January 25th, 2006
Chinese New Year and the Irish Community
This Sunday, January 29th, is the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Dog. I recently wrote this article for Capital magazine about the Chinese community in Ireland and interaction between the two communities and have reproduced it here.
Almost a year ago, in the space of one week, I had two very different encounters with the Chinese community in Ireland. The first was a lacklustre 1-0 victory by the Republic of Ireland football team over China at Landsdowne Road; the second, was a far more heartening and excellent lunch at The Good World Restaurant. Both events differed hugely in terms of my perception of the Chinese in Ireland . the restaurant reinforced the stereotype of catering as the main occupation of Chinese people living here, but the match was the real eye-opener. Not only was there a Chinese football team, but huge numbers of Irish-based fans, mainly young people, turned out to support them. It was the largest gathering of Chinese in one place I’d ever seen and prompted me to question why it seemed like such a rare sight. A quick survey of friends reveals that all have never worked, socialised or even had a conversation with an Irish-born Chinese person.
As the community gears up for the Chinese New Year on January 29th, Irish people may well question why the biggest immigrant group in this country is also one of the most invisible, eclipsed by arrivistes like the Polish, African and Romanian communities. One distinction is that the Chinese here are not refugees, instead coming to Ireland to join family members and to learn English. The first wave of Chinese migrants arrived in Ireland in the 1950s, with another influx in the 1970s. From 1990 on this figure has climbed steadily and figures put the number between 30-40,000. Ireland was considered an ideal destination given its pre 2000 open door policy on immigrants and the fact that it is one of a handful of English speaking countries in Europe.
As the longest established ethnic group, the Chinese community . restaurants aside . still seem fairly peripheral. Dr. Katherine Chan Mullen thinks she knows why. “As a community the Chinese don’t integrate traditionally. It’s not from a desire to alienate themselves, it comes from a Confucian way of thinking. They’re a shy group of people who like to keep to themselves and not make any trouble so in way, this has prevented them from integrating in to many aspects of Irish society.â€? If these first Chinese families were culturally alienated, opportunities to integrate through employment were even fewer, as many families opened Chinese restaurants. Vicky Lee, whose parents came to Ireland from Hong Kong, did just that. “My uncle decided to settle in Cork and set up one of the first Chinese restaurant in Cork city centre. Soon after my father arrived in Limerick and did the same, owning one of city’s first Chinese restaurants.â€?
Born in Cork and raised in Limerick, Vicky is typical of a new generation of what she dubs ‘Irish Born Chinese’ (IBC). She is fluent in Cantonese and English and works in Dublin for an Irish Software company, as young IBCs seek alternative careers to previous generations. “In Limerick, the local Chinese community that own catering businesses span decades and are a very close-knit community. We all know each other, but growing up, it was a small community with hardly any kids my age around then. A generation or two later, many lose touch, and next generation young adults are encouraged to take up other careers in sectors other then catering.â€?
Dublin has the largest concentration of Chinese dwellers, mainly from Hong Kong, Mainland China and Malaysia but Irish people can’t differentiate between the various groups. “Irish people don’t know the difference but we can identify each other by the way we look, talk, dress and how we act in public. While Hong Kong Chinese more Westernised than mainland Chinese, we still tend to stick together which leads to this ‘us and them’ segregation, but it’s changing.â€?
On a night out in Dublin, it’s rare you’ll encounter young Chinese people in pubs or clubs. The reticence described by Vicky Lee and the fact that pubs are peculiarly Irish cultural phenomenon, are just two reasons why there’s no Shamrock and Dragon Irish-Chinese pub. So what do young IBC’s do for kicks? “Overseas born Chinese like to go out and have fun except for the students! [up to 10,000 of Ireland’s Chinese population are students who are here temporarily to learn English] Young Chinese just don’t go to pubs for leisure as much as Westerners. Occasionally they will, but it’s just not as apparent and I think there is a slight stigma attached to young Chinese adults going to pubs or clubs. One thing I find really prevalent is the number of Chinese people attending the cinema here, it’s a big thing,â€? says Vicky.
