In a series of reports, RTÉ's Washington Correspondent Caitríona Perry set out about meeting some of the Irish in America in locations not typically associated with Irish populations - Texas and Kentucky.
Just over 10% of the US populations claims Irish ancestry – that is 33.1 million people according to the latest US census figures - seven times the actual population of Ireland.
When it comes to Irish-born people in America, that number is significantly less of course, but there are 125,022 US residents born in Ireland.
Over 20,000 people in the US said they could speak Irish, and interestingly the census notes that all except 2,500 noted that they also spoke English "very well".
Perhaps not surprisingly, Boston has the highest population claiming Irish ancestry of any metropolitan area in the US - almost one in four people there have some Irish blood. In the suburb of Braintree, almost half claim Irish heritage.
And the Irish in America do better than the average American, the household income for Irish-Americans is higher than the national average, and the degree of household poverty is lower than the national average for all Americans.
They are better educated too - more of them have a university degree, and more have high school education than the American average for the population as a whole.
While the biggest Irish populations are in the States of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, California, New York and Pennsylvania, and perhaps these are the ones we hear most about as a result, there are plenty more spread right across the US.
Some Irish populations are concentrated in specific areas, working in very specific industries.
For example, take the horse-racing industry. Clearly it is a big business in Ireland.
But our traditions and horsemanship have been exported right around the world, and no more so than in Lexington, Kentucky - the US home of the horse business.
Here there are 450 horse farms in the Lexington area, the biggest concentration of thoroughbreds in the US.
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There are Irish involved in every part of the business, from entry level jobs in stables and yards, to jockeys and vets, to multi-millionaire owners, breeders and trainers.
Leitrim-man Gabriel Duignan, who first came here on a J1 for a year or two work experience 30 years ago, explains that the Irish who came here 30 or 40 years ago worked hard and had good fortune.
They came as young people looking for low level jobs, were hardworking and smart and set their money aside to buy shares in horses, moving on to buying whole horses and eventually their own farms.
They in turn have brought over more Irish young people and given them jobs and so the cycle continues.
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It is difficult to walk down the street in Lexington without hearing an Irish accent or seeing a telltale sign like a GAA jersey.
It is quite a small city, with just over 300,000 in the immediate area, so the relatively big Irish community has been able to make itself known. In fact, Lexington is twinned with the county of Kildare in recognition of the mutual appreciation of the thoroughbred industry.
The rolling green hills and white paddock fences are reminiscent of Ireland. And the grass is somewhat similar too, although Kentucky is famous for its ‘bluegrass’ that horses love. The soil is also mineral based, with a limestone foundation - similar to that found in Ireland.
Travelling south and west to the State of Texas and again there is a pocket of relatively newly arrived Irish concentrated in the city of Austin, working in the tech industry.
While there is a well-beaten path from Ireland to Silicon Valley in California, so there is too in recent times to 'Silicon Hills' in Austin.
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A much smaller city than San Francisco, Austin is still home to outposts of the tech giants headquartered in California like Facebook and Google. Dell has its headquarters just outside the city.
Those employers have attracted many Irish employees, but also Irish start-ups and tech entrepreneurs who want to be near to the giants but do not need or want to be in California.
Texas is an extremely pro-business State, in addition to many local incentives, the State has a 0% rate of corporate tax. However companies still need to pay federal rates.
And there is a 0% rate of income tax - again federal rates still need to be paid, but workers get to keep far more of their take home pay than in other states.
But in addition to the tech scene, there is a vibrant music and cultural side to Austin - which also attracts the Irish.
Many describe it as being like Ireland - except when the heat rises. Temperatures in the summer can reach to well over 40C.
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Ireland chose Austin as the site for its newest Consular office in the US, opened by Taoiseach Enda Kenny in March 2015.
Ireland is the only EU member state to have a consulate in Austin, and it is a reflection not only of the significant number of Irish people living there, but also to the connections between companies doing business in Austin and in Ireland.
The newly elected Mayor of Texas Steve Adler went to Ireland for his first official overseas trip.
There is a strong Irish community in Austin, just as there is in Lexington.
There is an Irish Network, and a hurling team - with jerseys sponsored by one of the newly arrived tech companies - StitcherAds - which began its life in Waterford.
While much is made of the jobs US companies create in Ireland, Irish companies like some of those in Austin, Texas create around 82,000 jobs in the US as well.
As is often quipped right across the US (and the world), the Irish are everywhere!
These reports have been supported by the Global Irish Media Fund.
