What we’re about
The Irish in Europe Association (International) aisbl-
Address: IEAI
International Association Centre,
Rue Washington 40,
1050 Brussels,
Belgium.
The Irish in Europe Association (International) aisbl (IEAI) was established in Belgium in 2011 by Royal Decree. The main function is to help the world wide Irish Diaspora living and working in Europe and promote Irish culture,community building, micro integration and inter-state trade through a network of Chapters in Europe. It incorporates the organisational Committee of the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade of the Nations & Regions in Brussels.
To achieve its objectives, each Chapter shall build community relations with the local social, cultural and political bodies in their areas. Membership is open to all nationalities living and working in all Chapter areas.
Its integration events include “Crossing Borders on the Terrace” , "Walkers & Talkers" “Crossing Borders on Fridays “and “Health is Wealth Seminars”,Shannon-Clare Trad Irish Sessions, Cork Jazz Festival Club of Brussels, Hibernian Social Club with business orientation. Tourist information Stands on Ireland and Belgium, Irish in Europe Memorial Lectures,Start Your Own Business, Business Mentoring and Seminars. Job Seekers advisory advice etc.For more information on Irish in Europe Cultural & Integration Events Contact:
info@irishineurope.org and or patricks.day.parade@gmail.com
The IEAI shall implement the "Help Ireland in Europe" programme which will assist in the promotion of Irish goods and services and interstate trade in co-operation with other nationalities in Europe.
IEAI seek the provision of an orderly, user-friendly, multi-lingual information on-line service on the operation and transparency of the European Union Internal Market, and the relevant taxation and administrative documents in each of the member states of the European Union.
IEAI seek to facilitate efficient working of the Internal Market by promoting provision of specific educational and training opportunities in all regions where unemployment rates are above the European Union average. These provisions would include multi-lingual training in innovation and entrepreneurship; job skills and language-training; start your own business, trade and business expansion scheme studies; and tax compliance studies.
The 2019 year theme of the Irish in Europe Association shall be:
´´ Irish Culture Supporting Democracy,Diversity & The Single Market ´´
Non-Profit International Association - Registered in Belgium - Enterprise Number 835467433
Brussels & Etterbeek Irish in Europe Chapter shall be the first Chapter of the Irish in Europe Association (International) AISBL to be established in Belgium. The main function of this Chapter is to promote Irish culture, community building and integration in the Brussels City and Etterbeek Communes. It will also assist in the organisation of the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade of the Nations & Regions. To achieve its objectives, the Chapter shall build community relations with the local social, cultural and political bodies in the Communes. The work of the Chapter shall be conducted in English, French and Dutch. Membership is open to all nationalities living and working in all areas of Brussels Capital Region. More Chapters will be established in other Communes at a later date. Please register your interest with Brussels & Etterbeek Irish in Europe Chapter: brussels.and.etterbeek.chapter@gmail.com.
La branche « Bruxelles & Etterbeek – Irlandais en Europe » sera la première section de l’association (internationale) AISBL des Irlandais en Europe à être établie en Belgique. La fonction principale de cette section est de promouvoir la culture irlandaise et l’intégration dans la ville de Bruxelles et la commune d’Etterbeek. Elle participera aussi à l'organisation de la journée de Saint Patrick de Bruxelles des nations et des régions.Pour atteindre ses objectifs, la section établira des relations communautaires avec les organes locaux sociaux, culturels et politiques de la commune. Les langues utilisées seront l’anglais, le français et le néerlandais. L’adhésion n’est ouverte à toute personne de toute nationalité vivant ou travaillant dans la région bruxelloise. D’autres sections seront ouvertes ultérieurement dans d’autres communes. Nous vous remercions de manifester votre intérêt sur le site Brussels & Etterbeek Irish in Europe Chapter: brussels.and.etterbeek.chapter@gmail.com.