It seems a peculiarly Irish mindset to equate socialising with alcohol but the cinema is not an ideal place to foster communication and bonding between the two communities. If both communities preferred social environs are so different, how are the two groups ever going to meet? Dr. Katherine Chan Mullen runs the Irish Chinese Information Centre and she feels that the onus is on the government to implement structures for integration. “The problem lies with information. The Chinese were encouraged to come here to learn English but there were not enough facilities for them. Things have changed now with all the different refugee groups but when the Chinese first arrived, the government didn’t educate people and Irish society didn’t know how to cope with multiculturalism. In order to break down the barriers, we need to make more information available, which will encourage integration. One commendable project is the annual Chinatown festival but still this is not enoughâ€?.
Dr. Chan Mullen also cites another group who have not made a concerted effort with integration. The Catholic Church, so long the onus behind many community initiatives has done very little and the Chinese Gospel Church of Dublin is a Protestant organisation working to cater for the spiritual needs of the Chinese community here. The Gospel Church (on their website) also backs up the view that the government has not responded to the community’s needs claiming: “Throughout the years. there has been no official development by the Irish authorities. to promote the physical and the spiritual welfare of the increasing number of Chinese in this city.â€?
Vicky Lee’s isolation prompted her to take a pro-active approach in trying to reach out to other Chinese people and the Irish community. In 2002 she set up an Irish Born Chinese site, when she discovered that no such thing existed here. “I felt isolated working in Dublin at the time and I knew there were more Chinese people like me in Ireland. I found various British Born Chinese sites, and asked one particular site if they had a sister site. They didn’t and suggested I set one up myself. It’s a non-profit site and it provides a focal point for the community. Anyone searching the net for Irish Chinese sites find me which is great.â€? For those who want a more tangible point of contact Katherine Chan Mullen’s Irish Chinese Information centre is a free drop-in service based in Smithfield. “We have an open door policy for anyone, Chinese or Irish, interested in finding out about the communityâ€?, says Dr. Chan Mullen. “The only way Irish society can reach out to the Chinese community is in learning to set up social initiatives, such as this one, that are inclusive. We encourage people to stop by, have a coffee and try to learn more from each other.â€?
Things are changing though; the number of Asian markets in Dublin has increased and there is now a Chinese school in the city. Moore Street is booming with Chinese shops and restaurants and a new monthly magazine, Tiao Wang, was launched in November and the majority of the features - including fashion, health, arts and current affairs . in Chinese. Dublin’s City Channel has also been targeting the Chinese community. Vicky Lee is optimistic and is aware of how much things have changed since her family first arrived here. “With the interests in Asian cinema, art and Animé/Manga, more people have come to accept Asians more and Ireland is becoming more and more multicultural. It’s come a long way from four decades ago when my parent’s restaurant would only get one delivery a year from Asia! There are Chinese signs in Irish travel agents, the Gardai are hiring ethnic groups and I have friends studying Chinese - even my fiancé who is Irish, speaks a bit of Cantonese. Things have changed very quickly in recent years, and I can see it continuing. In the end Ireland, especially Dublin, is one heck of a place to live in.â€?
Information:
Irish Chinese Information Centre, Smithfield: 01 8727312.
Irish Born Chinese Forum
January 25th, 2006 at 8:08 pm
Hi!
Just want to thank you for inviting me to contribute to your article. I hope in the future, there will be more overseas born Chinese sites here in Ireland.
I don’t read Chinese, so it is news to me about the local Chinese paper. This is the kind of information the IBC site would like to gather and spread to others in the community.
It really has been my pleasure to partake in this.
Kindest Regards,
– Vicky
January 26th, 2006 at 3:24 pm
Great article Sinead.
