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Participants on a Clanrye Group’s PEACE IV project visited Krakow, Poland in June as part of their OCN NI Diversity and Good Relations programme and organisers Clanrye Group are running a second programme in September.
The OCN Level 2 Diversity and Good Relations programme is a free project but to be eligible you must live/work in the Newry, Mourne and Down area, and be able to commit to all sessions. The programme will run for nine weeks and will provide an opportunity for a study trip to Krakow.
Match-funding has been provided by The Executive Office in Northern Ireland and the Department for Rural and Community Development in Ireland.
To apply please contact Leah on leah.stuttard@clanryegroup.com or phone 028 3089 8119.
Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Councillor Charlie Casey and other Council members joined the locally based group on their trip in June. The project was supported by the EU’s PEACE IV Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).
As part of the three-day visit, the group visited Auschwitz and Birkenau as well as the Salt Mines. Participants felt that this opportunity gave them an insight to different cultures, but also how a country has moved on from historical conflict.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Charlie Casey said, “The visit to Krakow gave the group a deep, and at times emotionally challenging, insight into the traumatic and devastating history of Auschwitz and Birkenau concentration camps. It also provided the group with a new understanding and knowledge of how a country can move forward and meet the challenges that arise from historical conflict by embracing respect for diversity and good relations at all levels within society.”
Dara O’Hagan, Manager of Youth and Family Service said, “Thanks to Peace IV and SEUPB this programme has enabled us as a group to explore, understand and share our cultures. It has stretched us to go outside our comfort zones and bridge the gap that still exists in society. We have learned from the programme, the trip and each other. As a result, we are more knowledgeable, and more empowered to make a difference in our own communities, through inclusiveness and through the networking and friendships we have made.”
The OCN NI qualifications in Diversity and Good Relations have been designed to provide learners with an understanding of the importance and respect for diversity and good relations. Participants will gain a better understanding of what is meant by prejudice and discrimination and will come away with a greater awareness of the value of equal opportunity legislation.
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Wojciech Palka was born near Krakow, Poland in a town called Kolbark and as he says himself came to Ireland in 2006 for a couple of months to earn some money, buy a car and go back to Poland.
Instead of a car though he got a camera and as they say the rest is history and he's still here 13 years later having discovered his passion for photography which he attributes to the beautiful surrounds and people.
Wojciech is holding a photographic exhibition "Painting with Light" in the Sean Hollywood Arts Centre, Newry and it's well worth a visit. It's an artistic adventure into Children's photography and depicts fairytale colours and frames. It continues till Thursday 11 July.
The exhibition was launched last night Friday 5 July, by Wojciech and fellow Poland native Dan Gebski who is running a project called 'From Zero to Hero' showcasing the people from far and near who have helped make Newry and surrounds what they are.
Dan Gebski added that all proceeds of the night were going towards Fight for Alfie with a raffle taking place at the Arts Centre as well as online.
The exhibition contains many atmospheric dreamlike photographs of children. Wojciech is based in Dollingstown and specialises in children and family portraits as well as fine art photography.
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The Polish Supplementary School based at St Joseph's High School in Newry held an art competition for their pupils at the weekend to mark Polish Heritage Days. The entries were a chance for pupils to show what Poland means to them.
The aim of Polish Heritage Days is to promote and celebrate Polish culture, heritage of the past generations and the positive role and contribution made by the near-million members of the Polish diaspora to the cultural, economic and social life in the UK, as part of the Day of Poles Abroad and the Flag Day celebrated on 2nd May as well as the 3rd of May Constitution Day.
Speaking on the initiative the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in London Arkady Rzegocki said: “I would like to warmly invite everyone to join us in the Polish Heritage Days celebrations which for the third time will take place across the whole of the United Kingdom around the 3rd of May Constitution Day.
