The Special Relationship Between Ireland and Scotland

There are many links between Ireland and				single largest minority ethnic group, and there are
Scotland and the two countries have developed a				a large number of Scots living in Ireland. The
close relationship. In this article I'm going to				English 'issue' brought both countries together -
explore the historical and cultural links that lie at it's				the need to preserve their identity in the shadow
heart.				of a powerful neighbouring culture. I will now take
From earliest times the two countries, formed a				a look at some of the shared aspects of culture -
single cultural, religious, linguistic and economic				traditional clothing, music and sport.
zone. The early Scots who came to Scotland				A commonality between the culture if the two
from Ireland in the 5th and 6th centuries				countries in clearly shown in the wearing of the
established the foundations for Irish - Scottish				kilt - a clear link between the two nations is. Irish
migrations, which continue to this day. Two of the				kilts are traditionally plain in either saffron of
most significant migrations were:under the				green, with Irish county tartans a more recent
influence of the english who were keen to shore				variation.
up their foothold in Ireland, over 200,000 scots				Sport is another areas that has links, interestingly
emigrated to Ireland. In the second half of the				the Irish-Scots were instrumental in the formation
nineteenth century there was a mass exodus				of Celtic Football Clubs Hibernian and Dundee
from Ireland to England and Scotland as a result				United. Indeed, these teams were originally
of poverty and famine. Irish labour helped Scottish				formed to provide recreational facilities for Irish
industrialisation to take root rapidly. In major				immigrants.
cultural achievements, too, each country affected				Celtic music has a strong historical traditional in
the other profoundly. The Scottish Enlightenment,				Scotland and Ireland with both using fiddles,
began in Ireland in the work of the philosopher				bagpipes, whistles and bodhrans. Often, the term
Francis Hutcheson, who later moved to Glasgow				Celtic music is applied to the music of Ireland and
and greatly influenced the work of David Hume				Scotland however, it is notable that Irish and
and Adam Smith.				Scottish traditional musicians tend to point out the
One of the key links between the two counties in				differences between the too.
the large Diaspora of each. Tens of millions of				Today the relationships between Ireland and
citizens with Scottish and Irish ancestry can be				Scotland continues to be shaped by the changes
found across the globe in the United States,				to the political dynamic brought about by
Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Australia and				devolution in Scotland, the Peace Process in
New Zealand. Both countries are keen to engage				Northern Ireland as well as the deeper integration
on their Diasporas. This recently happened in				into the European Union, which is and will remain
Scotland, with the Scottish Tourist board calling on				Scotland and Ireland's most significant economic
Scots living abroad to come home.				relationship.
In Scotland today people of Irish decent are the