Ireland's relationship with Jordan
Bilateral relations between Jordan and Ireland have gone from strength to strength since the opening of the Irish Embassy in Amman in 2019, which was one of the first Embassies opened under the Global Ireland Initiative 2025.
Historical links
Connections between Ireland and Jordan are considered to date back over 6,000 years. The Neolithic burial monuments, Dolmens, famous in Ireland, are also found in Jordan and the surrounding Levant region suggesting connections and traditions that extend as far back as the late Neolithic Period (c. 4,000 B.C.) Jordan is home to the most important concentration of dolmens in the Levant, mainly concentrated in the north-west of the country.
According to records, Cloughjordan, a town in County Tipperary, derives its name from Jordan. The Irish language name Clogh Shiúrdáin means ‘Stone of Jordan’. During the 12th Century, an Anglo Norman Knight, De Marisco, brought a stone from the River Jordan and placed it into his castle, now called Cloughjordan House. To highlight this connection, friendship stones from the River Jordan can be found in Cloughjordan town and at the Embassy of Ireland in Amman.
Empowering young people
With almost 70% of Jordan’s population under the age of 30, many of Ireland’s initiatives are centred on supporting youth and education.
Drawing inspiration from BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition in Ireland, the world's largest and longest-running STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) exhibition, the Embassy in Amman launched the Jordan Young Scientist (JoYS) initiative in 2021. The initiative has grown to become a nationwide contest with hundreds of students competing in an annual exhibition from every part of Jordan.
The Embassy also works with a local organisation, Generations for Peace, with assistance from Northern Ireland charity, Cinemagic, to build filmmaking skills among young people in Jordan which results in the making of short films, including award winners, which focus on social issues.
Humanitarian and development support
Ireland’s response to the crisis in Syria is the largest response to any humanitarian crisis around the world, with support also provided to Jordan. This reflects the severity of the humanitarian crisis in Syria, as well as the impact it continues to have on the stability of the wider region.
Ireland’s development programme in Jordan supports projects focused on climate issues, inclusive development, women’s economic empowerment and youth.
Economic cooperation
Ireland and Jordan share a modest but growing trade relationship, with over €365 million in two-way trade in goods and services annually. Medical and pharmaceutical products were the largest categories of products exported from Ireland to Jordan in 2023, accounting for half of all exports in that year.
Irish community
Jordan has a small but active Irish community, primarily based in the capital city, Amman. The community often engages in cultural events, celebrating Irish holidays like St Patrick's Day and seeks to foster greater connections through the Jordanian Irish Association, which serves as a hub for social gatherings.