Ireland's relationship with Spain
A modern European partnership built on a historic friendship.
Ireland and Spain enjoy a thriving relationship as near neighbours, friends, and fellow members of the European Union, with a historic connection that dates back centuries.
Cultural connections
Legend has it that some of the earliest settlers in Ireland set sail over 2,000 years ago from northern Spain, and the many similarities between traditional Irish and Spanish music, dance and folklore suggest a long and close relationship between the two countries.
Over the centuries, further links developed thanks to trade between Irish and Spanish fishing villages, Irish pilgrims following the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, and events like the shipwreck of the Spanish Armada off the west coast of Ireland and the Flight of the Earls from Ireland to Spain.
Today, we celebrate our historic cultural connections and continue to make new ones. Thanks to a thriving Irish Studies network in Spanish universities, an annual St Patrick’s Day Parade in Madrid, a growing Gaelic football community bringing Ireland’s national sports to life in Spain, and countless visits and performances by Irish writers, artists, film-makers and musicians, our cultural links are stronger than ever.
Partners for peace and prosperity
As fellow members of the European Union and the United Nations, amongst other international organisations, Ireland and Spain work together to promote our shared values as supporters of democracy, human rights and the rules-based international system.
Tourism and trade
Spain is the most popular holiday destination for Irish people, with over 2.5 million visits made each year. In turn, we welcome over 400,000 Spanish visitors to our shores annually, including over 35,000 young Spanish people who travel to Ireland to learn the English language. These remarkable statistics underpin the friendship, familiarity and mutual understanding that exist between the Irish and Spanish people.
Economic links
The strong connections between our people also translate into a thriving economic relationship, with total bilateral trade in goods and services of almost €15 billion per year. Spain is an important market for Irish food and drink products, from seafood to dairy to beef.
Irish companies are also thriving in Spain in many digital technology sectors, including fintech, life sciences, data centres and cyber security, through partnership with Spanish business. Meanwhile, Ireland benefits from Spanish investment in construction, financial services, pharmaceuticals and more.
From ancient beginnings, the modern relationship between Ireland and Spain continues to go from strength to strength.