Return to America-- how I failed to make Ireland my home

She lived my dream - but I would have stayed in Ireland.

GRMA a Mhaíre, for staying in NYC. Your many friends and students of language, dancing , writing, etc. need you right here. Le meas, Sheila

Go maith, a Mháire. An bhfeicfimid ag gClub Leabhar thú? Tá dhá chóip den leabhar agam go foill!

I think it is a very interesting article and I admire the writing skills . I also think it is a very rational article as the writer is not swayed from making a rational decision that return is not for her. It is her personal choice and she has given things a fair test.Well done lots of courage shown

Great story. very coincidental, as I have plans to retire in Ireland too.

So true. Whenever I don't get a seat on a bus or a train, I feel so young.

Lovely writing. It makes me want to go to Ireland for a long visit. Home is my little house in the country in Delaware. But Ireland, ah, it calls...

Nice article Maura, but people in NYC treat people 60 and older as "old" also. I am offered a seat on the subway, very often. If I make eye contact, I am guaranteed a seat, so I don't make contact. I am 64.

Gee, this was a real insightful article - someone who prefers New York because of its winter weather and because people do not offer her a seat on the subway.

Comet, it's complete nonsense for you to claim that posters are "blaming a small group for bigger issues in society." Mass Immigration to Ireland does not constitute a "small group". There were at least a million immigrants in the past decade--no one knows for sure because the government is too incompetent and/or corrupt to keep records. That's like 70 million immigrants into the US in the last ten years. Note how Americans are complaining about immigration right now, even though the number is only a fraction of what Ireland is enduring. And unlike the US, Ireland has no history of immigration at these huge numbers--it's the greatest and most catastrophic demographic change in the long history of the country. Bruce Morrison, the distinguished former Congressman, put it correctly a year or two back when he pointed out that Ireland has the highest rate of immigration IN THE WORLD. It's really weird that you don't think that's a "big issue" or a proper subject for discussion. Don't try to stifle free speech--you're not a fascist, are you?

You should have come to live in Kinsale, home to writers and artists on the Irish Riviera !!

Thank you Maura for such an uplifting article. For the past two years I have dreamed about living in Ireland. Although I am retired the Euro/Dollar exchange is what keeps me from making the move. You have rekindled my dream, perhaps I will just do it.

comet15: "I notice a lot of anti immigrant sentimnet in a lot of comments on these pages" ------ That's weird, I haven't seen any. I have however seen quite a few analyses of the damage that the Irish government policy of settling Ireland with huge numbers of foreigners has done to that country. You appear to be ignorant of this, so perhaps I should point out that these sentiments reflect public opinion in Ireland, where all surveys show some 70% of the people oppose the crazy Fianna Fail policy of Mass Immigration.

Nice article - and upbeat. Many people try to return and realise it's just not for them as they have a great life elsewhere. I notice a lot of anti immigrant sentimnet in a lot of comments on these pages - blaming a small group for bigger issues in society. I hope this is not a reflection of the overall readership at Irish Central.

It is all said in that best of Irish proverbs: Contentment is Wealth. And the secret is to know it..........