“Our existence is our resistance”: How Fusion Murga helps newcomers build a life in Ireland

When you move to a new country, finding “your people” can take time. For some newcomers in Ireland, that search ends in a rehearsal room full of drums, harmonies, costumes and laughter – at Fusion Murga, a multilingual, community-based music and theatre group in Dublin.

Romi and Ro, both migrants themselves, co-founded Fusion Murga in 2022. Here, they explain how it started, how it supports newcomers, and why they believe everyone is already an artist.

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Romi, what first brought you to Ireland, and how did Fusion Murga begin for you?

I first came to Ireland from Spain for a short period. During that time I met Ro – first as a person.

After the internship, I returned to Spain. Later I came back again with another Erasmus+ placement. Because I had already met Ro, I reconnected with her and started collaborating with Rather Gather (an inclusive arts collective).

When I came to Ireland for the second time, we started the Fusion Murga project. It was at the start of May 2022.

Ro, what made you decide to create Fusion Murga?

When we started, we were just coming out of COVID. There had been a lot of isolation, the cultural landscape was changing, and many cultural spaces had closed. We hadn’t had much gathering for the previous two years, and we were feeling very disconnected.

People had changed, movement had changed, and we really needed something like Fusion Murga. So Romi and I co-founded it.

We wanted a space where we could have deep conversations but also have fun, sing and co-create together. Just being together, having fun and creating – that was the beginning. Over time, it started to develop more structure.

From the start, did you want Fusion Murga to be open to people of all backgrounds and levels?

Ro: Yes, from the beginning. There was always a multilingual and multicultural aspect. For example, all levels of English are welcome. We both speak about five languages each – not all the same ones – so we understand what it’s like.

Sometimes people arrive and say, “I’m not good enough to sing or act in English.” We tell them, “Don’t worry, it will get easier.” Little by little, they end up singing the same songs as everyone else, including people whose first language is English.

We also sing in other languages, like Irish and Spanish. It matters less where you’re from – it’s about uniting through sound and the meaning of the songs.

We talk a lot in the group, but we don’t treat English as the central language that gives you more time or importance the better you speak it. Everybody has time to shine, to speak, to share what they think. And if they’re not comfortable, we help them come out of their shell.

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Can you share an example of what the group has meant to someone who joined?

Ro: Romi once met a person who looked a bit lonely in an Italian café where she was working. Romi said to them, “Listen, on Wednesday night this thing happens, you should come.” That person eventually moved away from Ireland, but she still comes back to visit us and stays in touch.

She’s always telling us, “Oh my God, it’s amazing to have you and be connected like that – to be able to be ourselves and to connect with people.” That’s a good example of what the group can mean for someone.

How do people usually find Fusion Murga?

Ro: We use different approaches. Sometimes we rehearse or run workshops in parks, and people come over asking, “What are you doing?” We invite them to join us. People meet us on the street, get curious, and might participate for a day or stay for a few months.

We also use social media and the support of Rather Gather as an arts collective, which helps us connect with different people and community groups.

We’ve done performances and workshops with festivals such as Fire Lamps Festival, Stoneybatter Festival and the Liberties Festival. When we have workshops or performances, we always invite people to join the group.

We usually say: “Did you like it? Please join us. If you loved it, we want you here. And if you didn’t like it, you need to join us too to help us make it better.” We kind of give the audience no choice!

But mostly, it’s word of mouth. You can often recognise a Murguere – someone looking for a place to shine, to be heard and seen, and to learn new things. We also invite other artists to give percussion or vocal workshops, and they share about us on their own channels. So a lot of it is collaboration, both in person and online.

Why do you think somebody would join Fusion Murga?

Ro: We all have different reasons. Some people want to meet others. Some want to have different conversations about culture and learn more about each one, or about different languages. Others want to practise their English, Spanish, Italian or another language.

Some want to develop artistically, keep working on theatre or learn about costume-making. Maybe your strength is costume design and you want to bring that to the group. Or maybe you’re a singer but you want to improve your performance skills, makeup skills or stage presence.

Murga gives space for all of that.

Romi, did the group help you face any challenges as a newcomer?

