There were four in a bed and the little one said… It’s 8:20 a.m. in rainy Limerick and the Mooney family is all snuggled up in bed.
We just moved back to Ireland from New York where I worked with Irish Voice newspaper for many years. Now it is time to face realities back here.
John is on the Internet researching best man speeches – his best friend/cousin Eoin Markham is getting married on Friday in Galway. Colum (18-months) is guzzling a cup of milk, Sadie (3-months) is very busy trying to turn over, and well, I’m on the laptop writing this.
It’s nice when it’s raining in Ireland to be wrapped up in duvet covers listening to the slush of car tires as they pass by on the wet road and know that all those rain coats I purchased in New York before leaving will be put to good use.
It’s been a busy week in the Mooney household. We’ve been traipsing around Limerick viewing houses to rent for the foreseeable future.
It’s proving a very difficult task to get an unfurnished home. It’s customary in Ireland to rent a house fully furnished. Very handy if your starting out in life, but not so useful if you have a container full of American furniture about to land in Ireland any day now.
There are only about 10 unfurnished homes in the whole of Limerick. We are talking to some more real estate agents today so will see.
It was the June bank holiday weekend here. (Monday was a day off). Following on from the beautiful weather the previous week people bought burgers and beer in the hope of throwing barbeques.
Unfortunately Limerick and Kerry were a wash out on Saturday. It was the first time it rained since our return 10 days earlier.
In Tralee, my home town, I was adamant not to let the rain deter me from my plans, so at about 10 a.m. on Saturday morning I threw on one of those recently purchased fancy rain coats, put Sadie in a rain proof stroller and walked into Tralee town from my mother’s house (only about 20 minutes).
It was nice. It was the first time since our arrival home that it felt like the old Ireland I knew, rainy and cool, and I enjoyed every bit of it.
The rest of the nation didn’t, however. Everyone I met commented about the rain.
“It’s an awful day out there isn’t it,” said a shop keeper while charging me $5 for a sandwich.
“You’re a brave woman taking that baby out in this weather,” said a disgruntled looking middle aged man as we shared a footpath.
“I was supposed to wear a dress out to dinner tonight but the fake tan will run off my legs if this rain continues so I’m going to wear the new jeans I got from Penneys,” said one of my friends.
I think we all know Irish people are a little obsessed about the rain – it dominates every conversation and is the only ice-breaker used when you first meet someone.
But what I quickly learned after a few days in Ireland is that it isn’t just the rain we are obsessed with -- it’s any kind of climate.
People complained throughout the 10 days of beautiful weather we had before the rain crept back down from the mountains.
“It’s way too hot,” said almost everyone.
“I wish it would drop a few degrees because if this continues I’ll have to give up work,” joked a man doing his garden.
It was only about 78 degrees, maybe 82 at the highest.
But despite the up and down weather over the weekend I managed to catch up with some of my best friends for a girl’s weekend. Two of my closest friends, Niamh, a teacher, and Michelle, a doctor, have both had two kids each since I left for New York nine years ago.
Saturday was the first time in nine years all of us were together with our babies. We sat back and laughed at how much we had accomplished in such a short period of time.
Colum was mesmerized by Niamh’s oldest daughter Eabha. He made every attempt possible to hold her hand. It was adorable.
It didn’t feel that long ago that we were outside in the green area of our housing estate playing rounders, the Irish equivalent to baseball, and chasing boys.
On Saturday night we left the babies at home and 12 of us sat around one of Tralee’s finest restaurants, Denny Lane, drinking wine and catching up on the past nine years. It was a fantastic night – one that doesn’t happen much now for the girls since the recession, but a night that we promised will be repeated again in the not so distant future.
I recently had a stroll around a local shopping center near John’s mom’s house in Limerick. I was disappointed, but not surprised I guess, to see many of the previously occupied shop units empty.
As Dunnes Stores consumed a number of units on one side of the mall, the other side was nearly void of life except for a phone and sports store (both are chains).
Two and a half years ago when we were home for our wedding most of these units were open but struggling I guess. The recession finally caught up to them.
And the recession has taken a big fat bite out of our young Irish. If I’m being honest most of my friends (mainly in their thirties – some married with kids, others single) are working and getting by fine, but it’s their younger sisters and brothers that are leaving in their droves. They call it the “Brian Drain.”
Louise, 25, spent a year in Australia before returning to Irish shores. Armed with a degree in psychology the young Kerry woman searched high and low for a job in her field.
When that proved fruitless she searched for any kind of work. The only offer she got was a part time job in a clothing store that paid minimum wage €8.65 euro ($10.75). Knowing she couldn’t survive on only 12 hours a week Louise booked a one way ticket to London where she is currently working in an accountancy firm.
A friend of mine is due to fly to Canada for her brother’s wedding in three weeks. Her brother immigrated to Toronto two years ago after failing to get a job in Ireland. He has a diploma in engineering and was let go from his job in the summer of 2010.
He met a Canadian girl a year and a half ago and they are to be married soon. His sister tells me he will never live in Ireland again.
“I’m only home for the weekend,” Brenda told me outside Penneys clothing store in Tralee on Saturday.
Brenda is 20 and has been in London since January.
“At the start I hated it but I think I’m getting used to it now,” she said.
Brenda works in a factory in London. She works six days a week and every seven or eight weeks comes back to Ireland for the weekend to see her family.