Let’s share our culture and heritage with our neighbours, let’s challenge stereotypes, let’s showcase our openness, tolerance, and engagement in the life of local communities in the United Kingdom. We have a choice of around 150 events which will be organised by the Polish community together with our British friends and neighbours in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. I hope that, as we celebrate Polish Heritage Days, we can share with our British friends the richness of our culture and tradition.”
For more information about the celebrations, follow #PLHeritageDays and #PolesinUK on social media and visit the virtual map of all the events on the Embassy’s website (available soon).
2019 marks the 15th anniversary of the accession of Poland to the European Union. The Polish Supplementary School runs classes every Saturday at St Joseph's in Newry.
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As part its twinning agreement with the Russian Federation town of Kirovsk. Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has welcomed young people from School No 7, in Municipality of Kirovsk, Murmansk Region, on an educational visit
The purpose of the agreement is to promote friendship and understanding and stimulate the exchange of knowledge and experiences in economic development, tourism, education, culture, sustainable environmental initiatives and youth exchange. During their stay the young people stayed at the Ti Chulainn centre in Mullaghbawn and visited the area of South Down and South Armagh as well as linking with St Paul’s High School in Bessbrook.
Chairman of the Council, Councillor Mark Murnin said, “This visit is a fantastic educational opportunity for both the students from Kirovsk and our district. Building relationships amply demonstrate the benefits that we can all enjoy from our twinning agreement.
“I am certain that the teachers and pupils of both schools have enjoyed the experiences they have shared during their visit and I know that the Russian youngsters will go home with a positive impression of our district.”
This visit is the fourth time that St Paul’s has hosted School No 7 in partnership with the Council and on this occasion, the young people visited St Paul’s for three days for their educational programme.
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Messi. No, Ronaldo. Rubbish. Hazzard is the best, but he needs to move to a bigger team.
It’s a hot topic of debate amongst the small Syrian community in Newry and Mourne.
Who is the best footballer in the world?
It’s subjective.
But it dominates the discussion minutes before 16 footballers of middle eastern background take to the indoor pitch at the impressive new facility. The guys meet each week in Newry Leisure Centre for an hour-long kickabout.
Upstairs, the female members of each family are taking cookery lessons.
It’s part of a Council initiative to help new members of our community integrate, make them feel welcome, and to signpost the services available to them.
“It ties in with our Good Relations programme, building positive relationships amongst different communities,” says Taucher Murphy, DEA co-ordinator with Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.
“To do that, you have to build capacity first so people are comfortable fitting in and engage. “We want people to understand that the leisure centres here are for everyone.
“It's about getting people more comfortable with the different services available, explaining how to use them, how to connect to them, that sort of thing.”
The Council is a leading light in welcoming and integrating new members to the community. Last week, it facilitated an event bringing Syrian families together to advise what services are available to them. English language classes for ethnic minority classes have also been provided by the Council.
It’s welcomed and appreciated.
Mum-of-four Ahlam, 31, has been living in Newry for seven years.
She has a 13-year-old daughter, a 12-year-old son, and two five-year-old twins. Double trouble.
She fled Syria because of the war.
“I feel very comfortable living here - all the people are friendly and we have been made feel welcome,” says Ahlam.
“My children have made many friends. My family is still in Syria. It was very hard to remain in contact with them. A year ago I couldn’t contact them because of poor internet, but now it is not so bad as I can contact them, but it’s poor quality.”
Adam, from Syria, has been living in Newry for almost four years.
“I like it,” he says.
“I have been made feel welcome.”
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From an early age, Larisa Sokele was destined to be a dressmaker.
As a toddler, she watched intensely as her mum transformed bland materials into works of art.
Into her teens, she spent hours on the sewing machine at home, designing new patterns and blending colours.
Imagination running wild; a blank canvas.
“My mum did sewing at home and she found that I liked doing some stitching, and she started giving me some jobs,some easy ones, to do,” recalls Larisa.
