‘Irish People of Colour’: A New Book by Conrad Koza Bryan and Dr Chamion Caballero
A new book, authored by Conrad Koza Bryan from the Association of Mixed Race Irish (AMRI) and our Director, Dr. Chamion Caballero, is opening up important conversations about Irish history and heritage. Adapted by Conrad from The Mixed Museum’s collaborative digital exhibition with AMRI, the book - Irish People of Colour: A Social History of Mixed Race Irish in Britain and Ireland, 1700–2000 - shines a fascinating spotlight on centuries of mixed race Irish and British history.
Published with support that includes the Government of Ireland’s Emigrant Support Programme, the non-profit book is being distributed for free to schools and libraries across Ireland and the UK. Learn more about the book below, as well as the exciting public speaking events sharing this underrepresented history with audiences in both countries.
The launch of Irish People of Colour: celebrating multiracial Irish history across centuries and countries
The publication of Irish People of Colour: A Social History of Mixed Race Irish in Britain and Ireland, 1700–2000 marks a significant moment in the ongoing effort to highlight Ireland’s racially diverse history and diaspora. Adapted from their digital exhibition Mixed Race Irish Families in Britain, 1700-2000, Conrad Koza Bryan and Chamion Caballero’s book deepens the conversation around the long, yet often overlooked histories of Irish people of colour in Britain and Ireland. The book has already made waves, not just for its content but also for its reach. Thanks to support that includes the Government of Ireland’s Emigrant Support Programme, the book is being distributed for free to schools and libraries across Ireland and the UK. This generous effort ensures that future generations can access these untold stories and place them at the forefront of Ireland's historical narrative.
From exhibition to book: a vital resource for schools and libraries
The Mixed Museum’s first ever special digital exhibition, Mixed Race Irish Families in Britain, 1700-2000 was a groundbreaking look into centuries of mixed race Irish couples, families and people. Curated by Chamion and Conrad, with support from Dr Peter Aspinall, the exhibition, funded by AMRI, launched in 2020 to great acclaim in both Britain and Ireland.
While it focused mainly on those in Britain, the exhibition also highlighted numerous mixed Irish histories, as well as the migration journeys between Ireland, Britain, the Caribbean, the Americas and Asia for many mixed Irish families. Irish People of Colour builds further on these histories, with additional academic contributions from scholars Drs William Hart, Mark Doyle, and Maurice Casey. The book also contains beautiful original illustrations by Anisha Bryan, helping to fill gaps in the absence of pictorial representations of earlier mixed race histories, such as the account of the fascinating Cork-born acrobat Pablo Paddington.
Book tour and events across Ireland and the UK
Led by Conrad, a book tour is currently underway, both to celebrate the launch of the book and to share the history with interested audiences in both Ireland and the UK – as well as the book itself. Thanks to funding from the Emigrant Support Programme, all attendees at the free talks also receive a free copy of the book.
Gallery images: Irish People of Colour on display at Cork Central Library, Conrad Bryan, Jack Crangle and Maurice Casey speaking to an audience at Dublin Central Library
Supported by the Irish Research Council New Foundations Scheme 2023, several speaking events took place in Ireland, which were also supported by Dr Jack Crangle. In July 2024, Conrad and Maurice Casey spoke at the Christine Buckley Centre and the Central Library in Dublin. August saw Conrad’s talk at Cork City Library accompanied by a walking tour along the Cork Abolitionists Trail, led by Dr Adrian Mulligan.
In the UK, Chamion joined Conrad at the Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith on 9 October 2024 as part of an ‘In Conversation With…’ event hosted by Dame Elizabeth Nneka Anionwu OM DBE FRCN.
The event was opened by Orla Mc Breen, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Ireland London, who spoke about the critical role the book plays in offering a broader understanding of Ireland’s history and the importance of ensuring these stories are told. Conrad and Chamion then discussed the background to the book and the challenges of finding and preserving multiracial histories, alongside book readings and a Q&A with the audience, who were delighted to hear from acclaimed photographer Charlie Phillips OBE, who was in attendance.
Charlie, who has Irish ancestry, had previously highlighted the importance of the book during his interview for radio show Bright Side of the Road. Elizabeth, who features in both the book and exhibition, also shared some of her experiences, captured in full in her memoir Dreams From My Mother.
After the talk, discussions continued against the backdrop of Epic Museum’s Entangled Islands: Ireland and the Caribbean pop up exhibition. On display at the Irish Cultural Centre with free entry until 31 October 2024 courtesy of the Irish Embassy, the exhibition explores 400 years of intersecting Irish-Caribbean histories of colonisation and resistance.
Following the Hammersmith event, the book tour continued at the Luton Irish Forum on 15 October 2024 with an engaging interview between Conrad Bryan and Dr Elleesa Rushby, followed by an event on 24 October at the Liverpool Irish Centre, where Conrad was once again in conversation with Elizabeth Anionwu. Future events are planned in Manchester, Leeds, and Coventry – follow AMRI’s X account for details.
Praise for Irish People of Colour
As with the exhibition, the book is garnering positive attention from media outlets as well as readers. The Journal called it ‘groundbreaking’, commending its effort to make multiracial Irish history accessible to schools and libraries. The Irish World described the book as describing ‘a timely historical context for Irish people of colour today’, noting its importance in broadening the country’s historical narrative.
Similarly, readers are sharing that they are enjoying learning about contemporary British figures featured in the book with mixed race Irish heritages, such as the writer SuAndi, who is the recent focus of a special digital resource at The Mixed Museum, SussedBlackWoman.
In addition to recently being awarded the Royal Society of Literature’s Benson medal for outstanding contribution to literature, SuAndi has also had her portrait included in the Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage exhibition 100 Black Women Who Have Made a Mark, currently on display at the Leicester Gallery, De Montfort University.
Acknowledgements and final thanks
Irish People of Colour would not have been possible without the generous support of the Government of Ireland’s Emigrant Support Programme, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and the Irish Research Council’s New Foundations Scheme 2023. Special thanks also go to Dr Jack Crangle and Maynooth University for supporting the Ireland talks, and to Cork City Library, the Irish Cultural Centre, Luton Irish Forum and the Liverpool Irish Centre for their warm support of the book tour.
Please note that the book is not available to purchase, but copies can be found at many schools and libraries across Ireland and Britain, and free copies are available to those attending the book talks.
Learn more
Visit the inspiration for the book – the AMRI exhibition Mixed Race Irish Families in Britain, 1700-2000 – here at The Mixed Museum.
Follow the Association of Mixed Race Irish on X to keep up to date with news of the book tour.
Read Conrad Koze Bryan’s thoughts on putting the book together at the Association of Mixed Race Irish’s website.