WE ARE IRISH & PROUD Leinster duo speak out on fight against racism and their battles with prejudice

cheek at racist comments from a young age.

“You can’t fight back because you already know that you’re different,” she wrote in a hardhitting piece. “You have to fight twice as hard to have your voice heard. You have to fight twice as hard to be somebody.

“I remember going home and really feeling down and it was the first time that I was like, ‘yeah, this is what I’m being taught at home, this is what my mom and dad are talking about’.

“I am different. When you open your eyes, you see that there is not enough diversity in everything that we do.

“Sometimes I feel uncomfortable because people will look at you, probably asking, ‘what is she doing here?’ And that’s hard. That is so hard.

“That’s why I tell people, ‘try and live in my shoes just for one day and see what it feels like being black, being different’.

And Djougang outlined her frustration with a system that taught people to be ignorant of black history.

“My history to this day, in 2020, is still being talked about. I don’t know the last time someone asked me about Columbus’ ships,” she contested.

“I am Irish. Irish history is my history, too. I still learn about it every single day. I went out and I learned it. I want to know more.

“But how many people want to know about my culture or where I come from?

“That’s what we’re facing to this day.

“There are so many things you can do to change but, to be honest, I don’t even blame people. You were never taught this. You were taught about Columbus.

“We are not born to be racist. We’re not born to harm others. But it’s the system that we live in that affects us.

“People say here they want to educate themselves, but where do you even start?”.

Meanwhile Byrne grew up in Kildare, raised by his mother and adoptive father, with his half-brother – former Ireland underage soccer international Sam – and his sister.

While he says 99 per cent of his experience was positive, there have been incidents.

“It does hurt when people ask,” he wrote. “Or when people pass comments or make jokes that they feel are ok. Sometimes it does chip away at you.

“I’ve been hugely fortunate – the family I’ve been raised in, the friends I’ve had from a young age to the teammates I have now, to the friends I’ve made along the way.

“They’ve only been supportive and they’ve been great. They’ve always treated me equally. I’ve mainly experienced really positive things.

“But there have been a handful of negative things. It does hurt. It’s not even Irish people. It could be wherever.

“I’m looking forward to this whole movement and seeing what Ireland can become. When I’m older and younger generations are coming, hopefully, everyone’s treated equally.”