The French Ambassador to Ireland is set to visit two Laois towns on Wednesday April 13.
Ambassador Vincent Guérend is set to arrive at French Quarter café in Portarlington before then taking a tour of St Paul’s Church in the town.
From there, he is expected to travel to Portlaoise to visit the Laois County Council offices.
The links between France and Portarlington are very strong as in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, Portarlington was the Paris of the Midlands, a place where French, rather than Irish or English, was spoken on the streets.
French Huguenots, escaping persecution in their native land, shaped the culture and the architecture of this bustling Midlands town.
Portarlington was originally founded in 1666 by Henry Bennett, Lord Arlington, on land located in a bend of the River Barrow.
Arlington tried to “plant” the town with English and Scottish settlers. He sold the lands to Sir Patrick Trant, a supporter of James II.
After William of Orange defeated James II at the Battle of the Boyne (1690), the lands containing Portarlington were seized by the crown and then given to Henri Massue, Marquis de Ruvigny, Earl of Galway and later Baron of Portarlington.
Ruvigny decided to offer the town as a refuge to the Huguenots.
These French and Flemish protestants had been forced to flee their homes after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685, which eliminated the right to practice their religion.
By 1702, 500 Huguenots lived in Portarlington. Some were noblesse d’epee, minor aristocrats who traditionally entered military service.
The vibrant community they created spread into Offaly and the surrounding countryside. Portarlington became known for its Public Classical Schools, where the children of well-to-do families were taught the French manners considered desirable in ladies and gentlemen.
Today visitors can view houses built in the Huguenot style on French Street and Patrick Street.
Their courtyards and gardens sometimes contain Jargonelle pears, a delicious legacy of the Huguenot refugees.
Vincent Guérend was appointed French Ambassador to Ireland by the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, on September 23.
Vincent was previously Chief of Staff of Mrs Amélie de Montchalin, Secratary of State for European Affairs, EU Ambassador to Indonesia and Brunei-Darusalaam (2015-2019), the first Director for Finance and Corporate Support in the EEAS when the Service was set up, Deputy Chief of Mission at the French Embassy in Ankara (2009-2011).
He was also a member and subsequently Deputy Chief of Staff of Mrs Benita Ferrero-Waldner, EU Commissioner for External relations and Neighbourhood policy (2004-2009), political counsellor at the French Embassy in New-Delhi particular in charge of internal issues including Jammu-and-Kashmir (2001-2003).
He was the first deputy secretary general for Franco-German cooperation in 2003-2004 following the creation of joint Franco-German cabinet meetings in 2003.
In this capacity, he was advisor to the German Minister for European Affairs and contributed to the coordination and preparation of the work of the Franco-German joint cabinet meetings.
He started his professional career in the French Ministry for foreign affairs in the EU Department, as desk for internal markert and the eurozone (1997-1999).
He was then desk in charge of the 2000-2006 financial framework and of the negociation of the Treaty of Nice during the French Presidency of the EU council (2000).
Independent TD Cathal Berry, who is from Portarlington, says excitement is building in Portarlington.
Deputy Berry said: “The ambassador is a very nice man who I have had the pleasure of meeting.
“He is keen to further develop the French connection with Portarlington.
“He is planning to travel to Portlaoise then afterwards to visit the County Council.
“The exact details of it all are yet to be confirmed but he then intends to travel to the National Stud in Kildare.
“Excitement is building in Portarlington and we are looking forward to welcoming him.”
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