Ireland – especially Celtic Ireland - has been on Polish minds for many years. Its broad aspects of culture were always attractive. Long before Poland became a member of EU, even in 80ties of 20th century – during a communist regime Ireland was on many Polish minds from a people interested in literacy to a casual people not interested in nothing special. Apart of interest of some groups in Irish literacy boom on as we call it – Celtic (both Irish and Scottish) culture and music has started in the middle of 80ties of 20th century. In that period Polish TV broadcasted some Irish and UK series based on popular novels or stories (like “Kidnapped” by Stevenson), but the serial which made Celtic – Irish music so much popular was not an Irish made, and even not about Ireland, it was a BBC production “Robin of Sherwood” with soundtrack made by Clannad. Afterwards this soundtrack was played in Polish Radio quite often and other Clannad’s albums became available in Poland. Then of course other bands were discovered by Polish people, both folk and rock groups like U2, Garry More or Thin Lizzy. In the beginning of 90ties Poles started to play Irish music in Poland and groups like Open Folk and Carrantuohill became very popular. People started to read books about Irish history, myths and legends, and Polish popular pop/rock bands started to play songs mentioning Ireland sometimes. The most popular was “Love you like I love Ireland”, the love song strictly about love, not about Ireland at all. About year 1994 the popularity of Ireland got stronger support in Irish pubs that were opened throughout Poland and many Poles have found fascination in Guinness. Those pubs were good places for celebrating St Patrick’s day. In addition it is worth to remind, that a Celtic languages department in one of Polish universities was very popular together with only one Polish reference book for Gaeilge learners. The man thanks to whom Irish culture was shown to Polish society was first Polish ambassador in Republic of Ireland – Ernest Bryl (Polish embassy in Ireland was opened in 1991). Nevertheless in spite of the fact that Irish culture was quite popular, Ireland as a country had been remote for Poles for many years until Poland became a member of EU, and Republic Of Ireland opened its labour market for Polish workers.
I have been big admirer of whole Celtic culture and the British Islands as a place (as we call all together Great Britain and Ireland and other smaller islands) since I was young, but my eyes were turned to Scotland, where I spent a lot of time traveling, sightseeing and working illegally. As a future archaeologist I spent all my money on traveling to ancient places and monuments throughout Scotland from borders to Outer Hebrides, Orkney and Shetlands. Ireland was a part of my interests but it was limited to books concerning history and prehistory together with music and language I listened to, but the first contact with a living Celtic language took place in Outer Hebrides and it was Scottish Gaelic.
In the 80ties and 90ties of 20th century Ireland was quite often a topic of a evening news on TV due to troubles in Ulster, but those news were usually limited to IRA terroristic activities without wider view on that problem and without any mention about social, cultural and of course historical aspects of that problem. The acts of terror in Northern Ireland were commonly linked only with IRA, people knew nothing about other side of the barricade, about protestant terrorist groups. The knowledge about the problem was quite good only in a student society, especially students of history. In year 1995 I was given a Polish translation of a book “One day in my life” by Bobby Sands. The situation has changed a little after a few popular movies were shown in Poland, like “In The Name Of The Father”, “Michel Collins” etc.
For last few years Ireland became a promised land for thousands of Poles and the glimpse of a remote country became a real experience. At present Polish community in Ireland is the biggest national minority and there is not possible to avoid Polish language in daily life. There is a two or more Polish weekly newspapers, Polish pubs, shops even cabs. People forced by the economical and political crisis in Poland to leave their life and to start a new life again in Ireland. People with Masters of Arts or Science diplomas are working in bars, warehouses, as a drivers, builders, usually in a position of general operative, only the minority got jobs in a position proper to their profession, but usually in a lower grade than in Poland, but… with 2 or 3 times higher salary than in Poland. The best example is my wages. As an archaeologist in Poland in position of supervisor I could get about 400 – 500 euro per month, here in Ireland 400 euro is a weekly salary. Moreover if we don’t take a currency and we compare only numbers, the costs of living in Ireland are smaller than in Poland. But Ireland is not a Paradise, and my position in company is very low. Despite my archaeological masters degree I am working on position of site assistant - archaeologist being supervised by people without archaeological degrees – isn’t it ironic?
Of course with skilled professionals there came a thousands of unskilled, low educated people, with a low level of personal culture (as we call it in Polish), aggressive, primitive fellows calling themselves smart. I saw that people here in Carlow and in Dublin.
Am I a part of that Polish invasion? Not for sure. I am here in Ireland only temporary for 4 months, and I am working in international party of archaeologists (Norwegians, Spanish, Swedish, Germans, English and Irish). It is just another experience in my life. I haven’t been forced yet to leave Poland for a long period of time, but Ireland seems quite attractive place to spend my life.
I have been in Ireland for 3 months now. I have experienced many good and some bad things, I have visited places I have always wanted to visit and I will write my story in next posts on that blog.
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