Irish multiculturalism and its future - an experience in Irish exceptionalism

Ireland our green, magical Island home.

For, any of us who came here as children or whose parents chose this craggy outpost in the Atlantic, we carry this nation in our hearts. The Irish humour, the easy-going way of life, the ‘it’ll be grand’ attitude has permeated through all immigrant experiences in this country. In all of the nations that tout multiculturalism as a failed experiment, we as migrants to this country can proudly say, that Ireland is and always will be an exception.

The warmth of its people their welcoming smiles and open-heartedness is an experience shared by most if not all immigrants. Ireland stands in a class of its own.

The barbaric attack on children by a deranged individual who sought to burn the precious light of life hurts the core of all of our souls. The savage individual must be brought to justice and as citizens who want our streets safe of lunatics we as people must ensure the government and the justice machinery punishes the convicted to the full extent of the Law.

The events of last Thursday are not only shocking in their violence but also in their boldness. The vitriolic rhetoric of our countrymen and its extremism pose a very real threat to the beautiful relationship between the native and immigrant populations of Ireland. Their violence and thuggish behaviour at the heart of our nations capital is nothing more than a temper tantrum.

This group of people have hijacked real economic and social issues we all face, natives and immigrants. After what should have been a day of mourning the ‘enough is enough’ attention seekers hijacked a national tragedy and made it all about themselves. In their manufactured rage they have caused immense heartache to the victims of the attack and caused fissures in different strata of society.

At a time when populism and extremism are all the rage, Ireland has been a beacon of calm. Its people understand their own history of migration and do not kowtow to fascists. Associating great revolutionaries from Ireland's past like, making Michael Collins some sort of an anti-immigrant crusader and Daniel O’Connell a god in their fascist pantheon is textbook historical revisionism. Harking back to past revolutionaries, mythologising their beliefs and weaponizing this rhetoric is text book neo-fascism and the ‘Kill all Immigrants’ crowd is taking the exact route of the fascists of the past.

Their violent tendencies have nothing to do with solving real social problems like homelessness and inner city depravation. Their only goal just like other fascists is to cause fear and unrest. They have no interest and no plan on how to tackle the issues they claim to face.

The common sense answer to the stupidity on our streets is to never give in to this rhetoric. Instead of burning Luas lines and increasing violence against immigrant workers a civilised and concerted effort needs to be made to ensure our elected representatives solve the underlying issues.

The savagery of Thursday night's rioting however does lend itself to a measure of reflection as my place as an immigrant in this country. For us who grew up here or have chosen to make a home in Ireland more recently and contribute to society positively, the question I pose to the “Kill all Immigrants” crowd is to tell me where do I belong? If a naturalisation certificate doesn’t make me Irish then what does?

At what stage do I become Irish? does my religion or skin colour bar me from being Irish? Am I forever destined to be a Pakistani-Irish refugee hybrid? Where is my home? Perhaps nowhere really.

I am a Pakistani doctor, a Filipino nurse, a Polish truck driver, a Nigerian businessman, a Brazilian IT worker, an Indian engineer, and a Chinese restaurant owner.

I am that ‘foreigner’ who has educated his child here, who has paid her taxes, who has cared for your ailing grandmother, not just for a paycheque but because I believe my service is appreciated by the community. The one common thread that binds all of these immigrant experiences is the unique love they all hold for Ireland and specifically for the Irish.

In my years here, until now, I was not for one second made to feel unwelcomed or inferior or not from here. Many have other experiences but this is mine. I could never repay the kindness and guidance of my 6th class teacher Mr Bradley, who looked out for a 10-year-old refugee child escaping persecution. I don’t forget how a local community of a small village in Cork took me in as one of their own when I couldn’t speak their language and instead, they taught me the language of GAA to communicate.

As an immigrant who has built their home and life in this country and has cherished every moment afforded by this nation, I am forever grateful. Apart from our family, where we grow up has the most affect on our personalities and I want to preserve the welcoming and friendly Ireland. It is imperative that we as citizens of this nation all unite to tackle the rising levels of hate.

It is perhaps even more important that we unite to fix the underlying problems that give way to hate. In my experience, the othering of humans does not ever end up on the good side of history. I believe in Irish exceptionalism. As a country, as a nation Ireland should be a bulwark against this madness and we can turn the tide on hate.

His blog on substack called Untold Stories is available here: https://untolds.substack.com/