“And I just continued doing it. At 16, I went to an evening class for sewing and, after leaving school, I went to the dressmaker school for two years where we studied design fashion, special drawing, textile machinery... everything, all the types of techniques that can be used .”
Larisa , who has a degree in manufactural technology, was only 20 and working at her local sewing factory when she made her first wedding dress.
Whatever the age, it is a huge responsibility to perfect a dress for someone’s dream day.
“I was always making things from scratch, for myself, for my family, for my daughter,” says Larisa.
“I was 20 when I made my first wedding dress from scratch and the lady still has the dress at home. I still remember the style.
“It is xa big responsibility, but if you're doing this job for 30years, you will be professional.”
Larisa, from Latvia, completed two years at dressmaking school – the highest qualified in her class – and went to work at the local manufactory.
But it didn’t invite or embrace new ideas.
It was a production line that allowed no room for expression or creativity.
Larisa, however, still managed to express herself, while earning a little more income.
“I was taking orders,” she said.
“If someone wanted me to make something, I would do it as well as working at the manufactory.”
Aged 33, Larisa moved to Ireland in 2001.
“I came to make a better life for my daughter,” says Larisa.
“It was a big decision for me because my daughter was growing up and wanted to go to different classes; dance classes, English classes, art school...there were better opportunities for my daughter.”
Larisa moved to Meath and worked at the local sewing factory, making uniform trousers for schools.
Just over two years later, the company laid its staff off and shifted operations overseas.
It was the needed catalyst for Larisa to take the plunge and go it alone.
“It was hard to find anything in manufactory and I just decided, yes, I will open my own business.” Larisa known locally as Lora opened Lora Dressmaking and Alterations at Greenbank in Newry.
Fifteen years later, Larisa - who now works on around 600 dresses a year - is still running her highly successful dressmaking and alterations business.
And she beams with pride as she talks about her daughter Julia’s employment at one of London’s most prestigious retailers.
Julia is a team manager for the designer company Louis Vuitton at Harrod’s.
“I'm very proud,” says Larisa.
“She is doing really well, she started working when she was 23 and was the youngest manager. She was frightened at the start, but he is doing very well.”
“My sister is also doing very well in Dublin. She is a pastry chef in a very, very famous restaurant and is doing amazing desserts and cakes. She wins gold prices regularly which goes into competitions.”
Larisa’s dressmaking and alterations business in Newry’s Greenbank Industrial Estate is also doing well.
So well, in fact, that bookings are by appointment only and she doesn’t have the time to design and make her own wardrobe.
“I don’t get time to make dresses for myself - my time is too expensive,” says Larisa.
Brexit looms over everyone at the minute, particularly businesses.
But Larisa’s unconcerned.
She believes her small but profitable business is sustainable.
And she is hoping to pass on her expertise to the next generation of dressmakers.
“I can not know if Brexit will affect me or not, but I am not worried because I can learn a new language and get work anywhere
“I still have many customers; they have been with me since I opened, they don't want to change the dressmaker.
“There are probably some changes I would like for myself. I am trying to teach sewing. I was doing it in the Ulster University in Belfast and I loved it.
“I love to work with students, because every student is a new project and it makes my brain work very hard for them.
“Teaching is something I would like to pursue, maybe get some classes in the Southern Regional College, because I would like to see somebody help my business continue.”
On her adopted homeland in Ireland, Larisa added: “I love the country because it is so green and the winters are so mild.
“It wasn't hard to adapt; It took a while just to find the language. It felt like I was starting from the beginning, it was hard being away from my family.
“But I am happy here and, to be realistic, I am too old to go back to Latvia now to start a new business again.
“I like here because I am happy here with my partner and my work. There is no reason go back; I miss my mum, but this is normal for everyone. This is my home.”
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If you recollect to have seen a elderly man running alone along the Mourne Mountain paths, you were also catching a whiff of the workings of a poet’s mind, because Zdzislaw Malkinski does both: marathons and poetry. Zdzislaw has also taken part in the Newry Marathon.
