Irish Born Chinese

Gung Hei Fat Choi! It's Chinese New Year! 

I was invited to 2FM this morning for an interview with Dave Fanning about my experiences growing up as an IBC and how I/my family celebrated Chinese New Year. For us, it was a very simple but special dinner, not like our normal everyday Chinese home cooked dinner (you will still not find some of these dishes on Chinese menus). Dishes with Fat Choy (striking it rich), rice noodles (longevity), dried oysters and Chinese Black mushrooms. Or Sweet and sour large prawns with their shells still on (recipe via kitchenbowl), apparently this symbolises happiness, as I presume the Canto for prawns is "Ha" and sounds like laughter. We do included whole fish and chicken (although not with its head and feet like back in Hong Kong).

Activities and events during Chinese New Year

It seems that Dublin is the main city hosting events, and it's going on for a few weeks -- from 16th Feb to 4th March! It includes: make your own Chinese comics (manhua) to the Spring Gala to the 2-day family-friendly event at CHQ (24th-25th) to Lion and Unicorn Dance on Parnell Street (17th). You can see their full programme here: https://www.dublinchinesenewyear.com/

It was hard to find other events around the country, if you know of some event, please share by leaving a comment on this blog. [Updated with events from Belfast]

• Chinese New Year Gala 2018 in aid of COPE Galway and Western Alzheimer
• Chinese New Year to be celebrated in Cork city
• Visit Belfast: Half Term Family Fun Days - Arts and crafts, "[...] there are plenty of street performances from a magician, walkabout characters, stilt walkers, face painters and balloon modellers"
• [Belfast] Celebration of Chinese New Year and visit to Chinese Cultural and Resource Centre - 21st Feb