Iranian Refugee Finds Family Through Irish Music in Belfast

When Shayan Kargaran left Iran, he never imagined he'd fall in love with Irish fiddle music or find a new family thousands of miles from home.

But at this year's Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Belfast, that's exactly what happened. The world's largest Irish music festival welcomed an extraordinary group called Tunes Translated, where musicians from 22 countries are breaking down barriers one note at a time.

The project brings together refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants with locals through a simple but powerful idea. Musicians teach each other songs from their home countries, swapping Iranian melodies for Irish jigs and Sudanese rhythms for Palestinian folk tunes.

"I've almost found my family," says Kargaran, who plays piano and guitar. "It's more than a group for us."

The integration works both ways. Susan Curran, a Northern Ireland native who has played fiddle with the group for three years, says learning music from Iran, Sudan, Somalia, and Palestine has opened her ears and her heart.

"Your ear almost has to do a little different bit of a job," she explains. The different beats and rhythms challenge her skills, but the reward is discovering beautiful music she never knew existed.

Organizer Catherine Crean created Tunes Translated specifically to use music as an integration tool. "We play their tunes, and they play our tunes," she says.

This year marked the first time the group performed at the Fleadh. They hosted events every single day of the eight-day festival, which has already exceeded all expectations with over 900,000 visitors.

The Ripple Effect

The success of Tunes Translated shows what's possible when communities choose connection over division. While politicians debate immigration policy, these musicians are quietly building bridges through shared creativity.

The economic impact is already visible. The Belfast festival was originally predicted to bring a £53 million boost to the local economy, but officials now say that number will be exceeded.

More importantly, participants like Kargaran are finding belonging in unexpected places. "Since the day I listened to Irish music, I've loved it," he says.

For three years, this group has been proving that music truly is a universal language. When words fail and differences feel insurmountable, a shared melody can create understanding that transcends borders, languages, and cultures.

Now their message is spreading beyond Belfast to thousands of festival visitors from around the world.