Irish people: do you like Ireland being a 'multi cultural' society?

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Orla C

We were already a multicultural society.

Quite a lot of us have English, Scottish and French ancestors, some of us have Spanish, Portuguese and Moroccan ancestors - Irish trad music developed from melodies and techniques brought from Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean, and Irish step-dancing developed along the same lines. Set-dancing developed from English and French settlers.

Potatoes are vegetables that originated in South America and were introduced to Ireland by Sir Walter Raleigh.

The great castles in Ireland were built by Normans, who were French.

Quite a lot of people in West Limerick are descended from Germans from the Palatine region.

Having grown up in Ireland in the 1980s, and found that various services did not match standards in other countries, I am glad that there are people from outside coming in and staying here - the quality of food and service in restaurants has improved so much overall because those people have raised the bar, and I'm pleased to see that Irish-born entrepreneurs have worked hard to meet and in many cases exceed those standards, which goes to show what we can achieve when challenged.

We are not likely to become a mini-America. Well, we might if people are hostile to foreigners. Remember that the Americans we meet in Ireland are a small percentage of their nationality that actually travel abroad, and even fewer of them actually connect with the places they travel to.

I love it that Ireland is multicultural. I hope it remains so.

secret.x.flames

Well, I couldn't really care less.

But hey! Either way, all the foreigners are leaving again due to the recession. So it doesn't really matter, now does it? =P

That's nice. =P

Tid

I'm not that bothered really. And with all due respect to the comment about the polish leaving now we're in recession.....what else are they going to do? Fair play to them for making a few quid, and paying their taxes here. And trying to find work elsewhere. Better than lining up on the dole ques and stretching our own monies. I'd go only for restrictions I have at home.

slipstreamer

Not to be rude, but Ireland still isn't all that multicultural in the modern sense. A few immigrant groups that have not been integrated doesn't really add up to multiculturalism.

I don't think becoming like the UK or the US is a bad thing at all as they have made great strides in racial equality and civil rights, etc... Could someone like President Barack Obama even exist in Ireland at the moment? I don't think so.

Societies grow or stagnate. I should think anyone would opt for growth.

lish

im all for helping immigrants and refugees. but yes, it makes me a bit sad that we are losing our "charm" as u call it - u dont get an irish person welcoming u to a pub or ashop or a restarant anymore they usually have an east european accent! haha but in a way its good too, i mean, its more modern now and stuff.
one thing i HATE is that apparently up in Dublin or sumtin they had to cancel a christmas nativity play cos muslim parents objected to it? am, would an islamic country stop their traditions cos a christian didnt like it? no! so, im all for multi culturalism as long as the incoming culture respects our long and cherished one.
oh yeah, and as long as they arent coming over here to sponge off the dole and send child benefit back to their 7 children in poland while the partner is also geting child benefit for them IN poland - it is happening by the way. obv some jobs are gone now and the dole is only option. iv gone way off topic here. i dont think there is anything 'racist' in wanting to protect ur own countrys culture and traditions and stuff.

froggequene

You know Irish people & their descendants are part of that multiculturalism in both countries

The UK is not a mini-America, it is a very fair & tolerant society, something perhaps Ireland could benefit from

Guillaume D

i dont mind ireland being a multicultural society but its when the people from poland and other countrys came to ireland in our prosperous times and are now leaving because were in rescession and it doesnt suit them that annoys me

abc123...

since when was ireland multicutural?
last time i was there i didn't once see a foreigner

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