‘Mother Pole Abroad’: A (Re)conceptualisation of Motherhood Through the Experience of Migration and Employment in Ireland

Since 2004, the number of Polish nationals in Ireland has increased significantly and over the years Polish migrants have become the largest European migrant minority. For many of those who arrived as young and independent individuals, Ireland became a place for family establishment and settlement. Others brought their partners and children to start a new chapter in family life. Yet very little research has looked at these processes from a life course perspective, particularly in relation to women and mothers who constitute a vital link in the formation and maintenance of familyhood. Based on 61 qualitative interviews with working mothers in Ireland, this chapter considers how mothers negotiate their lives in the contested domains of motherhood and employment as crucial, yet often conflicting spheres. It explores the idea of good motherhood in light of important life events. The practices and perceptions of motherhood changed not only through the experience of migration but more significantly over the time spent in Ireland and through their return to work and interactions with other members of Irish society.