Polish are feted in Dublin!

dublin | racism & migration related issues | other press Wednesday February 01, 2006 11:36 by aunty Beeb

Every now and then the BBC news site produces little gems which either hint at a sparkling sardonic wit or a completely inept team of hacks who don't get out of the newsroom enough.

Today's "europe feature" looks at how Ireland and Dublin have celebrated the arrival of Eastern Europeans, bending over backwards to offer them hospitality (the céad mile fáilte) well paid jobs,
equality, and a venue for their garage bands to play.

the article focuses on a Polish migrant to Dublin, Miroslaw Dulawa who manages a bar and recounts :-

He believes the reason so many of his fellow countrymen and women have come to Ireland is partly economics, partly history: "For money, that's for sure... I think they find Ireland pretty much like Poland. A lot of people emigrated from Ireland, so maybe Polish people think they will understand us."

"It was in Phoenix Park in Dublin, on 1 May 2004, that the leaders of the European Union gathered for the official ceremony to mark EU enlargement. A choir sang, the sun shone, and Tony Blair, Jacques Chirac and others listened as Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern welcomed the new countries on board." he told the audience "From division we have created union, from dictatorship and oppression we have created vibrant and sturdy democracies."

Really brings tears to the eyes.

I suppose though there are two sides to this story.

read the whole "feature" at link -