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THE SHOCKING AND tragic events that took place in France last week and the new revelations that the attacks were funded and orchestrated by a branch of Al-Qaeda operating from Yemen, should prompt us to take a closer look at the type of pluralist society we are creating in contemporary Ireland.
The Kouachi brothers, responsible for the murderous attack on the Charlie Hebdo newspaper were French citizens. They were born in Paris and raised and educated in France. Yet in spite of this life lived in the birthplace of liberté, égalité, fraternité; they were drawn into the ranks of an Islamic extremist organisation located almost 6,000km from their birthplace. Surely one of the most vital questions now raised by this tragic event is how these brothers could have felt such empathy with the cause of Middle Eastern Islamic extremists and so little affinity for French society and for the people around them?
Understanding the nuances of religion, culture and identity
In 2010, I conducted an in-depth study with teenaged members of an Irish based Muslim population. The purpose of this study was to discover how Muslim teenagers negotiate a social identity that is compatible with their religious beliefs and with their need to fit into Irish society. It aimed, in short, to explore what it means to be an Irish Muslim teenager.
The participants in this study had been born in Ireland, others had arrived as young children while others had arrived in their teenage years. The study revealed how complex and challenging life can be for Muslims growing up in Ireland. Life in an Irish secondary school can be isolating, lonely and frequently dampened by incidents of racism. Getting to know their Irish peers was frequently described as an impossible task. One participant described his isolation: ‘I came here June something. June to August I didn’t talk to anyone at all!’
There are few extra-curricular supports for teenagers in Ireland and few public spaces where they can spend time and mix with people from different backgrounds. This means that teenagers from ethnic minority backgrounds have few opportunities to get to know their Irish peers and to gain a foothold in Irish society.
GAA, in particular, offers many minority young people a place to belong
However, the research also highlighted the immensely positive work being done by some local organisations in extending a warm welcome to children and teenagers from diverse backgrounds. In particular, membership of the local GAA club offered an opportunity to take part in and to contribute to one of the richest aspects of Irish culture, creating a close social network: ‘We play a lot of sport and […] we know all the people who play Gaelic and we know all the people who play hurling, and they’re all our friends and they stick up for you’.
For these teenagers, balancing religious practices, such as prayer and diet, with fitting in to Irish society was a natural and automatic process. The benefits to members of ethnic minorities of being afforded an opportunity to be part of clubs like the GAA can’t be underestimated. Being welcomed into a sports team or other extracurricular activity can be life-changing for any teenager, and this is particularly true for members of ethnic minorities.
None of the participants in this study showed any tendencies towards extremism. Indeed, they were the most generous, welcoming and accommodating group of young people that I have worked with. However, the absence of supports to help members of ethnic minority groups find their way in Irish society results in many teenagers being excluded. This undermines the project of interculturalism that is vital to the creation of a cohesive, pluralist society and risks exposing Irish society to some of the negative and at times tragic effects experienced in the US, the UK, and – most recently – France.
The events in France should prompt us to examine what is being done in Ireland towards the creation of a cohesive, pluralist society. As a country where mass migration is a relatively recent phenomenon, we have an opportunity to take on board lessons from countries with a much longer experience of immigration and diversity. We should also open our eyes to the many positive examples of intercultural mixing that are happening around the country and seek to build on this. The need to provide practical social supports for young teenagers, both Irish and migrant, is an issue that should inform social policy and educational measures for decades to come.
Dr Orla McGarry a visiting research fellow at the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre in NUI, Galway. Her main research interests are religious and cultural diversity and the experience of migrant youth in intercultural Ireland.
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He only said what we all think
@James Delaney: Not half as much fuss though , as that made over the ‘RA’ remark… typical ..if he had been SF the cross would have been built at this stage to crucify him
@CJ Stewart: poor shinners, always the victim…oh wait!
@Justice Mickey: yeah SF had a good election so why the persecution complex? I don’t have to suck anything up, I voted Social Democrat and Greens, both had a good election. I respect the democratic process and unlike some , I always have done. No sour grapes here, I just dont get this SF persecution complex you all seem to share.
@James Delaney: absolutely!
@Connoroconner: well said
@Connoroconner: Folks ConnorOConnor..is a troll…with a false profile
@CJ Stewart: There is a slight difference between a politician making a crude comment on the character of a fellow politician and a politician publically expressing support for a paramilitary oganisation that has killed people in the past. I would expect a bit more criticism for the latter.