Read it while waiting to be graded on one of my projects. The Irish Chinese community is something I’m interested in. I’d love to learn either Mandarin or Cantonese…
I would however, take issue with Dr. Chan Mullen ’s comment about the Catholic Church. Frankly, I don’t think the Catholic Church is a player in Irish society anymore. It could just be the people I consort with, but if you asked most of my friends and acquaintances I’m sure they’d tell you the same thing.
I think community projects need to be run by those in the community and not just by denominational organisations such as the church etc.
Shane
January 26th, 2006 at 4:00 pm
When we moved to Galway we became friends with Tennessee and Catherine Leong, who (no surprise) run the take away in our local village (the Oriental Takeaway in Kilcolgan)–they’re from Hong Kong and emigrated here only a few years ago.
When we lived in Dublin we frequented the Asian markets, and restaurants, all the time, but didn’t get to know anyone. I went to a Chinese Medicine Doctor to cure me of a persistent cough (it worked).
On the other hand, Tennessee and Catherine have done favours for us (ordered ingredients from Dublin), and their little boy is a delight. He’s going great in school. They are a great addition to the community.
I love that Ireland is becoming more multi-cultural. Long may it continue!
January 27th, 2006 at 12:54 pm
An interesting insight into the chinese community in Ireland. And I’m glad. A big change since I first took my Malaysian-Chinese husband walking in Grafton Street one summer’s evening, when a group of people came up and asked me if I was Irish. I replied yes. Then some wit yelled at the top of his voice. “She’s a Chinese Take-Away”!
Has good Dim Sum reached Dublin yet? I’ll be visiting again soon and I’d like to know if the real thing is available?
January 27th, 2006 at 8:30 pm
Really fascinating article, Sinead. I’m so happy Ireland’s becoming multi-cultural at last, though of course the part where I hail from will take another forty or fifty years to reach where the Republic is today.
One thing I laughed at are your references to the Chinese restaurants. In a way Ireland influenced the fare offered by the owners of these restaurants because every dish–at least in the North where Chinese means ‘Sweet and Sour pork’ (the meat sculpted into round balls and friend in batter as often as not)– is served with a side of chips. EVERY SINGLE DISH. Yet, in England and definitely in the US, people would think it very odd if you asked for chips in a Chinese restaurant. I guess it’s to do with our ongoing love affair with the potato.
Over here, no one refers to Chinese people ‘Chinese.’ It’s Asian or Asian-American–which admittedly is a very wide category.
January 29th, 2006 at 10:51 am
Vicky - thanks for your help with this. I was asked to do this at very short notice and put out a lot of calls and emails. Sadly most people didn’t get back to me, as I’d like to have included more comments from people.
Shane - Thank you. I completely agree with your point. The days of the Catholic Church as community fulcrum are long over.
Maura - I’d be lost with the Asia market on Drury Street. I get very excited by all the smells and flavours wafting around in there.
Ainelivia - It’s a coincidence that I mentioned the Good World Restaurant, because they do the best Dim Sum without doubt in Dublin. The shark’s fin is gorgeous!
Damian - I think we have potota issues in this country.
February 8th, 2006 at 10:46 am
Thanks for the recommendation Sinead. Is the Good World Restaurant in Dublin City centre or thereabouts?
February 8th, 2006 at 1:18 pm
Apologies, I thought I had included a link in the piece. It’s on George’s Street, Dublin 2 and the website is at http://www.goodworldrestaurant.com/
February 11th, 2006 at 10:49 am
Some should be let in. However, considering 166,000 have come from Eastern Europe, I think that we are experiencing enough immigration from there to fulfill economic needs. Non-EU students are required to register with the Garda National Immigration Bureau but only 28,500 have done so - in spite of claims from ICTU that there are 150,000 non-EU students here (Irish Independent 28 January 2006). To get a student visa, you need among other things a letter from a college in this country. Unfortunately this has led to a large number of bogus English-language ’schools’ being set up for nothing more than the trafficking of illegal workers into Ireland. The government needs to replace the student visa with a student work-permit, to address the fact that in truth, these Chinese are coming here to work, not generally to study. Charity begins at home.
