Shocking! I had no idea it was that bad, and to think how many other rural villages this is happening to. This will create troubles for generations to come.
Ballyhaunis: A Multicultural Success Story? During my candidacy in the last election, I found myself on a radio programme seated physically (certainly not politically) between Michael Ring (FG) and Dara Calleary (FF). At some point, I asked if we could discuss immigration. The interviewer was fair in that she let me say my piece, but none of the others opted to say anything, not even to issue the usual platitudes. I can only assume they felt the subject wasn’t worthy of their attention.[1] I was particularly keen to speak of immigration because the interview was taking place in Ballyhaunis. According to the 2016 census, Ballyhaunis is the most diverse town in Ireland. [2] It has long been touted as the poster-town for successful integration, garnering headlines such as “Meet the ‘most cosmopolitan small town in Ireland’ Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo” [3], “Ballyhaunis held up as example of town that has embraced diversity” [4] and, well, you get the idea. (This past week Ballyhaunis made the news once again because the local priest invited two Muslims “to say the final blessing and prayer” during mass in the local church. [5]) But has Ballyhaunis truly managed to incorporate newcomers successfully? I will argue the failure has been a miserable one, but not for any of the usual reasons. From the outset, I will concede there has been no increase of crime, nor any significant racial aggravation, and that employment has risen and remained reliable. That said, integration has been a failure all the same. Poetic conceits aside, towns don’t die. Neither do they ‘embrace’ diversity. It was the people of Ballyhaunis, like those in most small towns for most of the last century who endured mass emigration. One unusual turn of events for Ballyhaunis in the 1970s was the arrival of Sher Rafique who established a Halal meat factory. [6] This provided a market for beef farmers and employment in the factory. It also required people capable of ritual Halal slaughter, and brought successive waves of newcomers from Pakistan and Syria, some of whom started complementary businesses. Later came Eastern Europeans looking for better wages than they could find elsewhere. There are now more than 20 ethnicities in the Mayo town [7] with Pakistanis and Poles making up the largest national minorities. [8] So, if there are plenty of jobs and no racial tension, wherein lay the problem? In 2000, Fintan O’Toole wrote a piece entitled “Immigration has benefited Ballyhaunis” [9] in which he described a scenario of Muslim morning prayer, dark-skinned men, “foreigners running the local economy” suggesting that, “In the dark imagination of many of those who are up in arms about the arrival of asylum seekers in Irish villages, this is the nightmare that hounds their sleep.” [10] While we may, due to the age of the article, allow Mr. O’Toole some leeway way in his misguided focus on asylum seekers, the dismissive tone applied to people’s genuine concerns about the future of our towns has proven unseemly. According to The Irish Examiner, between 2006 and 2011, the population of Ballyhaunis surged 38%. [11] “This immigration driven hike hides the exodus of thousands of the town’s youth.” [12] They continued to leave due to the lack of opportunities for graduates. As elsewhere in the nation, the ambitions and educational standards for our children were raised, but there was a failure to provide suitable local outlets for their new skills. So, towns like Ballyhaunis have imported a working class as well as an entrepreneurial class. When examining how quickly the people of Ballyhaunis accepted the changes to their town, O’Toole queries in a mock blithe snark, “Isn’t it amazing what self interest can do for the spread of tolerance?” [13] Put another way, desperate people will do nearly anything to survive. But is this something to celebrate? Halal butchery of cattle is a horror banned outright in Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, Slovenia, Switzerland and Lichtenstein, with other European countries placing severe restrictions on the practice. [14] If Ireland is going to abandon its ethical standards in pursuit of renumeration, might I suggest encouraging factories to produce land mines