Irish In Spain Are Irish Spanyards!
Updated : Sep 15, 2009
How many Irish are now living in Spain?
The Irish have a history of emigration, traditionally to the UK and America. Over the past 5 years more Irish people have emigrated to Continental Europe than to the UK and America combined. And at an incredible 90,000 Irish citizens, Spain has more Irish residents than any other European country.
In fact, more Irish now live in Spain than in 11 different Irish Counties, or than in Waterford, Limerick or Galway cities.
The Irish in Spain have merged into the local language, culture and customs, but have not left their own cultures behind. Irish and Celtic Music is strong across Spain, Gaelic sports are now being played in Pamplona, Valencia, Barcelona and Madrid, and Gaelic football teams have also played in Girona, Bilbao and Marbella. And with no less than 2,000 Irish Pubs across Spain, including more than 200 Guinness Official Irish Pubs, there is an Irish world just beneath the surface in Spain, just waiting to be brought together. The Irish need a sense of ‘Irish craic’ and belonging!
“Wouldn’t it be great to meet many other Irish people in Spain - an Irish meet-up for Irish people living in Spain, as well as all Spanish people interested in Irish Activities and Ireland - to share their ideas, thoughts and to get to know one another?†it was asked. The first Irish Gathering in Spain was the brain-child of Ireland-Spain blog expert Chesús Yuste (Innisfree1916 innisfree1916.wordpress.com ), and developed with the Cork-based EuropeanIrish.com and its Development Manager for Spain, Chary Panés, with support from Proinsias Collins, Roger Cummiskey, Brendan Murphy and many others.
On the weekend of the All-Ireland Gaelic Football Final - 19th & 20th September, Madrid will host this first social meeting of Irish people in Spain, beginning at 10:30am on Saturday 19th in the Irish Rover Function Room, Madrid.
Following an initial meet-up and coffee, the Irish in Spain will get a chance to get to know one another. The day has some fascinating speakers lined up, and a Panel Discussion on “In Spain, Keeping in touch with Ireland†featuring Irish and Spanish panellists from all walks of life, from Business to Tourism, Academic to Irish Media, Culture and Sport in Spain – everyone with an Irish-Spain connection.
The afternoon will be an informal one of ‘craic’, chat, Irish food, drink and music, spread across a couple of Irish venues in the Spanish Capital.
Sunday is All-Ireland Gaelic Football Final Day, the biggest day for Irish abroad, after St Patrick’s Day. Live coverage will be live from 16:00 local time.
EuropeanIrish.com in association with Aer Lingus has a Special prize of flights to Ireland from Europe (or to Europe from Ireland), to celebrate this First Irish Gathering in the Spanish Capital. Everyone in Europe can enter.
Details of the Irish Gathering in Spain and the Special Flights Prize, are on www.EuropeanIrish.com , the number 1 website for the Irish in Spain and those interested in Irish activities in Spain.
VeryHappyPig wants to know would a few Irish/Spain People post us over a Little Sun PLEASE!!
