Polish minority in Ireland

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A Polish shop in Dublin.
A Polish shop in Dublin.

The Polish minority in the Republic of Ireland numbers approximately 69,090, according to 2006 census figures, making it the largest minority in Ireland excluding those born in Britain.[1] However, the census that year is believed by the government to have underestimated the number of Polish nationals, whose numbers may be as high as 200,000[2].

Contents

[edit] History

After Poland joined the European Union in May 2004, the Republic of Ireland was one of just three existing EU members to open its borders and welcome Polish workers (the others being the United Kingdom and Sweden). Ireland quickly became a key destination for Poles wishing to work outside the country; in 2004 a website advertising Irish jobs in Polish received over 170,000 hits in its first day.[3] During the 2007 Polish general election, Polish parties campaigned in Ireland and three voting locations were set up; in Dublin, Cork, and Limerick.[4]

Polish, although not officially an established subject, can be taken as part of the Irish Leaving Certificate examination as is the case with all official languages of the European Union. The exam used is based on the paper of the European Baccalaureate.[5] In 2006, the Polish government announced their intention to open a Polish school in Dublin, offering the opportunity for students to follow the Polish national curriculum[6] , assuming they intend to return to Poland to live.

[edit] Northern Ireland

Official figures on the number of Polish people in Northern Ireland are difficult to obtain. The total number of Polish nationals who applied for a National Insurance Number is 12,020 as of 2005, but the actual number of residents is likely to be much higher.[7] A number of Poles applied to join the Police Service of Northern Ireland, with language exams being held both in Northern Ireland and Warsaw, but as of 2008 none have entered the PSNI's ranks.[8]

[edit] Media

The large number of Poles in Ireland has led to the provision of a number of media outlets catering to them. Newspapers include the Polska Gazeta (see below) and a section in Dublin's Evening Herald entitled "Polski Herald". Dublin cable television channel, City Channel, also features a programme aimed at Poles in Ireland entitled Oto Polska (This is Poland).[9]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Census 2006 page 68
  2. ^ Washington Post - Hustling To Find Classrooms For All In A Diverse Ireland
  3. ^ RTE news - New Irish jobsite a hit in Poland
  4. ^ RTE news - Polish Campaign In Ireland
  5. ^ State Examination Commission - Non-Curricular EU Language subjects
  6. ^ Irish Times - Polish school to open in Dublin
  7. ^ University Of Ulster Project on Polish Minority
  8. ^ BBC News - No Poles make it into PSNI ranks
  9. ^ Network Europe - Polish Language TV in Ireland

[edit] External links

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