I’ve lived in this beautiful country for over 22 years, and I can say with sincerity that the Irish people are among the warmest, kindest, and most welcoming in the world. That’s why Ireland became home for me and for many others seeking opportunity, and dignity.
I understand that some in Ireland feel real concern about the recent influx of immigrants since COVID and Brexit. These concerns are often not about racism, but about genuine struggles Irish families face every day.
There is a very serious housing crisis in this country. It is increasingly difficult for young graduates; teachers, nurses, engineers and others to find employment that allows them to rent comfortably, let alone buy a home. Many of them feel that their dreams are impossible here, and so they move abroad to Canada, Australia, Dubai, mainland Europe where the cost of living is lower, opportunities are more accessible, and saving money is achievable. That is heartbreaking, because this is their home, and their family and Ireland needs them.
Unfortunately, instead of investing strongly in retaining Irish graduates, the solution has often been to fill the gap with foreign workers. While immigrants are mostly hardworking and contribute greatly to society, this approach alone is not the answer. The real solution is to make Ireland a place where Irish graduates can stay, thrive, and build their futures. That means affordable housing, meaningful incentives, and a real sense of hope for young Irish citizens.
Regarding immigration, I firmly believe there should be fair and common-sense policies. One such policy could be restricting access to social housing and welfare for non-citizens until they complete the naturalisation process. It already takes around six years to qualify for citizenship. This helps ensure that support goes first to those most rooted in and committed to Irish society, while still allowing immigrants to work, contribute, and integrate.
We must also acknowledge that mistakes were made in handling asylum and refugee systems in recent years. The government has finally begun to address fraudulent claims more seriously but this should have been done much sooner. It is not anti-immigrant to say that the system must be fair, transparent, and protected from abuse. In fact, that is how we preserve compassion for those who truly need it.
At the same time, the Irish people should also know this: The vast majority of immigrants whether Muslim, Christian, Hindu, or of no faith do not come here to impose their culture or religion. They come seeking the very same thing the Irish once sought abroad: a chance at a better life for themselves and their families. Over 40 million people of Irish descent around the world are living proof that leaving one’s homeland is often an act of necessity, not ideology.
But amidst these real concerns, we must also be vigilant. Certain groups, some from the UK and the US, are using social media to exploit Irish frustrations. They profit from division, spreading misinformation, inflaming anger, and sowing hatred. Sadly, I myself have witnessed how AI-edited video clips and fabricated words have been used to misrepresent me, creating false narratives and inciting hostility. Even kind and well-intentioned individuals people, who are not racist or hateful, sometimes fall into reacting with anger or harsh words because they have been misled.
One Irish woman, who previously stood up against racism and injustice, saw a post about me walking with a lion and commented, “I hope they eat you.” This is not who she truly is. She reacted based on misinformation. That is the danger of AI, fake news, and manipulation.
We will not always agree. But we can always remain respectful, truthful, and compassionate. That is the Irish way. That is the human way.
With humility,
A fellow resident of this beautiful country.
Umar 🇮🇪
The Irishman on the left is Chiedozie Ogbene. A proud Irishman who represents his country of Ireland with pride. He gave us his all today.
The yoke on the right, gavin pepper, is a bald racist fascist Nazi loyalist Brit landlord who hates Ireland.
Know the difference.
#COYBIG
Notice how Basque players walked out with children by their side, while the Palestinians carried white roses, remembering the children stolen from them.
Turned us from a yo-yo club into an established Premier League team 3 seasons running along with cup runs and the minute it starts to go wrong some are throwing him under the bus. Actually mad. No loyalty in football. Now more than ever. #MarcoIn#InSilvaWeTrust#Fulham 🤍🖤❤️
Westlife back together. Martin O'Neill in charge of Celtic again. Cork City in an FAI Cup final. A woman president of Ireland. Liverpool are shit again. The Boom is back baby! #ireland
So if the #SpoilTheVote crowd ran a candidate, the final result would look something like this:
Connolly - 56%
Humphreys - 27%
Spoil The Vote/Steen - 12%
Gavin - 6%
Down 11 points on Peter Casey in 2018. Utterly irrelevant.
#Aras25
The Inbetweeners is BACK.
The show’s creators have reportedly struck a deal with Banijay to launch a brand-new series in 2026 with the entire original cast set to return.