PM Modi in Ireland: Facts you need to know about India-Ireland relations

New Delhi, Sept 24: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited Ireland on a day-long trip on September 23 was the first prime ministerial visit in 59 years.

Modi held talks with Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny and addressed Indian diaspora at the Indian Community Reception in Dublin.

Here are some facts you need to know about India-Ireland relations

• Formal diplomatic links were established between India and Ireland in 1947.

• An Indian embassy was opened in Dublin in 1951 while Irish embassy in New Delhi became operational in 1964.

• India hosted three Irish presidents Eamon de Valera in 1948, Dr Patrick Hillery in 1979 and Mrs Mary Robinson in 1993.

• Two Indian presidents Dr. S. Radhakrishnan and N Sanjiva Reddy paid a visit to Ireland in 1964 and 1982 respectively.

• Before Narendra Modi, Jawahar Lal Nehru was the only Indian prime minister who visited Ireland twice in 1949 and 1956.

• Irish PM Garrett Fitzgerald arrived India to attend the funeral of Indira Gandhi who was assassinated in 1984.

• Ireland maintained a bilateral aid programme in India since the 1970s when India was, for some time, a ‘priority country' in its ODA efforts.

• There are about 26,000 Indians or persons of Indian origin in Ireland, of whom about 17,000 are Indian citizens.

• Majority of the Indian community is in healthcare (doctors and nurses), IT, engineering and senior management positions.

• The Indian community is well regarded in Ireland.