European Irish
Encyclopedia
Irish people in mainland Europe are Irish people
, members of the Irish diaspora
, who reside in mainland Europe
.
3,900,000 Irish Trips to Continental Europe in 2006 - Central Stats Office Ireland
While the Irish population in Continental Europe is c450,000-550,000, there are estimated 2.8 million first, second and third generation Irish based there. The interest in Irish Music, Irish Sports, Irish Dancing, Irish Cultural and Irish Literature is phenomenal, with an estimated 5 million people with active interests in Irish culture, Music or Sport. For example, Poland
’s Irish Embassy has confirmed that while there are approx. 500 Irish residents in the country, there are between 50,000 & 100,000 people involved in the Irish music, dancing and cultural scene. Italy with an estimated Irish population of 2000 to 5000, has a website, receiving 100,000 regular visitors – all content is just in Italian, and is mostly covering Irish Music & Culture in Italy. Similar explosions of interest in Irish culture exist across Europe , from the new Irish Centre opened this year in Istanbul, Turkey, to more than 650 Irish Pubs found across Germany
, to the strength of Irish Dancing in Scandinavia, like the St. Patrick Day's festival held on March 17th in Stockholm, Sweden.
countries of Luxembourg
, Netherlands
, and Belgium
. More than 3/4 million enjoy Belgium's, Netherlands' and Luxembourg's rich Irish Music, Irish Cultural and Irish Sport scene. The region has Irish Clubs, Societies and Associations, Irish Theatre Groups, Irish & Celtic Studies Centres, and James Joyce Groups.
Its 200+ Irish Bars have regular live Irish Music, as well as live Irish Sports coverage - GAA
, Soccer and Rugby . As well as Irish Dancing Schools & Groups, the region has a huge catalogue of local Irish music bands, and festivals. It also boasts Irish Soccer Clubs, Rugby , Darts, Badminton and GAA Clubs here, as well as Irish Golf Societies.
Did you know there's an Irish Dominican parish in Portugal? Many of the 165+ Irish Pubs have regular live Irish Music, as well as live Irish Sports coverage - GAA, Soccer and Rugby. There is no shortage of Iberian Irish Music Bands, Irish Dancing Schools and Groups, and Irish & Celtic Music Festivals. There is an Irish Darts League in Madrid. Play Gaelic football
in Barcelona
, Madrid
, Malaga, or in Tenerife and you could watch The All-Ireland in Majorca, and even find the Celtic Supporters Club in Gibraltar .
Almost a Million enjoy Mid-South Europe's vibrant Irish Music, Irish Cultural and Irish Sport scene. Its 300 or so Irish pubs feature regular live Irish music, quiz nights and many feature Irish sports. Irish clubs, societies and associations arrange many activities for the integrated Irish communities, and the strong Irish cultural and literature following here. There are Irish & Celtic study courses and centres. You’ll find the Mediterranean Centre for Irish Studies here. There are local Irish music mands, Irish dancing schools and groups, organising special Irish music & dance nights and Irish & Celtic music festivals. We find Irish playing here with local soccer, rugby , darts and GAA clubs here; quite often these clubs are set-up by those in the Irish communities here.
- although this figure is growing annually , it is a stronghold for Irish Music & Dancing in Europe , especially in Hungary , Poland and Czech Republic , with more than 150,000 regular visitors to Celtic Music, Irish Music, Irish Dancing, and Irish Culture websites based there, a region with more than 100 Irish music bands, Irish Dancing Schools and Irish/Celtic Festivals.
The Slovak
Irish have a dedicated Newspaper published regularly. There are more than 60 Irish Pubs in the Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Czech Republic, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, one with an Irish Golf society, one with a Rugby Club, others with dart and soccer clubs. The first ever GAA club was inaugurated in the region earlier this year. Irish Charity groups also have centres and communities based here, as outlined above.
, Music and Dancing is growing in Russia
and Nations which were part of the former USSR. There's Irish Dancing in Ukraine
, Russia, Turkey, Cyprus, Greece and Bulgaria. Many of the 125 + Irish Bars have regular live Irish Music, as well as live Irish Sports coverage - GAA, Soccer and Rugby. Top Irish Singers and European-based Irish Music Bands tour here regularly, as do top Irish Dance Shows, such is the popularity of the Irish Music and Dancing scene here. There are Irish societies in Cyprus , Russia , Greece , and Belarus, promoting cultural and social links between the host country and Ireland. Locally based Irish regularly support visiting Irish Sports Men's and Women's, such as Irish Boxing, Irish Golf, Irish Motor Rally, Irish Rowing, Irish Soccer, Irish Walking & Athletics, Irish Rugby, Irish Cycling and Irish Show Jumping Teams, which were all in this region this year. Irish Charity group
s & Defence Forces
also have centres and commitments based here, as outlined above.
