Polish Families in Ireland: A Life Course Perspective

This volume explores the family formation and life course of Polish people in Ireland, who make up the largest immigrant group in Ireland. Chapters address key dimensions of the life course in three parts focusing on childhood and youth, adulthood and parenting, and mid-life and futures. Contributions investigate the experiences of children and youth attending school and understanding their identities, the changing nature of families and family support, how families might engage with welfare institutions, and more. Through the life course approach, the book moves beyond the paradigm of studying the Polish population as economic migrants and instead analyzes and illustrates the lives of Polish families living in Ireland since EU enlargement.

Michelle Share is Senior Research Fellow at the School of Education, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. Her research experience spans child, youth and family settings including the role of grandparents in childcare provision; Polish migrant families in Ireland; children and parents who use intellectual disability services; educational access programmes at second and third level; and food and nutrition amongst marginalised groups such as homeless families, asylum seekers and young people in alternative education settings.

Alicja Bobek is Senior Post-Doctoral Researcher at RINCE: AIB Research Centre on Inclusive and Equitable Cultures, Equality and Diversity Directorate, Technological University Dublin, Ireland. Prior to that, Alicja completed several research projects in the area of migration, social integration, employment and workplace diversity. She researched and published on Polish post-accession migrants to Ireland, with a particular focus on migration patterns and trajectories, labour market integration, translational practices, and social integration.