Irish connections in Frankfurt and surrounds
Explore historical links between Ireland and Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland
From Celtic connections to literary links, the ties between Ireland and these three German states are rich and diverse. Explore the interactive tiles below to travel back in time through history and map the connections.
Explore the historical links below between Ireland and Frankfurt, including the wider area looked after by Ireland's Consulate in Frankfurt: Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland.
1. Kassel
Irish Nobel Prize winner, Samuel Beckett was a frequent visitor to Kassel between 1928 and 1932, where his lover, Peggy Sinclair was living at the time.
2. Kassel
The architect, Richard Castle, who designed many of Ireland’s most iconic buildings like Leinster House, was originally from Kassel.
3. Glauberg
Glauberg was the site of a 5th century BC Celtic hill fort and many other archaeological finds, including the life-size “Prince of Glauberg” statue.
4. Dietkirchen
The WWI prisoner of war cemetery WWI in Dietkirchen is home to a Celtic Cross which was donated by Irish prisoners to honour their comrades buried there.
5. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
Before publishing his Irisches Tagebuch, Heinrich Böll’s impressions of Ireland were published in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung in the 1950s.
6. Der Querschnitt
The great Irish modernist writer, James Joyce had five poems published in the Frankfurt-based art magazine, Der Querschnitt in 1923 and visited the city in 1928.
7. Kostheim, Wiesbaden
The patron saint of Kostheim, Wiesbaden, St. Killian was born in Co. Cavan around 640 AD and later travelled to Germany.
8. Mainz to Lake Constance
Ireland’s St. Colombanus travelled on the River Rhine from Mainz to Lake Constance in 611 AD. He wrote his song, Carmen Navale, during this journey.
9. Nierstein
A church dedicated to St. Killian overlooks the town of Nierstein.
10. Ulfbehrt
The blade of the medieval Ballinderry Sword, which once belonged to an Irish ruler, bears the name of a prominent Rhineland swordsmith, Ulfbehrt.
11. Palatinate, Hesse and Baden
In 1709, over 3000 people were forced to flee the Palatinate, Hesse and Baden due to war and famine. 150 families from this group settled in Ireland and become known as the Irish Palatines.
12. Otzenhausen
Otzenhausen was home to one of the largest Celtic hill forts in the world. Its ring wall is still very well preserved today.