More than 1/2 Million enjoy Northern Europe's Irish Music, Irish Cultural and Irish Sport scene. These countries host the Nordic Feis Annually with Irish Dancing Schools from across the region and some of the world’s biggest Irish Festivals. Irish Societies and Associations in Northern Europe are actively arranging Irish Literature, Theatre, Sport, Music and dancing events across Scandinavia. The region hosts Irish & Celtic Studies Centres in Sweden and Denmark.
Many of the 230+ Irish Pubs have regular live Irish Music, as well as live Irish Sports coverage - GAA, Soccer and Rugby. Norway has a Celtic Irish Soccer Club, Finland has a hurling club, Sweden and Denmark played each other in Gaelic football and in Hurling this past summer. Latvia hosts one of Europe’s hotspots to watch live GAA coverage, Lithuania’s Airija are a young hugely popular Folk-Rock band with strong with Irish Art & Culture influence.
Legend has it that many Irish women captured [Vikings] and ended up in Iceland
, which is one explanation given why the country’s population has closer blood type to the Irish than to populations in Denmark, Norway, Finland or Sweden. Because it was Irish women, the Irish surnames did not pass on to their descendents.
More than 700,000 enjoy France's Irish Music, Irish Cultural and Irish Sport scene. With Brittany and the Breton culture matched closely to the Irish & Celtic cultures, you can join Irish Societies and Associations, Study Irish & Celtic Courses from Brittany to the French Riviera. The Irish College in Paris
, which once was home to Karol Wojtyla, later Pope John Paul II, is now an Irish cultural centre. It hosts Irish events, such as lectures, book-launches, exhibitions and performances by Ireland’s authors, musicians and artists.
Many of the France's 50+ Irish Pubs have a special closeness to the Irish Communities here, quite often arranging events in conjunction with them or for them. Europe's largest Irish & Celtic Annual Festival is held in Brittany. In fact there is a wide range of French Irish Music Bands, Irish Set-Dancing Schools and Groups, and Irish & Celtic Music Festivals, covering most parts of the country. There are Irish Soccer Clubs in Montpellier , Marseille and Paris. Play Gaelic football
in Brittany, Paris, Lyon or at Festivals across the Nation.
This is but a snapshot of the Irish communities across Europe , and some of the groups in which they are involved.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
, members of the Irish diaspora
Irish diaspora
thumb|Night Train with Reaper by London Irish artist [[Brian Whelan]] from the book Myth of Return, 2007The Irish diaspora consists of Irish emigrants and their descendants in countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, Mexico, South Africa,...
, who reside in mainland Europe
Continental Europe
Continental Europe, also referred to as mainland Europe or simply the Continent, is the continent of Europe, explicitly excluding European islands....
.
Demographics
There are c500,000 Irish people living in Continental Europe.3,900,000 Irish Trips to Continental Europe in 2006 - Central Stats Office Ireland
Central Statistics Office (Ireland)
The Central Statistics Office is the statistical agency responsible for the gathering of "information relating to economic, social and general activities and conditions" in Ireland, in particular the National Census which is held every five years. The office is answerable to the Taoiseach and has...
While the Irish population in Continental Europe is c450,000-550,000, there are estimated 2.8 million first, second and third generation Irish based there. The interest in Irish Music, Irish Sports, Irish Dancing, Irish Cultural and Irish Literature is phenomenal, with an estimated 5 million people with active interests in Irish culture, Music or Sport. For example, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
’s Irish Embassy has confirmed that while there are approx. 500 Irish residents in the country, there are between 50,000 & 100,000 people involved in the Irish music, dancing and cultural scene. Italy with an estimated Irish population of 2000 to 5000, has a website, receiving 100,000 regular visitors – all content is just in Italian, and is mostly covering Irish Music & Culture in Italy. Similar explosions of interest in Irish culture exist across Europe , from the new Irish Centre opened this year in Istanbul, Turkey, to more than 650 Irish Pubs found across Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, to the strength of Irish Dancing in Scandinavia, like the St. Patrick Day's festival held on March 17th in Stockholm, Sweden.
