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An American in Ireland: Never so far from home as on Sept. 11, 2001

JOHN FAY,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Sunday, September 11, 2011, 7:13 AM

Updated Monday, September 12, 2011, 5:22 PM

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Watching from afar: The RTE broadcast in Ireland on September 11, 2001

I was glad when I got home. My wife understood exactly what was going through my mind. I couldn't take off the television at home, but I didn't want the children to watch. It was too late, of course. They'd already seen too much because RTE preempted their children's programming with live scenes from New York. Everyone was too shocked to think rationally.

The sense of alienation hardened over the weeks and months that followed. I didn't want to talk to people, even friends. Couldn't avoid them all, unfortunately. Lots of conversations ended with me being really angry.

Now so much time has passed that the sense of alienation has faded, although it hasn't completely gone away. I doubt it ever will. I took New York - America - for granted before September 11. That will never happen again and it's that sense that keeps me apart from most people here.

Originally published in September 11, 2009

Listen to Niall O'Dowd speak about "Threats of attacks on 9/11 anniversary" on RTE's "Morning Ireland"

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TheYank | Sep 12, 2011, 10:29 AM EDT

JohnnyMac,

There's nothing I can say to you other than I'm sure you were far more frustrated than I was.

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Mairin67 | Sep 11, 2011, 06:57 PM EDT

I remember speaking to my cousin in Ireland and she didn't understand why this had any effect on me being in Chicago....I had to explain that it was our country that was attacked not just New York, even though they took the biggest hit. I wonder if other countries view the US as fragmented as she did on that day?

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JohnnyMac | Sep 11, 2011, 06:22 PM EDT

Well, I've a similar story only a bit more frustrating. I was on holiday in Ireland on that famed date. A fireman from New York in Dublin 3000 miles away. I couldn't get through to anyone by phone, by internet - no way. Lunch time in Temple Bar area of Dublin, we all sat glued to the television and watched as the second plane hit. I said "My God, what is happening?" Then they came down. People around me had no concept of the true enormity of the catastrophic event they witnessed. I said "Do you have any idea how many people are in those buildings? Do you have any idea how many firefighters and emergency workers are in and around those buildings?" I could go on and on. Me, a fireman from New York was trapped in Dublin and could offer no help when that all I wanted to do.

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Ajreaper | Sep 11, 2011, 11:11 AM EDT

I think its safe to say all of us took many things for granted before that day. It changed us and our world and how we relate to it. A truly sad and terrible day.

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