Fusion Murga was very important for me – even for my English. Now I feel more confident speaking English. In the beginning I had trouble, but in Fusion Murga it doesn’t matter so much, because there are other ways to communicate.

We act, sing and dance. Even when there are words, the most important way of communicating is a smile, a hug, or making a circle together. That was very important for me because my level of English was low.

Of course, I was always studying English and trying to communicate, but when you have something weekly – and you are learning in a fun way, with songs and sentences that reflect who we are – it makes a big difference.

Now, I’m part of Fusion Murga for different reasons: because I can express myself, because we can sing together, and because I can meet people from different parts of the world and have different kinds of conversations.

Beyond language, what else did the group help you with?

Romi: When I joined Rather Gather, it was the first space where I really connected with the arts in Ireland. Then Fusion Murga became a very accessible space that allowed me to learn, improve, connect with other people, exchange and share.

Another part of Fusion Murga is costume-making, entertainment, parades, theatre, physical movement and comedy. There’s a lot involved.

Fusion Murga gave me the opportunity to develop all my artistic sides. It’s like: we are here, and all of your identity is welcome. You don’t need to hide if you speak another language. You can speak that language here. You can also bring different tools and experiences to the table – and to the stage and performances.

Ro, what is it like to lead such a diverse group?

We’re people who, when you look at us, are not easily “placeable”. People often look at us and think, “What’s happening?” because we look like a group of people at a bus stop – we could be anyone.

This is not something you see very often in culture. When you look at a choir, opera or other ensembles, they’re usually quite uniform.

With Murga, it’s all about the welcome we create. Everyone can be part of it, and everyone can shine with their skills, learn other skills and teach us the skills they have.

The group is very well-knit. Everybody has fun with each other, dances together, enjoys each other’s presence. We don’t look homogeneous, and that difference gives us a kind of power.

How do art, creativity and diversity help people new to Ireland find their place?

Ro: It’s very important for newcomers to Ireland to know that their creativity, their art, their sparkle, their shine, their passion, their inspiration are not just welcome but vital – not only for the country, but for themselves. It’s a two-way thing, and we’ve experienced it in our own lives.

There’s also the issue of not feeling heard, seen or respected. Nobody looks you in the eyes when you’re a migrant, or when you’re young, or older, or a woman – whatever it is. There’s a big gap among adults of all ages, from young to old. Society tends to divide us. Murga works against that.

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Do you feel this group can really help newcomers integrate?

Ro: Yes, but not by pretending everything is fine. We never say, “Come to Murga, forget your problems, life will be great.” Absolutely not. We’ve actually found that every single person in Fusion Murga, at some moment – maybe after two years, two months, or even on the first day – shares something really difficult they’re going through. All of us are holding that together.

If nobody is there to share it with you, to support you or say, “Wow, that must be tough, let’s sing a song,” you can feel very alone. It’s not about covering pain with silliness or fake happiness. It’s not about toxic positivity. It’s about bouncing back from suffering together.

Some things are really difficult – like the housing crisis, which has affected all of us in different ways for a long time. We’ve made a lot of songs about it, to sing the housing crisis out of our lives. Because we could share it, we could move on; otherwise we’d be stuck in survival mode.

If you only worry about solving problems, you get to a point where you’re totally drained. You feel disconnected from your body and from others. You feel like you don’t belong, and you don’t know what to do.

What makes Fusion Murga especially accessible for newcomers?

Ro: One thing that’s really different about Fusion Murga is that it doesn’t ask for exclusivity. You can come once a week and still have your other hobbies and things to do.

A lot of newcomers in Ireland feel like the only way to have fun here is getting drunk or spending a lot of money on drinks, food or activities, Murga offers another option.

When you join the group, you feel part of it – sometimes from the very first day. You find yourself asking, “What are we going to do next? What are we going to sing next?” You participate actively, but that participation is flexible.

We understand life has ups and downs. Maybe today you’re at Murga, but tomorrow you’re travelling for two months. When you come back, you’re welcome again. We also offer flexibility in joining and leaving times. People who finish work later can join later.