Communities
It is difficult to put an exact figure on the Irish citizenship based across Continental Europe. Some countries have a requirement to be registered with the local Irish Embassy, but most European governments have no such requirement. So while the Irish Embassy in Madrid 5 years ago gave an official figure of 15,000 Irish in Spain, today there is an unofficial more realistic figure of c 30,000. Irish people make 1.6m trips each year to Spain.Benelux
30,000 Irish live in BeneluxBenelux
The Benelux is an economic union in Western Europe comprising three neighbouring countries, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. These countries are located in northwestern Europe between France and Germany...
countries of Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. More than 3/4 million enjoy Belgium's, Netherlands' and Luxembourg's rich Irish Music, Irish Cultural and Irish Sport scene. The region has Irish Clubs, Societies and Associations, Irish Theatre Groups, Irish & Celtic Studies Centres, and James Joyce Groups.
Its 200+ Irish Bars have regular live Irish Music, as well as live Irish Sports coverage - GAA
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
, Soccer and Rugby . As well as Irish Dancing Schools & Groups, the region has a huge catalogue of local Irish music bands, and festivals. It also boasts Irish Soccer Clubs, Rugby , Darts, Badminton and GAA Clubs here, as well as Irish Golf Societies.
Iberia
30,000 Irish live in mainland Spain , another 15,000 Irish reside in Portugal , Andorra and Gibraltar and on the Balearic and Canary Islands . More than 3/4 Million enjoy Iberia's Irish Music, Irish Cultural and Irish Sport scene. The region is not short of Irish Societies and Associations, you can Study Irish & Celtic Courses in Spain or Portugal.Did you know there's an Irish Dominican parish in Portugal? Many of the 165+ Irish Pubs have regular live Irish Music, as well as live Irish Sports coverage - GAA, Soccer and Rugby. There is no shortage of Iberian Irish Music Bands, Irish Dancing Schools and Groups, and Irish & Celtic Music Festivals. There is an Irish Darts League in Madrid. Play Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, Malaga, or in Tenerife and you could watch The All-Ireland in Majorca, and even find the Celtic Supporters Club in Gibraltar .
Mid to Southern Europe
15,000 Irish live in Austria, Italy, Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, San Marino, Slovenia, Switzerland, and the Vatican or in Mid-South Europe.Almost a Million enjoy Mid-South Europe's vibrant Irish Music, Irish Cultural and Irish Sport scene. Its 300 or so Irish pubs feature regular live Irish music, quiz nights and many feature Irish sports. Irish clubs, societies and associations arrange many activities for the integrated Irish communities, and the strong Irish cultural and literature following here. There are Irish & Celtic study courses and centres. You’ll find the Mediterranean Centre for Irish Studies here. There are local Irish music mands, Irish dancing schools and groups, organising special Irish music & dance nights and Irish & Celtic music festivals. We find Irish playing here with local soccer, rugby , darts and GAA clubs here; quite often these clubs are set-up by those in the Irish communities here.
Central Europe
While Approx. 5,000 Irish live in Central EuropeCentral Europe
Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
- although this figure is growing annually , it is a stronghold for Irish Music & Dancing in Europe , especially in Hungary , Poland and Czech Republic , with more than 150,000 regular visitors to Celtic Music, Irish Music, Irish Dancing, and Irish Culture websites based there, a region with more than 100 Irish music bands, Irish Dancing Schools and Irish/Celtic Festivals.
The Slovak
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
Irish have a dedicated Newspaper published regularly. There are more than 60 Irish Pubs in the Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Czech Republic, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, one with an Irish Golf society, one with a Rugby Club, others with dart and soccer clubs. The first ever GAA club was inaugurated in the region earlier this year. Irish Charity groups also have centres and communities based here, as outlined above.
East Europe
6,000 Irish live in East Europe - Belarus, Bulgaria, Greece, Israel, Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine. Celtic cultureCeltic culture
Culture of Celtic Europe and modern Celtic identity*Ancient Celtic culture*Celtic music**Insular art*Celtic music*Gaelic culture**Culture of Ireland**Culture of Scotland**Culture of the Isle of Man*Culture of Wales*Culture of Cornwall*Culture of Brittany...
