Leeds has a large and established Irish community, but what do the local people think of them?
In a special edition of 'The Women's Programme' from Leeds Irish Centre in the United Kingdom, people in Leeds city centre are asked what they think of Irish people. For the most part, the comments are positive. One lady who had been to Ireland on holiday was surprised at the way of life and people's attitudes,
They’re old-fashioned in a way, in their outlook.
An older lady says she has nothing against Irish people, but
I don’t want them here.
Excessive alcohol consumption gets a mention, as does the devotion of Irish people to their religion. One man from the West Indian community feels more accepted by the Irish community here than the English.
I feel comfortable among the Irish people.
‘The Women’s Programme’ was broadcast on 2 March 1985. The reporter is Sheena Hastings.
The Women's Programme was jointly presented by Marian Finucane and Doireann Ni Bhriain and was a weekly magazine programme run and presented entirely by women for women. Broadcast every Monday at 9.30 pm on RTE 1, the first programme was aired on 24 October 1983.
The team behind the programme included Nuala O'Faolain who had previously worked on the ‘Women Talking’ series. Also involved in producing the show was Claire Duignan who was responsible for the Today Tonight programmes on rape, divorce and child abuse. Duignan was also the original producer of ‘Women Today’ on RTE Radio 1.
