TORONTO

An Irish invasion is on the way.

Young Irish citizens snapped up 3,850 Canadian work visas in 11 minutes last Friday. And plans are in place to soon make another 3,850 visas available to Irish citizens who are under 35.

“We have a number of young people coming here and they will help play a critical role,” Matthew Cotter, president of the Irish Canada Chamber of Commerce, said Monday.

“What Canada is getting is a young, professional, skilled workforce. Canada’s gain is Ireland’s loss,” added Cotter, who was downtown for an announcement about a new Irish firm that is setting up shop in Toronto.

The Irish love Canada and especially Toronto, said Cotter, who has been here since 2009.

Irish Finance Minister Michael Noonan said Toronto is a great driver of North America.

“The (business) connections are extraordinary between Ireland and Canada. Traditionally, it was between the U.S., and now it is with Canada,” Noonan said, adding he enjoyed Toronto’s St. Patrick’s Day parade on Sunday.

Dublin’s DNM Analytics — a consulting services company — is the latest of 60 Irish companies to set up shop in Canada.

“This is an easy country for us to live and participate in. Toronto has a very similar business environment to Dublin,” DNM chairman Malachy Smith said.

Ireland’s Aer Lingus airline will begin flying year-round to Toronto, starting in April.

The only direct flights from Toronto to Dublin used to be during summer’s high-travel season.

“Irish companies are expanding to Canada in many sectors,” said Ross O’Colmain, country manager with Enterprise Ireland.

In 2013, Irish exports to Canada totalled $1.3 billion, while Canada sent $410 million worth of goods to Ireland.