Zdzislaw Malkinski came ashore on this Isle in 2005. The Celtic Tiger had chased him out of his native land when one of her powerful cubs made a successful bid for the third biggest bank in Poland BZ WBK and made it part of AIB.
Close to pension age, he did not want to wait for a redundancy package. Thus, in a pre-emptive move, he handed in his notice. He badly needed a new identity and a new purpose in life. Fourteen years later he has certainly done that leaving an incredible footprint in Irish
Poetry.
In Ireland
even darkness is enticing
when I run along
the muddy countryside pathways
W Irlandii
nawet ciemność
jest piękna
kiedy biegnę nocą
po wiejskich wertepach
Irlandzka noc Wyspa II
Identity (Tożsamość)
You walk down
The street
And
It’s a cul-de-sac.
You see
The wall.
Strangely enough,
Only few will
dare
To jump over it
Onto the other side
Into the world
Waiting wide open.
Like a migrant on a journey for bread
You look out for
A new identity
Which lies asleep
At the bottom of your soul
Not yet awoken.
But It Is There!
Take pride in its existence.
Czasami ślepą ulicą
Idziesz
I ścianę widzisz
Ale często
Przez mur skaczesz
I dalej w świat szeroki
Jak emigrant
Za kawałkiem chleba
Idziesz
Swojej tożsamości szukać
Która
Gdzieś na dnie duszy ukryta
Jeszcze drzemie
Ale jest
Bądż dumny z niej!
Finding himself at the life crossroads at the age when most of us would dream of settling down in Puerto del Carmen, he had chosen an opposite direction, setting out to challenge the Roaring Tiger on his own terms. Malkinski had never pretended that it was easy to leave his country. The day of his departure is depicted in one of his best poems - The Polish Tale
The Polish Tale
Nothing in particular happens
In this tale.
No action
As I am waiting on Platform Three
At Kostrzyn railway station
For a train
That terminates its journey
At the station “Emigration”
In no time
It will take me over
the Odra river
I’ll pass the border
Two hearts,
My daughter and her granny
Their eyes on the train
As it is leaving.
I do not know
What the future will bring along.
I’ve got a hundred Sterling,
And eagerness to work
But no English,
I do not know yet
That when I return
My daughter will be like her mother now:
She will graduate and speak languages.
Will she leave us too?
Opowiadanie o Polsce
W tym opowiadaniu
Nic sie nie dzieje
Brak akcji
Czekam na stacji
W Kostrzynie nad Odrą
Na pociąg do emigracji
Za chwilę przekroczę granicę
Na peronie
Dwa bliskie serca
Mała córka z babcią
Czekają, aż pociąg odjedzie
Nie wiem jak będzie!
Mam przy sobie sto funtów
Brak języka, lecz chęci do pracy
Nie wiem tego – gdy wrócę
Córka będzie jak matka
Jest po studiach, zna języki
Czy zostawi nas samych?
He travelled by train from Kostrzyn to Berlin, and then took a flight to Belfast. However, he was not drawn to the metropolitan glamour of this city that after years of conflict and bad publicity was desperately trying to catch up with all other vibrant and lively European centres.
So he soon moved out to the picturesque Ballynahinch, at the foot of the Mourne Mountains. Out there he found the tranquillity he dreamt of and a job free from the hustle of drumming up profit targets. In Ballynahinch, he had discovered his passion for poetry and marathons. He even joined Orangegrove AC Belfast and had been with them for many years. The time of his run in Virgin London Marathon on the 24 April, 2016 was 3:59:05 made him one of the best Northern Irish marathon runners in his age group.