or sarin gas? I hear there is a booming demand. Further pressing salt into the gaping wound, O’Toole philosophises that, “Most people are motivated by a sense of where immediate advantage lies for themselves, their family, and familiar community.” [15] This is hurtful because there is truth in it. First, this statement holds true for those “new to the parish” as well as the Irish. When there was trouble between Muslims and the travelling community, it was Sher Rafique himself who said, “My job is to protect my people.” [16] That makes it plain enough: Muslims are his familiar community. And it’s important to note that their country of origin didn’t matter. As he saw it, Muslims were his people. The division is inherent and it can’t be talked around, nor should it be ignored. Secondly, there is danger in focussing too much on the perceived immediate financial needs of the present, especially if combined with unchecked goodwill. In 2017, The Irish Times asked young Muslims what it was like to grow up Muslim in Ireland. [17] Apparently, it’s fine. “I found that people go out of their way to be extra nice, I think that’s instilled in Irish culture. Hospitality is really important.” [18] Indeed. Based on the population of the local school, Ballyhaunis has been so hospitable that the next generation of the town will be less than 1/3 Irish: “Only 92 out of 322 pupils (28.57%) in the local national school, Scoil Íosa, are of white Irish background.” [19] And that was five years ago. Some might call it being generous to a fault. Michael Ring calls this a “tremendous example of a mixed community”. [20] Minister David Stanton calls Ballyhaunis “a positive example of a rural town that has embraced diversity.” [21] I think not. This is not integration, this is territorial capitulation. There is no necessity for any newcomer to integrate when ‘your people’ outnumber the natives. So, no, Ballyhaunis is not a success story. It’s a tragedy. [1] m.th-cam.com/video/szftr_0c7y4/w-d-xo.html Ó Fallamháin- Immigration- [2] [4] [7] [17] [29] 21] v=szftr_0c7y4&fbclid=IwAR0_4LXc5SAT6PDRJRvpElwnKSO8ANusoMt3cmd31kL16ChpVD7qvF39-Zo [3] www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/discover/meet-the-most-cosmopolitan-small-town-in-ireland-ballyhaunis-co-mayo-799532.html?fbclid=IwAR3A6xF5zRJN93dcwtWnJtskhMB4k_0QrUF9ixpoPYQ0H74edx6ij2cOuqM [5] facebook.com/radiomidwest/videos/647829159331230/ 6] [9] [10] [13] [15] www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/ballyhaunis-held-up-as-example-of-town-that-has-embraced-diversity-1.4055584?fbclid=IwAR2lrinLX_XckOnaAaiL18R3yjrdBT8-6ves78Q4LvQOPj4uwiPoNVSEEY8 [8] en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballyhaunis?fbclid=IwAR0gpQG-Yzlwp-c3Fjzhna1hvGdXwyYc5wuwlW9uYIGVqq1n4_SBAlecy5o [11] [12] [19] www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/features/life-in-ballyhaunis-irelands-most-culturally-diverse-town-369099.html?fbclid=IwAR0WzS8gBhz2IvmiDxQZpjHmnfpVQUkFxXo_ab0qqw4WL0GoyNNtAldQy-c [14] www.loc.gov/law/help/religious-slaughter/europe.php?fbclid=IwAR2CfLpvTw3kuIkr5_kK4lUl9dH51GWgF2yrrjpKVvUJZF8dPCGMGCH24vU [16] www.theguardian.com/world/2004/jun/20/ireland?fbclid=IwAR0oOZ6B3mwe5XUrK7KvGMoMAQqJdeQKgv6B2ZueyzMt0JSq53XqlOQGvJ0 [17] [18] www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/religion-and-beliefs/what-is-it-like-to-grow-up-muslim-in-ireland-1.2949144?fbclid=IwAR0H3zCJW5kDaQ_HvCGULknszNQhVi5NkBMUnDv1SxMWH6dQBGeNZai0rQw
I grew up in Ballyhaunis in the 1970's to 1990's. I haven't lived there though since 1999. I have to agree that multiculturalism does not work. Profound and fundamental permanent cultural change has been inflicted on this tiny town of approx. 2,000 population. There are now too many individual groups living there, instead of just one integrated society. Social cohesion has been severely and permanently damaged. Crime does not seem to have increased though.
Roman Catholic Poles are the least of Ireland's immigration problems. ... jmho However, EU monies might better be spent in countries like Poland to help the economy in those countries.
![[TH] VCT Pacific Stage 2 - Playoffs Lower Bracket Final // PRX vs DRX](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/5HwO1bQyAx4/mqdefault.jpg)
Shocking! I had no idea it was that bad, and to think how many other rural villages this is happening to. This will create troubles for generations to come.
