From Afghanistan to Ireland: ‘We had no choice. While we were sitting on the plane, everybody was crying’
Marwa Zamir moved to Ireland in 2016 when she was 13. She says she was the only one in her family who was excited
New to the Parish
‘The US has become really divisive. I definitely prefer the quality of life here. I like the people and the possibilities’
A month-long trip to France led to romance and a new life in rural Co Cork for New Yorker Jessica Bonenfant
‘I feel like in Ireland we have women in higher positions and opportunities for women to grow’
Clara Lemos, from Rio de Janeiro, moved to Dublin in 2022 for her job, but has stayed because of the people
Irish education and food are great but ‘as a sober person, it’s very odd to be here’
Max Wolpoff, from near Washington DC in the US, moved to Dublin this autumn
From Transylvania to Donegal: The Irish are much better at ‘being joyful’
Columbia Hillen moved from Transylvania to Donegal’s Gaeltacht region in 2010
‘We moved in with each other after seven days. We got engaged after eight months’
Kilkenny is now home to Nicole Server, from the Philippines, and Bart Pawlukojc, from Poland
A Dane in Dublin: ‘In Denmark death is taboo but in Dublin I’ve been met with a different warmth’
Grief has given a Danish journalist the strength to live her life in Dublin on her own terms and find healing
‘Longford was the town of my dreams. In Ukraine, I lived in a big city and it was terrible’
New to the Parish: Oleksandra Kurova moved to Ireland from Dnipro in 2022
From Bavaria to Kinsale: ‘The standard of Irish properties is absolutely terrible. There’s always something wrong’
New to the Parish: Robin Gehret from Germany moved to Ireland in 2017 and has settled in Co Cork
From Australia to Inishbofin: ‘The girls are so free here. Life is easier. Their lives in Sydney were so structured’
New to the Parish: Bronwyn Ferguson moved from Australia to Inishbofin off the west coast of Ireland in 2022
‘I can walk in the streets, not afraid. The vibe of Dublin city just leads me to feel very comfortable here’
Wilson Silva came to Ireland from Brazil in 2018
‘For what I pay for my room in Dublin, I had an apartment with a big balcony in Paris’
New to the Parish: Morgan Savidan moved to Dublin from Paris in 2021
‘I love Ireland. Ireland is 100% different to back home. It’s peace, calm’
Qareeb Urrahman came to Ireland from Afghanistan in 2021
‘Everyone is moving to Australia all the time. It doesn’t help with dating’
Manon Gilbart moved to Limerick from Belgium in 2021
‘People have this idea that those who move here are running away from something. We weren’t’
The comedian and hospital receptionist moved from Durban, South Africa to Dublin with his family in October 2020
A French woman in Dublin: ‘All my friends in France already own their house since they are 25′
Sarah Thomas came to Dublin in 2014, having previously spent time in Ireland as an exchange student
‘I feel so alive playing camogie. I feel Irish when I play it. I feel like Cú Chulainn!’
Trinity’s assistant librarian is delighted with life in the capital after moving from Minnesota - apart from the Dublin Bus service
‘I found it quite easy to make friends, because Irish people are open and polite’
Jewellery-maker Fabio de Souza Oliveira Filho arrived in Ireland in 2018 with his wife ‘looking for adventure’
‘I learned about Irish time. People arrive late and think they are on time’
Carol Ho moved to Ireland from Hong Kong
‘In Ireland, everyone’s grown up together and no one is really looking for new friends’
Paige Haarhoff moved to Ireland from South Africa in 2023
An American on the Irish sense of humour: ‘I’m very literal ... I thought everybody hated me’
Actor Tierra Porter came to Ireland in 2019 from Georgia, in the US. Her expectations were wildly different from the reality of living in Dublin
‘In Germany, it’s a different lifestyle and a different standard of living ... it’s possible to live by yourself’
Tara Bredemeier studied dance pedagogy in Germany, and now lives in Dublin, working as a dancer and dance teacher
From Lesotho to Limerick: ‘I’ve found Irish people to be very kind, very loving people’
Lawyer Matsaseng Ralekoala from Lesotho arrived in Limerick in 2022
‘I love this place, I have my children here, there is nothing else I’m looking for in another country’
Irish citizen Miracle Idongesit Ojo, originally from Nigeria, moved from Hungary to Ireland in 2016
‘Nobody knew I was leaving except my father, who was on his death bed’
Mpho Mokotso moved to Ireland from Lesotho with her daughter in 2019
‘The US is very transactional. In Ireland people are nice. There’s a recognition of life outside money’
New to the Parish: Adwait Patil moved to Ireland from Mumbai India, via the US
‘First, I felt afraid to talk, because we are not native speakers’
New to the Parish: Mother-of-two Tabasum Kouser moved to Ireland from India in 2015
‘It’s nice to have Europe on your doorstep but rent is absolutely ridiculous here’
New to the Parish: Englishwoman Leanne Dodd came to Ireland in 2022 after 10 years in Australia
‘Ireland has given me lots of opportunity ... it’s a very accommodating society’
New to the Parish: Dr Ahmad Basirat came to Ireland from Pakistan in 2016 and is now so settled, he says ‘byebyebyebyebyebye’ when hanging up the phone
A Ukrainian teenager in Galway: ‘I love the Irish school system. It’s not that strict’
New to the Parish: Marharyta Pokydailo lives with her grandparents in the village of Woodford while her parents remain in Ukraine
‘I came to Ireland in 2016. If I came in 2024 I wouldn’t survive because now the rents are like €3,000’
New to the Parish: Shirly Pon Xavier had never really travelled anywhere outside of India before she came to Ireland in 2016
‘There’s more of a laissez-faire kind of thing in Ireland and especially that translates to driving’
New to the Parish: Emily McKenzie moved to Dublin from Vancouver in 2017
We must do more to welcome Irish people returning home
Many returning emigrants are highly skilled and hugely valuable for our economy
‘Ireland is a country of people who are very friendly, no shooting’
New to the Parish: Kristine Lapid came to Ireland from the Philippines
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