The process of training for marathons is a strenuous one: running in rain and shine for hours on end can also be monotonous. As he told me: ”late afternoons and evenings, I wrote down on paper what my mind and soul created while my body negoiated the green hills of the Mourne Mountains”
Old Druid from Ballynahinch
I spent much time in
The wilderness
Where
The winds raged at night
And the pale moon
Glanced from behind the clouds
I searched for the truth
Of the Universe;
I, an old Druid,
from Ballynahinch
Druid z Ballynahinch
Wiele czasu
Spędziłem w głuszy
Gdy wichry
Szalały nocą
A księżyc blady
Wyglądał zza chmur
Szukałem prawdy
O kosmosie
Ja stary druid
Z Ballynahinch
Malkiński has published two volumes of Irish poems in his native Poland under the titles: Wyspa I and Wyspa II. Both contain poems which for the Polish reader are like a breeze of fresh air from the Irish Sea: crispy, invigorating and challenging like Irish weather. For him, the life project called ‘migration’ was fulfilling, for others - acting on his advice - will be worth trying.....
Recommendation (Rada)
It can be done.
I kid you not.
It only takes
Topping up
Your pension with
The one
Earned abroad
It takes time:
Not too long
Proportionally - a moment,
A mere 10 years.
The recipe is simple,
Easy to follow:
Change a country,
Start a new life.
So downright easy,
Nothing extraordinary.
What's been left to decide
Is whether you want to do it,
Or whether you dare not.
Rada
To się zdarza
To nie żart
Emeryturę sklonuj swą
Troche to trwa
Lecz trwa niedługo
Proporcjonalnie krótko
Dziesięć lat
Przepis to jest prost, oczywisty
Wystarczy tylko
Zmienić kraj
I zacząc od nowa
Prosta recepta –niby nic
Musisz tylko chcieć
I móc
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Dan Gebski jest dumnym Polakiem.
Ale 40-latek wraz z jego rodzina sercem jest w Irlandi.
Dan opuścił swoje domowe miasto w Częstochowie w 2004 roku, aby pracować dla firmy recyklingowej w Lurgan.
Piętnaście lat później, ozenil sie z dziewczyna z Newry o imieniu Aislin z ktora mają małego synka Daniela.
"Tęsknię za Polska i moja rodzina, ale myślę, że moje serce jest bardziej w Irlandi," mówi Dan.
“ Doceniam Częstochowę jako miejsce I widze, że istnieje wiele pozytywnych zmian w tym mieście, ale myślę, że moje korzenie są juz tutaj.
Dan spędził dziecinstwo na farmie u Dziadkow poza miastem w malej wiosce kolo Kielc.
Wychował się w ubogiej części Częstochowy, która była bogata w ducha Wspólnoty.
To zaszczepiło w nim silne poczucie tożsamości i aktywizmu w pokazalo fundamenty dla jego solidnych przekonan Socjalistycznych.
Dan wspomina bardzo milo jego dziecinstwo.
"Moje najlepsze wspomnienia jako dziecko z Polski wiazaly sie z duchem zabawy I dobra pogodą, " mówi.
"Dzieci bawiły się razem,I sasiedztwo trzymalo sie razem. Kolejnym wspaniałym wspomnieneim bylo dorastanie na farmie u mojej babci.
"Spędziłem każde lato z dziadkami i pamiętam to bardzo dobrze. Lato było tam piękne. Zimy były również piękne, jak zawsze było dużo śniegu.I bylo co robic inie nudzilo mi sie.
Jako nastolatek Dan uczęszczał do Technikum Ochrony Srodowiska I nastepnie udal sie do Uniwersytetu Zarzadzania I Marketingu w ktorych spedzil dwa lata.
Następnie podjal decyzję o przeniesieniu się do Irlandi.
"To chyba najlepsza rzecz, która mnie spotkala w zyciu... jak do tej pory..! "mówi.
Spędził dwa lata pracując w Lurgan przed przeprowadzka 20 mil na południe do miasta Newry, gdzie wylądował jako Oficer Bezpieczeństwa w porcie w Warrenpoint.
