Posted on 08/16/2006 10:46:10 AM PDT by lizol
Ireland – a Polish home from home
Even in the most distant parts of Ireland, a country which opened its labour market for new EU citizens only 2 years ago, any Pole will feel at home.
Iwona Lajmen reports
The streets, shops and offices are full of Polish people passing by, opening their businesses or assisting other Poles to help them order a coffee in Polish. This is how numerous Polish immigrants have made their way into a country on the other end of the European Community.
Ireland, one of the few countries which decided to open itself to all EU communities, claims it has taken one of the best decisions ever. When the Celtic Tiger develops and its people get better off there are still too few hands to work. Especially that this island is not among the most densely populated. Out of the 4 million Irish living there now every 10th is an immigrant. According to official statistics about 150 thousand of them are Poles, mainly coming for two or five years, just to make the money to have an easier start back at home. 'I had a job and my boyfriend had one too. I worked in an Atlantic shop with underwear and earned 300 euros a month, now I make 350 a week, so that's a big difference.'
'Yes, it's hard work, but not as much as people think... I guess here's the same like in Poland... not so different, but I still miss the family.'
Like many other young and dynamic Poles in their 20s Karolina followed her boyfriend all the way to Dublin. Now, working in Mc Donald’s and living with several other people in one apartment, she looks very positively into her future:
'I didn't plan this trip... I graduated in 2004. I had some friends here, so it wasn't so bad at the beginning. I applied for a few jobs and still being in Poland had three interviews. Then I came here straight away and had a job after three days.'
It’s not a secret that most of the hands are needed at construction sites and this is where Przemek found his work just within a week after he arrived in Dublin in June this year. Having spent 2 years in the same job in Germany, whose labour market is still closed, he says, that even if he’s further away from home now he feels, in a way, nearer to Poland in Ireland.
Many Polish people intending to emigrate that far away start searching for jobs while still in Poland before they leave. That’s what Szymon did around May 2004. Now he’s changed his job twice climbing up his chosen professional ladder in administration:
Far away from home, having a job, good money, and the craic, (or having fun in Irish) - this is what Marzena and Wojtek do. Running their own graphic company they have come up with the idea of publishing a free guide to Polish speaking places in Dublin, which they distribute at the airport and in the streets. Apart from that, they also edit an ad magazine Anons.ie, which helps those who are making their first steps in Ireland to find their way. Since still not all Polish emigrants speak English, it’s one of the first things they grab to survive, says marrzena Smousz.
'Today we have the second issue. It's every Monday in shops and we really think Poles need it. Yesterday we received a postcard from a guy in Cork who wrote down "Thanks Anons.ie!! I found a job!!"
Before EU enlargement hardly any of the Irish heard anything about Poland. Now the two nations work together and many a times live next door, getting to know each other better and showing a lot of understanding for - all together - similar traditions, religion and history. Even this elderly woman who coincidently stopped by in the street has an opinion about a country at the other end of the EU:
'I think they are very nice. And I listened to Radio4, which is an English radio station, the other day. They were saying that Polish work very hard, they are well respected for whatever work they do -they do it very well. And they are well respected in England and here.'
10 years ago it would have been unprecedented in Ireland, now it’s happening. A fully homogeneous Irish society has opened themselves for foreigners and it seems that Poles have found a common ground and language.
You are looking for education from an unreliable source, I don't take history lessons from Sinn Fein propagandists.
They are just a bunch of communist terrorist scum. They used to try to get donations at the local Irish fair; I got into an argument with them because I challenged them on that point. They try to get donations based on 150-year-past-date-code grievances and 4th generation diluted memories of the "old sod", and they dodge the communist/terrorist issue.
I'm so jealous! I'm going to make it there before I die. In fact, my youngest daughter, Killoran, who's starting college next week, is planning on going there to study for a semester...and guess who's going to visit her? Ha ha, my plan worked!
It's easy to see where you stand as a propagandist, invoking the name of Margaret Thatcher in your online handle.
Away with ye!
I was, too, but we have, indeed, been hijacked.
The Irish Republican Army should be a member in good standing of the Axis of Evil, given its extensive cooperation with Cuba, Libya, the PLO, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombis, etc.
True, they hide their real agenda from Irish-Americans.
Oh, so you support Sinn Fein, do ye?
I'm a Irish Catholic, BTW - just in case you were implying that I'm a Unionist.
You can't simultaneously lecture people on their need to read up on Irish history and then recommend a lightweight, popularized work by MacManus which misrepresnts folklore, legends and anecdotes as history.
MacManus is not the authority on what constitutes a martyr in the Roman Catholic faith - the Church is - so your admonition is irrelevant.
Why don't you try reading some Irish history based on actual documentary research in the primary sources - you know, history for scholars and not soccer moms?
I suggest The Pastoral Role Of The Roman Catholic Church In Pre-Famine Ireland by Emmett Larkin for a start.
MacManus gives an excellent overview, which is good for any beginner.
You wouldn't have room on your library shelves for all the books I have read on Irish History.
I doubt your claim to Irish heritage if you dislike folklore, legends, and anecdotes.
I will look up the Larkin book.
Alvin O'Konski was a conservative Republican US representative from Wisconsin who ran unsuccessfully for Joseph R. McCarthy's Senate seat following Tail Gunner Joe's death in 1957. I had always wondered if O'Konski was an Irish or Polish name, but a former employee of his told me that the name is Polish.
The IRA is the ETA is the Tupac Amaru is Al-Qaeda is Hezbollah is the Shining Path.
And anyone who criticizes Margaret Thatcher - the one head of government in Europe besides the Pope who had the moral fortitude to face down Communism with Ronald Reagan - has got a screw loose.
It seems the irish and the Poles have much more in common than is mentioned in the article.
I hope the young Poles will help to reinvigorate the Irish Catholic Church.
We should take over Ireland.
MacManus gives a one-sided overview whose factual claims cannot be depended upon.
You wouldn't have room on your library shelves for all the books I have read on Irish History.
I'll file that claim under folklore.
I doubt your claim to Irish heritage if you dislike folklore, legends, and anecdotes.
I didn't say I dislike folklore or legends or anecdotes.
I dislike liars like MacManus who pretend they are proven historical fact.
That is all true - I wonder did Palladin even look at my about page, did he see I have the Irish Tricolour on the top left hand corner, of course not.
My, my, aren't we charitable today? So I have got a screw loose?
Thank you very much. It's Catholics like you that I can do without.
I will have no further communication with one who is so judgmental and nasty.
Don't bother replying.
Damn, not more Plantations! ;)
Actually that photo is "stuffed cabbage"
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