De tak « Brussel & Etterbeek – Ieren in Europa» zal de eerste sectie van de (internationale) vereniging AISBL van Ieren in Europa zijn die in België gevestigd is.De belangrijkste functie van deze sectie is de promotie van de Ierse cultuur in de stad Brussel en de gemeente Etterbeek. Zijzal ookhelpen bijde organisatie vande dag "Saint Patrick's Day Parade of the Nations & Regions - Brussel"Om zijn doelstellingen te bereiken, zal de sectie communautaire relaties tot stand brengen met de sociale, locale en politieke organen van de gemeente.De gebruikte talen zijn Engels, Frans en Nederlands.Lidmaatschap is vrij voor alle nationaliteiten die leven of werken in de Brusselse regio.Andere secties zullen later opgericht worden in andere gemeenten. Indien interessen registreert U op Brussels & Etterbeek Irish in Europe Chapter: brussels.and.etterbeek.chapter@gmail.com.
Upcoming events
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Saint Stephen’s Day -Walkers & Talkers-Train Ride,Walk,Dine & Wine in Antwerp
Antwerp Central Station, KONINGIN ASTRIDPLEIN, 27, Antwerp, BESaint Stephen’s Day - Walkers & Talkers-Train Ride, Walk, Dine & Wine in Antwerp - Meet in Antwerp Railway Station at 12.30pm Thursday 26th December, 2025.
Back during Covid in 2020, on 26 December we are reactivated our outdoor event, Walkers & Talkers activity and started a famous Irish Wren Day Tradition of getting people to meet-up.
This year we meet at Antwerp Central Railway Station, one of the most beautiful stations in the world.
For those who are not regular users of trains , there is a new pricing system that requires a 12 monthly Discount card. The special annual discount offer expires soon.
Please check out:
Train+ makes the train even more advantageous | SNCB-NMBS
We leave railway station at 12.30 and proceed to have a coffee at a local café where late comers can join us.
A range of activities are being planned with opt in and opt out options.
Our activities on the day subject to weather conditions on the day finishing up- with a meal in a restaurant with menu options to suit all tastes and budgets. If you have any suggestions to help plan our programme, please contact us.
More precise information will be posted between now and the date of the outing .
Out Door recreation plays an important role in supporting the the physical and mental wellbeing of everyone. People are encouraged to enjoy the outdoors.
Saint Stephens Day and the wren!
The Wren, sometimes pronounced wran, takes place every year on 26th December, St. Stephen’s Day. The Wren boys (or girls!) dress up in old clothes and paint faces. In some parts of the Ireland , they also wear straw hats. They travel from house to house singing, dancing and playing music for the household. In rural areas, it will usually be neighbors that call on the wren often collecting money for a local charity.
It’s a well-maintained tradition in certain parts of Ireland , particularly county of Kerry. The town of Dingle holds the best known Wren with a parade through the town every Christmas. Every year the town of Listowel they have an All Ireland wren boys competition where a stage is erected in the main square of the town and each wren boy group performs for the crowd. It’s a great night with all the wren boys parading through the town playing music and holding pitchforks with lighting turf. It sounds a bit crazy but it’s brilliant!
The history of the Wren predates Christmas, its origins are in Irish mythology where birds held great prominence. They were believed to be a link between this world and the next. The wren is said to have betrayed Irish soldiers fighting Norsemen by beating their wings on their shields. The poor wren is also blamed for betraying St. Stephen the first Christian martyr. This is probably why the wren was once hunted on this day. In former times it was hunted and then nailed to a pole at the head of the procession. Thankfully some traditions have died out but you can still hear people saying this poem on the 26th December.
The wren the wren the kings of all birds,
On St. Stephen’s Day it was caught in the furze
Up with the kettle and down with the pan
Give me a penny to bury the wren.
See more about how the Wren is celebrate in Ireland in normal times.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTii6hXbBio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WvhPtiarW4
Nollaig Shona Duit – Irish for Happy Christmas (pronounced Null-ig hun na dit).2 attendees
Past events
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