Ireland's relationship with the Philippines
Ireland first established diplomatic relations with the Philippines in 1984, with our similar historical experiences forming the basis for a strong bond. Acknowledging the deep and longstanding connections, an Embassy of Ireland was opened in Manila in 2021.
Our people-to-people connections are most evident when we look at the movement between our populations. The Filipino community in Ireland is the largest community from any southeast Asian country, many of whom contribute to the healthcare sector.
With a growing number of Irish living in the Philippines, our communities and diaspora continue to deepen the cultural exchange between our two countries.
Cultural connections
Ireland and the Philippines both have a rich and vibrant cultural history, with an especially strong love of music. Irish music is extremely popular in the Philippines, with great excitement around concerts bands like The Script, Westlife, and the Corrs.
Awareness of traditional Irish music is also increasing, with Irish groups finding St Patricks Day celebrations the perfect way to introduce traditional Irish music and dance to the Philippines.
Though geographically far away, the cultural identities of Irish and Filipinos are similar. A Filipino adaptation of Brian Friel’s play, “Philadelphia Here I Come”, performed in Tagalog and capturing the essence of Filipino migrants, is a wonderful example of this shared experience.
In the area of sports, the Manila GAA club welcomes Filipinos seeking to learn about indigenous Irish sport and to play Gaelic Football. This club of over 60 passionate Filipino, Irish, and other international players are known for their enthusiasm, dedication, and deep love for the Gaelic games.
Today, aspects of Filipino culture can also be found in Ireland, helped by the vibrant Filipino diaspora there. Filipino cuisine is growing in popularity, and can be sampled throughout Dublin and elsewhere.
Bilateral educational partnerships
Education is an important shared priority for our two countries. Ireland is home to many Filipino students who choose Ireland as a place to study, and the Minister of State for Skills and Further Education, Niall Collins, was the first Irish Minister to visit the Philippines following the opening of the Irish Embassy.
Economic relations
The Philippines is a key trading partner for Ireland, and an important destination for Irish food products. In terms of beef, Ireland is the largest European supplier to the Philippines, and is one of the top five suppliers globally.
For Ireland, The Philippines is the largest market in South East Asia for dairy and meat, and it is the largest for Irish beef exports outside of the UK and Europe.