In our series, Growing Up Irish we chat with Irish people of note on their upbringing in Ireland and how it shaped them into the person they are today.
You might recognise Tara Kumar from the Irish creative scene. An Irish-Indian-Malaysian DJ and creative tastemaker, Tara spent ten years in Dublin putting her mark on the Irish music scene. Now based in London, Tara has become a regular presenter on BBC Radio 1, hosting shows such as Radio 1’s Indie Show and filling in for various presenters. Outside of that she can be seen DJ’ing at popular events and is the founder of Kumar Klub, a multidisciplinary platform that explores the intersection of music, food, and identity through curated events and dinners.
Here we catch up with Tara to chat about her Irish background and how she carries that with her as she grows her career abroad.
How old were you when you moved to Ireland and where did you move to?
I was 20 years old and I moved to Smithfield in Dublin first, I remember living in a tiny box room with a single mattress on the ground but the rent was cheap and the location was great.
What’s your earliest memory after moving to Ireland?
My earliest memory of hospitality is waitressing at the French restaurant L’Gueuleton on Fade Street. I worked the breakfast shift, chugging free dairy milk cappuccinos and bowls of cereal each morning. At one point I even managed to give myself a milk intolerance… my body clearly wasn’t ready for Irish dairy. Thankfully I survived that phase, and I’m back to lashing Kerrygold on my toast.
What did being ‘Irish’ mean to you when you were young – and has that meaning changed over time?
As I’ve grown older, I’ve become even more proud to be half Irish, from a country full of warmth, music, stories and humour. Irish people have travelled far and wide across the world, the history of emigration has shaped who we are. No matter where I’ve been in the world, whether in the middle of the Australian desert or the big, bad city of London, I can always find a little piece of Ireland and feel that sense of home.
Are there any particularly Irish traditions in your family?
My parents of course would host big St Patrick’s Day parties in the pub in Alice Springs in Australia where I grew up. I’ve continued that tradition by hosting my own annual St Patrick’s Day party in Dublin and London with Irish DJ’s, trad musicians, pints and food.
How do you carry Ireland with you when you’re living and working abroad or on a global stage?
Living in London has only made me more proud about carrying Ireland with me. My event night, Kumar Klub, even has a shamrock woven into its logo, and every event I create holds a small nod to both my Irish and Indian heritage. I feel incredibly lucky to have built a community of Irish friends and creatives here who champion and support one another in all our endeavours. Having that Irish network around me makes a big city like London feel a little closer to home.
What’s the most Irish thing about you?
My name of course! And I can make an amazing Guinness Stew, some friends have said is better than their mams (I won’t say who or I’ll get them in trouble!!).
To read more Growing Up Irish features, click here.
