The Determinants of Brazilian Migration to Ireland.

This study provides a detailed examination of Brazilian migration from Anápolis in Goiás (Brazil) to Gort in County Galway, Ireland, highlighting the complexity and diversity of motivations behind this movement. Unlike previous research, which primarily focused on middle-class Brazilians moving to Dublin for education, this study broadens the scope to include labour migration to a rural location, incorporating a more varied demographic and a more comprehensive range of determinants. The findings reveal that economic determinants related to (1) unemployment, costs of living (Brazil), and employment opportunities (Ireland), (2) the wish to acquire or buy material goods and funds to open a business, (3) education, and (4) indebtedness play a significant role but are not thesole drivers. The findings also indicate the importance of non-economic sociocultural determinants related to (1) family, relationships, and sexuality, (2) lifestyle dynamics and feelings of nostalgia and longing for Ireland, (3) unsafe urban conditions and a flawed political system in Brazil, (4) religion and religious missions, and (5) health and wellbeing. The study challenges the common perception that economic factors are the primary motivations for migration. The diverse range of sociocultural factors plays an equally important role. The findings dispute that Brazilian migration to Gort is homogenous and solely labour-related. Migrants have a variety of personal and social reasons influencing their decisions.