Holidays of the Irish diaspora: the pull of the ‘homeland’?

Abstract

Tourism of ethnic minorities in the UK is characterised by prioritised visits to the ‘homeland’. This is to maintain contact with friends and relatives but also a desire to reinforce cultural identity for self and descendants. It has particular relevance in view of disapproval and discrimination in UK. This study seeks to determine the significance of Ireland in the tourism profile of Irish people living in an English city. There is a sizeable population of first-generation migrants and descendants who might be considered Irish. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 26 Irish people (first, second and third generation). Nearly all felt a connection with Ireland and it featured in their tourism (not exclusively), to greater and lesser extents, especially for first generation. Visits were generated more by a pull of Ireland than by a push from experiences in Britain. While visit frequency and priority diminished with age and with generational progression, there was an emotional tie influencing visits which was maintained for a number of second and third generations. Visits did have the effect of reinforcing a sense of Irishness.

Keywords:

• ethnicity
• identity
• friends and relatives
• homeland

Acknowledgement

This project was funded by the International Centre for Research and Consultancy in Hospitality and Tourism, Manchester Metropolitan University.