Irish Diaspora Is the Biggest in the World

• 11.05.2015, 14:52
•  Europe,  Info

We use to say that Chinese Diaspora is the largest in the world. There are 35 million Chinese Diaspora representatives. However, no matter how surprising it may sound, Ireland, with 4.5 million population, exceeds China. There are 80 million Irish Diaspora representatives.  Below you can find answers to the following questions: how and when was Irish Diaspora formed?  What are the connections between Diaspora representatives and their homeland? What are mechanisms for their cooperation?

Irish Diaspora was formed at the end of 17th century and at the beginning of 18th century. Today majority of the Irish people lives on the American continent, mainly in the United States. Since the formation of the transatlantic empire, England needed workforce in its new colonies. In 1641, England deported disobedient residents from their homeland in an attempt “to appease” them.  Thus many Irish people were forcibly moved to the new world.

After the civil war in England and the invasion of Ireland by Cromwell (1649-1653), many residents of Ireland were under the pressure to make a choice between forced migration and death penalty. Only between 1652 -1659, 50 thousand Irish people were moved to Western India, Virginia and Bermuda.

The Irish people started to get united abroad to preserve their language and culture. And in the 18^th century Irish Diaspora was formed.

Since 1700, the number of immigrants from the Ireland has reached 9-10 million, which is more than the number of island population at times of the peak of its  growth – 8.5 million in 1830s (nowadays 4.5 million people live in the Irish Republic, while 6.5 million people live in the island).

Today 80 million people of the Irish origin live outside Ireland. Although all the people of the Irish origin are in a sense part of the so-called Irish Diaspora, often there is disagreement on who can be considered a Diaspora representative. It is hard to say representatives of up to which generation should be included in the Diaspora. According to the definition given by the Irish government all the Irish people, who have left for permanent stay abroad, are considered   Diaspora representatives. Their children (citizens of Ireland according to the Irish legislation) are also considered Diaspora representatives. By the way, grandchildren of Irish emigrants can also get Irish citizenship. Their names are recorded in the registries for the ones born abroad, as well as are kept in all the offices of Irish diplomatic representatives abroad. The great-grandchildren can also get citizenship in case at least one of their parents has an Irish citizenship.

However, Diaspora does not constitute of only those people with Irish origin, who have citizenship. There are ten million people with Irish origin, who speak Irish and are engaged in the organization of everyday activities of Irish communities.

As it was mentioned above, majority of Irish Diaspora representatives, more than 33 million people, reside in the Unites States. In the second place is Great Britain with 10 million Irish people. There are 7 million Irish people in Australia and 4 million in Canada.

There are also large Irish communities in Argentina, Bermuda, the Caribbean, Mexico, Chile, and Uruguay.

The Ireland’s Diaspora Policy

Although Irish Diaspora was formed from 17 to 18 centuries, while Ireland got its independence in the beginning of the previous century, there is no stable mechanism for Diaspora-homeland cooperation yet. 

At the beginning of this year, after wide public debates, “Ireland’s Diaspora Policy” was published. It is the first declaration, adopted by the government, which preciously states that “Ireland has unique and important relations with its Diaspora, that are to be further developed.” The document underlines the necessity of leading and at the same time assisting Diaspora.

One of the main priorities of Irish Diaspora’s policy is to prove assistance to the Irish people abroad by the government. Since 2004 there has been a program for assistance of emigrants. In the framework of this project, 470 Irish organizations in 30 countries got financial assistance in the amount 126 million Euros.  Those Irish organization implement project which aim at preserving the connection between the so-called “Global Irish” and his homeland and their Irish identity. In addition the money is used by those organizations to assist those with physical and psychological health problems, grown-ups and other vulnerable groups.  As it is noted in the policy document “emigration and living abroad can become an emotional and psychological challenge.”

Second main priority is establishing and developing connections between homeland and Diaspora as well as among different communities within Diaspora. Ireland reaches its compatriots abroad via the program called “Ireland Reaches Out.”  In the framework of the project the names of the people who at different times left Ireland are recorded in the registries later to establish connections with them and their heirs to invite them to participate in the community life of Irish Diaspora in the country they live. Within the same project Diaspora representative are also encouraged to return to their homeland to establish connections with previous acquaintances and community members.

Among other priorities is to establish connections between the communities in different countries. As the public discussions showed “people are eager to connect with each other and they expect from the government to have its role in it”. There is the so-called Global Irish initiative organized by the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which is a unique information hub through which Irish people can get information on the various events in their homeland and in different Irish communities abroad; the ones that can somehow refer to an Irish in any corner of the world.

The Web page and the Irish diplomatic representatives abroad serve as a means of communication for the initiative.

In the framework of Global Irish initiative the first economic forum was invited in 2009 as a result of which the network Global Irish was formed. The network unites hundreds of Irish businessmen abroad and is invited once in two years in Ireland,

The Irish businessmen have also established “Join Ireland” organization. It aims at encouraging foreign different companies to come to Ireland and to create new job places.

This year in June Global Irish social forum was invited for the first time in Dublin, which united the representatives of over 140 companies working with Diaspora.

Irish government also pays particular attention to the coverage of Diaspora representatives’ everyday life and problems by the TV. The initiative Global Irish media foundation pursues this particular aim.

Irish language as well as national culture and traditions are important guarantees for the preservation of the Irish identity. National holidays have become means to strengthen connections among members of the same community and among different communities, such as the holiday of St. Patrick, celebrated on March 17 in honor of the heavenly patron of Ireland St. Patrick (385-461). It marks the adoption of Christianity by Irish people. The government sponsors the organization of national holidays and various cultural events. 

At the same time there are various foundations both in Ireland and abroad. Those foundations conduct studies that assess needs of Diaspora representatives to provide possible assistance by the government. 

Parallel to the realization that cooperation with Diaspora should be developed, immigration is also considered an important challenge for Ireland. Thus different foundations and programs aim not only at assisting emigrants but also encouraging their return to the homeland. In the framework of the project aimed at assisting emigrants Irish government sponsors Safe Home initiative. The initiative aims at providing informative and consultative assistance to all those, who want to return to their homeland for permanent residency.