New to the Parish

A series about new arrivals who have made Ireland their home

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Izzeddeen and Eman Alkarajeh with their children Omar, Jouri and Lama. Izzeddeen, a Palestinian from the west bank who moved here from Saudi Arabia with his wife and children last year and is living in direct provision in Cork. Photograph: Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision

‘We didn’t come to Ireland to claim benefits. That would be an embarrassment’

New To The Parish: Izzeddeen Alkarajeh arrived in 2016 from the West Bank via Saudi Arabia

Manzi Joseph in Tramore, Co Waterford. Photograph: Patrick Browne

‘Reaching Ireland was like a dream. It's protected and I'm safe’

Manzi Joseph arrived from Rwanda via Malawi in 2015

Aleka Potinga: ‘men here are better and have this greater education’. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill

‘Men in Ireland are better ... they have greater education’

Jazz musician Aleka Potinga arrived from Romania in 2012

Yetunde Awosanya from Nigeria working on make up for Siphiwe Sandra Moyo. Photograph: Cyril Byrne

A beauty salon in Mosney direct provision centre? Meet the woman making it happen

Yetunde Awosanya arrived from Nigeria in 2012

Within four days of receiving permission to stay in Ireland, Malak Bouod secured a job in the tech industry in Dublin. Photograph: Cyril Byrne

‘I want to give back to Ireland, the country that gave me rights’

Malak Bouod arrived from Libya in 2014

Trinca Mitru in Dublin. “Now that we’ve moved into Dublin, it’s very good. Here I do more things and go out.” Photograph: Brenda Fitzsimons

‘The main reason I learned English so fast was I felt so alone’

New to the Parish: A young Moldovan woman (25) cried every day after moving to Ireland

Patricia Guerra from Peru who moved to Ireland 8 years ago, photographed on the rooftop of her apartment. Photograph: Brenda Fitzsimons

‘In Ireland I feel accepted as a woman of colour’

New to the Parish: Patricia Guerra arrived from Peru via Italy in 2009

Maxim with his wife Patricia and daughter Annabelle at their home in Co Dublin. Photograph: Aidan Crawley

‘People often look at us because we’re a bi-racial couple’

New to the Parish: Maxim Staricov, from Moldova, arrived in Ireland in late 2012

Ahmed Lulu, who was born in Iraq but grew up in in Gaza, at the Siamsa Tíre theatre, Tralee, Co Kerry. “If someone bombed the street outside right now I would just walk by because that is normal to me.” Photograph: Domnick Walsh

Even in Ireland I still think ‘Will they drop a bomb?’

New to the Parish: Ahmed Lulu arrived in Ireland from war-torn Gaza in 2014

Flavia Camejo from Venezuela: ‘I think the adrenalin of being a journalist in one of the most dangerous countries in the world just kept me going.' Photograph: Brenda Fitzsimons

'Irish people accept other nationalities and races'

New to the Parish: Flavia Camejo arrived in Dublin from Venezuela in April 2014

Michael Leather hopes to move back to Spain some day. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill

‘Ireland is a great place as long as you don’t have health problems’

New to the Parish: Michael Leather arrived from Spain, via Poland, in 2014

Daiga Ancikovska from Latvia who has been living in Ireland since 2009: “I love how diverse it is in Ireland now. Our new neighbours are from all over the world.” Photograph: Nick Bradshaw

If my mum knew how much my house in Ireland cost, she'd have a heart attack

New to the Parish: Daiga Ancikovska, from Latvia, has been living in Ireland since 2009

Dawn Conn in her studio at Malahide, Co Dublin. Photograph: Dave Meehan

It's the age your looks start going and everything feels more achy

New to the Parish: Dawn Conn arrived from New Zealand via the UK in 2017

Tetlanyo Lekalake hopes to go to business school in the next few years. Photograph: Brenda Fitzsimons

'It was a bit unsettling when I moved here. The people didn't look like me'

New to the Parish: Tetlanyo Lekalake arrived from Botswana via South Africa in 2014

Maybelle (L) and Eve Wallis (R) in Wexford. Photograph: Patrick Browne

When Steve became Eve, she found acceptance in Ireland

New to the Parish: English couple Eve and Maybelle Wallis arrived after Brexit in 2017

Mabel Chah: “80-90 per cent of the time I don’t hear back from employers.” Photograph: James Connolly

‘Living in direct provision does not mean your life is over’

New to the Parish: A Cameroonian refugee loved Sligo town immediately

Patricia García arrived from Spain in 2013. Photograph: Brenda Fitzsimons

‘I don’t agree with people who complain about the payment of au pairs’

New to the Parish: ‘I’m in no rush to move back’

Emma Greenbury working in Dublin: ‘I miss the sunshine but I do not miss the heat.’ Photograph: Cyril Byrne

‘In Ireland, men treat women with such respect. I’ve never been objectified here’

New to the Parish: The lack of catcalls, heat and racism makes Dublin home

Fangzhe Qiu, above, told his son, “You can be both Irish and Chinese”. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw

‘Irish people are only satisfied when I say I’m from China’

New to the Parish: When a man born in Guangzhou discovered a Clannad album, it was the beginning of a life fascination with the Irish language

Marianela Davico with her daughter Keela (6). Photograph: Dave Meehan

‘I call my mum in Argentina and tell her in Ireland TV presenters are normal women’

New to the Parish: Marianela Davico first arrived in 2006

Anna Pupin with her husband Bartosz Romanowski and their three-year-old son Jan. Photograph: Dave Meehan

‘I call myself half-Irish. I can’t see myself living anywhere else’

New to the Parish: Anna Pupin arrived from Poland in 2006

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Izzeddeen and Eman Alkarajeh with their children Omar, Jouri and Lama. Izzeddeen, a Palestinian from the west bank who moved here from Saudi Arabia with his wife and children last year and is living in direct provision in Cork. Photograph: Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision

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