SINCE 1973, Ireland acquired, along with many economic benefits, a new and fully respected status as a "partner" within the European Union. This status is further enhanced now by its Presidency, which follows that of Italy and reinforces the long chain of sincere friendship that has linked the two countries throughout the centuries.
It was the Celts, the founders of the first Europe, who brought a fundamental contribution to the formation and way of life of that same Europe; today Ireland still has a lot to give through its cultural heritage.
Links between Ireland and Italy go far back in history. According to tradition, in 431 Palladius was sent to defend the first Irish Christians from the Pelagian heresy of England. Immediately afterwards, St Patrick arrived and his work bore great fruit. Monasticism flourished.
The Irish monks had an important role in preserving the indigenous cultural heritage and in developing it during the sleep of medieval Europe. Many classics would have been lost if it were not for the patient work of such monks in their land and abroad, as the Renaissance showed.
Their manuscripts formed the treasures of the most important European libraries, including Milan's Ambrosiana. From the end of the sixth century, they started to spread into Europe and to reconquer entire regions for the Christian faith, namely France, Holland, Bavaria, Switzerland and Italy.
St Columbanus, founder of Bobbio, is perhaps the most well known figure of those times; but there were also many others, for example, St Cathal, today still patron saint of Taranto and much venerated in southern Italy - the Palatine Chapel of Palermo keeps a precious mosaic and the saint's pastoral staff, from the 12th century; a church, with beautiful Byzantine domes, was dedicated to St Cathal in that same century and city; and near Caltanissetta a town is named alter the saint.
In the following centuries the pilgrimages started towards Italy. King Donough, O'Brien, youngest son of Brian Boru, arriving in Rome in 1064, renounced his title band entered the Roman monastery of Santo Stefano Rotondo, where he died.
The Normans, who built their cathedrals and castles in Sicily in the 11th century, arrived in Ireland almost 50 years later, starting cultural and family ties between the two islands. Norman families, such as the FitzGeralds, claimed Italian ancestors and kept in touch with their faraway cousins throughout the centuries. The Geraldines of Munster claimed to be related to the powerful Gherardini family of Florence; although legend surrounds the Geraldines, their Florentine cousins were always proud of the link and communication between the two was frequent from the early 15th century onwards.
While the Christian flow of the Irish towards Rome remained unchanged, the flow started in the opposite direction when the Italians came to Ireland in the 13th century. There were bankers from Pisa, Siena, Florence and Lucca, traders from Venice and Genoa and tax and tithe collectors from kings and popes. Later on, artists, artisans, musicians, industrialists, restorers and cultural and diplomatic representatives arrived.
IN THE 16th and 17th centuries, Irish political and religious refugees a sure haven in Italy, particularly in Rome. The Irish Franciscans under Luke Wadding installed themselves in St Isidoro at the beginning of the 17th century; they were followed by the foundation of the Irish College in Rome in 1625 and by the arrival of the Dominicans in San Clemente and of the Augustinians in St Patrick. The earls of Ulster, O'Neill and O'Donnell, compelled to leave Ireland in 1607, found a new home in Rome, where they still rest in the Church of San Pietro in Montorio.
In the 17th century, the Grand Duke Cosimo dei Medici admired many Irish he owes and beauties, such as Thomas Butler, Earl of Ossory, and his sister Mary Butler, Lady Cavendish. Their portraits are today to be found in the Uffizi of Florence and in the Italian embassy in London.
In the 18th century the flow towards the colleges of Rome continued and many other Irish appear in the courts of Urbino, Florence and Rome.
The richest of them started to import into Ireland paintings and statues to adorn their houses.
Alexander Galilei, architect of the facade of St John Lateran in Rome, built Castletown House for William Conolly in Co Kildare. Other architects had Italian stuccadori with them such as Cipriani, the Lafranchini brothers, Philip and Paul, who came from nearby Switzerland, Castrucci and Geminiani, who, invited by the Georgian landlords, for 30 years decorated their Dublin and country houses, such as Russboroujeh, Castletown and later on, Aras an Uachtarain, with the most beautiful stuccos in Europe.
The international fame of Dublin (18th century) as an important centre for art and culture also attracted various singing teachers and musicians, such as Scarlatti, Giordani and Geminiani. The opera was particularly loved by the Dubliners in 1777 the first season of Italian opera was held in Fishamble Street.
The links between Italy and Ireland were also strong during the Italian Risorgimento. Daniel O'Connell's campaign against British absolutism was admired greatly by the Italian liberals. In exchange, O'Connell saluted the insurrection of 1830, and the militants of Young Ireland were influenced by Mazzini's ideal, which inspired the revolution of 1848. Daniel O'Connell died in Genoa in 1847, on his way to Rome. His funeral was held in the Roman church of St Andrea della Valle.
However, the true flow of Italians towards Ireland came about in the middle of the 19th century with builders, decorators, printers and experts in ornamental art, such as Pacini, Caprani and Bassi.
Today, about 3,500 Italians live in Ireland. Relations between Ireland and Italy are at their best. "Tutto e tranquillo,"("Everything is OK") said the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, recently greeting the Italian President, Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, in Dublin.
"Our collaboration inside the European Union in the last 22 years brought us much closer to face the challenges of the next century", he continued. "I hope that together we may continue to fight in order to carry on our convergences and create an alive Community with a strong political twill."
And Mr Scalfaro underlined in the same meeting how our two countries are close due to sufferings throughout history. "I always admired the price that Ireland paid for its freedom ... Our friendship is deep. Our faith in Europe is the same.
Culturally there has always been a particular affinity between the two countries. The creation of an Italian Cultural Institute in Dublin in 1954 was an important event in Irish Italian relationships.
At present new links are being established through twinnings among towns, schools and Irish and Italian organisations. Besides bringing the two countries closer still, these ventures are creating those essential ties of brotherhood and friendship upon which the new European Union should be based.