New to the Parish

Ukrainians and Irish ‘understand each other because we have been through similar problems’

New to the Parish: Elvira Sieitablaieva came to Ireland from Ukraine

‘In Ireland I started missing the sun very soon, but I knew it was the place I wanted to be in’

New to the Parish: Ginna Álvarez came here from Mexico almost a year and a half ago

‘There are lots of similarities between Irish and English people. It makes it easy to settle in’

New to the Parish: Rosie McDonagh moved from St Alban’s to Ireland in 2019, where she has co-founded a charity which assists people in need

‘I felt out of place and isolated. My English and accent didn’t mix well’

New to the Parish: Liliana Montoya, who moved here from Colombia in 2009, works as a dance instructor in Co Leitrim

‘In Brazil, it’s all about the food. Here it’s more about the drink’

New to the Parish: Laura Devides, who moved to Ireland in May 2014, says she has ‘so many opportunities’ here that she would not have in Brazil

‘My mother never for a second thought it was an odd thing to do, having a half-Indian child in Ireland in the 1960s’

New to the Parish: Anna Tanvir moved to Ireland with Maninder Singh early in the Covid-19 pandemic. They plan to stay

‘In Ireland, you definitely live way more in the moment. I had to relax about a lot of things’

New to the Parish: Daria Erhart moved to Ireland in 2016

‘In Singapore you are a lone ranger ... What I love about living in Ireland is everyone looks out for each other’

New to the Parish: Roxenne Holohan moved from Singapore in 2021

‘When you stay in Ireland, it’s not like another country, it’s like another planet. Everything is different’

New to the Parish: Dancer Mariela Mira arrived from Brazil in 2022

‘I find that Waterford is a place that’s very open to foreigners. I never came across any racism’

New to the Parish: Justyna Traore joined a friend for a first trip to Ireland in 2005

‘So many Brazilians come and then stay. We’re very like Irish people’

New to the Parish: Guilherme Souza moved to Dublin in 2014

‘I am obsessed with hurling. It’s probably one of the most complicated sports that I’ve ever tried’

Juan Maldonado Pimentel moved from Panama to Ireland in October 2022

‘You’re welcomed with open arms everywhere. That’s what I like about Irish people’

New to the Parish: Sabine Barry arrived from Germany in 2007

‘Irish English is very different. I learn a phrase and build it into my sentences – Ah sure look or The craic was mighty’

New to the Parish: ‘I’m still not great at identifying accents – except Cork, as every statement is like a question,’ says Juci Kulloi, originally from Budapest

‘Life in Ireland is much easier and nicer. In Chile it’s all just work and paying bills’

New to the Parish: Camila Munoz Garcia came to Dublin from Chile

‘Moving to Ireland from the US is like moving to Canada: nobody’s getting shot at schools and they speak English’

New to the Parish: Mike and Emily Sugrue arrived from California in 2022

‘Working in Ireland is less stressful than in China and you can make friends with colleagues’

New to the Parish: Tiantian Wu arrived from China in 2016

‘Irish people are not used to Spanish people’s way of being very direct in emails’

New to the Parish: June Gonzalez Iriarte came to Cork from Spain

A Ukrainian in Ireland: ‘The Russians were in the new home we built in Kharkiv. They destroyed it and stole everything’

New to the Parish: Irene Gladun and her family arrived in Ireland in 2022

‘I’ve been to Portugal, Spain, Italy, and I think Irish people make you feel more at home’

New to the Parish: Vanessa Ferreira arrived from Venezuela in 2018

‘After I go back, I want to tell Ukrainian people about the kindness of Irish people’

New to the Parish: Kateryna Kovalchuk and her nine-year-old son arrived in Ireland from Ukraine in May 2022

‘My first impression of Ireland was that it was so quiet. It was a shock – but in a good way’

New to the Parish: Coolio Antonio moved to Ireland from Angola some 15 years ago

‘It was hard at first. It can be very difficult to get a job when you are a refugee’

New to the Parish: Safora Mohammadi came to Ireland from Afghanistan in 2021

‘I was hired to play with Kodaline on the Late Late Show after busking on Grafton Street’

New to the Parish: Meg LaGrande arrived from Canada in 2015

‘Irish people are really helpful. I’ve worked all over the world and haven’t come across people who are as nice’

New to the Parish: Julie Sebode moved to Dublin in 2009

‘Sometimes Google Maps doesn’t work and Irish people help by walking you to the place you want’

New to the Parish: Fatemeh Amerehi arrived from Iran in 2021

‘Irish people are open and kind from the very beginning even if they’re a complete stranger’

New to the Parish: Gennaro Rotondo from Italy has been in Ireland for less than two years

‘In Ireland I can be the person I was supposed to be. I can be proud of the way I am’

New to the Parish: Rei Campos arrived from Venezuela in 2011

‘We talk a lot and I find the Irish talk a lot. So it’s very easy to get along with people here’

New to the Parish: Vidya Vivek moved to Ireland from India in 2018

‘Living in Dublin feels so romantic, but living here is incredibly challenging financially’

New to the Parish: Vivian Marino (22) moved to Ireland from California in 2019

‘When I got here, Irish people were so welcoming. I was shocked at how good they were to me’

New to the Parish: Constantin Tui came to Ireland from Romania in 1999

‘I was terrified to speak even though my English was good enough, but I blossomed in Wexford’

New to the Parish: Artist Mirona Mara came to Ireland from Romania

‘In America you’re always on edge for a shooting, which is crazy to say but it’s true’

New to the Parish: Ciara Tobin arrived from Florida in 2021

‘Dublin is very expensive, and for many of my students that’s what made them leave Ireland’

New to the Parish: Anca Danila from Romania came to Ireland about 10 years ago

‘I love the Irish tradition of saying thank you to a bus driver’

New to the Parish: Olha Khoroshevska arrived from Ukraine in 2022

‘Irish people are constantly complaining about the weather. It’s very dynamic. Three seasons in one day’

New to the Parish: Hrvoje Smolic moved from Croatia to Ireland in 2018

‘Try Ireland,’ they said. ‘Ireland? I’d never been there. It’s so far from Ukraine,’ I said

New to the Parish: Tetiana Schevchenko lives in Co Meath

‘The only thing I knew about Ireland was the songs from Eurovision and the sheep’

New to the Parish: Einat Caspi moved from Israel to Ireland in 2015

‘When I arrived here, I wanted to share my story with Irish people’

New to the Parish: Natalya Krasnenkova arrived in Ireland in March 2022 from Kyiv

‘I compare the Irish health service with Spain and I don’t know why Spanish people complain’

New to the Parish: Dr Yayicsia Escalona moved from Spain in 2017

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