Tam poznał jego obecna żonę, Aislin.
"Pracowaliśmy razem, " powiedział Dan
"Ona jest bardzo, bardzo piękna I madra dziewczyna. Na początku byłem trochę nieśmiały, aby zapytać ja o spotkanie, ale w końcu zdobylem sie na odwage.
"Widywalismy sie przez rok gdzie po tym udalem sie do jej rodzicow aby spytac czy moglbysmy razem zamieszkac. To nie jest Polska tradycja,ale chciałem odwiedzić jej rodzicow I powiedzieć im kim jestem I jakie sa moje intencje.Rodzice nie mieli zadnych zastrzezen "
Dan i Aislin maja syna o imieniu Daniel, i w dniu jego chrzcin, Dan jak w polskiej tradycji przystalo poprosil o reke Aislin za pozwoleniem jej taty Paula.
Slub i Wesele bylo trzy lata temu w hotelu Carrickdale gdzie przybyla cala jego rodzina I znajomi z Polski.
"Rodzinie podobalo sie Newry i byli zaskoczeni, jacy mili sa tutejsi ludzie i jak zostali goraco przeznich przyjęci, " powiedział Dan. Dluzsza wizyta dała dzadkom z Polski możliwość spędzenia wiecej czasu z ich wnukiem.
Rodzice Dana rowniez spędzili więcej czasu z ich wnuczkiem w zeszłym miesiącu, kiedy to Dan wraz z rodzina odwiedzil Polskę wraz z tesciami, aby świętować swoje 40-te urodziny.
Nauka syna o jego polskich korzeniach ma ogromne znaczenie dla Dana.
"Mówię do niego trochę po Polsku, ale on jest zbyt młody na chwilę obecna, aby nauczyć się dwóch języków naraz. Zapisalem go do szkoly polskiej w zeszłym roku, ale to nie byl jeszcze ten czas dla niego,ponieważ rozpoczął P1(podstawowke) i byłoby to zbyt wiele dla niego, aby uczeszcac do dwóch szkół naraz w jego wieku.
"Ale od przyszłego roku pójdzie do Polskiej Szkoły w kazda Sobote. To ważne, ponieważ chcę, aby poznal skąd pochodzi jego tata,jak rowniez jaka jest jego kultura.Zyczylbym sobie rowniez aby Daniel mogl swobodnie komunikować się z dziadkami, ponieważ oni nie mówią po angielsku.
"Ja staram się mówić do niego po Polsku jak najwięcej. Mamy polskie książki w domu i staramy się wspolnie angażować w Polonijnych grupach. Zabieram go na polskie imprezy kulturalne, aby pokazać mu czym jest Polska kultura.
"Jest to dla mnie bardzo ważne, a także dla Daniela. Nie wiem może kiedy Daniel bedzie mial 17 lub 18 lat, może zdecydować pojechac do Polski na stale i byłoby dobrze, gdyby mówił plynnie w jezyku polskim. Dlatego myślę, że to jest dla niego bardzo korzystne, jeśli by tak sie stalo.
"Nasze Polskie korzenie i rodzina są również bardzo ważne i chcę, aby mogli rozmawiać z Danielem po Polsku.
"Jesteśmy bardzo dumni z Daniela i miejmy nadzieję, że jest dla niego swietlana przyszłość. "
Na tylach domu rodzinnego Dana na Carlingford Park Dan spogląda na pusty i nie zagospodarowany obszar zabaw dla dzieci.
W miejscu tym nieletni spotykaja sie aby niestety naduzywac alkoholu i niszczyc mienie.
PHOTO
Dan w tle parku zabaw dla dzieci w pobliżu, gdzie żyje. To on zaczal kampanie aby miejsce zostalo odświeżone i obecnie plany sa w toku zagospodarowania i odnowienia nowego parku zabaw dla dzieci..
