“We’ve never had any trouble, we really love Ireland and we want to be here,” an Indian nurse manager said at the annual International Fest in Cabinteely, Dublin.
Rich heritage, tradition, diversity and culture was on display in a grand celebration of diversity on Saturday with up to 30 different cultural groupings taking part from countries including India, Georgia, Spain, Brazil and Ukraine.
More than 500 people took part in the free festival and hundreds more attended.
The festival was rebranded this year from India Fest to “encourage other cultures living here” to become involved, said Patrick Finnerty, who was overseeing events in Kilgobbett Park.
READ MORE
Linu Manu, a nursing home manager in Athboy, Co Meath has been living in Ireland for the last 15 years and has three children.
“I’ve been to different countries such as Switzerland but Ireland has been so welcoming and very kind,” she said. “Some of our Irish friends we made here have since visited the south of India where we are from. We have been enjoying Ireland so far and my family has really integrated.”
She says she and her family have never experienced trouble. “Our families are in India and we could go back but our life is here and we are here because of the people, place and culture.”
Saturday’s festival comes in the aftermath of a number of attacks against members of the Indian community in Ireland that have prompted widespread concern and condemnation.
“If we had trouble we wouldn’t stay. So far we’ve had no trouble. I don’t know why [assaults] are happening to us. I think maybe it’s the younger generation and social media. We don’t do anything to anyone,” Ms Manu said.
She said all the Indian community wants is to be safe and happy.
“Negative messages spread fast. It’s been in the media in India and our families in India are concerned. They say that if we are worried we should come home but we want to stay.”
The mother-of-three is one of several nurses and IT professionals living and working in Navan, Co Meath and in Dublin while also nursing in St Vincent’s and the Mater hospitals.
Sheril Rino, a nurse from India , moved here from Dubai two years ago because she was attracted to the “welcoming culture”.
“Recently I’ve become more aware [that] our children who play with others from Poland, etc are not mindful of any cultural difference. But in our minds we are and that’s only recently because of the incidents. But this can happen anywhere.
“We don’t know what the origin of this is. We have lots of friends who are upset for us as they don’t understand it,” she said.
“The Government needs to be more clear about why we are here. We are coming here legally and coming here to work. People can think we have come here illegally and that we are refugees but we have worked hard in our studies and nowcome to Ireland and be part of a community.”
Mr Finnerty said for the first time in the history of the festival they had a discreet Garda presence and security personnel monitoring the daylong event.
“An Irish man was being harassed by young lads recently – but it was an Indian chap, who was 12 or 13, who went to his aid. All we want is for people to live and work happily together,” he said.
The Dublin native said the festival has grown in popularity and “we’ve never had any trouble and will not allow it”.
Carmen Ortiz (24) from Seville, Spain, who has lived here for three years and works with Smashing Times Theatre company, came to Ireland because there are “more work opportunities” here.
“The Irish community is really welcoming,” she said. “Theatre is what I’ve always worked in so Ireland had many opportunities for me. I’ve never experienced any racism here. Our cultures are very similar.”
Mariam Philashuili (13) and her mother Nino Ebelastuili, from Georgia, moved to Ireland two years ago. Ms Ebelastuili’s husband’s employer sent him here to work for three years.
Miss Philashuili said she was nervous about starting her education here. “I thought everyone was going to be Irish. I was so scared but there are so many different nationalities there along with the Irish,” she says. “Everyone is the same no matter where you are from.”
