Mayo's Yentl Ho tells her story in Coming Home documentary

PRESENTER and businesswoman Eva Paul is hosting a new six-part radio series for RTÉ Radio 1 on what it means to be Chinese-Irish.

Starting this Sunday, October 12, at 7.30 p.m., Eva Pau will meet members of the Chinese-Irish community across the country, from Mayo to Dublin and from Cork to Tyrone.

Each week Eva is welcomed into the home of someone either born in Ireland to a Chinese family or someone who has moved to Ireland from China more recently. Together they will share their personal story of blended identity, family and belonging.

Among those telling their story, in episode 3, 'The Singing Bowl', is Yentl Ho who lives in Ballina and describes herself as a mother of three, a sound healing practitioner and a Ballina woman through and through.

Born in Dublin to Chinese parents, Yentl spent the first five years of her life in Hong Kong with her beloved grandmother. She describes standing out, fitting in and a journey that made no sense at all!

Presenter Eva Pau said: “As someone who has always straddled two cultures, making this series taught me that home can be more than one place. Presenting this series opened my eyes to how diverse the Chinese Irish experience really is.

“Each person I spoke with - from Qian in Dublin to my own father Howard - showed me the courage it takes to build a life between two cultures. Their stories reminded me that you don't have to choose between being Chinese or Irish. You can be both, and that's something to celebrate. I'm very proud to share these stories with listeners.”

Series Producer Susan Dennehy added: “Chinese people have been coming to Ireland in numbers since the 1980s and even before then. Theirs is a well-established community and we can learn so much about integration from their experience.

“Making the series, it was fascinating to meet so many first, second and third generation Chinese people living in Ireland. Their traditions and heritage are so interesting but it became obvious recording these personal stories that that the exact same things matter most to us all as humans – our identity, our family, and our home.”

The series was Funded by Coimisiún na Meán Sound and Vision 4 ‘Voices of immigrant & new Irish communities’ scheme.

Listen to Coming Home – Stories of Being Chinese-Irish this Sunday at 7.30 p.m. on RTÉ Radio 1 or on the RTÉ Radio app.