@CJ Stewart: absolutely not true. I’ve explained several times why, thanks to abusive people like yourself , I had to change my profile recently. Scroll down. Meanwhile, you are using a facebook account with no friends and no posts and all you do on here is abuse people who don’t agree with you. Kettle, pot , black. I try on here not to make it personal, not to be abusive towards people even we might disagree fundamentally with each other. You might want to learn that lesson.
@Connoroconner: Do you watch R.T.E.News programmes .
@Conall: and what about F.G. and F.F. in the 1920 s or does that notatter because it was a long time ago .
@Connoroconner: Connor..or whatever your name is..if you understand security settings and had a bit about Facebook, you would understand why Joe Blogs just can’t go into your facebook page..You fella are FALSE..FALSE FALSE..and I intend saying it at every opportunity.. Furthermore ‘Trolls’ like you must had some sad sad remit…you haven’t got the the B**** to identify yourself, yet you go around casting your political diarrhea in every direction on every post , the bottom line is that you are FALSE !…….end off
@CJ Stewart: you didn’t read my post. I never mentioned my Facebook, I used my personal twitter to log in and I had someone trawl through it & put up my workplace here on the journal. That’s all provable and it happened. I blocked them off my twitter but the harm had been done. Re posts, how about you just refute my them with facts, instead of just lashing out? Can you show me a post where I lied or was personally abusive. I can’t find any reply of yours to posts I made that attempt to discuss or counter argue, instead its straight into the name calling. It’s what you do to everyone who disagrees with you. That’s far more troll-like than what I do. There are hundreds of posters here who dont use their real names, it’s not breaking any rules in fact most SF supporters here do the same.
@CJ Stewart:
Totally agree, he/she/it is allowed to insult with total impunity by The Journal.
It’s accounts like this that flaunt the “ball not the player” rule.
Grossly unfair that accounts like this is allowed to troll.
@Conall: that’s too subtle a difference for CJ to understand I’m afraid.
@Justice Mickey: when did I ever insult anyone? I ALWAYS play the ball not the player
@CJ Stewart: You think calling a fella a sc**bag equates with openly celebrating the IRA? Wow.
@James Delaney: speak for yourself. Hate speech has no place in society.
@Liam Higgins: Sick to my eye teeth of the whinging SF crowd. They just had a good result. Clearly a cranky bunch by nature.
No fan of the man but what terrible decisions did Ross make that hurt rural Ireland?
If it’s just because of the tougher drink driving laws then I don’t get it.
If you’re going to drive, you shouldn’t drink, full stop. If you need to drink regardless then take a long hard look at yourself.
@Will: The Drink Driving laws that were already were in place were quite adequate, Yes, he closed down Rural Ireland. Collins was absolutely correct in his assessment.
@Eugene Comaskey:
Rural Ireland consisted of pissed drivers in a to and fro loop from home to pub?
I doubt it!
@Eugene Comaskey: How in God’s name did he close down rural Ireland? Are we such slaves to the drink that we become house bound when we can’t have it?
Do we lack any kind of imagination that we aren’t able to conceive of any kind of social life without drinking alcohol.
It’s a bit pathetic to blame strict drink driving laws for the issues facing rural Ireland. A lazy cop out!
@Will: I do not like Shane Ross, but can people seriously not learn how to socialise without alcohol every once in a while (not a high horse thing. I drink) or you know take turns driving to the pub?
@Eugene Comaskey: “Closed down rural Ireland”? Can people not share a lift? Can pubs not run pick up’s? Can people not take turns being a designated driver? Can people not drink alcohol-free beer occasionally?
Many comments here from people who clearly have no concept of living in real rural Ireland is really like. Shared lifts. Pub runs. Seriously? Rural isolation is a fact of living there and for most there isn’t an option to live elsewhere – family farm or can’t afford to sell/buy in a town. Ross was an example of “none so pure…”.
@Will: u wont find 2 many to condone drink driving, but if a person goes out and drinks a gud few pints get a taxi home, next day ul get bagged, bulsh!t
@Oisin Loftus: The isolation is voluntary if it’s because of alcohol – people seem to be fairly capable of socialising over a cup of tea.
