title: Ireland–Kosovo relations
text: # Ireland–Kosovo relations
  
  Irish–Kosovan relations are foreign relations between Ireland and Kosovo. Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia on 17 February 2008 and Ireland recognised it on 29 February 2008.
  
  ## Relations
  
  On 20 May 2011 Ireland's ambassador to Budapest, Hungary John Deady submitted his credentials to Pristina, Kosovo. As of 2023 Ireland does not have an embassy in Kosovo, and relations are handled through the Irish embassy in Budapest.
  
  ## Refugees
  
  In 1999, Ireland took 1,000 refugees. This number was criticised by the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner and former President of Ireland Mary Robinson who called it, the complacency and selfishness of the Irish for accepting only 1,000 refugees from Kosovo.
  
  ## Peacekeeping
  
  Ireland has sent peacekeepers to Kosovo. It was the first time Ireland has commanded such a force in a NATO-led United Nations mandated peace support operation. In 2007, Irish Brigadier General Gerry Hegarty, took over command of one of the five multi-national task forces . A ceremony was held in Kosovo at noon on 15 April 2010 to mark the end of Ireland's major involvement in the KFOR peace mission.
  
  