Setting up shop, a N Ireland Polish migrant experience.

Last night I attended a short film about the experiences of two families, from Poland and Lithuanian about arriving and living in our county.

It was filmed over a year in both Poland and Fermanagh, it started with a girl who had a marital problem and decided on a new start....where better than the new "Western Frontier", but N Ireland. She left by herself, initially, to work in the officer of a local factory on the shop floor, then graduated to the office, then she was a translator for the firm when they went to recruit Polish workers.

She then assisted the new workers in getting housing, NI numbers, bank accounts an actually set up a two week induction period for all the workers from EE. Now there are 150 Polish people working there. Earning 4-5 times what they earned back home.

Eventually, Ella, realised that she missed her son and brought him over a year later.......now hes a real Fermanagh man! Speaks English perfectly with a local accent and bright with it. So good at organising and getting things done and knowing how many Polish people were in the county; that Ella and new local partner, decided to open a Polish shop..this is now open since July this year and is always busy!

The transformation is almost complete, her sister has joined her in the shop, plus recently her parents all the way from Katowice ( mum is now working for a local shop doing clothing alterations)...and Ella estimates that between, family, friends cousins etc, there are over 100 people from her extended family/locality now working in our county!!

As a comparison, we saw where she had come from, accommodation, school, workplace of her father....so far removed and different from now in Fermanagh. Things looked very tough, and crampt...even though they laughed about it all.......we suspected she was glad to have a new opportunity. But she said she still loves Poland and hopes to return......one day.

Ella, also attended and over saw the film, and at the end, got a well deserved round of applause..........everyone wished her well and hope she and her son and family have many happy years in our community.

So what do you think Englishman about it?

Don't understand Babylon....re phrase?

Very interesting, though it means that a whole small social network has been entirely uprooted from Poland. Irland's gain, Poland's loss. Poland is rapidly losing its most important resource - its people.

I have been in this shop, was very nice. Fermanagh people are cool

Cube...firstly did you buy anything....secondly...are you brown nosing.....?...

Yes, i did buy lots of things in Sklep Polska, including Polish chocolate. I know Fermanagh and Enniskillen very well. Hey no need to be so defensive!!!... i just though it was a neat topic and i felt like commenting on it ... no need for slurs

Cube....didnt you see my smiley..........lol....am an Enniskillen man............everyone on this board is cool...........well nearly everyone.....!.......respect cube....drop the guard....

Ok Ok Respect Nice to meet ya

Is this a real story? Where is the shop and what is it called?

Gee...not sure of the Polish name......it sorta doesn't roll off the tongue....its in Belmore Street.....just beside the pedestrian crossing lights....can't miss it.

this has to be 'Batory' ...?...
it was still going strong in Feb this year as we raided it for Monte, Kubus, and kabanosi ...

Yeah...still going now...just drove past it!!!

Don't do this to me :D I'm threatening another visit in Jan - winter break at school ....

Lol.......awwww......just a tincy wincy home sick Ccj.....am I cruel....?..and this is my nice side...!

Are you far from E'kn, when back on home soil ?

maybe i'm not so much sick for ekn as slightly sick of wrzeszcz /rolls eyes/
Ekn is Sligo Rd.

NNNNNNNNNNoooooooooooooo...........Sligo rd...seriously? Out there this am.......!

Ifs theres something you want brought over( can drop it for you somewheres in G).....lemme know.....am doing same for someone in Warsaw!!!

careful ... your nice side will explode soon ...
s'ok, though -- I've been gone over 10 years from NI and I've learned to live without lots of things -- put another way ... the floodgates have been hammered shut and I daren't open them even a crack ...
Old Rossorry ....

Gee......

Soz...the O'Roartys/Donnellys?

Respect...that your floodgates closure is permanent!



PS Don't ever suffer from seepage?.....:)

when are you in gdansk frank?

20th......am only, B......why u winging that way....or need some of O'Dohertys black bacon too?...:)...:)

O'Roartys/Donnellys ... mmmm ...
'fraid you're on the other side of The Great Divide ... let me just gently murmur Collegiate and all will be clear.
but i said goodbye and thanks for all the fish many many years ago.

seepage? i think we're talking blowout. Get me in Dunnes in the chocolate biscuit aisle and bad things happen...

Have no idea wot you're on about..........can I murmur.....Portora...am only pulling your smooth limb Cjj!!

You won't beleive, but thats what the person in warsaw wants too......bloody biscuits...!!!

I will have to pay importation duty on them!!! No probs if you want me to drop them somewheres.......no divide on this board......:)

there. i knew that smooth concerned exterior would crack given enough bytes.

biscuits are not bloody biscuits if they have chocolate on them. And maybe toffee too. Or orange flavoured cream. Or maybe peppermint? Or ../slap/

If anything comes to me I'll scream - otherwise i can survive with Delicje and Jezyki ...

an excellent example of hard work and finding an opportunity.. and actually to those livingf in northern ireland its not your country, it doesnt belong to you.. its a piece of this world whic everyone has a right to...

Cjj....if you want some...just click your fingers ....I use that one coat covers all cracks .....exterior paint.....:)


Yup...toffee/chocolate combo......has been asked for too!