Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has opened a new exhibition at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) in Belfast. The exhibition, titled Voices Across the Atlantic, features significant historical documents on loan from the US Library of Congress, US National Archives and Records Administration, and The UK National Archives.

According to the Department for Communities, this is the first time these documents have been displayed on the island of Ireland. The exhibition forms part of the US-NI 250 commemorations marking the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.

Minister Lyons said the exhibition is the culmination of a year-long programme of activities. He noted that he had previously seen the documents in Washington DC during a visit as Minister in October 2024.

He described the exhibition as telling the story of people from Ulster who helped shape the United States, and the connections they forged across the Atlantic that continue to resonate today.

Minister Lyons also commented that history is not only about well-known events but about people with aspirations and convictions who took risks. He encouraged everyone to visit the free exhibition.

Voices Across the Atlantic is open until 31 March 2027 at PRONI in Belfast. Further details are available on the PRONI website.