Roma in Ireland
Encyclopedia
The number of Roma in Ireland is roughly estimated, as the Central Statistics Office
collects its data based on nationality and not ethnic origin. For this reason a precise demographic profile of the Roma in Ireland
is not available. Some estimates of Roma in Ireland give the population at 1,700 in 2004 rising to between 2,500 to 3,000 in 2005 with the majority originating from Romania. The Roma are distinct from the indigenous Irish Traveller
community, but face many similar social difficulties. Roma in Ireland are sometimes referred to as "Gypsies". The Roma originate from Eastern and central European states.
in the countries of Central
and Eastern Europe
, thousands of Roma, among others, sought asylum
in Ireland and other Western countries. Their arrival prompted contrasting editorials in the mainstream newspapers. In 1988, Roma started to arrive in Ireland, predominantly by hiding in container lorries. In the summer of 1998, several hundred Roma arrived hidden in freight containers in Rosslare Harbour
, many of them illegally trafficked.
A second impetus for Roma immigration arose after the admittance of an additional 15 states to the European Union
, with the populations coming to Dublin and the other major towns and cities.
Central Statistics Office (Ireland)
The Central Statistics Office is the statistical agency responsible for the gathering of "information relating to economic, social and general activities and conditions" in Ireland, in particular the National Census which is held every five years. The office is answerable to the Taoiseach and has...
collects its data based on nationality and not ethnic origin. For this reason a precise demographic profile of the Roma in Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
is not available. Some estimates of Roma in Ireland give the population at 1,700 in 2004 rising to between 2,500 to 3,000 in 2005 with the majority originating from Romania. The Roma are distinct from the indigenous Irish Traveller
Irish Traveller
Irish Travellers are a traditionally nomadic people of ethnic Irish origin, who maintain a separate language and set of traditions. They live predominantly in the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States.-Etymology:...
community, but face many similar social difficulties. Roma in Ireland are sometimes referred to as "Gypsies". The Roma originate from Eastern and central European states.
Arrival in Ireland
Roma have been present in Ireland since the beginning of the 19th century. Traditionally, Roma arrived from Britain for seasonal work, either as farm labourers or as coppersmithsPost-1989
After the collapse of communismCommunism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
in the countries of Central
Central Europe
Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
and Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
, thousands of Roma, among others, sought asylum
Right of asylum
Right of asylum is an ancient juridical notion, under which a person persecuted for political opinions or religious beliefs in his or her own country may be protected by another sovereign authority, a foreign country, or church sanctuaries...
in Ireland and other Western countries. Their arrival prompted contrasting editorials in the mainstream newspapers. In 1988, Roma started to arrive in Ireland, predominantly by hiding in container lorries. In the summer of 1998, several hundred Roma arrived hidden in freight containers in Rosslare Harbour
Rosslare Harbour
The village of Rosslare Harbour grew up to serve the needs of the harbour of the same name , first developed in 1906 by the Great Western Railway and the Great Southern and Western Railway to accommodate steamferry traffic between Great Britain and Ireland...
, many of them illegally trafficked.
A second impetus for Roma immigration arose after the admittance of an additional 15 states to the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, with the populations coming to Dublin and the other major towns and cities.
Sources
- http://www.eapn.ie/policy/105
- http://www.nccri.ie/cdsu-travellers.html
- http://www.webcitation.org/5knwjUGFC
- http://www.romasupport.ie/
- http://www.nowpublic.com/roma_deported_ireland
- Access Ireland - Training Roma as cultural mediators
- Roma Educational Needs in Ireland - Context and Challenges Lesovitch, L., June 2005 City of Dublin VECVocational Education CommitteeA Vocational Education Committee is a statutory local education body in the Republic of Ireland that administers some secondary education, most adult education and a very small amount of primary education in the state...
- Romani immigration to Ireland by Mícheál Ó hAodha 1998 Patrin Web Journal