St Patrick’s Day is not just celebrated by the Irish diaspora around the world but by high-powered guests at international diplomatic receptions. The Taoiseach, Tánaiste and other Government Ministers fan out to global capitals for events hosted by ambassadors and consuls general. The tradition is well established although its origins have been largely forgotten.
The first recorded St Patrick’s Day diplomatic reception occurred in Vienna on March 17th, 1766, when the Irish-named Spanish ambassador to the Imperial court Count Demetrio O’Mahony hosted a “grand entertainment in honour of St Patrick to which were invited all persons of condition, who were of Irish descent, being himself a descendent of an illustrious family of that kingdom”.
Eminent guests included Count Francis Moritz Graf von Lacy, President of the Habsburg Imperial Council of War, as well as the Irish-Austrian generals: O’Kelly, O’Donnell, Browne, Maguire, McElligott, and Plunkett as well as dozens of others of Irish extraction serving as governors, privy counsellors and in the army. The Annual Register for 1766 also noted that all the principal Officers of State, together with the entire Court in Vienna, wore Irish crosses to honour the day and “show their respect to the Irish nation.”
Only one year before Emperor Francis I (who famously told Mozart his composition had too many notes) stated: “The more Irish officers in the Austrian service the better; our troops will always be disciplined; an Irish coward is an uncommon character; and what the natives of Ireland even dislike from principle, they generally will perform through a desire for glory.”
Tens of thousands of Irish (and Scots) “Wild Geese” served the great Catholic courts in Vienna and Madrid throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. Among the most prominent Irish-Austrian families were the Taaffe’s of Carlingford, Corren and Ballymote who played an outstanding role over generations in the Habsburg military, diplomatic service and political life. Eduard Graf von Taaffe, 11th Viscount Taaffe served two terms as prime minister of Austria-Hungary.
The famed Irish connection continued into the 19th century, when Emperor Francis Joseph was saved by Maximilian Karl Graf O’Donnell von Tyrconnell during an assassination attempt. During the 20th century the last living holder of the famed bravery medal: the Maria Theresa Order was Gottfried Freiherr von Banfield. The “Eagle of Trieste”, was the greatest Austro-Hungarian naval flying ace whose family was of Irish heritage. He outlived the empire he served by 68 years, as the last holder of the honour first awarded by Empress Maria Theresa two centuries previously.
As a Vienna-based Scottish journalist reporting for Austrian Broadcasting Corporation, BBC and RTÉ in the 1990s the historical Irish connections to the city were not obvious to me. Even the groundbreaking role of 12th-century Irish monks to the city are misremembered having established the city’s “Scots” Church and “Scots” Monastery. Notwithstanding a tongue-in-cheek campaign by an Irish friend of mine to have the landmarks renamed, some of Vienna’s best-known place names continue to suggest a connection to Scotland, when it should actually be Ireland.
As Irish people and friends of Ireland raise a toast on St Patrick’s Day it’s worth recalling the exiled Irish men and women who attended the first ever St Patrick’s Day diplomatic reception three centuries ago in Vienna. Their contribution helped make the city one of the world’s great diplomatic, cultural and intellectual centres.
Angus Robertson is the author of Vienna – The International Capital, which he wrote before his election to the Scottish parliament last year. He is Scottish government Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture. He was formerly leader of the SNP in the Westminster parliament.
