 | |
 France |  Ireland |
|---|---|
| Diplomatic mission | |
| Embassy of France, Dublin | Embassy of Ireland, Paris |
France–Ireland relations (French:Relations entre la France et l'Irlande;Irish:Caidreamh idir an Fhrainc agus Éire) refers to thebilateral relations betweenFrance andIreland. France and Ireland are both members of theCouncil of Europe,European Union and theOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Ireland is an associate member ofLa Francophonie.
France and Ireland have a long history of relations given the proximity between Ireland and France. There has always been migration back and forth between the two since ancient times. In 1578, theIrish College in Paris was established as aCatholic school to train Irish students.[1] In 1689, France supported Ireland during theWilliamite War to restore KingJames II of England to the throne. After theTreaty of Limerick, for the next hundred years, the French Army would include anIrish Brigade in its army. The Irish who fought for France (and other foreign nations) would come to be known asWild Geese.[2] Many Irish soldiers also traveled and served with the French in the exploration and colonization ofNew France.[3]
In 1796, inspired by theFrench Revolution, theSociety of United Irishmen began an uprising againstBritish rule in Ireland which became known as theIrish Rebellion of 1798 and was led by Irish revolutionary fighterWolfe Tone. France supported the Irish rebellion and, in December 1796, sent itsExpédition d'Irlande of 12,000 soldiers toBantry Bay,County Cork; however, the soldiers were not able to land as there were 40,000 British troops in the area waiting for them.[4] In August 1798, a French fleet landed inKillala Bay,County Mayo with 1,060 soldiers under the command of GeneralJean Joseph Amable Humbert.[4] Irish rebels joined the French against the British but lost at theBattle of Ballinamuck in September 1798. The Irish rebels were executed while the surviving French soldiers were repatriated.[4] The aftermath of the fight became known asBliain na bhFrancach (The Year of the French).[4] In 1803,Napoléon Bonaparte created theIrish Legion which fought for France in theWalcheren Campaign andPeninsular War. The legion was disbanded in 1815. In 1873,Patrice de MacMahon became the first French President of Irish descent.
As part of theBritish Empire, Irish soldiers fought in France duringWorld War I (1914–1918) and Irish troops fought in theBattle of the Somme. In 1922, theIrish Free State obtained its independence from theUnited Kingdom. In 1929, Ireland opened a diplomatic legation in Paris and appointedGerald Edward O'Kelly de Gallagh et Tycooly as the first Irish Minister to France.[5] In 1930, France opened its first diplomatic legation in Dublin.[6] DuringWorld War II (1939–1945) Ireland remained officially neutral. Approximately 50 Irish men and women joined theFrench Resistance, such as Irish writerSamuel Beckett.[7] After the war, both nations upgraded their diplomatic legations to embassies.
In 1969, French PresidentCharles de Gaulle paid an official visit to Ireland and met with Irish PresidentÉamon de Valera.[8] Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, relations between France and Ireland have been close and both nations have worked together within theEuropean Union. France is Ireland's fourth largest tourism market.[9] 9,000 French citizens reside in Ireland and 15,000 Irish citizens reside in France.[10] Ireland is an observer member ofLa Francophonie.
Presidential visits from France to Ireland[11]
Presidential and Prime Ministerial (Taoiseach) visits from Ireland to France[11]
France and Ireland have signed numerous bilateral agreements such as a Trade Agreement (1959); Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income (1968); Agreement on International Road Freight Transport (1976); Agreement on the establishment in France of stocks of crude oil and/or finished petroleum products on behalf of undertakings established in Ireland (1985) and an Agreement on reciprocal holding of stocks of crude oil and/or petroleum products (2015).[12]
In 2018, trade between France and Ireland totaled €9.8 billion.[11] France's main exports to Ireland include chemical based products and pharmaceuticals products. Ireland's main exports to France are pharmaceuticals products.[11] In 2015, French investments in Ireland totaled 17 billion Euros with 350 French companies operating in Ireland. Irish investments in France totaled €5 billion with 200 Irish companies operating in France, making France Ireland's 9th largest foreign investment destination.[11]
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