New to the Parish

A series about new arrivals who have made Ireland their home

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Solomon Kong still struggles with the general cost of living in Dublin and was shocked to discover the rate of basic tax when the received his first pay cheque. Photograph: Cyril Byrne

‘Education system here encouraged more creativity than in Malaysia’

New to the Parish: Solomon Kong arrived to study accounting and finance in 2015

Karen Mukasa (17) from Uganda. She hopes to study health science at university in Ireland but also feels the urge to return to Uganda some day. Photograph: Alan Betson

‘My grandmother sent me to boarding school to protect me. It was a much safer option’

New to the Parish: Karen Mukasa arrived from Uganda in 2015

Tayan Gaedi at the Countess Markievicz Statue on Townsend Street, Dublin 2: “I tell people now I’m Irish-Kurdish.” Photograph: Cyril Byrne

‘I’m as proud to be Irish as I am Kurdish’

New to the Parish: Tayan Gaedi arrived from Iraqi Kurdistan in 2005

Senthil Kumar Ramasamy in Waterford City: “I became interested in Irish politics when I came here and that’s why I wanted to learn about the Irish legal system.” Picture: Patrick Browne

‘At least everyone has the basics in Ireland. That’s why I’m living here’

New to the Parish: Senthil Kumar Ramasamy arrived in Waterford from India in 2000

Rosemary Kunene: “There are a lot of people who are depressed and don’t want to get involved in anything. I don’t blame them for that. The duration of stay in these centres is too long and I wish I could know what really causes the delays.” Photograph: Tom O’Hanlon

‘People in direct provision are liars and thieves – that belief is part of Irish society’

New to the Parish: Rosemary Kunene arrived from Swaziland in 2014

José Muñoz: “Living the rest of my life in El Salvador is not an option. We all know the situation isn’t going to change there, we want a better life.” Photograph: Dara Mac Donaill

‘I wanted to start a new life. I was sick of the situation in El Salvador’

New to the Parish: José Muñoz arrived in Ireland in 2016

Tunisian Houda Zghidi moved to Ireland four years ago. She works for a tech company. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw

‘Irish people would ask: ‘You’re Arab? Why don’t you have a veil?’’

New to the Parish: Houda Zghidi arrived from Tunisia in 2014

Imani Tutu at the Free Bird sculpture in Cavan. Imani came to Ireland with his family in 2014 from Tanzania as UNHCR-sponsored refugees. Photograph: Lorraine Teevan

‘In Ireland, I was scared to say hi to people on the street’

New to the Parish: Imani Tutu arrived from Tanzania in 2014

Osama Abou Hajar recently got Irish citizenship. He is pictured with his newly signed document.

‘The Irish people gave me justice, liberty, humanity and support’

New to the Parish: Osama Abou Hajar arrived from Syria via Lebanon in 2014

Aradhana ‘Kuxi’ Ghai: “For Ishaan, Ireland is home and it’s very important for a child to know where his home is.” Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill

‘Motherhood is a great equaliser. You have that solidarity’

Aradhana Ghai, from Kenya, moved to Dublin in 2014. When her father died three years later, her young son helped her cope

Henrique and Gislaine Peinado with their children Arthur and Victoria at home in Ennis, Co Clare. Photograph: Eamon Ward

‘There is a sense of community and acceptance in Ireland’

New to the Parish: Henrique Peinado arrived from Brazil in 2006

Agnieszka Tyghe and her husband, Dane. Photograph: Patrick Browne

‘The sparks flew. He became more than a driving instructor’

New to the Parish: When a Polish woman moved to Wexford and started driving lessons, she acquired more than a licence

Salah Haddad from Libya has lived in Ireland since 1998 and became a citizen in 2003. Photograph: Aidan Crawley

‘I consider myself an Irish man but people always say: No, you’re not Irish’

New to the Parish: Salah Haddad arrived from Libya via Jordan in 1998 and became an Irish citizen in 2003

Ljiljana Matkovic at the Clondalkin Intercultural Centre: “The only difficulty I had when I came here was meeting friends but then I found people at the centre who wanted to help me.” Photograph Nick Bradshaw

‘Croatian and Irish women are very similar. I am Irish with them’

New to the Parish: Ljiljana Matkovic arrived from Croatia in 2015

Asim Mumtaz with his wife Sidra and their children, Eshall (5), Azlaan (3) and Sofia aged five months. Photograph: Tom Honan

‘People complain about the HSE but compared to Pakistan it’s brilliant’

New to the Parish: Asim Mumtaz arrived from Pakistan in 2000

Athula Kuruppu Arachchi: “Running your own business is very hard, you have to sacrifice so much. You’re not getting any margin at the beginning.” Photograph: Daragh Mc Sweeney/Provision

‘I knew from the news people didn’t like to go to Ireland because of the war’

New to the Parish: Chef and entrepreneur Athula Kuruppu Arachchi arrived from Sri Lanka in 2005

Vitor Ferreira, from Portugal, works with Collen Construction, in health and safety. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill

The Minister asked ‘Where are you from?’ I said ‘Portugal’. He said ‘You’re Irish now’

Vitor Ferreira arrived from Portugal in 2002

Japanese chef Takashi Miyazaki at his new restaurant ichigo ichie in Cork city. Photograph: Daragh Mc Sweeney/Provision

In Offaly people were like ‘who is this guy, what is he doing here?’

Takashi Miyazaki arrived in Ireland from Japan in 2008

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

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