The historical relationship between Poland and Ireland represents a relatively new and still largely unexplored field of research. The study of these two nations – situated at opposite ends of Europe – was overlooked within historical discourse. Only in recent decades, and particularly since the 2004 enlargement of the European Union, has a small but growing body of scholarship begun to examine the connections between them. This integration of Poland and Ireland within a shared European framework has created both the impetus and the opportunity to uncover deeper layers of their intertwined past.
This project is designed as a pioneering contribution to that endeavour. It aims to establish and popularise the study of Polish-Irish historical relations, embedding them more firmly within the academic narratives of both countries, while simultaneously situating them within a broader European context. In doing so, it will significantly advance the development of Polish-Irish studies and enrich ongoing discussions of European historical processes.
At its core, the project explores the historical ties between Poland and Ireland, with particular focus on the nineteenth century – a period of striking parallels in their national experiences. Both nations were predominantly rural, overpopulated, and economically underdeveloped, conditions shaped in large part by foreign domination. Landownership was concentrated in the hands of a small elite, while peasants, threatened by dispossession, lived under exploitative systems. In both societies, questions of land, religion, and nationhood were inextricably linked. Their struggles for independence and self-determination followed similar traditions: violent uprisings, peaceful resistance, and constitutional campaigns. Yet significant differences also emerged: in Ireland, constitutional and peaceful means were far more influential, while in Poland revolutionary action dominated the national struggle.
The nineteenth century also witnessed unusually intense direct contacts between the two nations, whose interactions were remarkable both in scope and in character. This project includes a comparative study of their respective nation-forming processes, analysing both the convergences and divergences in their early trajectories toward modern nationhood. Such an approach reveals why Poland and Ireland were frequently regarded as “sister nations” in the struggle for freedom, and it highlights their shared role in shaping broader European debates on national emancipation.
The study further traces the chain of influence extending beyond bilateral relations. For instance, the Irish movement associated with Daniel O’Connell (1775–1847) paid early attention to the Polish November Uprising of 1830–1831. This, in turn, helped redirect Irish enthusiasm for Poland into the campaign for repeal of the Union with Britain. The Irish struggle then influenced the Czech liberal movement, as articulated by Karel Havlíček (1821–1856), and even earlier, George Bariţ (1812–1893) drew on Irish example as a model for Romanian national emancipation. In this way, Poland and Ireland were connected not only to one another but also to wider networks of Central and Eastern European national movements – an intricate system of “communicating vessels” that linked disparate struggles across the continent.
By analysing these interrelations, the project offers insights into how Irish and Central European histories became mutually entangled, and how these connections contributed to the international dimension of nineteenth-century nation-building. The implications extend beyond the past. Today, Ireland’s largest minority population is Polish, and Polish is the most widely spoken foreign language in the country. A deeper understanding of shared historical experiences therefore carries a strong contemporary relevance: it enriches academic knowledge while also fostering integration, identity, and mutual recognition among more than 93,000 Poles currently living in Ireland (as of 2022) and the many who move between the two countries.
Ultimately, this research seeks to present Polish-Irish history from a fresh and deeper perspective, grounded in extensive archival research and critical comparative analysis. By uncovering the profound analogies and connections of the nineteenth century, it will broaden our understanding of both nations and illuminate their place within the larger European story.
The project was initiated in October 2022
Dr Adam A. Kucharski
