A total of 18.6 per cent of people living in Galway identify as “non-Irish” according the Migration and Diversity report, published by The Central Statistics Office, making Galway possibly the most multicultural city in Ireland.
The findings have been welcomed by the Galway Anti Racism Network, with GARN chairperson, Joe Loughnane, saying: “We’re the European City of Culture and now officially the most ethnically diverse city on the island. GARN’s tagline is ‘All Tribes Welcome’ and what better way to see this in practice than to see one in five Galwegians identify as non-Irish. We must live up to this title now.”
Mr Loughnane said Galway must now “set an example for other counties” through “celebrating Traveller culture” and including culturally-appropriate Traveller accommodation in local development plans; leading the campaign calling for the end of direct provision; “marking Iftar with our various Muslim communities”; and “thanking every African taxi driver who drives us home after a night out”.
