Introduction

This chapter sets the scene for the volume. It begins by illustrating the strong historical ties between Poland and Ireland and discusses how the migration narratives of both nations have been reshaped by the 2004 European Union enlargement. The chapter then traces the Poland–Ireland migration wave from 2004 through to Census 2022 and the accompanying research of this period that mainly concerns labour migration. The case is made for considering Polish families in Ireland from a life course perspective to understand how they have experienced life across time and within the context of broader societal institutions, structures and their own personal biographies. Structured into three parts—Childhood and Youth, Adulthood and Parenting, and Mid-life and Futures—the chapter introduces each study in the volume and outlines their collective contribution to comprehending Polish families in Ireland from a life course perspective.