Parish, Nicola
NICOLA Parish is a publicist and the owner of Parish Public Relations in New York, a full service PR firm specializing in fashion, beauty and lifestyle PR as well as special events and celebrity relations.
A native of Dublin, Parish moved to New York in 1994 when she was 18.
“I was interning at a marketing company in Dublin when they offered me a full time job. That was what pushed me to make the move,” Parish recalls.
“I had always wanted to move to the U.S., and I knew if I took the job I might not ever leave. Three months later I was sitting on a plane on my way to New York.”
Parish, who is married with two daughters, Keeley, eight, and Teagan, five, says that her Irishness has served her well in New York.
“ Being Irish is in my attitude and how I approach the ups and downs in my life. We don’t wait around for people to take care of us, or show us the way. Irish people have a wonderful sense of creativity and independence, and I know this is the reason my business has grown so much in seven years,” says Parish.
“I never thought when I started my business that I would be working with some of the biggest film studios in the world, but I think my determination and perseverance got me to where I am today. I don’t give up and I’m terribly stubborn, two Irish traits that I wouldn’t give up for anything!”
Parish returns to Ireland frequently with her American family.
“I’ve been living in New York for 17 years now, and I still miss home every day. My whole family is there so any chance I get to go home with my husband and daughters is a another opportunity for me to show them where I’m from and expose them to the culture, the incredible sights, the language, the people.
“It’s so important to me that my children appreciate and understand their Irish heritage, but most important, that they are proud to be Irish.”
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