Irish Diaspora Strategy 2026-2030 Reaches Midpoint as Government Redefines Connection to 'Affinity' Irish Abroad
Ireland's Diaspora Strategy 2026-2030, backed by a record €17.5 million Emigrant Support Programme, is reaching its midpoint with a significant and deliberate shift in how the government defines and engages with the Irish abroad. The strategy, shaped by nine months of global consultations and the first-ever online survey of the Irish diaspora, moves beyond traditional heritage ties to embrace an "affinity diaspora" of people who have no hereditary link to Ireland but have developed a deep connection through work or study — while also addressing the shifting geography of Irish emigration, which now flows primarily toward Australia, the UK, and the UAE rather than the United States.
Background
Ireland has maintained a formal diaspora engagement strategy since the early 2000s, recognising that the country's extraordinary history of emigration — which has produced an Irish diaspora estimated at 70 million people worldwide — represents both a responsibility and an opportunity. The Emigrant Support Programme, which funds organisations that support Irish communities abroad, has been a cornerstone of that engagement, providing resources for welfare services, cultural programming, and community development across the Irish diaspora.
The 2026-2030 strategy, published in May 2026, is the third iteration of Ireland's diaspora strategy and the most ambitious in scope. It was developed through a process of global consultation that included engagement with Irish communities in over 30 countries and the first-ever online survey of the Irish abroad, which generated responses from thousands of people across the diaspora. The strategy is supported by a record €17.5 million allocation for the Emigrant Support Programme — a significant increase on previous years that reflects the government's commitment to the diaspora as a priority area of foreign policy.
Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora Neale Richmond has been the driving force behind the strategy's development, and he has been explicit about the need to "redefine" Ireland's connection to the diaspora to reflect a changing global landscape. The traditional focus on Irish-America — the descendants of the great waves of emigration in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries — is giving way to a more complex and diverse picture of who the Irish abroad are and what they need from the Irish state.
Key Developments
The most significant conceptual innovation in the 2026-2030 strategy is the recognition of the "affinity diaspora" — people who have no hereditary link to Ireland but who have developed a deep appreciation for Irish culture and people through work or study in the country. This category, which includes international students who studied in Ireland, workers who spent time in the country during the Celtic Tiger years, and others who have formed strong personal connections to Ireland without having Irish ancestry, represents a significant expansion of the traditional definition of the diaspora.
The strategy also addresses the shifting geography of Irish emigration. Recent statistics show that Australia has emerged as the leading destination for Irish emigrants, attracting 13,500 people compared to 6,100 moving to the United States in the most recent year for which data is available. The UK remains a major hub, with 15,200 arrivals from Ireland in 2024. The UAE has also emerged as a significant destination, particularly for young professionals in finance, technology, and construction. These shifts reflect changes in the global economy and in the opportunities available to Irish graduates, and the strategy is designed to ensure that the government's diaspora engagement reflects the reality of where Irish people are actually living and working.
The strategy places a significant emphasis on inclusivity, specifically targeting multi-heritage diaspora members, LGBTQI+ Irish abroad, and vulnerable communities including the elderly and those at risk of social isolation. The inclusion of LGBTQI+ stories and experiences is a particularly notable development, acknowledging the historical trauma of those who left Ireland when homosexuality was illegal and ensuring that the diaspora strategy reflects the full diversity of the Irish abroad.
Why It Matters
The Irish diaspora is one of the country's most significant assets — a global network of people with connections to Ireland who can serve as ambassadors, investors, advocates, and partners in ways that no formal diplomatic effort can replicate. The government's investment in diaspora engagement through the Emigrant Support Programme and the broader strategy is an investment in maintaining and deepening those connections across generations and across the changing geography of Irish emigration. The shift toward an "affinity diaspora" model is particularly significant, recognising that Ireland's global network extends beyond those with Irish blood to include the many people who have been shaped by their experience of living and working in Ireland.
The strategy's acknowledgement of the practical difficulties facing those who want to return to Ireland — including the housing crisis and cost-of-living pressures — is also important. Some observers have noted that the strategy may "sidestep" these challenges, but the government's willingness to name them as barriers to return is at least a starting point for a more honest conversation about what the Irish state can offer to those who want to come home.
Local Impact
The Emigrant Support Programme funds organisations across the Irish diaspora that provide welfare services, cultural programming, and community support to Irish people living abroad. In Australia, where the Irish community has grown significantly in recent years, the programme supports organisations that provide practical assistance to newly arrived emigrants and to older members of the community who may be isolated or in need of support. In the UK, where the Irish community includes both long-established communities and recent arrivals, the programme funds a range of services from welfare advice to cultural events. The record €17.5 million allocation for 2026 means that more organisations in more countries can access support, and the strategy's emphasis on inclusivity means that a wider range of Irish people abroad will be reached by the programme's activities.
What's Next
The Diaspora Strategy 2026-2030 will be reviewed at its midpoint, with the government expected to publish an assessment of progress against its objectives in early 2027. Minister Richmond has indicated that he will continue to engage with Irish communities abroad through a programme of visits and consultations, and that the strategy will be updated as needed to reflect changing circumstances. The record number of applications for citizenship via the foreign birth register — 18,910 in 2025 — suggests that interest in formal connection to Ireland remains strong among the diaspora, and the government will be working to ensure that the citizenship process is as accessible and efficient as possible for those who wish to formalise their Irish identity.
