The Gauls were primarily a group of Celtic tribes that inhabited what is now modern-day France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and parts of Switzerland, Italy, the Netherlands, and Germany. Hence, they are most closely associated with the territory of modern France.
Historically, the Gauls were not Irish. The Celts originated in central Europe, and while they eventually spread to various parts of Europe, including Ireland, the term ‘Gaul’ specifically refers to the Celtic tribes that lived in what was known as ‘Gaul’ during the Roman era.
When the Romans, led by Julius Caesar, came into contact with the Gauls around the 1st century BC, they described these tribes as fierce warriors and skilled farmers. After a series of conflicts known as the Gallic Wars, most of Gaul became part of the Roman Empire. As the Roman Empire expanded, the cultural and linguistic influences of the Gauls contributed significantly to the development of what would eventually become the French nation.
In summary, while the Gauls are related to the broader Celtic culture that also spread to Ireland, they were predominantly located in areas that are now part of France, making them more accurately described as French rather than Irish.