Rajasthani Diaspora meet and greet

Rajasthani Diaspora meet and greet, and dinner in honour of very special Guest Dr. C.P. Joshi, Speaker of Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, Jaipur. Friday 30th June 2023 from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM at Adamstown Community Centre. I was very pleased to welcome Dr. Joshi to Ireland, to meet his excellency Ambassador Akhilesh Mishra, and members of the Rajasthani Indian Samaj of Ireland.

“Céad míle fáilte, I am delighted to welcome Ceann Comhairle Dr. C.P. Joshi, Rajasthan Legislative Assembly of Jaipur to Ireland and particularly to Lucan where we are so fortunate to have such a strong and vibrant Indian community living together with us.

There are approximately 45,000 people in Ireland of Indian origin population in Ireland. Approx. 18,500 are Indian citizens and approx. 26,500 are of Indian descent amongst whom is of course our Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. The bulk of the community work in health-care, IT, engineering, and senior management positions which is very advantageous for Ireland.

We have pretty much full employment in Ireland today and that means we face challenges staffing our services, health care in particular. The demand for health care workers is predicted to increase as our population ages. We are working hard, and are fortunate, to attract exceptional talent from India.

Strengthening Cultural Connections
I think it’s fair to say that the Irish and Indian nations share a rich cultural heritage that connects us. The community is well-regarded in Ireland and locally here in Lucan, where you are very much a part of our daily lives, working with us across all sectors. We have experienced your vibrant culture through events like the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, where the Lucan Indian Drum band added a spark of talent and colour. In return, we were delighted to volunteer at the Kerala Carnival, immersing ourselves in the vibrancy and fun of your culture. We particularly enjoyed the Bollywood performances. These shared experiences tie us together as people.

Strength and Resilience of the Diaspora
Both our communities are scattered around the globe, and we understand the incredible strength and resilience of the diaspora. Leaving home in search of new opportunities and a better life is something we share, forging a unique bond between us. Just as the Irish diaspora has kept our traditions alive through music, dance, and storytelling, we are delighted to witness the Indian community doing the same in Lucan. The challenges of making a new life abroad are familiar to us, and we hope to offer not only a warm welcome but also support and assistance as you settle into your new lives with us.”