Dan zawsze posiadal instynkt aktywizmu społecznościowego, ktorego nauczyl sie gdy dorastał w Częstochowie. Jego pragnienie bezpiecznego i nowego parku zabaw dla swego syna, skłoniło go do skontaktowania się z odpowiednimi agencjami ktore zaowocowaly pozytywna wiadomoscia dla mieszkańców tego rejonu.
Dan zaranzowal spotkanie i kilka tygodni później wraz z urzędnikami Rady Miasta, PSNI Policja i Urzednikami Panstwowymi udalosie uzyskac £100 000 na odnowienie parku I pelnego zastopowania dewastacji rejonu przez tkzw element.
Dan który był członkiem wielu parti politycznych powiedzial że ważne jest, aby ludzie z Polski mieli swoj głos, zwłaszcza ludzie którzy mieszkaja w Irlandii Północnej.
Dan nadmienil, że chciałby aby więcej osób z mniejszości etnicznych i środowisk powinno angazowac się w lokalnej polityce i społecznościach lokalnych.
"Myślę, że to bardzo ważne, aby stać się politycznie slyszalnym i spróbować i dokonać pozytywnych zmian, " dodał.
"Jest ponad 3 500 Polakow w Newry i Mourne i ważne jest, że bysmy mieli nasz głos w roznych waznych dla nas sprawach..
"Potrzebujemy takiego głosu. Zachęcam więc Rodakow do przyłaczania się do grup społecznych czy parti politycznych i grupowej współpracy z naszymi sasiadami z Newry.
Dan Gebski is a proud Pole.
But the 40-year-old's heart, and his young family, is in Ireland.
Dan left his home city of Czestochowa in 2004 to work for a recycling firm in Lurgan.
Fifteen years later, he is married to Newry girl Aislin and they have a little son called Daniel.
"I miss the land and miss my family, but I think my heart is more in Ireland now," says Dan.
"I know Czestochowa and the population has moved on and I think there are many positive changes in the city, but I think my roots are here. I am married to a girl form Newry and we have a beautiful child."
Dan spent many of his early summers running free on his grandparent's farm outside the city of Kielce.
He was raised in a poor area of Czestochowa that was rich in community spirit.
It instilled a strong sense of identity and activism in the young boy and laid the foundations for his solid socialist outlook.
He looks back fondly on his childhood.
"My best memories as a child in Poland were the great summers we had with great weather," he says.
"The children played together and the community were all together. Another great memory is growing up on my grandmother's farm .
"I spent every summer with my grandparents and I remember it very well. The summer was beautiful there. The winters were also beautiful as there was always lots of snow."
By his mid teens, Dan attended secondary school for mechanical engineering before studying for two years at the University of Marketing.
He then made the decision to move to Ireland.
"It is probably the best thing to happen to me...so far!," he says.
He spent two years working in Lurgan before moving 20 miles south to Newry where he landed a job as a security officer in Warrenpoint Harbour.
It was there he met his would-be wife, Aislin.
"We worked together," said Dan.
"She is a very, very lovely girl. At the start, I was a bit shy to ask, but finally I asked her out.
"We met once and then saw each other for one year. Then I went to her mummy to ask her if could I go out with Aislin permanently. It's not a Polish tradition, I just wanted to visit her mummy to tell her who I am, and there was no objection whatsoever."
The couple had a son called Daniel, and on his Christening Day, Dan, having got permission to do so from Aislin's dad, got down on one knee and proposed. It was a successful outcome.
They married three years ago in the Carrickdale Hotel, with Dan's family travelling from Poland for the big occasion.
"They loved Newry and were surprised at how nice the people are here and how they were welcomed," said Dan.
The extended visit gave Dan's mum and dad the opportunity to spend quality time with their grandson.
And they spent more time with the little man last month when he visited Poland with his parents to celebrate Dan's 40th birthday.
Teaching his son about his Polish roots is of huge importance to Dan.
"Daniel is half Irish, half Polish," he says.
