Census report is released

THE Irish Consulate in Edinburgh, along with Irish In Britain, hosted the launch of the organisation’s report The Irish in Britain: Findings from the Analysis of the 2022 Census of Scotland.

The event, held at National Records of Scotland in Edinburgh (above), saw community organisations and stakeholders gather for a presentation of the overview of the report, followed by an illuminating discussion on its contents.

Important work

Brian Dalton, CEO at Irish in Britain, reflected on the success of the event, saying: “This is important work.

“It was the first time Irish community demographics have been researched in this context in Scotland, and rounds out the work we have already undertaken with the census data from England and Wales.

“It is vitally important that communities are represented, especially at a time when public discourse around migration and migration history is often misinformed.

“We are very mindful of our responsibility to educate and inform about the story of the Irish in Britain, and all that our community has brought.

“We were delighted with the event, and the engagement of a diverse audience with insightful comment into the report, and are so grateful for the support of the Irish Consulate and the Irish Government.

“It was especially fitting that we were hosted by National Records of Scotland for this event.”

Community picture

The report breaks down key data from the 2022 census, creating a picture of the position of the Irish community in Scotland and providing a relevant comparison to the position of the community in England and Wales, where data was also examined by Irish In Britain.

“This report presents key statistical data on the Irish community in Scotland including those who identify as Gypsy/Travellers,” Jerry O’Donovan, Irish Consul General to Scotland said. “While it will help us to better understand the overall profile of the Irish community in Scotland at present, it also provides an important resource to the many groups who showcase and champion the individual and personal stories of Irish citizens and people of Irish heritage who live here.

“This information will be of particular help to support community groups in Scotland apply for funding from statutory bodies as it provides statistical data which can be easily accessed to facilitate evidence based funding applications. We also think it might be of value to academics with an interest in modern history, migration and the Irish in Scotland.

“I would like to thank Irish In Britain and the academics involved in pulling together this valuable report and the Department of Foreign Affairs was proud to financially support this project. The Consulate would be very willing to assist any group who wishes to build upon the foundation created by this report.”

Gaps remain

The success of the report was also noted by BEMIS, an organisation that has long supported the Irish community in its efforts for recognition and engagement. However, BEMIS also identified some key areas highlighted in the report which demonstrate the work that must still be done to help generate a fuller picture of the Irish in Scotland.

“Whilst the recent changes to ethnicity classifications in Scotland’s Census are welcome, the report highlights that gaps remain,” analysis provided by BEMIS Scotland said. “For example, non-white Irish individuals are not captured within the ‘White Irish,’ categorisation, and Irish Travellers are not distinguished within the ‘Gypsy/Traveller’ category. The provision of a write-in box option is a positive step toward capturing diversity, but the report shows reporting still groups these responses under broad categories, obscuring visibility for smaller communities.

“Disaggregated classifications matter because they shape how we understand community needs and allocate resources. When they fail to reflect intersectional identities, lived experiences are erased.

“In addition there are historical reasons for a significant under-representation of people of Irish ethnicity in Scotland. The report outlines that Irish-born nationals in Scotland in 1931 represented 124,296 individuals. These number would have built upon earlier waves of enforced migration due to An Gorta Mór.

“These migrants brought with them their sport, faith, culture, language, music, dance and oral traditions all of which continue to thrive in Scotland. These examples of intangible cultural heritage are all indicators of ethnicity. Ethnicity is different to nationality. Someone may hold British passport for example but be of Irish ethnicity. It is likely that three things have combined to lead to the massive under-representation of the Irish in Scotland. Lack of understanding of what ethnicity means, racism and, until 2001, the lack of opportunity to record Irish ethnicity.

“Thus, for policy makers and duty bearers like the police, government, local authorities and public health they need to work at making significantly stronger links with Irish community organisations. This recommendation was highlighted by the UN Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination in August 2024.

“Lack of representation in official statistics is not an irrelevant problem. For example, lack of understanding of Irish ethnicity in Scotland led to disproportionate deaths due to the pandemic and lockdown, lack of access to cultural funding for Irish community organisations and events because they are not an ‘ethnic minority,’ an exposed risk to lack of legal remedy for racial discrimination and the loss of institutional memory of Irish history in Scotland such as the multi generational impacts of the 1923 Menace of the Irish Race to the Scottish Nation.”