February 19th, 2006 at 6:58 am
Why are we so obsessed with counting people in this country? It dismays me that we group anyone who isn’t native Irish in one amorphous blob and look on them as taking from rather than contributing to who we are as Irish. We have a massive history of immigrants shaping Ireland. I mean in 1988 didn’t we celebrate the millenium of Dublin city? A city founded by Danes and Norweigans. And they didn’t start off here collecting glasses in the Brazen Head.
Truh be told no matter where the Chinese go in the world money follows. Look at Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines for example. Most of the money is held by Chinese. As a group they are incredible with money. Three of the four Filipino Billionaires are Filipino-Chinese. We need to encourage Chinese immigration as they stimulate economic activity. This isnt a theory its an economic fact.
Look at Parnell St in Dublin. In particular the end towards Summerhill. I went to school in that area in the 80’s and it was a warzone. There were few shops and the risk of getting your head kicked in when going to get the bus home from school was a daily reality. Now the area has been cleaned up and mostly by the Chinese.
The locals still cause some trouble - I was in one food place that was invaded by two skangers in tracksuits telling all and sundry to “go home” and “stop taking our jobs” and this from two spongers who managed to remain on the scratcher during the most aggressive Irish economic boom ever. It really shows the locals up when people from the opposite side of the world with little access to local credit and not able to speak the language can rejuvinate a whole area. The Irish with their hands permanently out are the leeches in this society.
I have to admit that before being educated by people that arrived here from China, Poland, The Philipines, Iran, Pakistan, France etc. All different but fundamentally all people are the same. They want to earn a bit of money, have somewhere to live and have a few friends. And a common theme I have heard form them is that few Irish are interested in learning about them as people. One Polish girl told me of getting chatted up and the guy walking away when she said she was Polish. The mind boggles.
On the other hand I went to scool for a year with people from Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia and they would not address the Irish at all. I mean refused point blank to speak to the Irish. Their rudeness was legendary. They came here to get into medical school and Ireland was merely a means to an end. They could not set aside their prejudices one tiny bit and integrate in the slightest. And yet because they brought big bucks the government approved of this caper.
This country would be unbearable without immigrants. The old Catholic Taliban run old Ireland is almost dead and buried and not before time. They still have some supporters among the olders folk and the old fashoned. We still have to work on our inuslar nimbyism and encourage immigration especially from Asia. We need people here to work, innivate and compete. We are in a credit driven bubble here and we lack diversity. We need to open our minds and our palletes to new people, new languages and new food. Food is important and the Irish take any old mass produced crap and try to pass it off as food. Irish food is bland and nutritionally next to useless.
We can’t go on having a them and us attitude. Things like paying foreign nurses less and giving them bogus contracts forcing them to be students again are the worst type of racism that seems to grow here. Only last night i saw on the news that Holles st hospital were at that. In a country that is crying out for nurses we then come accross some pinheads who abuse the very people they need.
Equality only seems to work here if youre white and Irish. As my old geography teacher told us Emigration leaves beind the old and the old fashioned. This is reflected in the old fashioned wasy we view immigration and the almost totally unfounded suspicion that we view foreigners with. A country that welcomes and encourages like a gardener encourages ladybirds is the way forward. It takes cleverness and guile and I am not sure the current government is up to the task.
We are all people and the shape of your eye or the colour of your skin is no grounds to treat anyone any differently than a member of your own family.
August 9th, 2006 at 1:49 pm
My wife and I live in S.E. England and hope to move to Dublin or Cork area. My wife is Cantonese and is hopeing there is an Yi-Guan-Dao ‘holy house’ in Dublin or Cork, as she is a member,if anyone knows if there is and can put us in touch we will be grateful…kind regards Tony Edwards