donkey in Banshees of Inisherin in interviews. Internet fans claimed that she was Irish and happily ran with this gag. “It seems like a reflection of this moment where everyone loves Ireland,” says Heather Schwedel, a writer on the US politics and culture website Slate, “even this American person is pretending Irish origin.” Little Black Book, The team at THINKHOUSE explores the palpable growing energy evident around a revival of ‘Irishness’ right now.
Why people are trying to “split the ‘G’”
Everyone seems to be drinking Guinness! The beer of Irish pubs and Irish men has endeared itself to Americans eager to “split the ‘G.’” The term speaks to an online trend where drinkers gulp Guinness, hoping that the horizon between the stout and the foam falls in the middle of the “G” on a branded pint glass. It seems like everyone — the Jonas Brothers, John Cena, your cousin, has been splitting the “G.” One Boston bar told the New York Times that it increased its Guinness order by 63% from last year to meet demand.
Need a reason to visit Ireland in 2025?
Courtesy of Ireland.com, we are recommending their 25 reasons to visit Ireland in 2025, from matchmaking in February to spa life and dining. National Geographic included Cork City in their Best of the World list for 2025. Get yourself to Lough Erne in the Fermanagh Lakelands, named one of Lonely Planet’s Most Relaxing Destinations in the World for 2025. Speaking of relaxing, you can go car-free in Ireland, enjoying the wilds of Donegal, the thatched cottages of Adare, the sands of Dunmore East, and much more!
Symrise operates in over 150 countries and celebrates its current focus on all things Irish. Comment below on how you plan to join, especially before St. Patrick’s Day!
