Preliminary communication
https://doi.org/10.11567/met.2025.10
Contemporary migrations and the challenges of identity – The preservation of cultural and national identity among Croats in the Republic of Ireland
Lidija Bogović
; Faculty of Croatian Studies, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
*
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
This paper addresses the phenomenon of contemporary migration of Croats to the Republic of Ireland, with particular emphasis on the preservation of cultural and national identity within the broader context of Croatian diaspora. The principal aim of the study is to present the perceptions of Croatian emigrants regarding their own identity, as well as to identify the challenges they face and the strategies they employ in order to maintain it. The analysis is based on the results of a quantitative survey conducted in May and June 2025 among Croatian migrants residing in Ireland. The findings provide valuable insight into their migration experiences, levels of satisfaction with personal and professional circumstances, and the degree of integration into Irish society. Special attention is devoted to their attitudes toward the perception and preservation of the Croatian language, customs, religion, as well as cultural and national identity within the migratory context. Integration into Irish society is most frequently pragmatic in nature and predominantly motivated by economic considerations, while emotional and identity-based ties with the homeland remain strong and clearly articulated. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of contemporary migration processes and may serve as a foundation for the development of targeted policies and strategies that support both the preservation of identity among Croatian emigrants in Ireland and across the world, and their successful integration into the host society.
Keywords
contemporary migration; Croatian diaspora; Ireland; national and cultural identity; Croatian language preservation; social integration; social networks
Hrčak ID:
338754
URI
Publication date:
18.11.2025.
Visits: 484 *