One of Northern Ireland’s most storied hotels and a prominent Co Down distillery were among the named sponsors of an event in the United States where Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and former MP Ian Paisley were the main speakers.
The event was organised by a lobbying firm credited with playing a leading role in the campaign to take Britain out of the EU.
Mr Paisley and Mr Farage were the main speakers at the ‘Redcoats and Rebels’ event in Washington DC organised by Gunster Strategies, it has emerged.
Mr Paisley was recently appointed as Gunster Strategies UK director of development.
The master of ceremonies for the event was Bev Turner, a GB News presenter who recently drew criticism and hundreds of complaints for denying any riots were happening in Belfast during the anti-immigrant disturbances in June.
According to the organisers, the sponsors of the July 3 event included the Galgorm Collection, the owners of the Galgorm Hotel and Spa in Co Antrim, and Hinch Distillery, the Ballynahinch-headquartered Irish whiskey maker.
“We were delighted to attend, engage and support multiple celebratory events to mark America 250 this year as part of marketing activity which is specifically designed to drive enquiries and pipeline bookings,” a Galgorm Collection spokesperson said.
“We are pleased with the outcome so far. The US market is a key priority, and our teams will continue to explore all opportunities and look forward to supporting a number of events in the US – and locally – to see out the America 250 celebrations over the coming months.”
Hinch Distillery, founded by businessman Terry Cross in 2021, previously sponsored a Donald Trump inauguration event in Washington in 2025.
At the time, the company said the event was an “important opportunity” to “challenge and discuss” proposed new tariffs by the Trump administration.
Among the other sponsors of the more recent event were GB News and Action on World Health, founded by Mr Farage with the ambitious aim of replacing the World Health Organisation.
Mr Paisley is the chair of the trustees of Galgorm Castle Education and Preservation Limited, the body set up to oversee the restoration of the building and grounds.
A major £14m refurbishment is planned to restore the castle, stable and courtyard for hotel use, construct a new restaurant and turn a church in the grounds into a performance space. The Galgorm Collection owns the castle and will manage the hotel.
Letters in support of the plan have been filed by prominent politicians, including this week by Ulster Unionist leader Jon Burrows.
The event in Washington DC was held the day before the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence in 1776, just over a year into the eight year revolutionary war between the then colonies and Britain.
It was described as a celebration of 250 years of US–UK friendship, though the two sides did go to war again in 1812.
Gunster Strategies, headed by Gerry Gunster, was hired by the Leave.EU campaign ahead of the June, 2016, referendum. It is credited with playing a key role in the campaign.
“As one of the lead consultants on ‘Brexit’, Gunster helped make a losing campaign winnable. On Election Day, history was made with nearly 52% of British voters deciding to leave the European Union,” the company states on its website.
Gunster Strategies, Mr Paisley and Hinch Distillery were all contacted for comment.
