Irish People in Mainland Europe - France

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, 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.