What makes me most proud about my sixteen year old son is not how well he did in his junior cert or how good he is at basketball, but how comfortable he is hanging out with friends from all corners of the world with different cultural backgrounds. I grew up in a Catholic dominated Ireland in the 80s when everyone was  straight, white and Irish, and while I now wholeheartedly embrace diversity I have had to work hard to unlearn and challenge these early lessons. Irish Gen Zs are different, they are growing up in a much more tolerant Ireland where the vast majority of people understand that your sexual orientation is something you were born with and the colour of your skin is irrelevant – inclusivity comes far more naturally to them because they are unburdened by biases of the past

We are currently experiencing a negative movement around the world centered around immigration. Right wing extremists are stoking hatred by spreading falsehoods about migrants while ignoring the massive positive effects migration has on a country’s culture and economics. Roughly one third of my 60 colleagues between Cantec and SmartOffice are from countries such as India, South Africa, Croatia, Poland, Slovakia, The UK, Canada and Italy. Apart from the huge contribution each of them makes to the running of our businesses, the positive effect to our cultural diversity they bring really enhances the office environment and makes it a better place to work. Whether it’s chewing on some of Wayne’s South African Biltong (dry cured beef) or arguing with Tanveer over the merits of the Indian Premier League versus test cricket, or learning from Davor that there’s a lot more to Dubrovnik than the steps in Game of Thrones, my working day has become profoundly enriched by a truly global perspective.

Rashidat Adeleke, with her stellar performance at the Paris Olympics, truly symbolises Ireland’s breathtaking transformation. Her vibrancy and positivity remind me so vividly of my own daughter—sharing the same age, height, and effervescent spirit. They both embody the new Ireland, a nation reborn with optimism and confidence, a stark contrast to the Ireland of my childhood in the 80s. Back then, Ireland was one of the poorest countries in Europe, not just economically but also culturally.

Now, as one of the wealthiest nations, Ireland’s prosperity is not just measured in economic terms but also in its cultural richness and diversity. This transformation has not only revitalised our communities but also broadened our global perspectives, making Ireland a vibrant hub of varied traditions, ideas, and innovations. Rashidat Adeleke’s success is not just her own but a reflection of our collective growth—a new chapter in our nation’s history, showing the world what a diverse, open, and inclusive Ireland can achieve.

– This personal reflection is shared by Greg Tuohy, CEO of Cantec Group.

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