United States Member of Congress Rep. Tim Kennedy, and Northern Ireland's deputy First Minister Emma Little Pengelly announced the Washington Ireland Program (WIP) Emerging Leaders Class of 2026 and the WIP Academy Class of 2026 at a special event at the University of Notre Dame’s Washington, DC office on Monday, March 16th. The high-profile audience included Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Rt. Hon. Hilary Benn MP alongside representatives from the Irish Embassy and WIP’s supporter community.  

The event featured high-level discussions with acclaimed journalists Fintan O’Toole and Sam McBride on their new book, For and Against a United Ireland. The book, which has received praise as a model of civil dialogue, was commissioned by ARINS (Analysing and Researching Ireland North and South), a joint project of the Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies in Notre Dame’s Keough School of Global Affairs and the Royal Irish Academy. 

Chaired by two recent WIP Alumni, Aoife Joy Keogh and Luke Teggart, the discussions recognized ARINS’ role in fostering respectful dialogue on many aspects of the island of Ireland’s future. The discussions also demonstrated WIP's enduring commitment to respectful and constructive dialog between those who hold different views and opinions — a value that sits at the heart of WIP’s mission and that guides the organization in identifying, inspiring and developing generations of leaders from Northern Ireland and Ireland. 

Rep. Tim Kennedy said at the announcement: 

“The Washington Ireland Program continues to drive forward peace and reconciliation across Ireland, equipping the next generation of leaders with the skills and connections to make a positive lasting impact on society. Our nation takes great pride in our collective contribution to the peace process in Ireland, and initiatives like the Washington Ireland Program build on what has been achieved. I commend this program's dedication to lasting peace in the region.” 

 deputy First Minister and WIP Alum Emma Little-Pengelly MLA, said: 

“The Washington Ireland Program has shaped, encouraged and supported generations of young leaders to help build a better future for our society. The program represents a striking example of the strength of our bonds and long-lasting relationships with the USA.” 

Professor Patrick Prendergast, Chair of ARINS, said: 

"Notre Dame and the Royal Irish Academy established ARINS to bring rigorous, independent research to help inform the most fundamental issues affecting the future of the island of Ireland. The publication of ‘For and Against a United Ireland’, with two distinguished journalists who approach this question from different perspectives, is exactly the kind of work ARINS seeks to support."

“We are delighted that WIP provided the stage for this conversation, and that it was led by two of the program’s own Alumni. That speaks volumes about what WIP produces: leaders who are not afraid to engage with complexity, to listen, and to debate with both honesty and respect." 

 Nicola Skelly, Executive Director of the Washington Ireland Program said:  

“We are thrilled to launch the two WIP cohorts of 2026 today in Washington DC alongside colleagues from the University of Notre Dame. We are particularly grateful for the support of the University of Notre Dame’s Dublin office, with whom we work closely in supporting and inspiring the next generation of leaders across the island of Ireland.

What makes WIP special is not just what happens during the leadership programs, but also the connections and collaborations that last a lifetime. The bonds these young leaders forge with one another, along with connections to over 1,000 WIP Alumni, become the catalyst for their lifelong leadership. We are proud to support these new cohorts as they begin that journey.”