Its not only in small towns in Ireland. This is occurring in all of the EU countries that offer any kind of social safety (welfare) programs.
Ballyhaunis: A Multicultural Success Story?
During my candidacy in the last election, I found myself on a radio programme seated physically (certainly not politically) between Michael Ring (FG) and Dara Calleary (FF). At some point, I asked if we could discuss immigration. The interviewer was fair in that she let me say my piece, but none of the others opted to say anything, not even to issue the usual platitudes. I can only assume they felt the subject wasn’t worthy of their attention.[1]
I was particularly keen to speak of immigration because the interview was taking place in Ballyhaunis. According to the 2016 census, Ballyhaunis is the most diverse town in Ireland. [2] It has long been touted as the poster-town for successful integration, garnering headlines such as “Meet the ‘most cosmopolitan small town in Ireland’ Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo” [3], “Ballyhaunis held up as example of town that has embraced diversity” [4] and, well, you get the idea. (This past week Ballyhaunis made the news once again because the local priest invited two Muslims “to say the final blessing and prayer” during mass in the local church. [5])
But has Ballyhaunis truly managed to incorporate newcomers successfully? I will argue the failure has been a miserable one, but not for any of the usual reasons. From the outset, I will concede there has been no increase of crime, nor any significant racial aggravation, and that employment has risen and remained reliable. That said, integration has been a failure all the same.
Poetic conceits aside, towns don’t die. Neither do they ‘embrace’ diversity. It was the people of Ballyhaunis, like those in most small towns for most of the last century who endured mass emigration. One unusual turn of events for Ballyhaunis in the 1970s was the arrival of Sher Rafique who established a Halal meat factory. [6] This provided a market for beef farmers and employment in the factory. It also required people capable of ritual Halal slaughter, and brought successive waves of newcomers from Pakistan and Syria, some of whom started complementary businesses. Later came Eastern Europeans looking for better wages than they could find elsewhere. There are now more than 20 ethnicities in the Mayo town [7] with Pakistanis and Poles making up the largest national minorities. [8]
So, if there are plenty of jobs and no racial tension, wherein lay the problem? In 2000, Fintan O’Toole wrote a piece entitled “Immigration has benefited Ballyhaunis” [9] in which he described a scenario of Muslim morning prayer, dark-skinned men, “foreigners running the local economy” suggesting that, “In the dark imagination of many of those who are up in arms about the arrival of asylum seekers in Irish villages, this is the nightmare that hounds their sleep.” [10] While we may, due to the age of the article, allow Mr. O’Toole some leeway way in his misguided focus on asylum seekers, the dismissive tone applied to people’s genuine concerns about the future of our towns has proven unseemly.
According to The Irish Examiner, between 2006 and 2011, the population of Ballyhaunis surged 38%. [11] “This immigration driven hike hides the exodus of thousands of the town’s youth.” [12] They continued to leave due to the lack of opportunities for graduates. As elsewhere in the nation, the ambitions and educational standards for our children were raised, but there was a failure to provide suitable local outlets for their new skills. So, towns like Ballyhaunis have imported a working class as well as an entrepreneurial class.
When examining how quickly the people of Ballyhaunis accepted the changes to their town, O’Toole queries in a mock blithe snark, “Isn’t it amazing what self interest can do for the spread of tolerance?” [13] Put another way, desperate people will do nearly anything to survive. But is this something to celebrate? Halal butchery of cattle is a horror banned outright in Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, Slovenia, Switzerland and Lichtenstein, with other European countries placing severe restrictions on the practice. [14] If Ireland is going to abandon its ethical standards in pursuit of renumeration, might I suggest encouraging factories to produce land mines or sarin gas? I hear there is a booming demand.
Further pressing salt into the gaping wound, O’Toole philosophises that, “Most people are motivated by a sense of where immediate advantage lies for themselves, their family, and familiar community.” [15] This is hurtful because there is truth in it.
First, this statement holds true for those “new to the parish” as well as the Irish. When there was trouble between Muslims and the travelling community, it was Sher Rafique himself who said, “My job is to protect my people.” [16] That makes it plain enough: Muslims are his familiar community. And it’s important to note that their country of origin didn’t matter. As he saw it, Muslims were his people. The division is inherent and it can’t be talked around, nor should it be ignored.
