'It's important to learn the language': Meet the migrants who are embracing all things Irish
Nataliia Lysenko, who arrived from war-torn Kyiv in March 2022 and has recently started Irish classes.
After years spent embracing our nation’s culture, from trying their hand at to mastering the cúpla focal, it’s fair to say some migrants are becoming more Irish than the Irish themselves.
Today, St Patrick’s Day, will be particularly special for many foreign nationals who have adopted the long-running traditions that have shaped our identity.
Nataliia Lysenko, who arrived from a war torn Kyiv in March 2022, is among them.
In recent weeks, she has taken up Irish classes, organised by the Nasc migrant support centre, a free advocacy service located in Cork City.
The mother of one said she immediately felt at home after arriving in Cork.
“I didn’t expect such kindness when I first came here. Everybody wanted to offer help and support.
"I had been living in St Mary’s Convent in Buttevant on my first Mother’s Day away from Ukraine.
"It was all mothers and children living there so the community created Mother’s Day presents for us all, which was very unexpected.
"They gave us chocolates and flowers, but that wasn’t important. What was important was the attention and thought that they gave us.”
Nataliia has come a long way since that initial adjustment period and is continuing to immerse herself in Irish culture.
“I would like to know everything about the Irish language,” she said.
“Some of the pronunciations are similar to Ukrainian. There are a lot of similarities in our histories too.
"I realise how important it is to learn the language while I’m living here.
"It’s also important to have this knowledge to pass down to future generations to make sure that the culture isn’t lost."
She admires how Irish people provide other cultures with the chance to shine.
“The St Patrick's Day parade is something I’m looking forward to as it gives people the opportunity to present their own cultures through their beautiful creations.”
Today will also be a proud day for Marcella Gleixner and her husband Mariusz.
The mother of one is originally from Germany but was raised in Poland where the couple met.
“I came to Ireland in 2011 for a job opportunity.
"I only had general knowledge of Ireland but I fell in love with the place as soon as I arrived. I still remember the taxi driver showing me around and giving me a lucky €1 coin before my interview.”
Born in Ireland, Marcella’s daughter Lily is a gifted Irish dancer, with more than nine winning titles under her belt.
She is currently preparing to take part in the Glounthaune and Carrigtwohill St Patrick’s Day parades, with the O’Sullivan academy of Irish dance.
“Lily loves speaking Irish and Irish dancing. She is embracing Irish culture. Irish culture had been suppressed for so many years.
"Cultivating it is a lot of effort but it’s also a beautiful thing to be able to do. My teacher used to always say that our country didn’t exist for centuries.
"This is similar to the experience of Irish people which is why keeping the culture alive is so important. We’re just happy to have the chance to be part of that.”
She praised her daughter’s Irish dancing teacher, Jacintha, for nurturing her love of Irish culture.
“People like Jacintha are contributing to Irish society by teaching children about the arts and culture.
"She pours her heart into the dance classes and gives so much more than the two hours set aside for each class.
"People like her are so overlooked and underappreciated and yet they are the ones doing everything they can to strengthen Irish culture.
"What we have in Ireland is quite unique. Countries have their traditional folk dances but this is spectacularly famous around the world.
I can even remember my grandmother showing me Riverdance and telling me that this was what they did in Ireland.
Italian native Giuseppe Salvini is looking forward to celebrating his first St Patrick’s Day as an Irish citizen.
“I came here on May 2008. My plan was stay here for as long as I could but as soon as my plane landed I said to myself 'this is my new home'.”
Giuseppe found the love of his life in Cork woman Elsa, with whom he raises two children.
He will be featuring in the St Patrick’s Day parade in Cork City with the players he caches at inline hockey club, Cork Wolf Pack, including his own children, Oriana, 7, and Carlo, 12.
It come more than five months after he was granted citizenship in Ireland.
“It was fantastic,” he said of the ceremony.
“I had the same feeling listening to the Irish national anthem that I do when I’m listening to the Italian one. When I arrived back home the place was covered in banners, scarves and green wigs, which was really nice.”
Giuseppe, who works in IT, said he gets his daily dose of Irish culture from his children.
“They mock me when I’m doing their Irish homework with them and I mispronounce the words,” he laughed.
He spoke about the first time he realised he was truly Irish.
"In Italy, everyone beeps the horns of their cars. When I went back there for a holiday I realised that I was the only one not beeping. That was when I realised I was truly Irish."
Nigerian native, Idowu Akinyimika, lives in Midleton, Cork, with his wife Betty and children Grace, 14, Jeremiah, 12, and Esther, 9.
One of the first things the IT specialist did after arriving in Ireland in early 2018 was sign up to Irish classes.
“Even though I only have a small number of words they have brought a lot of joy,” he said.
"My colleagues will just look at me and we’ll start laughing together, which is a great start to the day. In terms of Irish culture my favourite thing has to be the full Irish breakfast,” he joked.
“The first time I heard about it I had been really excited to try it."
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