On June 19, 1969, during his brief official visit to Ireland, General Charles de Gaulle, the former President of France, hosted a reception in Áras an Uachtaráin, the official residence of the President of Ireland. The reception was notably for members of the McCartan Clan from County Down, who were descendants of a McCartan who had fled to France after the Williamite Wars. This event underscored the historical ties between Ireland and France, particularly through the 'Wild Geese' – Irish soldiers who left Ireland to serve in continental European armies.
