Irish Family Navigates Identity and Success in England
From ‘Terrorist’ Accusations to Legal Firm Founders
Moving to England during the height of the Troubles was a daunting prospect for Mayo native Eimear Maguire, who relocated with her family in 1987. The experience of being an Irish immigrant in the UK during a politically charged era shaped her early life profoundly.
Culture Shock and Xenophobia
Upon arrival, Maguire was catapulted from a small convent school in Ballina into a bustling 1,200-student comprehensive in West Yorkshire. The stark contrast in environment, coupled with her “strange accent” and perceived “Irish cultural, political stuff,” led to daily harassment.
“I was asked if I was a terrorist every day, asked if we were in the IRA. All of that type of stuff.”
Being the youngest of eight children further isolated Maguire in a society where smaller family units were the norm. She found it difficult to integrate, admitting, “Even in six years of school, I never really felt like I belonged there.”
Finding Belonging Through Cultural Shifts
It wasn’t until 1994, when Maguire moved to Nottingham to pursue a nursing career, that England began to feel like home. By then, a cultural shift had occurred; popular Irish music acts like The Cranberries and U2 had made Irish identity “trendy.”
The ongoing peace process in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland’s spirited performance at the 1994 World Cup also contributed to a more positive perception of Irish people in the UK. Maguire observed that the public began to view the Irish “less as something to worry about, and just as part of the landscape.”
A Dream Fulfilled: Family Law and Resilience
Maguire met her future husband and business partner, James Maguire, while working as a nurse. The couple relocated to Manchester in 2000. In 2010, they founded Maguire Family Law, a venture born from Eimear‘s aspiration to become a lawyer and their shared personal experiences with the legal system.
Tragically, their marriage ended in divorce, yet they maintained a remarkable working relationship. “We are still working together, we are still the best of friends,”
Maguire stated. Their personal journey through divorce has become a cornerstone of their legal practice, allowing them to guide clients with empathy.
“A lot of people call me saying: ‘Unfortunately, I’m gonna have to get divorced, and I would really like it to go down like your divorce did. I would like to remain friends. How do you do that?’”
This unique approach has positioned them as “poster people for divorce,” as Maguire humorously puts it.
Championing Irish Heritage in the UK
Maguire has recently stepped into the role of inaugural chairwoman for the Women of Irish Heritage network. This initiative aims to provide support for Irish women relocating to the UK, fostering a sense of community that she feels is less prevalent in British culture.
She describes British people as typically “quite formal” and “reserved,” a stark contrast to the “warmth” she associates with Irish culture. Her direct communication style, which some may find unusual, is simply her own open nature.
Even after 35 years in England, Maguire has resisted applying for British citizenship, viewing it as a compromise of her heritage due to past experiences of anti-Irish sentiment. However, recent legal changes simplifying the citizenship process for Irish nationals living in the UK have reignited her hope for dual nationality. This shift reflects a broader societal evolution, as data from the UK’s Office for National Statistics indicates a growing number of people identifying with multiple ethnic origins, with the number of individuals identifying as “Irish” in England and Wales seeing a notable increase in recent census data.
