Ireland's relationship with Luxembourg
Ireland and Luxembourg have long enjoyed excellent relations in the political, economic and cultural spheres. Ireland established diplomatic relations with Luxembourg in 1974 after joining what was then the European Economic Community (EEC).
Ireland-Luxembourg relations run deep and wide across many areas of activity, and as smaller European Union member states we share many of the same challenges and opportunities. We have excellent working relationships across all areas of government and also at business and community level.
Political and economic ties
Ireland’s resident Embassy opened in Luxembourg city in 1973, after our accession to the EEC. This period marked the first significant wave of Irish people moving to the Grand Duchy to work in the EU Institutions. Ireland’s presence at EU bodies in Luxembourg continues to be very strong, with representation at the European Court of Auditors, the European Court of Justice, the EIB and many more.
In recent years, some of those arrivals from Ireland to work at the EU are taking up jobs through the Irish language – so it is not uncommon to hear a cúpla focail [few words of Irish] on the streets of the city! More broadly, the Irish community living and working in Luxembourg continues to grow.
In 2022, the Luxembourg government took the decision to establish a resident Embassy in Dublin – a further testament to the closeness of our relations.
Ireland and Luxembourg have seen relations deepen in recent years, particularly during the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2013 and the Luxembourg Presidency in 2015. The close relations enjoyed between our two countries are expected to grow stronger as bilateral trade, employment and tourism continue to grow.
From an economic perspective, Ireland and Luxembourg also have much in common, as two open economies at the heart of Europe and the Single Market, both with vibrant global financial centres.
Two-way trade between our two countries has grown to be worth over €3.5 billion each year. Ireland’s largest reported export to Luxembourg is in financial services, while in goods, industrial machinery continues to be a strong category of exports across the last decade.
People-to-people connections
The Irish Community living and working in Luxembourg is flourishing and active, including professionals, citizens working in the EU Institutions, school teachers, students and other Irish people who call Luxembourg home. Recent figures published by the Luxembourg Statistical Office (STATEC) indicates that some 2,500 Irish nationals are living here, a doubling of the figure in 10 years.
Their vibrant and unique contribution in the business and cultural spheres can be seen regularly at the events held by the Luxembourg-Irish societies, associations and clubs across the country. The Irish Club of Luxembourg has served as a focal point for the Irish community since 1985, while branches of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and An Cumann Gaelach promote Irish culture, music and language in Luxembourg. The Gaelic Sports Club Luxembourg Asbl is the oldest Irish association in Luxembourg and is still welcoming players of all nationalities to play GAA in the city.
Historic links
There are significant historic and cultural links between the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and Ireland.
Historically, the first links between Ireland and Luxembourg date back to the late 7th/ early 8th Century. The town of Echternach in the east of the country was originally a Celtic monastic settlement and its founder, Saint Willibrord, is the patron saint of Luxembourg. Although born in Northumbria in 658, he moved at the age of twenty to Ireland, where he studied at the Abbey of Rathmelsigi (modern day Clonmelsh/Kilogan, Co. Carlow) before eventually moving to Echternach where he established his own monastery.
President of Ireland, Mrs Mary McAleese, on her State Visit to Luxembourg in October, 2009, visited Echternach. Her visit added impetus to the centuries-old link between the town and Co. Carlow. Since then, a number of joint delegations from Carlow have travelled to Echternach to participate in the hopping procession.