AHC: French Ireland

With a POD in or after the 18th Century, how could Ireland be either controlled or heavily influenced by France (enough to form a shift in culture and perhaps even linguistics)?

Bonus points if this Francofied Eire becomes independent by the mid-19th Century.

And they're off!
 
Umm how about going back a little bit to 1688. Basically have France come early to the aid o James. You see James was making a plea to france which France initially ignored. SO all you need is for Louis to come to James aid, and have the french fleet sink the dutch navy. Thus you end dutch hope of invasion of england. Following this have France be extremely successful in the nine years war crushing the HRe and the dutch. Then you could see a France that basically vassalage britain and brings spain under bourbon control:cool: This indirectly makes ireland french controlled.
 
I suppose your best chance is an Ireland in permanent unrest, and France, in hostility to Ireland, supporting the rebels. The you may see an early de-jure independence of Ireland. But the new state depends extensively on French support - at least as a military defensor, if not in other respects as well. The over a couple of decades, the Green Isle may slowly but surely be drawn under ever closer French control. -
I suppose this rough sketch can be used starting at many different times during the 18th and 19th century.


Following this have France be extremely successful in the nine years war crushing the HRe and the dutch. Then you could see a France that basically vassalage britain and brings spain under bourbon control:cool: This indirectly makes ireland french controlled.

I agree that this scenario deserves the attribute "extreme". ;)
 
Have the Armada of 1779 succeed after which France establishes a Bourbon kingdom in Ireland. With the Protestant ascendancy marginalised or fleeing the country now that Ireland is under Catholic control a new nobility is established consisting mainly of Franco-Irish and possibly Hispano-Irish families that fled during the Flight of the Earls and the Flight of the Wild Geese. With the King and the nobility being Francophones, French becomes the language of the upper-class.
 
What about Bonnie Prince Charlie lands in Ireland after fleeing Scotland in 1745. Attempts to regroup against the Hannoverians. Basically what ends up as a temporary situation turns permanent - BPC never getting the French help promised, and untrusting of only the Irish. In the next peace treaty, Ireland is recognized as independent under the Stuarts (the Hannoverians don't like it, but they're a bit busy stamping out Jacobitism in England/Scotland (or maybe Charlie agrees that all "Hannoverian Irish" nobles can be exported to Britain, if London does likewise with the Jacobite-sympathizing nobility. Any way, by the time the dust settles, the Stuarts control Ireland (although they plan to "one day" reclaim England/Scotland, while the Hannoverians control England/Scotland/Wales (and vow to reclaim Ireland, but are secretly glad that that millstone is gone from around their neck)

If BPC marries a French girl it's likely that Ireland ends up emulating French culture. Becoming a French satellite, essentially. To get Ireland actually annexed by France, maybe go with the duke of Northumberland's offer in the 1550s of Ireland to the French in exchange for their support of Lady Jane Grey.
 
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