CHANGING IRISH IDENTITY: The Presence of Black Writing in Contemporary Ireland

Contemporary Ireland is at a cultural crossroads with multi-ethnic cultures and hybrid identities contributing to a fluid and ever-changing Irish identity. Within the European sphere, the Black lived experience has only been explored in recent years. Ireland is no exception. The resurgence of Black Lives Matter in 2020 was a pivotal moment in contemporary Ireland as it paved the way for a national conversation about race, identity and nationality from a distinctive Black Irish perspective. It exposed how Irishness is no longer homogenous, fixed and solely white. The lack of interest in including African migrants as part of Ireland's growing multicultural society is a missed opportunity for understanding the cultural relevance and richness that Black writing has in shaping contemporary realities. We analyse Denise Chaila's song ‘Duel Citizenship’ (2019), the poem ‘An Duine Anaithnid’ (2021) by Ola Majekodunmi and Melatu-Uche Okorie's short story ‘Under the Awning’ (2021) to provide insight into the lived realities of the ‘Other’ while simultaneously challenging the homogenisation of Irish identity. Their unique writing styles contribute to the cultural richness of the Irish literary canon and it shows the importance of including minority voices who give an authentic and nuanced view of the ‘Other’.