Effect of Irish brain drain plague - Heartbroken mother says goodbye to her daughter

Anger of those left behind as Ireland's youth is exported and the Irish Government is flippant about their plight

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Heartbreak of an Irish widow who is now losing her only daughter to mass emigration

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She will be away for Christmas and possibly the one after. She is also missing a significant birthday here so it will be tough. I am not the only one that must be feeling like this, I know I am not. There are thousands of parents across Ireland that are in the exact same boat as me. My daughter is lucky in one way that she does not have any ties here that would prevent her from leaving and finding work – that is one positive thing.

My baby

I am very close to my daughter and although she is a grown woman it doesn’t stop me from worrying about her far away in a foreign country – every parent feels like that I am sure, no matter what age their children are, you still think of them as your babies.

People may think that it is silly to say that I am not sure when I will see her again – but I am not. She has saved nearly two years for the money for her ticket to Australia. It is not just an hour flight away. I myself am an educated woman. I have a HDip, but I too cannot find work. The most humiliating thing I have ever had to do is sign onto the dole. I am also in negative equity and I could lose my house next year – I am struggling. Unless I get a very good job, there really isn’t a hope that I will get to visit her.

The question that angers me and I am constantly asking is – why does she have to leave her country? It is a simple question but one that angers me so much. She could give back so much to this country as could many many other young educated people but they are being forced to leave – the important word for the government to remember is that they are being forced. Simple as that.

This is not a holiday for them, these people are leaving their families, friends, their whole lives – and it is not out of choice.

My daughter says she will miss me – but I know that it is for the best that she goes. I want to see her find her passion again and do something that makes her happy, that is what all our young people deserve, to work at something they have trained long and hard for.

I don’t think that our politicians have a clue what the average Joe Soap is going through. They are cutting the most vulnerable, the disabled, the mental health budget, the unemployed and they are keeping the higher paid people in a job.

Where is the fairness. I have to send my daughter away so that she has a future, how is that just.

Mary McCarthy lives in Cork.

Column originally published on TheJournal.ie

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