By Brendan McGovern
On Saturday, September 13, 2025, Irish America will gather once again at the Irish Hunger Memorial in Battery Park City for the 5th Annual Martin McGuinness Peace Foundation Chieftain’s Walk. We will walk in honor of Martin McGuinness, to carry forward his vision of peace and justice, and to demand the full realization of the dream of Irish unity.
Carrying Martin’s Legacy Forward
Martin McGuinness spent his life in service to his community and his country. From his earliest days in Derry, through the most difficult years of conflict, and finally as a statesman and peacemaker, Martin never wavered in his belief that Ireland must be free and united. He worked tirelessly for peace, helping secure the Good Friday Agreement, but always insisted that the Agreement was not the end of the journey, it was the framework for achieving Irish reunification by democratic means.
The Chieftain’s Walk honors that legacy. Each year, Irish America gathers not just to remember Martin, but to recommit ourselves to the cause that defined his life: a new, united Ireland built on equality and inclusion.
Why This Walk Matters
The reunification of Ireland is no longer a distant aspiration, it is the central political question of our generation. Demographic change, Brexit, and Sinn Féin’s historic growth North and South have brought us to a turning point. The Good Friday Agreement provides a clear path: unity referendums when the people are ready. The people are ready.
But readiness must be visible. Silence allows opponents of change to pretend the question is not urgent. That is why events like the Chieftain’s Walk matter. They put Irish unity on the streets, in the headlines, and at the heart of our political conversations. Irish America has always played a decisive role from supporting the peace process to holding the British government accountable. Now we must step up again, making clear that we expect and demand Irish unity in our lifetime.
Event Details
📅 Date: Saturday, September 13, 2025
📍 Location: Irish Hunger Memorial, Battery Park City, 290 Vesey Street, New York, NY
🕤 Sign-In and Kickoff Celebration: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM, featuring live Irish music and remarks from community leaders🚶
The Walk Begins: 10:30 AM along the Hudson River, a visible march for peace and unity
Be Part of History
Martin McGuinness reminded us that leaders do not create followers, they create new leaders. By joining the Chieftain’s Walk, you are stepping into that role. You are showing the world the Ireland you believe in.
Be there. Show your support. Stand for unity.
👉 Register today at: https://martinmcguinnesspf.org/