, Music and Dancing is growing in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and Nations which were part of the former USSR. There's Irish Dancing in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, Russia, Turkey, Cyprus, Greece and Bulgaria. Many of the 125 + Irish Bars have regular live Irish Music, as well as live Irish Sports coverage - GAA, Soccer and Rugby. Top Irish Singers and European-based Irish Music Bands tour here regularly, as do top Irish Dance Shows, such is the popularity of the Irish Music and Dancing scene here. There are Irish societies in Cyprus , Russia , Greece , and Belarus, promoting cultural and social links between the host country and Ireland. Locally based Irish regularly support visiting Irish Sports Men's and Women's, such as Irish Boxing, Irish Golf, Irish Motor Rally, Irish Rowing, Irish Soccer, Irish Walking & Athletics, Irish Rugby, Irish Cycling and Irish Show Jumping Teams, which were all in this region this year. Irish Charity group
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
s & Defence Forces
Defence Forces
Defence Forces is the title of the armed forces of certain countries. It could mean:*Australian Defence Force*Barbados Defence Force*Belize Defence Force*Botswana Defence Force*Eritrean Defence Forces*Estonian Defence Forces...
also have centres and commitments based here, as outlined above.
Northern Europe
15,000 Irish live in Iceland , Norway , Sweden , Finland , Denmark , Estonia , Latvia , Lithuania - North Europe .More than 1/2 Million enjoy Northern Europe's Irish Music, Irish Cultural and Irish Sport scene. These countries host the Nordic Feis Annually with Irish Dancing Schools from across the region and some of the world’s biggest Irish Festivals. Irish Societies and Associations in Northern Europe are actively arranging Irish Literature, Theatre, Sport, Music and dancing events across Scandinavia. The region hosts Irish & Celtic Studies Centres in Sweden and Denmark.
Many of the 230+ Irish Pubs have regular live Irish Music, as well as live Irish Sports coverage - GAA, Soccer and Rugby. Norway has a Celtic Irish Soccer Club, Finland has a hurling club, Sweden and Denmark played each other in Gaelic football and in Hurling this past summer. Latvia hosts one of Europe’s hotspots to watch live GAA coverage, Lithuania’s Airija are a young hugely popular Folk-Rock band with strong with Irish Art & Culture influence.
Legend has it that many Irish women captured [Vikings] and ended up in Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
, which is one explanation given why the country’s population has closer blood type to the Irish than to populations in Denmark, Norway, Finland or Sweden. Because it was Irish women, the Irish surnames did not pass on to their descendents.
Germany
30,000 Irish live in Germany. More than 1 Million enjoy Germany's Irish Music, Irish Cultural and Irish Sport scene. It is thriving here, you can feel the buzz, with Irish Societies and Associations, Irish & Celtic Studies Centres, and James Joyce Groups arranging regular events for the Irish and the Irish-interested communities in Germany. Germany has 650+ Irish Pubs and bars. There are Irish Music Bands, Irish Dancing Schools and Groups, and Irish & Celtic Music Festivals, in almost every region of the country. There are Irish Soccer Clubs, Rugby, Darts, Billiards, and GAA Clubs here.France
30,000 Irish live in France, including more than 15,000 in Paris,More than 700,000 enjoy France's Irish Music, Irish Cultural and Irish Sport scene. With Brittany and the Breton culture matched closely to the Irish & Celtic cultures, you can join Irish Societies and Associations, Study Irish & Celtic Courses from Brittany to the French Riviera. The Irish College in Paris
Irish College in Paris
The Irish College in Paris was for three centuries a major Roman Catholic educational establishment, for Irish students. It was founded in the late sixteenth century, and closed down by the French government in the early twentieth century....
, which once was home to Karol Wojtyla, later Pope John Paul II, is now an Irish cultural centre. It hosts Irish events, such as lectures, book-launches, exhibitions and performances by Ireland’s authors, musicians and artists.
Many of the France's 50+ Irish Pubs have a special closeness to the Irish Communities here, quite often arranging events in conjunction with them or for them. Europe's largest Irish & Celtic Annual Festival is held in Brittany. In fact there is a wide range of French Irish Music Bands, Irish Set-Dancing Schools and Groups, and Irish & Celtic Music Festivals, covering most parts of the country. There are Irish Soccer Clubs in Montpellier , Marseille and Paris. Play Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
in Brittany, Paris, Lyon or at Festivals across the Nation.
This is but a snapshot of the Irish communities across Europe , and some of the groups in which they are involved.
External links
- EuropeanIrish.com - The Irish Music, Sport & Cultural Scene in Continental Europe
- Central Statistics Office IrelandCentral Statistics Office (Ireland)The Central Statistics Office is the statistical agency responsible for the gathering of "information relating to economic, social and general activities and conditions" in Ireland, in particular the National Census which is held every five years. The office is answerable to the Taoiseach and has...