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| From left to right: Maura (Aoife's mother), Tulliah (Aoife's niece), Dearbhaile (Aoife's sister), Chris (Aoife's husband), Aoife, Eoin (Aoife's brother), Joe (Aoife's father). |
Photo Credit: Aoife O'Brien
Aoife O'Brien is an intelligent and accomplished woman. She is a nurse midwife, mother, daughter, wife, friend and a first-generation Irish American immigrant. This blog tells the story of how the O'Brien family ended up in Portland, Maine. This blog also highlights important aspects of the Irish culture and what being a white immigrant is like for Aoife.
What brought you here?
The year was 1970 in a small pub in Limerick, Ireland. The handsome man behind the bar was charismatic and a hardworking father of four. When a woman from "the states" walked into the pub, she caught his eye. The specifics of their interaction are unknown but a few days later the bartender left his life in Ireland behind to start a new life in Montana with the woman he met in the bar. The bartender was Aoife's maternal grandfather. Years later when Aoife's mother, Maura, was able to track him down and make amends with him he was living in Portland, Maine. In 1988 Maura and her husband, Joe, decided to move their family from Claire, Ireland to Portland, Maine for better economic opportunities. Maura and Joe were in their forties, Eoin was sixteen, Dearbhaile was thirteen, and Aoife was seven. When the family first moved to Portland, they were living in a two-bedroom apartment on Munjoy Hill. The family thrived as entrepreneurs, except for Aoife. Aoife was the first person in her family to graduate from high school and college.
The push back
Aoife is a citizen of Ireland and identifies herself as Irish. This receives a lot push back from people close to her in her life, including her father. Aoife was seven years old when her family moved to America and because she's lived here for the majority of her life, she is pushed to identify as American. The push to identify as American over Irish is frustrating and disheartening for somebody who has the amount of love and admiration for their heritage that Aoife does. Aoife is incredibly proud of being Irish and is looking forward to immersing her son, Oisin, in the culture as well this summer when she brings him to Ireland with her whole family and gets him his Irish passport.
The double standard
Aoife was quick to point out that because she's white, people assume that she's American and they do not believe that she is in fact an immigrant. White privilege is something Aoife is familiar with and never backs away from voicing her opinion on. The following quote from our conversation is the best way to summarize her feelings on what being a white immigrant in America can be like, "it's very interesting to be a part of the argument as a white, English speaking immigrant. We're generally not the ones people fight to oppose. It's a double standard to be sure. You simultaneously have to acknowledge your privilege, recognize and highlight discrimination and try to educate people-shine a light on their prejudices."
The push back
Aoife is a citizen of Ireland and identifies herself as Irish. This receives a lot push back from people close to her in her life, including her father. Aoife was seven years old when her family moved to America and because she's lived here for the majority of her life, she is pushed to identify as American. The push to identify as American over Irish is frustrating and disheartening for somebody who has the amount of love and admiration for their heritage that Aoife does. Aoife is incredibly proud of being Irish and is looking forward to immersing her son, Oisin, in the culture as well this summer when she brings him to Ireland with her whole family and gets him his Irish passport.
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| Oisin photo credit: Aoife O'Brien |
The double standard
Aoife was quick to point out that because she's white, people assume that she's American and they do not believe that she is in fact an immigrant. White privilege is something Aoife is familiar with and never backs away from voicing her opinion on. The following quote from our conversation is the best way to summarize her feelings on what being a white immigrant in America can be like, "it's very interesting to be a part of the argument as a white, English speaking immigrant. We're generally not the ones people fight to oppose. It's a double standard to be sure. You simultaneously have to acknowledge your privilege, recognize and highlight discrimination and try to educate people-shine a light on their prejudices."
 | |||
| "White,
English speaking, European immigrant. Do you think it would have been
easy to get here “legally” if I was anything but? Do you think I have
more of a right to be here than those seeking refuge at the southern
border? I know some of you said yes and I don’t want to know you. #fucktrump #fuckpaulryan #fuckthegop #immigrantsmakeamericagrea |
Photo credit: Aoife O'Brien
Misconceptions
A strong point Aoife wanted to clear up is the stereotype and misconception that the Irish are all alcoholics and that Ireland is full of people falling over drunk in pubs. In Ireland, drinking and going to pubs is very
much built into the culture as a part of the social scene. As common as
it is to go out to the pubs and drink it is more to socialize rather
than to get "smashed". The social aspect of drinking in Ireland has existed for many generations and it is much more common to see elderly people out and about at pubs in Ireland versus here in America where the bar scene is mostly made up of a younger crowd. | ||||
| photo credit: Dublin Town |
Aoife didn't need even a minute to stop and think of how to respond to this question. She quickly and undoubtedly responded with "hard working, family oriented, strong and fiercely independent. Culturally loyal as well. As my mother always said we take care of our own."
What symbolizes your culture?
To clarify I was accurately depicting the Irish culture I asked Aoife what symbols came to her mind when she thinks of her culture. According to Aoife, although the following may seem cliche, they are prominent and cherished within the culture. First and foremost, Guinness, the harp, and the song Oh Danny Boy. Ireland and Irish people are historically predominately Catholic, therefore important holidays and traditions are those of the Catholic religion.
photo credit: Aoife O'Brien
Photo credit: Dusty Strings
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