Ireland most multicultural in EU — and we’re loving it

IRELAND is the most multicultural country in Europe and we are loving it, according to a European Union-wide poll.

The average Irish citizen meets more foreigners when out shopping, travelling and in school or university than in any of the other 26 EU countries.

We meet more people of a different ethnic origin than people elsewhere in the union and believe that half of those we meet have a different religion to ours.

Most — 84% — say the experience of having contact with different cultures enriches their lives, which is the highest of the 27 countries polled. Irish students are even more appreciative of the variety, with 90% saying they benefit from it.

When it comes to encouraging young people to mix with their peers from other cultures, the Irish are equally tolerant, with 90% saying they would benefit from knowing people from other cultures and beliefs. Only the Danes and Swedes were more enthusiastic.

A third say they would not encourage young people to stick to family traditions, although two-thirds believed they should also keep them up.

Irish people say they encounter more people from outside the EU in everyday life than those from other EU member states. Most of their contact is when walking around their neighbourhoods or shopping.

More than half said they met foreigners at work, while more than a third met them travelling, in free time cultural activities and in education. A quarter say they play sport with them.

The poll was commissioned to help launch the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, which kicks off in January. About 86% of Irish people said they would be interested in events linked to this — the fourth highest interest shown in the EU.

A number of events, including in Ireland, are being organised to help integrate people better across Europe at a time when racism is a regular feature of all member countries.

EU Culture Commissioner Jan Figel said that 50 years ago the idea of bringing together Europe’s diverse populations under one umbrella would have seemed impossible. “Therefore, we can and should face up to the challenges of our continent’s cultural and religious mix. That is why we have chosen the slogan ‘together in diversity’ for the year”, he said.