The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Embassy of the United States of America in Dublin have announced 19 Fulbright Irish Awardees for 2026–2027. Recipients were presented with their awards at a ceremony in Iveagh House last night, where the 2026 Fulbright Ireland Public Service Award was conferred on Dr Michael J. Ryan, former Deputy Director General of the World Health Organization, in recognition of his outstanding commitment to public service.
Managed by the Ireland–United States Commission for Educational Exchange (IUSCEE) since 1957, the Fulbright bilateral exchange programme has played a central role in strengthening the relationship between the U.S. and Ireland and in building lasting academic and cultural ties between both nations. The 2026–2027 awards cycle coincides with the 250th anniversary of the United States and the 80th anniversary of the Fulbright Program. The programme selects exceptional candidates across disciplines including health, technology, science, business, the arts, heritage and the Irish language.
From August 2026 to August 2027, Fulbright Irish Scholars, Students, Professionals and Foreign Language Teaching Assistants (FLTAs) will undertake research, study, teaching and collaboration at leading U.S. institutions such as the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Stanford University, the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum and the American Film Institute Conservatory. FLTAs, supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, will teach Irish and support Irish language immersion activities across a range of U.S. universities.
With a strong emphasis on building long-term academic and professional connections, awardees will act as cultural ambassadors for Ireland, promoting Irish culture and exchanging knowledge, research and ideas with their U.S. counterparts. On their return, they will share their learning and experience, reflecting the Fulbright ethos of exchange, empathy and collaboration and contributing to a global culture of understanding at a time of increasing polarisation.
Among the 2026–2027 Fulbright Irish Scholars is Dr Fiona Kiely, Consultant in Palliative Medicine at Marymount University Hospital & Hospice and Cork University Hospital.
Dr Kiely has been recognised for her leadership in advancing compassionate, high-quality palliative care through integrated research, education and innovation. Dr Kiely is Academic Director of Marymount’s Education and Research Centre, where she is establishing a new clinical–academic platform to advance palliative care through integrated research, education, and innovation. Her work focuses on how healthcare systems can deliver compassionate, high-quality care in the context of serious illness, with particular expertise in telehealth, communication, and digital transformation. As a Fulbright Irish Scholar, she will work with the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to create a Tele-Palliative Care Development Framework, exploring how empathy, trust, and human connection can be preserved in technology-mediated care. Her work reflects a broader commitment to ensuring that innovation in healthcare strengthens, rather than distances, the relationships at the heart of care.