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Take part in the project
If you are a Polish woman running a business in Ireland – your story matters!
FEMIGRACJA
Entrepreneurial Polish Women in Ireland
Entrepreneurial Polish Women in Ireland – more than just a study
The project “Femigracja. Entrepreneurial Polish Women in Ireland” is a space for meetings, dialogue, and inspiration.
It is a project that shows that women’s migration can be a source of strength, growth, and social change. Through research, publications, and promotional activities, the initiative supports building a positive image of Polish women around the world – as leaders, innovators, and creators of a modern economy.
Women who combine courage, entrepreneurship, and migration experience
The project “Femigracja. Entrepreneurial Polish Women in Ireland” is a research and social initiative carried out by CKU – Centre for Counselling and Therapy.
Its aim is to explore and promote the experiences of Polish women who have chosen to run their own businesses in Ireland – a country that, after 2004, became one of the main destinations for labour migration from Poland.
The project shows that women abroad not only adapt to new realities but also actively shape them – creating companies, jobs, social initiatives, and spaces for collaboration.
What is the “Femigracja. Entrepreneurial Polish Women in Ireland” project about?
“Femigracja. Entrepreneurial Polish Women in Ireland” is a look at women’s migration through the lens of entrepreneurship, creativity, and agency.
The aim of the project is to understand how Polish women in Ireland use their skills, experience, and cultural capital to develop their businesses, as well as what barriers and challenges they encounter in the process.
It is also an attempt to capture a broader context – how the role of women in migrant communities is changing, how they build their support networks, how they balance professional and family life, and how their actions shape the image of the Polish diaspora in Ireland.
Why Ireland?
Ireland is one of the most important destinations for Polish women’s migration after Poland’s accession to the European Union.
It is estimated that more than 120,000 Polish citizens currently live in Ireland, with women making up a significant share of this population. Many of them eventually move away from salaried employment and take the risk of starting their own businesses – often in response to local needs, but also out of a desire to pursue their passions and gain independence.
It is precisely these women – entrepreneurial, creative, and courageous – who form the group the project aims to explore more deeply and present to the public.
Project goals
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examining the phenomenon of entrepreneurship among Polish women in Ireland and the factors influencing their decision to start a business
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identifying the barriers, limitations, and challenges faced by migrant women running companies
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analysing business development strategies – from micro-enterprises to transnational activities
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understanding the importance of support networks and collaboration within the Polish community
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developing recommendations for public institutions and organisations that support women’s entrepreneurship
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promoting a positive image of Polish women as active participants in Ireland’s economic life
How is the project carried out?
The project has a research and analytical character and is based on two complementary research methods:
Quantitative research
The online survey addressed to Polish women running businesses in Ireland will collect data on, among other things, motivations for starting a company, types of business activity, forms of support, encountered barriers, and ways of overcoming them.
The quantitative study will make it possible to create a synthetic picture of the phenomenon – showing the scale of women’s entrepreneurship within the Polish community in Ireland.
Qualitative research
In parallel, in-depth interviews will be conducted with selected project participants. Their purpose is to capture individual stories – personal paths to success, turning points, migration experiences, and the social contexts of running a business abroad.
This part of the study will give voice to the protagonists themselves – women whose activities co-create the contemporary Polish diaspora in Ireland.
The collected data will be developed into a research report and made available in the public sphere, serving as a reference point for future initiatives supporting migrant women.
Women who inspire
“Femigracja. Entrepreneurial Polish Women in Ireland” is also a story about women whose determination and courage inspire others.
Their stories show that entrepreneurship in migration is not only a path to economic independence, but also a form of creative participation in the host society.
The project aims to present Polish women in Ireland as leaders, mentors, and initiators of social change – women who build bridges between cultures.
Implementation
The project “Femigracja. Entrepreneurial Polish Women in Ireland” is carried out by CKU – Centre for Counselling and Therapy and co-funded by the Embassy of Poland in Ireland.
Experts in migration and entrepreneurship studies are involved in the research activities, as well as representatives of the Polish community and women’s organisations in Ireland.