New to the Parish

A series about new arrivals who have made Ireland their home

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New To The Parish author Sorcha Pollak, centre, with James and Ellen Baker; Maisa al-Hariri Azeez Yusuff; Chandrika Narayanan Moham; and George Labbad, all of whom tell their story of moving to Ireland. Photograph: Brenda Fitzsimons

Why am I so interested in refugees? I am descended from emigrants

New To The Parish: After over 100 articles in this series, Sorcha Pollak revisited 14 stories for her book

Vekash Khokhar at the Backstage Theatre, Longford. The space has become a lifeline for him. Photograph: Lorraine Teevan

‘I love spending the day in the nursing home. It’s bringing me back to life’

New to the Parish: Vekash Manzoor Khokhar arrived from Pakistan in 2015

Samira Kaissi and her daughter Sara (11): “I have no friends here and I don’t really socialise with people from work. But it still feels right and I’m seriously considering buying a house.” Photograph Nick Bradshaw

‘The job opportunity was amazing, how bad could Ireland be?’

New to the parish: Samira and Sara Kaissi arrived from Lebanon in 2017

Judy Li: “No matter how bad life treats you there is always hope, always help and always a solution. Stay calm, be patient and always be positive.” Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill

‘As foreigners in Ireland we are so touched by the people around us’

Judy Li arrived from China in 2004. Her husband died in 2015 and she is grateful for the support she has received

Fadielah Moses feels lucky to work for a reputable homecare agency but says many of her friends are exploited by private agencies. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill

‘I needed to heal after my divorce and Ireland helped me to heal’

New to the Parish: Fadielah Moses arrived from South Africa in 2013

Scrabble family: “It’s an education for young people and adults, too,” says Lukeman Owolabi, who plays with his wife, Lucia, and their three children, Nicole, Mikel and Daniel. Photograph: Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision

‘It’s tough getting into competitive Scrabble here. The Irish scene is small’

New to the Parish: Lukeman Owolabi arrived from Nigeria via UK and Sweden in 2015

Richard Strauss, the Ireland and Leinster rugby player. Photograph: Cyril Byrne

‘I was finished with South African rugby. Playing for Ireland felt natural’

New to the Parish: The South African-born Richardt Strauss on ‘clean’ Ireland and surviving a major health scare

Caroline Muyni project co-ordinator at Actionaid. Photograph: Bryan Meade

What will I miss about Ireland back home in Kenya? Flahavan’s porridge, Barry’s tea

New to the Parish: Caroline Munyi arrived from Kenya in 2007

Serge Kanyamuhanga, from the Democratic Republic of Congo via Uganda, now living in Portlaoise. Photograph: Brenda Fitzsimons / The Irish Times

‘Reaching dreams in the Congo was impossible, in Ireland it’s exciting’

Serge Kanyamuhanga arrived from the Congo via Uganda in 2013

Homayoon Shirzad, from Afghanistan, works with Eurosales in Ringsend, Dublin. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill

‘I’ve never met my young son. To him I’m a picture on screen’

New to the Parish: Homayoon Shirzad arrived to Ireland from Afghanistan in 2016

Mariarita Arenella at Airmid Health Group. Photograph: Cyril Byrne

Saying thanks to the bus driver – in Italy people would ask ‘what’s wrong with you?’

New to the Parish: Mariarita Arenella arrived from Italy in 2013

Janneke Van Nijnanten: ‘I heard that these musicians had started their careers by playing on the streets and I thought that was really cool.’ Photograph: Cyril Byrne

‘You can run into any famous musician in Ireland and they’ll be kind’

New to the Parish: Singer Janneke van Nijnanten arrived from the Netherlands in 2011 and is a fan of the Irish music scene

Marisol Gonzalez Troya: ‘Studying in Dublin really gave me an insight into Irish culture.’ Photograph: Nick Bradshaw

‘College in Ireland was different – boys were really awkward talking to the girls’

New to the Parish: Marisol Gonzalez Troya arrived from Spain in 2008

Brazilian Heloisa Generoso: “I could stay very happily here, my life is in Ireland now.” Photograph: Alan Betson

‘In Dublin we can walk very late at night. In Brazil that’s not possible’

New to the Parish: Heloisa Generoso arrived from Brazil in 2012

Ramakrishnan Ramanathan with his wife, Suchi, and their children Maya and Meera at their home in Blanchardstown. Photograph: Cyril Byrne

‘Indians are Indians here. Ireland is a great equaliser’

Ramakrishnan Ramanathan says Ireland helped him get rid of his prejudices

Mai El-Mahdy: “I want to be part of what’s happening here politically, I want to vote in the repeal referendum next year.” Photograph: Cyril Byrne

‘I felt the people in Ireland were very political and I liked this’

New to the Parish: Mai El-Mahdy arrived from Egypt in 2012

Mikhail Shengeliya in Herbert Park, Donnybrook: “I don’t understand the point of people who move to another country and then stick with their own.” Photograph: Nick Bradshaw

‘I don’t understand people who move abroad and then stick with their own’

New to the Parish: A Georgian refugee explains how he ended up in Dublin

Joel Mutara: ‘I feel safe and free here. I’m able to follow my dreams and reach them.’ Photograph: Aidan Crawley

‘People in Ireland are far more friendly than aggressive’

New to the Parish: Joel Mutara is building a life in Ireland after living in Ugandan refugee camp

Marcin and Marina Piotrowski with their three children. Photograph: Karolina Migurska & Mariusz Purta

‘Polish people behave in a different way to the Irish. We’re not so open’

New to the Parish: Marcin Piotrowski arrived from Poland in 2004, left Ireland in 2017

Antonio Chinea from Venezuela: He has found Dublin very different from the city he left nearly 10 years ago. Photograph: Aidan Crawley

‘It takes a long time for Irish people to open up beyond surface level’

New to the Parish: Antonio Chinea arrived from Venezuela in 2008 and again in 2017

Nancy Lin and her children Kerry (6) and Ethan (3) in Tymon Park, Tallaght. Photograph: Dave Meehan

My daughter keeps asking: ‘why is daddy gone to heaven? When’s he coming back?’

New to the Parish: Nancy Lin arrived from China in 2002

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