“Are you from the North or the South?”
That is the first question, which French officials always ask me. Why?
Well, you see, Northern Ireland is still part of the United Kingdom, whereas Southern Ireland is a separate political entity altogether! The Irish Free State is known officially as The Republic of Ireland and / or Eire and is a member of the European Union and the Euro currency zone. Northern Ireland ceased to belong to the EU after Brexit.
So, whether I come from the North or the South determines my status within any fellow EU country. As a citizen of the Irish Republic, I did not need a visa in order to enter France in 2017, nor did I need to apply for a residency permit. Since Brexit, anyone coming from Northern Ireland faces the same requirements as other non-EU countries.
Mind you, many French people, particularly here in rural France, know little or nothing about Ireland. They have some vague notion that the country may be physically attached to Scotland. I have lost count of the number of French, who tell me that Ireland is just the same as Scotland! Excuse me?!
Some French people have heard about Ireland because of our Rugby team, particularly when the Irish have beaten the French or the French have beaten the Irish! Vive le Rugby!
The more adventurous French have taken a weekend city break to my hometown of Dublin, where they visited the Guinness Brewery Museum and sat in on an Irish Ceili (music) session in a traditional Irish pub! At least they know where my country is!
To be fair, I have met several French people, who have lived and worked in Ireland. They are bi-lingual and understand the complexities of Irish politics. They never make the mistake of calling me “English” because I happen to speak the English language!
I must keep reminding the French that to call an Irish person English is the same as saying that there is no difference between the French and the Belgians! That always gets a response!
There is a lot more to say about being Irish in France. Some of it is comical and even farcical, while others are surprising. Stay tuned for further reports on my adventures with French society and bureaucracy!
ENDS Veronica Smith first published on 7th June 2026
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