Eight members of Ireland’s minority faith communities offer a brief reflection on what Irishness – and St Patrick – means to them. They are all members of Dublin City Interfaith Forum.

Aminah Hussain is a Muslim, who explains how much her faith has in common with the traditions associated with St Patrick in her adopted homeland… including our shared love of green!  https://bit.ly/30RcxLS

Dr Lua Rahmani is an anaesthetist working in the ICU of Dublin’s Temple Street Children’s Hospital, who sees no conflict between her own Baha’í faith and other creeds on this day when we celebrate shared values and humanity. https://bit.ly/3qT7fdo

Jobin Prince is an Indian Orthodox Christian, whose tradition is four centuries older than Irish Christianity. He salutes a missionary who didn’t try to drive out pagans with the snakes, but learned from their traditions and won their hearts and minds. https://bit.ly/3tiYE5s

Swami Purnananda is a priest in the Hindu, or Vedanta, tradition, who finds much to like in the story of St Patrick, the trafficked foreigner, who eventually found refuge in Ireland, enriching this land with his own monastic search for God. https://bit.ly/2Q8P3Qy 

Pastor Daré Adetuberu is a Nigerian Pentecostal Christian, who recalls the sung valedictory promise he made to the first Irish person he met, his teacher in primary school. “Auntie Lynn, we will not forget your missionary work.” He hasn’t. https://bit.ly/3qOXMnv

Dr Jasbir Singh Puri is a retired consultant anaesthetist and a proud Sikh, who, from his first experience of St Patrick’s Day, has felt the warmth of Ireland’s Cead míle failte. https://bit.ly/3bQuele

Hilary Abrahamson is a fourth generation Irish Jew, who recalls how, throughout her life, Jews have been proud to celebrate their Irishness on St Patrick’s Day and to pray for the country that gave their ancestors’ refuge. https://bit.ly/3bTk6Z8

Rev Myozan Kodo Kilroy is a Zen Buddhist priest, who sees strong parallels between the life and teaching of St Patrick and those of the Buddha. Irishness and the generous spirit of St Patrick’s Day are big enough to accommodate both. https://bit.ly/3toDTW3

RTÉ – IRELAND’S NATIONAL PUBLIC SERVICE MEDIA