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What does it mean to be Irish in Birmingham? By
Siobhán Breatnach
It is estimated that about 100,000 people living in Birmingham were either
born in Ireland or have Irish parents or grandparents, making them the
third largest minority group in the city.
But what does it mean to be Irish in Birmingham today?
And what does it mean to young people with Irish parents or grandparents
and those who have lived in Birmingham for a long time — particularly
as we look to the future?
A number of Irish organisations in Birmingham have decided to find out.
The Irish Community For-um, the Birmingham St. Patrick’s Festival
and Birmingham Irish Heritage Group, funded by the Digbeth Trust have
commissioned a small piece of research to find out more about the culture
and heritage aspirations of the Irish community.
The research will try to understand the elements that make people identify
with their Irish heritage and what of that Irish heritage they would want,
need or like to keep, grow or develop.
A project spokesperson said: “The organisations want to create projects
that emphasise and celebrate Irish culture and heritage as well as move
an understanding of Irishness forward to make it relevant for contemporary
life in multi-cultural diverse Birmingham.”
A series of interviews with community organisations, young people and
key individuals in the coming months will explore the topic and a questionnaire
is being distributed from this week.
The spokesperson said: “This is an opportunity for the Irish and
wider community to inform the three organisations about what Irish Culture
and Heritage they would like to see in Birmingham in the future
“There are already a number of established elements such as music,
dance, pub culture, sport and food culture.
“But if there are any other areas that people feel should be developed
we are inviting contributions.”
The Birmingham Irish Community Forum, the Birmingham St. Patrick’s
Festival and the Birmingham Irish Heritage Group will be evaluating the
results in March.
And having secured funding for a cultural heritage worker via Díon,
they will be working together to translate the findings into new cultural
and community activities.
The results of the research and any planned activities will be published
on the Birmingham Irish Community Forum’s website in March.
To request questionnaires or find out more please contact: Jutta Stahlhacke
(People and Organisation) on 0121 693 8897 or John Johnson (Federation
of Irish Societies) on 0121 622 4169.
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