It’s also always 100% free. We find ways to get funding so we can run the sessions without charging participants. We believe what the group gives – continuity, flexibility, community, net-weaving, belonging – is priceless. There’s no price that can truly pay for that. So when we say it’s free, we also say: it requires commitment.

Ro, did you have a solid thought about what you wanted to create or it evolved through time?

When I was finishing my Master’s in Playwriting and Dramaturgy and was selected by Irish Theatre Institute, I had this inspiration: I imagined a Murga in Ireland that would enter during my play and sing some songs at a certain moment.

I finished my Master’s, left for a few months, then came back – and this image of a Murga stayed with me as something that didn’t yet exist here. I saw not just a gap – I felt an excruciating need for something that included clowning, street theatre, satire and harmonies, choral singing. So I thought: we need a Murga in Ireland, but it has to be Fusion Murga. It has to be different.

There are differences between Uruguayan and Argentinian Murga. Then we connected with Murga in Italy. Our identities are influenced by all these places, and we feel that Ireland is influenced by them too. So the idea was: we don’t have to choose one way of doing it. We’re going to do it the Irish way.

And, how do you connect with Irish culture, people and music?

Ro: In many ways. Some of our lyrics are in Irish. We include Irish as one of the important languages and consider it part of our creation.

Irish people are just as welcome as any other nationality in our group. We respect, cherish and love what they learn, what they share, and what they can do with Murga. We absolutely appreciate it.

When we say “inclusive”, it doesn’t mean inclusive only to foreigners and not to locals – that would be excluding locals. The people from Ireland who join us are often interested in other languages, cultures and ways of living. They have a particular sensitivity and curiosity.

One of the Irish people who works a lot with us – who’s been part of the group for a long time and collaborates a lot – is an Irish returning migrant. That’s why this group is actually ideal for Irish returning migrants. After they’ve left for some time, they sometimes come back and feel a gap – wanting something more, not knowing where to find it, and not knowing that we’re right here with our arms open, waiting for them.

What advice would you give to newcomers who love music, creativity and theatre but don’t know where to start?

Ro: At the beginning with Fusion Murga, I often thought about the Maslow pyramid – the idea that first you must have everything in order (housing, work, etc.) and then you earn the right to be creative.

We believe the opposite: that creativity is at the very core of our existence as human beings, and we need to create together, not just in a vacuum.

Of course, you can come and join Murga. But if Murga is not your space, find another space that makes you feel safe, supported and empowered.

Sometimes people come one day and are on stage performing the next. Sometimes people say, “I don’t feel safe being on stage, but I can support in other ways – behind the scenes, designing flyers, printing and sharing posters, helping at the door.” We also see people start doing one thing, and over time they end up performing. We’re building confidence and empowerment together.

So I challenge you to find that space where you can be yourself, where you can grow, feel safe and empower yourself.

What would you say to someone reading this who loves creativity but doesn’t believe they can make it as “an artist”?

Ro: A lot of people say they want to become an artist. I remember Marina Abramović coming to Trinity College when I was there. She said, “If someone comes to me and says, ‘I want to be an artist,’ I tell them, ‘No – you don’t want to be an artist, you are an artist.’”

I took that inspiration and made it my own: you don’t want to be an artist; you are an artist. You’ve always been an artist and you always will be. Maybe you dedicate your life to your art, or just a little time. Maybe your art is how you cook, or the way you sew the holes in your socks.

Being an artist is the natural state of the human being. You are intrinsically creative. You can decide whether or not to make your profession artistic, but whatever you choose, don’t stop shining, don’t stop creating, don’t stop exploring and learning.

Creativity connects. It helps us process all the traumas and all the beautiful – and less beautiful – things that happen to us.

In Ireland, it’s not just Murga – there are many options to learn: different dances, music, acting and more. We are here, always ready to share, and we welcome everyone who feels this resonates with them. If this particular group doesn’t resonate with you, do not let your light stop shining.

As we say: our existence is our resistance, and our joy is our revolution. If your existence and your joy are successful, you don’t need to do anything else – you are already successful.

*Info Box

• Ro Cruanas: Artist – Theatre Maker – Director – Conductor
• Romi Beiroa King: Artist – Coordinator – Project Manager
• Fusion Murga: https://www.instagram.com/fusionmurga/