In 1969, less than two weeks after leaving office as President of France, General De Gaulle arrived in Ireland for a six week stay. He and his wife stayed quietly in Kerry and Connemara, observing at a distance the election campaign to choose his successor. D Gaulle was descended from the McCartan clan from County Down.
De Gaulle and Ireland contains a number of essays dealing with De Gaulle’s visit. Other essays deal with the complex relationship between Ireland and France, especially De Gaulle’s attitude to Ireland joining the EEC.
Pierre Joannon was the Honorary Consul General of Ireland in the South of France and was chairman of the Ireland Fund of France.