Ireland and France may have historically been divided by various invasions and empires, yet have always shared something in common – exemplified best by Charles de Gaulle – world war hero, French general, and founder of the Fifth Republic.
Huguenot ancestors revitalized Ireland’s linen industry and left their mark on Irish culture; producing writers Sheridan Le Fanu and Samuel Beckett among others.
Celtic Tribes
Celtic culture emerged during Iron Age and medieval Europe from tribal societies united by similar language, religion, and traditions; their legacy can still be found today in Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and parts of France.
Celtic warriors lived in clans organized into tribes with chiefs, freemen, and slaves; these tribes fought one another as well as Roman forces. Some tribes became integrated into Roman society such as Gauls, Helvetii (east of Rhine in present-day Switzerland), Boii or Boii while other like Galatians in Asia Minor kept their distinctive cultures and languages outside Europe on fringes such as Brittany, Isle of Man or Highland Scotland.
Celtic peoples first emerged around 2000 BCE in central Europe – today this includes Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Czech Republic Hungary and southeastern France – following on the Urnfield Culture with mound tomb burial.
Huguenots
Huguenots were refugees who sought sanctuary from religious persecution in France during the 16th and 17th centuries, with most arriving in England where they were generally welcomed as asylum-seekers; it’s been said that these Huguenots introduced “refugee” into English dictionaries.
They established communities in Ireland, Wales and South Africa as well as becoming major figures in commerce, banking, industry, arts and book-making. Furthermore, they established a formal church structure following Genevan consistorial practices with local congregations being responsible for church affairs while national synods settling doctrinal matters.
Portarlington in County Laois was the principal Huguenot settlement in Ireland and closely associated with Charles II as his new king of England had confiscated many Irish lands under Cromwell, gifting them to Huguenot friends as gifts. Many of these industrious Protestants who had become prosperous through linen production in France also became merchants in Dublin as merchants themselves.
Immigration
Irish immigrants have taken an especially strong hold of France, particularly the vibrant Paris region. Although their numbers may be smaller than other European migrant groups, they tend to be older individuals whose career and family needs take precedence over all else.
Reasons for migration were varied: some served in French armies while others fled religious persecution or sought economic opportunity. No matter their motivations for migrating, descendants from this period can be tracked using baptisms, marriages, burials and legal documents from this timeframe – the online archival collections in Quebec provide researchers with plenty of data.
Charles de Gaulle, one of the more celebrated Irish-French immigrants and heroes from World War II and founding father of the Fifth Republic. Immediately recognizable in both countries for his iconic face and Gallic nose horn are instantly recognized throughout his homelands; remembering his persecution as an Irish rebel still brings up feelings of bitterness against both governments. For those interested in genealogy, McCartan and Ghesquiere-Dierickx’s book entitled ‘The McCartans of Kinelarty’ gives great detail about his family tree; it can also provide an excellent resource.
Quebec
Quebec, Canada’s largest province, can trace its culinary heritage back to 16th-century French cuisine, the fur trade, and hunting traditions that date back centuries. Today it’s best known for maple syrup production as well as food such as tourtiere, poutine and St Catherine’s Taffy made here.
In the 1800s, many Irish men settled in Quebec City. Their presence can be found documented through baptisms, marriages, deaths, censuses and legal documents from Quebec notaries; look out for references that include “dit Lirlande (literally Irish).”
Quebec stands out as having its own distinct cultural identity within Canada, which can be found through literature, painting and sculpture. Art was key in Quebec’s development over time – seen through literature such as Henri-Raymond Casgrain’s and Bishop Camille Roy’s literary efforts that sought to reflect French Canadian values; these efforts were later challenged by those wishing for more universal texts.