The Voice:

Historical and Cultural Connections between Brazil and Ireland

By Fíonn Tomás Gréagóir Ó’Dubhuir,

One would often think of Ireland and Brazil as two lands with vast differences, yet there are in fact, a plethora of similarities and connections. Ireland boasts almost 60,000 Brazilians while Brazil has an almost absurd 70,000 Irish descendants living here since as far back as the 16th century. And as such, this is where the history of the two lands begins.

The first known Irish settler in Brazil was a man named Thomas Field, and as is the case with many first settlers, he was a missionary. 

Thomas spent many years with Joseph of Anchieta ( José de Anchieta). One of the founders of São Paulo, he was a massively influential figure in the first century of European colonisation of Brazil, and referred to as the “Father of Brazilian Literature”. 

His book, “Arte de Gramática da Língua mais Usada no Costa do Brasil” first penned in 1595, was one of the most important books on Old Tupi, the language spoken by the Native Tupi People of the Brazilian coast. 

José was in fact canonised as a Saint in 2014 by Pope Francis, and is considered the Third Saint of Brazil. 

In the 1820’s, Ireland and Brazil once again found themselves bound. Alas this time by the Cisplatine War. 

The Cisplatine war was fought by The Empire of Brazil and The United Provinces of the Río de la Plata over control of Brazil’s Cisplatina province. This conflict raged after the independence of the United provinces and Brazil’s independence from Spain and Portugal respectively, and resulted in the independence of Cisplatina as the Oriental Republic of Uruguay. 

During the conflict, Brazil actively recruited in Ireland, capitalising on a well-established historical pattern of Irishmen seeking military service abroad. And capitalise they did.

Approximately 2,400 men were successfully recruited and arrived in Brazil; many brought their families along. They came to fight for the promise of land and title, yet were neglected by the government to the point of mutany.

Along with a German regiment, they waged open war on the streets of Rio de Janeiro. But were ultimately deported or re-emigrated to Argentina and Canada, while some others made for a colony in Bahia. Several attempts were made by Brazil to bring in more Settlers from Ireland, evidently undeterred by our mutinous nature. However, most of the given land was poor or in extremely remote locations. 

This often resulted in the deaths of these settlers or their abandonment of the lands in search of a less hostile environment. While it may seem Ireland and Brazil are often at odds with each other, there are tales of more heroic cooperation. 

During the frightful days of The First World War, Brazilian and Irish soldiers fought together against the Germans during the Hundred Days Offensive in France, under the banner of a British regiment. Notable battles that involved these regiments included the infamous Battle of Somme for the Irish, while Brazilian troops played a larger naval role. Yet 86 Brazilian doctors took to Paris to set up hospitals, and to help treat the ongoing Spanish flu epidemic. 

One notable act is that of Major Tertuliano Potiguara who was wounded at the Battle of St. Quentin Canal, representing a more active combat role for Brazil. 

This seems to mark the beginning of an altogether more prosperous relationship between Brazil and Ireland, with diplomatic relations opening in 1975. While this may appear to be quite late in the history of these two lands, Ireland was plagued with internal conflicts and tasked with rebuilding itself after the successful war of independence. 

Brazil had its own internal struggles, with political unrest and Imperial interference from foreign nations, with Brazil only declaring itself the New Republic of Brazil (or the sixth republic) in 1988, a year many remember. Yet cooperation between the two nations began to prosper with the establishment of a Brazilian Embassy in Dublin in 1991 with Ireland’s embassy being established in Brasilia in 2006. This very year marks 50 years of Ireland and Brazil working as diplomatic allies. 

In the end, the story of Brazil and Ireland is one of unexpected kinship. From missionaries and soldiers, to artists and travellers, their histories have crossed oceans and centuries, weaving a quiet, yet enduring bond. Though their landscapes and languages differ, both nations share a heart defined by faith, resilience, and a deep joy for life. As Brazil and Ireland continue to grow side by side in friendship and diplomacy, their shared past serves as a reminder that true connection often flourishes in the most unlikely places.

About the Author

Fíonn Tomás Gréagóir Ó’Dubhuir

Fíonn Ó’Dubhuir is a historian, teacher and writer covering cultural and historical aspects of society. He specialises in ancient history and the stories that connect the human experience throughout the ages. He is currently based in Brazil and has a background in English education and cultural journalism.