Irlandez

Irlandez (also written irlandés) is the Spanish adjective and noun used to denote something or someone originating from Ireland. The term derives from the Spanish word “Irlanda,” the name of the island, combined with the suffix “‑és,” which forms demonyms akin to “francés” (French) or “alemán” (German). In contemporary Spanish, irlandez functions both as an adjective—e.g., “cultura irlandesa” (Irish culture)—and as a noun referring to an Irish person, with the plural forms irlandeses (masculine and feminine) and irlandesas (feminine).

The usage of irlandez reflects the long historical contacts between the Iberian Peninsula and the island of Ireland, particularly through trade, migration, and religious ties dating back to the early medieval period. Notable Irish diaspora communities have been present in Spain and its former colonies, contributing to cultural exchanges that include literature, music, and sport. In Spanish-language media, irlandez often appears in contexts discussing Irish literature, Celtic music, Gaelic sports, and the political history of Ireland, especially during the twentieth‑century conflicts that received extensive coverage in Spanish newspapers.

Linguistically, the term follows standard Spanish adjective agreement rules: it takes masculine singular (irlandez), feminine singular (irlandesa), masculine plural (irlandeses), and feminine plural (irlandesas). The word is recognized by the Real Academia Española and appears in the official dictionary with the definition “originario o relativo a Irlanda.”