Join us as we explore the heritage and Irish sites visible throughout the streets of Paris. Fleeing economic hardship and religious persecution in their homeland, many Irish immigrants arrived in the French capital during the mid-16th century.
From the historic College of Ireland, now the Irish Cultural Center, to the charming Gothic chapel, and even a well-stocked shop offering traditional Irish kilts, explore the Irish spots in Paris!
Just a short walk from the Pantheon and at the heart of Irish cultural life in Paris, the Irish Cultural Centre is housed in a historic building, the Collège des Irlandais. Opened in Paris in 1578, the college quickly became a residence for Irish priests and students fleeing their homeland after the Anglican schism. This was a period of religious reform when the Church of England broke away from papal authority and the Roman Catholic Church. Such political and religious upheaval led to the dissolution of abbeys, convents, and monasteries in Ireland, forcing Catholic priests and students to seek new education opportunities nearby, many heading to study at the University of Paris.
In 1578, Father John Lee temporarily established the first Irish student community in Paris at the Collège de Montaigu. Nearly a century later, in 1677, Louis XIV officially granted, through royal decree, the Irish diaspora the right to live permanently at the Collège des Lombards. Today, only the chapel—where notable Irish figures are buried—remains visible as a reminder of this site, which also allowed the community to receive donations. Fast forward to 1769, when Laurence Kelly, then the college’s prefect, used these donations to purchase a private mansion on rue du Cheval-Vert. This street was later renamed rue des Irlandais by a Napoleonic decree in 1807, and from 1776, the students were invited to live there, marking a new chapter in the community’s history.
Handed back to the collegiate community in 1805 after being converted into a boys' school during the French Revolution, the Irish College has since served various purposes. It became a hospital during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, a refuge for Eastern European refugees during World War I, and an American military shelter during World War II. Until 1997, it functioned as a Polish seminary for clergy, some of whom survived deportations. Among those seminarians was none other than the future Pope John Paul II.
Since 1997, following its acquisition by the Irish government, the former Irish College has been transformed into the Irish Cultural Centre. Featuring a U-shaped design conceived by architect François Bélanger, its spacious, shaded courtyard lined with chestnut trees and its bell tower embody its welcoming atmosphere. Today, the cultural centre champions Irish culture in all its facets through a diverse programming that includes cinema, visual arts, theatre, dance, and music. It houses a media library, a heritage library, a chapel, two exhibition galleries, and around forty rooms that still host visiting artists, residency participants, and Irish students.
Dedicated to Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, the Saint Patrick Chapel was built within the Irish College, now the Irish Cultural Centre. Designed in a Gothic style, the chapel houses a Madonna and Child statue, numerous decorative details, a 17th-century original staircase, and a painting of Patrick of Ireland fighting snakes. But its most distinctive architectural feature is the arrangement of the church pews, which, instead of facing the altar as usual, face each other. Sunday Mass is celebrated in English, and pop and folk music concerts are held there during the warmer months.
Overlooking the chapel, the heritage library houses approximately 8,000 books on its wooden shelves. These works, written in English, French, Latin, and Irish, cover topics such as philosophy, theology, history, geography, and music, dating from the 15th to the 19th century. Among the displayed items is a Flemish psalm collection on vellum, created in Bruges around 1500, showcased in a glass case. While primarily reserved for researchers, the library opens its doors to the general public once a month.
Irish writer Oscar Wilde spent the last three years of his life in Paris. At Père Lachaise Cemetery, the artist's tomb, which closed in 1900 and is now designated as a Historic Monument, has become a place of pilgrimage for many visitors. Featuring an imposing sculpture of a winged sphinx that contains the ashes of his lover, Robert Ross, the tomb has over the years been covered with hundreds of lipstick kisses left behind by curious visitors and lovers of the romantic writer.
To explore the intimate and enduring connection between Oscar Wilde and the city of Paris, follow in the footsteps of the legendary dandy through his Parisian trail!
To get you started with Anglo-Saxon literature, head over to Smith & Son Bookstore on Rivoli Street. With more than 70,000 titles in English, this bookstore is the hub for enthusiasts of British literature, featuring works by English authors as well as Scottish and Irish writers in its shelves. Plus, you'll find a wide selection of magazines, games, DVDs, and audiobooks for all tastes. James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, Samuel Beckett, and William Butler Yeats—their secrets will no longer be hidden from you.
Chances are, if you were asked to name three words that come to mind when thinking of Ireland, the word 'kilt' would probably slip from your lips. And you'd be right, because the kilt originates as much from Scotland as from Ireland! Today, the Irish still wear the kilt, especially during traditional festivities. This long woolen fabric with a tartan pattern, wrapped around the wearer's waist, even has its own specialized shop in Paris.
Located in the 14th arrondissement, La Maison du Kilt is a must-visit for enthusiasts and curious visitors alike, offering a wide selection of Scottish and Irish kilts and a variety of tartans representing Brittany. The shop also features an array of accessories, including ties, belts, buckles, swords, sporrans—those small pouches worn at the waist—and even... bagpipes!
The Irish boutique in Paris is undoubtedly the Comptoir Irlandais, located in the 11th and 13th arrondissements of the capital. Inside these two locations, you’ll find a wide variety of clothing and objects made in Ireland: 100% pure wool sweaters, scarves, blankets, hats, and household linens; but also food products like jams, sauces, and beverages such as whiskey, beers, ciders, and teas. Rugby fans, meanwhile, can browse through jerseys, polo shirts, and oval-shaped balls.
When it comes to Irish drinks, there's no avoiding the mention of whisky! At the Maison du Whisky, located on Tiquetonne and d'Anjou streets, you'll find over 2,000 different bottles of this renowned beverage, including an extensive selection of Irish whiskies, typically less peaty than their Scottish counterparts. A must-visit for enthusiasts.
Finally, for those looking to immerse themselves even more deeply in Irish culture, why not hone your skills in Irish dance or music? The Irish Association of Paris offers year-round Irish set dance classes, the most popular Irish group dance performed by four couples, set to lively traditional Irish music. The association also provides introductory courses to Celtic music, where instruments like the flute, bodhrán, mandolin, and bagpipes take center stage and keep the celebration alive.
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