Ireland's relationship with Canada
Ireland and Canada have a deep and enduring friendship based on shared values and people-to-people connections.
The Irish people have exerted profound influence on Canada over four centuries. Long settled in Newfoundland, since the late 16th Century the Irish featured prominently as lumber barons, farmers, labourers, explorers, writers, politicians, lawyers, educators, inventors, business leaders, and senior churchmen.
Thomas D’Arcy McGee played a leading role in Confederation while Mother Teresa Dease educated generations of Canadian youth in schools she founded.
The influence and contribution of Irish Canadians has been immense over the generations. From inventors like Thomas Ahearn and soldiers like Arthur Currie to rights activists like the Famous Five women, and Prime Ministers like Louis St Laurent and Brian Mulroney, Irish Canadians helped shape modern Canada.
Irish heritage in Canada
There are an estimated 4.5 million Canadians today that have Irish ancestry, representing almost 15% of the population. The Irish community in Canada is one of the fastest growing, most vibrant, and youngest Irish diaspora communities across the globe.
In March 2022, a motion designating March as Irish Heritage Month in Canada was passed unanimously in the Canadian Parliament to mark the importance of educating and reflecting upon Irish heritage and culture for future generations.
Sponsored by James Maloney MP, the purpose of Irish Heritage Month is to recognise the contributions made by Irish Canadians to building Canada and to Canadian society.
Canada is also home to the first and only officially designated Gaeltacht area outside of Ireland. Established in 2007, Gaeltacht an Oileáin Úir (the North American Gaeltacht) is located in Tamworth, Ontario and is a gathering place for Irish speakers. It also welcomes those interested in learning the language to join regular Irish immersion courses.
Shared values
Ireland and Canada have a long history of promoting democratic values, human rights and a rules-based international order. Like Ireland, Canada has two official languages, illustrative of our shared values of bilingualism and inclusivity. Over the years, we have cooperated closely in these areas at the UN and other multilateral fora.
Canada’s support for The Good Friday Agreement
A number of high profile Canadians have been actively involved in the Northern Ireland peace process, including former Canadian Chief of Defence Staff, General John de Chastelain (Chairman of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning, 1997-2011), and former Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, Al Hutchinson.
Canada was a founding contributor to the International Fund for Ireland (IFI) in 1986 and continues to send an observer to IFI Board meetings.
Economic and business links
Business links between Ireland and Canada are deep and extensive, with very significant two-way trade in goods and services between our two countries, totalling over €10 billion annually.
Exports from Ireland have grown substantially over the last decade. The provisional application of the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) in 2017 has played a key role in boosting trade with growth set to continue.
There are 75 Canadian companies operating in Ireland, employing over 15,000 people. In addition, there are over 400 Enterprise Ireland client companies doing business in Canada, employing over 6,000 people.
Team Ireland work across Canada to ensure the trading relationship between Ireland and Canada continues to thrive.
There are three Irish diplomatic missions, two Enterprise Ireland offices and one Tourism Ireland and IDA Ireland offices respectively in Canada, which indicates the importance Ireland places on its relationship with Canada across cultural, economic and political ties.
Community links
Canada is home to a myriad of Irish community organisations, from Irish dance schools to Irish Film Festivals to seniors groups. Many of these organisations are supported through the Department of Foreign Affair’s Emigrant Support Programme.
GAA in Canada
The Canadian Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) was officially founded in November 1987. Over the last 35+ years, the GAA has grown across Canada with clubs in Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, Winnipeg, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.
Today, the GAA scene in Canada is thriving, highlighted by the growth of GAA in British Columbia where there are now 9 clubs with over 1,000 registered members. The Department of Foreign Affairs and the GAA support many of these clubs through The Global Games Development Fund.
Working Holiday Authorisation and International Co-op Internship Authorisation
An important reciprocal Agreement between Ireland and Canada, the Working Holiday Authorisation, provides young Irish and Canadians between the age of 18 and 35 with the exciting opportunity to explore, work and live in Canada and Ireland.
Every year, up to 6,000 Irish students avail of the Programme to spend a year in North America, and a growing number of Canadians are taking up the opportunity to travel to Ireland.
Ireland, one of only two English speaking countries in the European Union offers the warmest of welcomes to students from all over the world.