AN POST HAS launched four new stamps to recognise the changing face of Irish society.

The four stamps, released under the name “Ireland – An Integrated Society” show people from outside the country working and living in Ireland. The two 60c stamps show Garda Dongdong Zheng, who is stationed in Swords in Dublin,  and Luas Revenue Protection Officer Sammy Akorede at their jobs.

The 90c stamps show secondary school student Christian Tshibangu playing hurling and Polish woman Anna Garciaz working at her job in marketing with Permanent TSB.

Releasing the stamps, An Post said:

Ireland has always been known as the land of a thousand welcomes, and the years around the new millennium saw a spectacular and unprecedented rate of inward migration to Ireland.

There are more than 500,000 people from outside of Ireland living in the country, according to the 2011 Census, representing 200 different nations.

As well as having an important impact on the economy and society, An Post noted that the new arrivals have also brought “their own culture, language, customs, dress, music, food and dance, which all contribute to make Ireland a more socially and culturally diverse society.”

The stamps welcomed by groups including NASC, the Integration Centre and the Immigrant Council of Ireland.

Last year An Post was one of eleven organisations to sign the first Diversity Charter in Ireland, promising to commit to recognising other nationalities and backgrounds.

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