New neighbours: Adonis Abofakha from Syria: Adonis Abofakha (42) and his Belfast-born wife Geraldine have a flower shop on Main Street, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim.

I met Geraldine 12 years ago in Greece. I was working as a waiter on the island of Zante and she was on holidays, just like Shirley Valentine!

We lived in England for many years but her heart was here. She brought me to Ireland for a holiday and I fell in love with the place. We went around the Ring of Kerry. It was beautiful. To be honest we ended up in Carrick-on-Shannon because it was a place we could afford. I feel at home here. I love the countryside.

When I came first over five years ago there were very few foreign people here in Carrick, maybe three or four families. I worked as a waiter in the Landmark Hotel before we got the florists and I got to know many of the locals. Now there are lots of people from many countries, even a Kurdish family. It has advantages and disadvantages. Some cultures do not like to adapt, they keep themselves to themselves. Irish people are very interested in people. They are helpful and welcoming but when they get this reaction I think its puts them off a little. But it is nice to have a mix of people.

I deliver flowers sometimes in the middle of nowhere but people just open the door and are very warm and helpful. We usually open the shop at 9.30am but sometimes when it's busy we start at 7am.

I studied furniture design in Syria and got a diploma after five years. If I stayed I would have opened my workshop. We are blessed to have such a busy shop but it is stressful because you never know how much you will need. If there is a funeral you are run off your feet.

Irish men buy a lot of flowers - more than men in Syria. I could not give my wife roses for Valentine's Day. She would hate that with a passion. We might get 600 or 700 roses for Valentine's Day and every single one has to be de-thorned. That is tough work.

People have more money now, even since I came. There is not as much money in Syria. My brother is an eye surgeon and he makes what would be €300 a month. I have five sisters and four brothers and my mother and father are still in their 60s. I have one brother here now and my favourite nephew works in Cavan.

We go back to Syria a lot. We have a flat there now. I think the Syrian people and the Irish people are very similar. Our country was occupied too, by the French, and many people fled to make a living. Irish people know about Syria because so many worked for the UN in Lebanon.

My wife loves to go to Syria. Last time we were there we went to Beirut for three days and she loved it. It's funny because my mother worries about us being here because of what she has heard about Belfast.

I am not a Muslim or a Christian. I am Druze but to me religion does not matter. A person is a person.

I did not have English when I met Geraldine but she taught me. I owe her a lot.

We have a beautiful house in the country. We also have 1.3 acres so we can grow things. We have been very lucky. We are blessed.

In conversation with Marese McDonagh