Midlands Woman Says Rise Of The Far Right Is "Very Challenging For Minorities”

Christine O’Mahony is a mixed-race woman of Jamaican heritage.

A midlands human rights activist says she was a target of abuse from a young age due to her skin colour. 

Christine O'Mahony was born in London and adopted by Irish parents and is now living in Athlone.

Speaking on Midlands 103's Shine A Light, she says she was aware from a young age that she looked different to others in her class.

“It was strange to me that they would point out these sorts of differences, because you would expect senior infants to be innocent.”

She remembers children asking questions about her lips, her afro hair and why her hair was braided. While the questions came from other children, Christine felt some of what was being said reflected conversations and attitudes they had encountered elsewhere. Being singled out in this way made her increasingly aware of her appearance and left her feeling uncomfortable at an age when she was still trying to understand why others viewed her as different. Growing up as a mixed-race child in an Irish family also presented challenges at home that neither Christine nor her adoptive parents had necessarily been prepared for.  Her parents, who are white, had little knowledge or experience of caring for afro-textured hair, and there were few people around them at the time who could offer advice or guidance.

For Christine, this was not a reflection of the love or care she received from her family, but rather of how little information was available to adoptive parents raising a child from a different racial or cultural background.

Today, she believes families have access to far more information and education, allowing parents in similar circumstances to better understand and care for the different needs of their children there is even classes for Father’s in Athlone to learn to care for their children’s hair.

Christine says her experiences growing up did have a lasting impact on her, particularly at an age when she was already very sensitive to feeling different.

At school, she was simply trying to get on with her education, but having ADHD meant concentrating in class could also be difficult. Christine says she was fortunate to have an adoptive mother with an academic background who could support her, while having an SNA in school helped her to manage her ADHD. However, that additional support could sometimes make her stand out even more.

“It was a shocker for people as I was the class clown and different.”

Christine also remembers how isolating her school years could be, often spending time alone in the playground. She says her experiences could affect her friendships from time to time.

Now an adult, Christine feels that things have changed somewhat, but says she still encounters assumptions about her identity. At a recent Dublin Pride event, Christine was wearing a “Black & Irish” T-shirt when she was stopped on the street by passers-by who told her she was not Irish.

“It was the fact they stopped me in the street to tell me what I am not. I did not like that feeling.”

Christine believes there has been a rise in racism in Ireland and points to recent incidents where the actions of one person of colour have led to entire communities being targeted. She says individual wrongdoing should be criticised, but believes blaming an entire race for the actions of one person is wrong.

Christine says the rise of the far right has been “very challenging for minorities”, but hopes Ireland can move away from prejudiced attitudes. For Irish people who may not understand how to refer to someone from a different racial background, Christine acknowledges there can sometimes be confusion around language. She says terms such as mixed-race or person of colour can be used, but ultimately believes understanding comes through learning and conversation.

Christine is proud to describe herself as “Black and Irish” and has channelled her own experiences into trying to make things better for other minority communities. She is the founder of Mullingar4All and chairperson of Heartlands Pride, using her own experiences to advocate for greater inclusion and understanding. Her journey from growing up feeling different and isolated to becoming an advocate for others is something Christine discusses in full on Shine a Light.

Shine A Light is funded by the News Reporting Scheme