Dermot Bolger, the poet who was the keynote speaker at Éan’s 2005 conference, has a new play that touches on both emigration and immigration. “The Townlands of Brazil”, playing now in Ballymun’s Axis Arts Centre, tells the stories of two young women: one, a mother who emigrates to England in the 1960s, and the second,… Continue reading Migration the focus of Dermot Bolger’s latest
Emigrant Services funding to increase by 25%
Funding for Emigrant Services abroad will increase by 25% in 2007, to €15.2 million, up from €12 million this year. Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern commented, “This represents a fifteen-fold increase in such provision since 1997 and reflects the Government’s strong commitment to the welfare of the Irish abroad.â€? The funding will mainly go… Continue reading Emigrant Services funding to increase by 25%
Irish-born Londoners decline in number
The number of Irish-born people among London’s 7.3 million people now stands at 114,000, according to the Office for National Statistics. This makes the Irish the third-largest migrant group in the city, but is a dramatic fall from 1997, when there were 185,000. The Irish were at that time London’s largest migrant group. Indian-born residents… Continue reading Irish-born Londoners decline in number
Éan 2005 conference report describes proceedings
While Éan won’t be holding a conference this year, the proceedings of last year’s conference, themed “Toward a Positive Emigration Experience”, are available online. Speakers at last year’s event included representatives of the Federation of Irish Societies in Britain and the Coalition of Irish Immigration Centers in the US, as well as people working with… Continue reading Éan 2005 conference report describes proceedings
Bishop Hegarty calls for respect for migrants
Dr Seamus Hegarty, Bishop of Derry and Chair of the Irish Episcopal Commission for Emigrants, has spoken of the need to respect the dignity of individual migrants in the face of globalisation. Bishop Hegarty was speaking on November 9th at the Drop-In Centre and Supported Housing Complex in Birmingham. He said the Church had a… Continue reading Bishop Hegarty calls for respect for migrants
Will the Democrats’ victory assist US immigration reform?
The chances for US immigration reform appear to have improved, following the electoral success of the Democrats in many Senate and House races, according to many stories in the US news media. The LA Times offers this analysis: Many House Republicans based their reelection campaigns partly on opposition to immigration policies that Bush and many… Continue reading Will the Democrats’ victory assist US immigration reform?