Christian Paul: The German ambassador is preparing for the seventh annual German-Irish Oktoberfest
There's a decidedly Germanic feeling in the air at Croke Park. Next Wednesday and Thursday the German-Irish Chamber of Industry and Commerce hosts its annual Oktoberfest at the stadium, with a Bavarian buffet, brass bands and lots of German beer. On Saturday it will be an altogether more sober affair, as the German soccer team arrive to play Ireland in a Euro 2008 qualifier.
About 10,000 Germans live in Ireland, and events such as the Oktoberfest are a chance for them to get together - although, according to Christian Pauls, the German ambassador, they won't necessarily take advantage of the opportunity.
"The degree of coming together is not very pronounced, because Germany is not a very clubby nation," he says.
"The first Germans came here in the 1950s, and a lot of them bought land and became farmers here. There were also some notable industrialists, such as Liebherr in Kerry, lots of architects and engineers and people working in construction.
"In recent times the biggest influx has been to the International Financial Services Centre, but they tend to be quite transient international workers."
Trade between the two countries is valued at €21 billion, about three-quarters of which is accounted for by Irish exports to Germany. "Our exports to Ireland are pretty substantial, but I was amazed when I found out the numbers for our imports. Germany has a trade deficit with just four countries: China, Ireland, Japan and Norway.
"Most Germans would have no idea that Ireland is one of our biggest trade partners. When I tell German people who visit Ireland this they will say: 'This can't be true.' They think about Ireland exporting milk, butter and cheese.
"Then I tell them that every Dell computer you buy is manufactured in Ireland and that Ireland is one of the largest producers of prescription drugs."
Born in 1944 in Berlin, Pauls studied law before joining the German foreign office, in Bonn, in 1977. He has served in embassies in Athens, New Delhi, Italy, Washington and Ottawa.
He's appropriately diplomatic about which posting has been his favourite. "I can't compare them, really; they are such different places. We very much fell in love with Italy, and particularly Rome. What I remember about Canada is the vastness. India fascinated us. I wanted to come to Ireland very much, and I asked to be sent to Dublin.
"My children think of it as Cool Dublin. I am a bit old for it to be Cool Dublin to me, but I like the city very much. My memories of Ireland will stay with me forever. Of all the countries that I have served in, in only two countries have I not been looking for some form of anti-German resentment: India and Ireland. There is no historical burden on the relationship between Ireland and Germany."
Pauls is reluctant to talk about his infamous speech at Clontarf Castle, but he does concede that the controversy has taken its toll. "I'd be lying if I said that it hasn't been tough, because as ambassador you don't want to see yourself in the papers at all. I can't say that the last few weeks have been a very good example of public diplomacy."
The German-Irish Chamber of Industry and Commerce's Oktoberfest takes place at the Hogan Suite at Croke Park next Wednesday and Thursday. For tickets contact Bernadett Steiner at 01-6424390. Ireland play Germany next Saturday, at 7.45pm