LITHUANIANS IN NORTHERN IRELAND Neringa Liubinienė

MIGRANT WORKERS The name ‘migrant workers’ is just horrible. Couldn’t we be called simply Eastern Europeans or Eastern colleagues, just workers or something alongside these lines…? (from an interview with a Lithuanian woman)

HOW MANY…??? :Since May, 2004: UKUK Poles Poles - 65% of the total (390,000) – followed by… Lithuanians Lithuanians -11% (66,000) NINI Poles Poles - 35,000/45,000 Lithuanians Lithuanians - 3,500/4,000 (Home Office figures )

WHEN DID THEY COME…? Before the EU Enlargement  7 years ago…  5 years ago… After the EU Enlargement:  3 years ago…  2 years ago…  Almost a year ago…  Several months ago… PlansReality to stay for a short they are here until now… period of time

HOW & WHY DID THEY COME…? Legally & Illegally ☼ work permits☼ tourists Because they were invited by –Friends –Relatives –Acquaintances –Employers/recruitment agencies They came –to earn some or a lot of money –to live –to join family, friends or acquaintances

WHY NORTHERN IRELAND…??? Good question! For no particular reason, except that… –somebody offered a job there –somebody had unsuccessful start in Ireland/London –family/friends already were in NI And now –they like here… –local people are friendly… –they feel secure… –they think to move to other places –they think about returning to Lithuania…after some time

WHERE DO THEY LIVE…??? Everywhere !!! –from Belfast to Trillick Main concentration places: –Dungannon area, Belfast area, Omagh area – depends on work places In rented houses: –rent alone or share with others (depends) In bought houses: –live with family

WHAT LANGUAGE DO THEY SPEAK? English Lithuanian Russian And more… Catholics Protestants Mormons Non-religious WHAT RELIGION ARE THEY…?

WHAT DO THEY DO…? They work (farm, factory, shop, pub, school, NGO …) They study (school, languages) They start their business (shop, hairdresser’s) They travel (in NI, to LT, Spain and other) They create families, divorce, have children Their bring their families & relatives here They make friends They go out (cinemas, theatres, pubs, friends ) They create art, work places &…problems They help … sometimes

WHAT DO THEY PLAN…? To stay for good in NI They don’t plan anything They plan to return to LT after some time They don’t know: life is unpredictable To start business To finish school To find love To pursue career To earn some money To live happily

WHAT ARE THEY / WE LIKE…? The ‘picture’ depends on the viewer: 1. NI about Lithuanians Victims (e.g. of harassment; racial attacks; exploitation …) Members of ethnic minorities (e.g. Ethnic-Minority Achievement Service) Migrant workers (e.g. “Your Rights In Northern Ireland: A Guide for Migrant Workers”) Normal people (e.g. ~ like us; Irish also emigrated a lot; …) ‘Second-class’ people (thieves; alcoholics; take our jobs; do you have a CD players in LT? …) Immigrants

2. Lithuanians about Lithuanians Usually negative words are used Jealous Unfriendly Closed Afraid of smth/smb Not pushing Tend to exploit other Lithuanians Not-organized

3. Me about Lithuanians general impressions: Like risk (driving while drunk, without insurance, work illegally) Not interested in anything – Very interested in various things Closed (small circle) – Communicative (open) Negative towards LT – Missing & loving LT – Indifferent to LT Following events in LT – Not interested Usually, they maintain some relations with LT (family; estate; holidays) Saving money – spending money – sending money/investing in LT Loving or hating local food Celebrating national festivals – Irish and Lithuanian Cooking at home, partying at home Gardening (in the backyards) Bringing some beloved people and things from home Shopping in LIDL & East European food shops Most popular: bread & herring Buying Lithuanian newspapers & magazines

Lithuanians about others Locals in NI:Locals in NI: –Naïve; –Difficult to have business with; –Racists; –Very friendly; –Very helpful. Latvians:Latvians: brothers Polish:Polish: –no big love towards the Poles; –negativity without concrete reasons; –stereotypes.

SO WHERE’S THEIR HOME…? In Lithuania Don’t know where… Here in NI Where is their family NI is: –Transitional stop… –The second home… –Temporary home… –New home… –My home…