New to the Parish

A series about new arrivals who have made Ireland their home

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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

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

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