Secondly, there is danger in focussing too much on the perceived immediate financial needs of the present, especially if combined with unchecked goodwill. In 2017, The Irish Times asked young Muslims what it was like to grow up Muslim in Ireland. [17] Apparently, it’s fine. “I found that people go out of their way to be extra nice, I think that’s instilled in Irish culture. Hospitality is really important.” [18] Indeed. Based on the population of the local school, Ballyhaunis has been so hospitable that the next generation of the town will be less than 1/3 Irish: “Only 92 out of 322 pupils (28.57%) in the local national school, Scoil Íosa, are of white Irish background.” [19] And that was five years ago. Some might call it being generous to a fault. Michael Ring calls this a “tremendous example of a mixed community”. [20] Minister David Stanton calls Ballyhaunis “a positive example of a rural town that has embraced diversity.” [21] I think not. This is not integration, this is territorial capitulation. There is no necessity for any newcomer to integrate when ‘your people’ outnumber the natives.
So, no, Ballyhaunis is not a success story. It’s a tragedy.
[1] m.th-cam.com/video/szftr_0c7y4/w-d-xo.html Ó Fallamháin- Immigration-
[2] [4] [7] [17] [29] 21] v=szftr_0c7y4&fbclid=IwAR0_4LXc5SAT6PDRJRvpElwnKSO8ANusoMt3cmd31kL16ChpVD7qvF39-Zo
[3] www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/discover/meet-the-most-cosmopolitan-small-town-in-ireland-ballyhaunis-co-mayo-799532.html?fbclid=IwAR3A6xF5zRJN93dcwtWnJtskhMB4k_0QrUF9ixpoPYQ0H74edx6ij2cOuqM
[5] facebook.com/radiomidwest/videos/647829159331230/
6] [9] [10] [13] [15] www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/ballyhaunis-held-up-as-example-of-town-that-has-embraced-diversity-1.4055584?fbclid=IwAR2lrinLX_XckOnaAaiL18R3yjrdBT8-6ves78Q4LvQOPj4uwiPoNVSEEY8
[8] en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballyhaunis?fbclid=IwAR0gpQG-Yzlwp-c3Fjzhna1hvGdXwyYc5wuwlW9uYIGVqq1n4_SBAlecy5o
[11] [12] [19] www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/features/life-in-ballyhaunis-irelands-most-culturally-diverse-town-369099.html?fbclid=IwAR0WzS8gBhz2IvmiDxQZpjHmnfpVQUkFxXo_ab0qqw4WL0GoyNNtAldQy-c
[14] www.loc.gov/law/help/religious-slaughter/europe.php?fbclid=IwAR2CfLpvTw3kuIkr5_kK4lUl9dH51GWgF2yrrjpKVvUJZF8dPCGMGCH24vU
[16] www.theguardian.com/world/2004/jun/20/ireland?fbclid=IwAR0oOZ6B3mwe5XUrK7KvGMoMAQqJdeQKgv6B2ZueyzMt0JSq53XqlOQGvJ0
[17] [18] www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/religion-and-beliefs/what-is-it-like-to-grow-up-muslim-in-ireland-1.2949144?fbclid=IwAR0H3zCJW5kDaQ_HvCGULknszNQhVi5NkBMUnDv1SxMWH6dQBGeNZai0rQw
[2] [4] [7] [17] [20] [21] www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/ballyhaunis-held-up-as-example-of-town-that-has-embraced-diversity-1.4055584
Multicultural has failed all over the world no country can say it's is successful.
I grew up in Ballyhaunis in the 1970's to 1990's. I haven't lived there though since 1999.
I have to agree that multiculturalism does not work. Profound and fundamental permanent cultural change has been inflicted on this tiny town of approx. 2,000 population. There are now too many individual groups living there, instead of just one integrated society. Social cohesion has been severely and permanently damaged. Crime does not seem to have increased though.
Roman Catholic Poles are the least of Ireland's immigration problems. ... jmho
However, EU monies might better be spent in countries like Poland to help the economy in those countries.
Have you been ballyhaunis lately! Ìts finished! No hotel no banks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!