MIXED FEELINGS on integration in Dublin’s north inner city were expressed at a ‘memories’ project last week.
The Monto Heritage Project is charting remembrances of younger days among native and immigrant locals – and members of the Lourdes Day Care Centre, the Dublin Multicultural Resource Centre and the North Centre City Community Action Project gathered at Killarney Court in Dublin to see a pictorial and video display of their expressions.
Senior citizens who attend the Lourdes Day Care Centre submitted old photos of Dublin’s colourful Monto district, and took the opportunity to heap praise on the impact the centre has on their daily lives. Catherine Fitzsimons, a North Strand resident who attends the Lourdes Day Care Centre for senior citizen activities, has lived in the inner city all her life, and told Metro Éireann that the centre “gets me out of the house”.
She remarked: “I look forward to it, you get a cup of tea, a biscuit and a lovely dinner around half 12, quarter to one.” Dancing and bingo are among the organised activities.
But the Dublin woman underlined that out in the locality, relations between native and immigrant locals could be much better.
“Some of them [immigrants] can be very nasty, and use nasty language if you say anything to them,” she commented. “I keep to myself. If you say anything to them, they’ll say you’re racist.”
However, 16-year-old Joseph Batt, who was among the youngsters who captured images of the city on camera, didn’t see the influx of nationalities as such a big deal.
“I don’t really mind,” said Batt, who lives in Kilbarrack.
Nigerian Edwin Igbinosun, who’s involved in intercultural activities at the Dublin Multicultural Resource Centre, also held a more optimistic viewpoint. “So far, so good,” he commented. “I know Rome wasn’t built in a day, but I think it’s going in the right direction.”
The Monto Heritage Project is supported by the Heritage Council, University College Dublin, Dublin City Council’s integration unit and the Create Folklore Project.