"I speak to him a bit in Polish, but he's too young at the minute to learn two languages. I signed him to start in the Polish School last year, but I was advised that, because he had only started P1, it would be too much for him to go to two schools at his age.
"But from next year on, he'll go to the Polish School on Saturday mornings. It's important because I want him to learn about where he is from, his culture, and I also want him to communicate with his grandparents because they speak little English.
"So I try to speak Polish to him as much as possible. We have Polish books in the house and we try to engage with Polish communities and I take him to Polish cultural events to show him what Polish culture is about.
"It will be very important to me and also to Daniel. I don't know, maybe when Daniel is 17 or 18, he might decide go to Poland and it wouldn't be good if he didn't speak the language, so I think it is very beneficial to him if he can speak Polish.
"Our roots and family are also very important and I want them to be able to talk to Daniel.
"We are very proud of Daniel and hopefully there is a bigger future for him than there is for us."
The rear of Dan's family home in Carlingford Park looks on to an empty and run-down children's play area.
Desolate for years, it had become a hot-bed for anti-social behaviour and underage drinking.
Dan's instinctive community activism, fermented when growing up in Czestochowa, and his desire for a safe and suitable play park for his son, prompted him to contact the relevant agencies and demand better for residents of the area.
A site meeting a few weeks later with Council officials, the PSNI and elected reps led to a £100,000 new play park on the site and a commitment to maintain it and deter anti-social elements.
Dan - who has been a member of a number of political parties since moving to Ireland 15 years ago - said it is important that people have their voices heard, especially people that have moved to Northern Ireland.
He said he would like to see more people from ethnic minority backgrounds get involved in local politics and local communities.
"I think it is very important to become political and try and make change," he added.
"There are over 3,500 Polish people in Newry and Mourne and it is important that they have a voice in Newry.
"We need a voice. So I would encourage Polish people to join community groups and have your voice heard and work together."
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"We think it's important to celebrate everyone's culture and make sure everyone feels included in our community," says James Treanor, chairperson of Carnagat Community Association.
"As a community association, we always want to make sure our community is getting all the opportunities that is available to it and make sure that everybody that lives in this community, whether they are from a different country or this one, are included and are part of this community, because we want them to be part of this community."
Carnagat Community Association and Carnagat Youth Club in Newry hosted a successful multi-cultural day on Sunday.
The colourful event included African drumming and dancing, Chinese umbrella dances, Spanish, Chinese and Polish arts and crafts, and cultural song and dance. Italian pizza too!
James said the the youth group, which includes members from Lithuania and Poland, wanted to celebrate the area's growing diversity, adding:"It's to celebrate that and come together as a community."
Pupils from the Newry Polish Supplementary School performed at the event.
"It's great to organise events like this. It's enjoyable," said Kamila Greszt, a teacher at the Newry Polish Supplementary School and language support officer at St Joseph's Convent PS.
"On the streets on St Patrick's Day you see different communities in the parade and it's great to see things like that. Our children play together and lean from each other and children are really open and I think that is brilliant."
Weihong Tu was also guest on Sunday.
Living in Northern Ireland for almost seven years, the Chinese dancer and artist performs at cultural events across the north, promoting diversity and understanding.
"Cultural diversity is very important to the people, especially in the schools because they need to learn different cultures from the world, not only Irish. They should open their minds to the world, to global," said Weihong.
The recurring theme is children.
Undoubtedly, the little people have integrated and befriended much quicker and better.
No imaginary barriers.
"We're here celebrating different cultures and I think that is important," says 10-year-old Cassie McGivern
"I have friends from Poland. It's important that they are made feel welcome so they can have friends and be happy."
Amelia Graham, an 11-year-old pupil at St Mary's High School, adds: "Today was about celebrating different people. It's not nice if people don't feel welcome because you don't know how they might feel. It's important to make people feel welcome. Everyone."
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