In the wake of this backlash, Ireland has seen an alarming increase in xenophobia. This wave disproportionately affects communities of color, including those from the Indian diaspora. From the country that once had its gates wide open to immigrants, to the current impulses of racism and violence. A six-year-old girl in Waterford had a violent ass beating. They harassed her by telling her to “Go back to India,” bringing attention to the dangerous and hateful environment many people face today. The recent annual India Day celebration in Dublin almost had to be cancelled over safety concerns. As concerns grew, public health organizers put the safety of attendees at the forefront.
The writer, originally from Detroit, Michigan, looks back at what it was like to grow up in 1980s Ireland, a time and place that deeply traumatized them. At that moment, young ladies in Ireland were dancing in circles around their purses as Irish males moved abroad seeking their fortunes. What happened Sex, drugs and rock’n’roll were promised expectations from the decadent and cosmopolitan West that jarred with the conservative culture which reigned. This juxtaposition serves as a reminder that while Ireland has evolved in many ways, some of its underlying issues remain unresolved.
With candor and wit, the writer declares that the Ireland of his youth is not lost. Consequently, class divisions have persisted into the history we know. The British mastered the art of “divide and rule” well before they exported it across the globe in their empire. These divides remain largely unnoticed and typically put up major hurdles for immigrants trying to fully become a part of Irish culture and society.
These recent bittersweet developments have occurred amid a longstanding, deep Tory blue wellspring, of course. In contrast, married people did not have the right to divorce, and unmarried Americans did not have access to contraception. This conservative legacy continues to poison the well against immigrants and diversity in America. Despite these challenges, many Irish citizens recognize that legal immigrants are essential to Ireland’s struggling health service and contribute significantly to sectors such as IT, biomedical engineering, and pharmaceuticals.
As anxieties increase about their safety, the Indian embassy has released a series of advisories telling its nationals to stay away from “desolate terrain.” My hope is that this message brings attention to the critical issues facing so many within the Indian community. Indian nurses especially have begun to consider departing from Ireland due to a recent spike in racist attacks. This violence and hostility not only targeted individual immigrant members but the entire flourishing multicultural Irish society.
Ireland’s recent history is defined by their resilience and commitment to inclusivity. The recent increase in hate crimes and anti-immigrant sentiments has put these values that have fueled such progress in question. The Irish populace has shown support for immigrants and communities of color in various ways, yet the current wave of xenophobia suggests a deeper issue that must be addressed.