Diversity in Cork: a work in progress

“I can’t tell you how many times people would use words like ‘go back to your country, you are not welcome here, you do not belong here’.”

That was Ps Dickson Aribasoye recalling the early days of his arrival in Ireland as part of a new report looking at diversity and integration in Cork city in a report being launching today, Thursday, by migrant and refugee rights centre Nasc.

Called We are Cork: Stories from a Diverse City, it features the stories of 24 people from 18 countries across the world who have made their home on Leeside.

Nasc created the report to act as an oral history and a platform upon which to build future integration actions. In the past 22 years Ireland has become home to over 500,000 migrants or people of migrant background from over 200 different countries across the globe. In Census 2016, Cork city recorded the largest increase in its non-Irish population across Ireland.

Of the 24 participants in the report, 7 had lived in Ireland for 20 years or longer, 11 had lived in Ireland for between 11 and 20 years, and 6 had lived in Ireland for 10 years or less.

In the report, participants reflect on their own integration experiences in Cork and their reasons for moving to Cork, from fleeing persecution, to finding employment or joining a spouse.

One participant, Dr Mutahira Lone, recalls being the only migrant in her neighbourhood almost 2 decades ago.

“When I first came to Cork, I was the only migrant in the housing estate. That was way back in 2004 and now we have over 10 migrant families from different parts of the world. There was some isolation since I was alone but I had incredible neighbours. That is something that makes Cork different from other places,” she said.

Another participant, Stella Aigbogun, was full of praise for an unnamed person here who saved her daughter in the city centre.

She said: “I was taking a walk in the city with my little daughter in a buggy. I was around Merchant’s Quay. while trying to climb the steps, I lost control and my buggy was almost turning over with the child inside, and a guy from nowhere rushed and caught the child and even injured himself. He was a real hero. This is someone who didn’t know me from anywhere and when I asked him why he did it, he told me the life of the child was his priority and he didn’t care if he was injured or not.”

Commenting on the report, Fiona Hurley, Nasc CEO, said it showcases the very real, lived experience of migrants to Cork city, while giving them an opportunity to talk about integration in their own words.

She said: “We hope this publication provides a snapshot of the diversity of Cork city and the strength and resilience of our new communities. It shows there is still a lot of work to be done, particularly in tackling racism and discrimination and under-employment however, there are also plenty of positives in people’s experiences of Cork.

“Each of us individually can also be part of making Cork a more welcoming place and a safe harbour for all.”