Luo Jin Shang is a 64year-old Vietnamese doctor and ethnic Chinese. He has some 40 years' experience of both western and oriental medicine, particularly acupuncture.

When war broke out between Vietnam and China in 1978, Dr Shang found himself ejected from the Vietnamese city of Haiphong into southern China. He came to Ireland in 1990, following his son-in-law who arrived in 1979.

At the age of 57, he thus had to learn a new language, and even now Dr Shang studies English four hours a day at home. What little money he has he spends on British and American medical textbooks, his great passion. He has two Irish-born grandchildren and lives in Clondalkin, Co Dublin.

"I will live in Ireland for ever now. I like the Irish people. They are very friendly just like the Vietnamese. My main regret is that I cannot work as a doctor here. I am a very good doctor but if I don't do anything with my medical skills, my life will lose its meaning... I would love to be able to help Irish people for one or two days a week by offering my skills in acupuncture and herbal medicine to a health clinic so long as it does not endanger my pension from the State."