@Oisin Loftus: so that means it’s ok for them to drink and drive? Look at the statistics showing the number of people who died on the roads that had taken alcohol.
@Oisin Loftus: rubbish. I have lived in rural Ireland. I walked or got lifts.
Tiredness seems to be the new excuse for political faux pas all of a sudden
@Keith ☘️: Its comical the country folk will vote for what they all know as corrupt parties and politicians and they have a massive issue with someone who dose not want them driving gargled. Just shows why the country is such an utter car crash when peoples logic is so out there……a nation of morons.
Sometimes the truth is perceived as hate speech or racist in this new era of political correctness. The Cork TD may have saved himself a lot of bother by not saying out loud what everybody already knows.
No fan of Shane Ross but as mentioned here, was he referred to as a s*umbag and shutting down rural Ireland because of bringing in harsher drink driving laws ? If so that reflects more on Micheal Cillins and his antiquated views… btw I am from rural Ireland and I would never drink and drive but there are still a lot of people who would and they are definitely s*umbags!
@Jon Shannow: Collins said it was his main motivation for saying it, in an interview with Sean O Rourke on RTE this morning.
Drink driving is good for rural Ireland apparently
@Asio_Otus: especially after a feed of shpuds. Not a bother.
Why apologise ,?, Anyway, what is said is said, it cannot be taken back . The General Public have got the gist of it, and most would agree wholeheartedly. Up Middle Ireland, we will come again.
Shane Ross wasn’t called the Minister for fines for nothing.
Can beat speaking from the heart. And to hell with the begrudgers..
How come all these speeches are made in a pub ‘late at night’ – whatever happened to closing time?? ;-)
It’s a dangerous route to go down to normalise insults as part of political discourse.
There are PLENTY of things to call Shane Ross out on but if you have to resort to insulting your opponent you’ve lost the moral high ground.
No one does themselves ANY favours by just insulting others. Do we really want that type of politics in this country? Cos it’s worked “so well” elsewhere!
@Tricia G: since the election was called, it’s impossible to have reasoned political discourse on the Journal, for example. The knee jerk reaction of a huge number of commentators is to launch into personal insults and attack the messenger if they dont agree. I’ve had to switch accounts due to someone who didnt like my comments about SF stalking me on my personal twitter account, finding out where I worked as a result, and posting it on here. Welcome to the new politics.
@Connoroconner: i don’t share your political views but i agree with your statement
@Derek Lyster: sure, it would be boring if we all agreed. Group think is neither good nor healthy.
@Connoroconner: in fairness, the journal comments section has always been like that. Its not new politics at all, just a comment section on all the rawest topics that can stir the strongest feelings without a single emotional cue. You can say something as innocent as you like and you can bet somebody is gona jump and have a pop. I enjoy some of the conversations but cant stay on it for lengthy periods
Michael has nothing to apologise for
Michael who??
More like a self aggradoizing, photo bonning muppet
I’m beginning to think we have elected a bunch of alcoholics, who cant keep their mouths shut in the digital age.
Don’t apologise you were right first time.
Closed down rural Ireland my hole. Still plenty of drink drivers on the road and no gardai to be seen.
People emigrating, work commitments, debt and a change in attitude to alcohol has hit rural Ireland the hardest.
The guy who defended drunk drivers
What happened to hate speech laws. Or is that only for special snowflake offences?
Sean Murray, your headline registers toxic to the tune of 8.3 in the comments. Can you tone it down so its less toxic. Thanks.
@John Tierney: it must be a verbal toxicity meter. How does it work?
Nothing new here except if someone opens their mouth and says something stupid it will appear on social media in 2 minutes.
What about all the stuff people say that we do not hear about. They are no better.
Isn’t that the guy who shirt is always open too much to the belly. Hard to take him seriously.
Why? Lol
But he is…a lovely fella ;)
Ross has’nt exactly excelled politically but he handled the FAI issue OK. However the level of decorum shown reflects what people are voting for – it does’nt auger great for what is now ahead in Irish politics.
Shane the reborn Christian Ross he ruined rural Ireland makes my blood boil the Irish people have spoke good luck
Wont let me post a comment and it’s not even toxic
Good oul Shane the same man who wanted to travel to North Korea to try talk sense into Kim Jong-un lol hasn’t a Brian Boru god bless him
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