Australia–Ireland relations

Australia–Ireland relations

Ireland
Australia

Australia–Ireland relations refers to the diplomatic relations between Australia and the Republic of Ireland. Australia and Ireland share a historical connection and remained part of the British Empire until their respective independence. Over 300,000 Irish settlers migrated to Australia to escape poverty in their homeland and over 2 million Australian citizens claim Irish ancestry.[1] Both nations are mutual members of the Australia Group, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the United Nations.

History

The first known Irish to arrive to Australia came with the First Fleet in 1791 when Britain shipped 155 Irish convicts to Australia after the British government created a penal colony in New South Wales. A further 700 Irish convicts would be shipped to Australia.[1] Between 1840 and 1914, over 300,000 Irish migrated to Australia.[1]and both Irish and Australian soldiers fought side-by-side for the British Empire during the Second Boer War (1899–1902) and World War I (1914–1918), and especially during the Gallipoli Campaign.[2][3] In December 1922, Ireland became an independent nation.[4] In December 1931, after the signing of the Statute of Westminster, Australia became an independent sovereign nation.

Post-independence

In 1941, Australian Prime Minister Robert Menzies became the first Australian Prime Minister to visit Ireland and he met with Irish Taoiseach Éamon de Valera.[5] Both nations opened resident diplomatic missions in their respective capitals in 1946.[6] During World War II, Ireland remained neutral while Australia fought alongside the British and allies during the war. In April 1948, Éamon de Valera travelled to Australia for a six-week tour seeking support for a united Ireland as six counties of Northern Ireland wished to remain part of the United Kingdom.[7] However, de Valera’s trip was unsuccessful as many Australian born Irish and migrants were not interested in the affairs of Ireland or had lost contact with their home nation.[7] During The Troubles which began in the late 1960s in Northern Ireland, there was much sympathy from Australia to both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland which led to the formation of an ‘’Australian Aid for Ireland Organization’’.[8] In 2000, Ireland opened a consulate-general in Sydney.[6] Both nations have a Working holiday visa agreement.[9]

State visits

Monthly value of Australian merchandise exports to Ireland (A$ millions) since 1988
Monthly value of Irish merchandise exports to Australia (A$ millions) since 1988

Prime Ministerial visits from Australia to Ireland[10][11]

Presidential and Prime Ministerial (Taoiseach) visits from Ireland to Australia[12][13][14][15][16]

Trade

Embassy of Ireland in Canberra

In 2016, trade between Australia and Ireland totalled $2.4 billion Australian dollars.[17] Australia exported approximately $71 million Australian dollars to Ireland with main exports including: medicaments, alcoholic beverages, sugar, molasses and honey and medical instruments. Ireland exported $2.384 billion Australian dollars worth of goods to Australia with the main exports including: medicaments, manufactured articles, pharmaceutical products and computers.[17] Australia is Ireland's 15th biggest export trading partner globally, while at the same time, Australia is Ireland's 44th largest import source.[17]

Resident diplomatic missions

See also

References

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