Global Diaspora Report 2026

The breadth and depth of findings from this survey make it unambiguously clear that Diaspora engagement is not the preserve of any single government department - it is a multi-dimensional national opportunity that spans heritage, tourism, commerce, enterprise, finance, education, and foreign affairs. A truly effective national Diaspora strategy can only be achieved through a coordinated, whole-of-government approach that draws on the expertise, resources, and leadership of each relevant department. The Irish Government should therefore establish a dedicated cross-departmental Diaspora strategy, led at senior level, with clear ownership, accountability, and resourcing - ensuring that the full range of opportunities identified in this and other research is pursued in a coherent, coordinated, and ambitious manner rather than in the fragmented and piecemeal way that has historically characterised Ireland's approach to its global Diaspora.

The Department of Finance should treat Diaspora investment not as a peripheral consideration but as a meaningful source of potential capital for Irish small businesses and communities. Drawing on models from other Diaspora nations, a dedicated framework of accessible investment vehicles - including Diaspora bonds, heritage-linked crowdfunding platforms, and community investment funds - should be developed and promoted, converting the latent financial goodwill evidenced in this survey into tangible economic impact.

Nearly 60% of respondents have no current family contact with Ireland, yet they are active members of a Diaspora organisation - demonstrating that heritage identity persists independently of direct family ties. Government and agencies should invest in outreach programmes specifically designed to engage this latent Diaspora, recognising that they represent the largest single growth opportunity for deepening Ireland's global Diaspora relationships, particularly among the reputed 40 million Irish Americans and equivalent populations in Australia, Canada, and the UK.

The survey data is unambiguous: what The Diaspora wants above all else is to connect with people. Digital platforms and online community building should be treated not as peripheral tools but as the primary infrastructure for Diaspora engagement, with face-to-face and heritage tourism programmes positioned as the natural progression of relationships first built online. Ireland Reaching Out's model of connecting Diaspora members with communities near their ancestral home should be recognised, resourced, and scaled as a national asset.

The survey cohort is overwhelmingly comprised of the Baby Boomer generation and older - the wealthiest, most active, and most personally motivated retiree generation in modern history. This represents a time-sensitive opportunity that will not remain available indefinitely. Government and Diaspora organisations should develop programmes specifically designed to engage this generation now, across heritage tourism, cultural connection, investment, and community building, before this window begins to close.

Strong appetite for Irish cultural events within respondents' own communities points to the strategic value of supporting Irish cultural centres, festivals, and community organisations abroad. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Culture Ireland should develop a dedicated funding stream to support local Irish cultural programming in key Diaspora markets, bringing Ireland to its people rather than relying solely on people coming to Ireland.

Irish film, television, and literature generated the strongest cultural interest of any category in the survey. Screen Ireland, the Arts Council, and relevant government departments should recognise and resource Irish creative industries not merely as cultural exports, but as the single most powerful and scalable vehicle for deepening Diaspora identity and connection with Ireland at a global level.

Irish foodstuffs and crafts and artwork emerged as the strongest commercial opportunities among Diaspora respondents. Bord Bia and the relevant enterprise agencies should develop a coordinated strategy to bring authentic Irish food and artisan products to Diaspora markets, recognising that this audience is predisposed to purchase Irish by cultural affinity and emotional connection - a competitive advantage that no conventional export marketing campaign can replicate.

With 51% of respondents expressing a desire to hold an Irish passport, yet 83% currently holding neither a passport nor citizenship, there is a clear and significant gap between Diaspora aspiration and current policy provision. The Department of Justice and the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service might undertake a comprehensive review of citizenship entitlement and passport accessibility for multigenerational Diaspora members, recognising that formalising this connection is both a deeply personal matter for individuals and a strategically important instrument of national Diaspora policy.

The 23% of survey respondents who expressed maximum interest in supporting Irish businesses represent an extraordinary resource when considered against the full scale of the global Irish Diaspora. The IDA and Enterprise Ireland should develop dedicated programmes to identify, engage, and activate high-interest Diaspora members as advocates, connectors, investors, and commercial partners for Irish enterprise - both inbound and in-market abroad.

The interest expressed by respondents in connecting with Irish businesses as potential employees or professional contributors points to an underexplored human resource opportunity. A structured programme - potentially led by Enterprise Ireland or IDA Ireland in partnership with Diaspora organisations - should be developed to connect professionally active Diaspora members with Irish businesses seeking international talent, skills, and market knowledge.

The finding that over half of respondents would actively support fellow Irish Diaspora businesses in their own communities points to strong potential for intra-Diaspora economic networks. Government and Diaspora organisations should support the development of Irish Diaspora business directories, networks, and communities of mutual support in key markets - recognising that a thriving interconnected global Irish business community is both a commercial asset and a powerful expression of living Irish identity.

With women accounting for 63% of respondents and widely recognised as the primary drivers of heritage and genealogical interest, all Diaspora engagement programmes - from content development to marketing channels and event design - should be developed with a clear understanding of this gender profile, whilst remaining inclusive of the significant male minority.

The near-total absence of respondents under 30 in this survey is itself a finding that demands attention. While the Baby Boomer cohort represents the immediate opportunity, the children and grandchildren of today's active Diaspora members are the future of Irish Diaspora engagement. Government and Diaspora organisations should begin now to develop programmes, platforms, and cultural propositions specifically designed to reach and resonate with younger generations of Irish heritage abroad, ensuring that Ireland's relationship with its global Diaspora is sustainable across generations.

The depth of long-term commitment demonstrated by Ireland Reaching Out's membership - the majority having been engaged for two years or more, with the largest cohort maintaining membership for five or more years - is a powerful testament to the organisation's mission and impact. The Irish government should formally recognise Ireland Reaching Out as a national Diaspora asset and provide sustained, strategic funding to enable it to scale its reach, deepen its programmes, and serve as a cornerstone of Ireland's broader national Diaspora strategy.

The new Irish Government Diaspora Strategy 2026-2030 announced in April 2026, did not commit to a future multi-year funding commitment or investment target. The Emigrant Support Programme (ESP) remains the core funding mechanism for Diaspora engagement for which the Irish Government allocated EUR17.5 million in 2026, described as the highest annual allocation to date. Approximately 60% of the ESP fund is directed towards welfare and social support services for vulnerable emigrants, with only 40% available for cultural, community, network-building, heritage and economic engagement activities or approximately EUR7m per year worldwide.