“I’m a home bird. I love being with my sisters and brothers and their kids so I come home as often as I can. I work hard, save up the money to fly back and it works out,” she told me.
Brenda doesn’t really like the social life in England and has made little friends.
“I moved over to my cousin who is there a year longer than me and we usually just go to the cinema or local pub at weekends. I prefer to go out in Ireland,” she added.
Australia is also a final destination for many young Irish.
Jennifer, 23, has her flight to Australia booked for June 19. She lost her job in a nursing home in Limerick a month ago. Nothing has surfaced since, so Australia is her only hope now for a job.
“Seven out of 19 from my class in school have emigrated. Six of them are in Aus so I’m going over to them to give it a try,” said Jennifer.
“There is nothing here at the moment so I’ll head away, make a bit of money to keep me and hopefully I’ll come back to Ireland in a few years with a bit of money to buy a house and maybe a husband if I’m lucky,” joked Jennifer.
My own cousin Carly, Colum’s godmother, is leaving for Australia next month. Carly left Ireland a few years ago for a job in Luxembourg so moving again isn’t a big deal to her.
She is following her best friend Gemma who left Tralee two months ago for a better life. We will miss Carly and hope she won’t stay there forever.
So that’s it. There is definitely sadness among my friends and their families as the younger generation are being forced to leave the country in search of work.
I hope more than anything that when the time rolls around for my children to find a job that there will be plenty. But for them they have an alternative. They are American citizens and will always have the option of moving to the United States.
But John and I hope and pray that Ireland will be back in full swing by then and Colum and Sadie won’t want to leave us.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Bythebay | Jun 22, 2012, 02:23 PM EDT
those of you in the US (and elsewhere) left Ireland and became Americans or whatever the country was you went to. If you didn't want to do that you shouldn't have left Ireland. The people who remained in Ireland have decided Ireland's future. If you don't like it, that's too bad. No one asked you to leave and no one is asking you to consider returning.
irishcop025 | Jun 14, 2012, 07:20 PM EDT
Hi April,You seem like a very nice lady with a lovely family and I hope that everything works out for you and yours on your return home. However, I sometimes think your coulumns must be very frustrating to the thousand of Irish living here illegally and to the thousands more at home who would give anything for the Green cards that you and yor husband posess.I think people should not take those green cards if you don't intend to stay in the USA. There were tens of thousands of visas granted in the 90's and most of them are probably gathering dust back in Ireland today.Thats so unfair to the people who really need and want them.
merefalow | Jun 09, 2012, 05:41 PM EDT
IRELAND,I GRIEVE FOR WHAT YOU ARE BECOMING.I HAVE NO WISH TO BE A F,,,,,,, EUROPEAN,AND I DONT WANT TO LIVE IN A MULTI RACIAL MULTI CULTURAL MELTING POT,SCREW PC.THE OLD IRELAND IS GONE,MORES THE PITY,3000.OF OUR YOUNG LEAVING EVERY MONTH AND A BUNCH OF STRANGERS IMPORTED IN,BLOODY MADNESS,SCREW THE EURO AND THE EU.
EamonnDublin | Jun 09, 2012, 12:08 PM EDT
SeanMor, No disrepect to my English friends, but, when I lived there for 21 years, if anybody had called me part of "the New English", I would not have been at all impressed. I was, am, and always will be "Irish". You are what you are - no amount of "political correctness" and/or patronising platitudes, however well meaning, can change the facts. As for our emigrants returning, I was greeted with open arms, like we all are. As for we Irish considering ourselves "Europeans first", come on - who fed you THAT rubbish? SeanMor, if you want to come back to Ireland, and do so at some stage, have no fear, we will roll out the red (or green - whatever you like) carpet for you - and all the rest of you "over there"! Best Wishes, Éamonn, Dublin, Ireland.
EamonnDublin | Jun 09, 2012, 12:05 PM EDT
SeanMor, No disrepect to my English friends, but, when I lived there for 21 years, if anybody had called me part of "the New English", I would not have been at all impressed. I was, am, and always will be "Irish". You are what you are - no amount of "political correctness" and/or patronising platitudes, however well meaning, can change the facts. As for our emigrants returning, I was greeted with open arms, like we all are. As for we Irish considering ourselves "Europeans first", come on - who fed you THAT rubbish? SeanMor, if you want to come back to Ireland, and do so at some stage, have no fear, we will roll out the red (or green - whatever you like) carpet for you - and all the rest of you "over there"! Best Wishes, Éamonn, Dublin, Ireland.
EamonnDublin | Jun 09, 2012, 12:00 PM EDT
SeanMor, No disrepect to my English friends, but, when I lived there for 21 years, if anybody had called me part of "the New English", I would not have been at all impressed. I was, am, and always will be "Irish". You are what you are - no amount of "political correctness" and/or patronising platitudes, however well meaning, can change the facts. As for our emigrants returning, I was greeted with open arms, like we all are. As for we Irish considering ourselves "Europeans first", come on - who fed you THAT rubbish? SeanMor, if you want to come back to Ireland, and do so at some stage, have no fear, we will roll out the red (or green - whatever you like) carpet for you - and all the rest of you "over there"! Best Wishes, Éamonn, Dublin, Ireland.
Seanmor | Jun 09, 2012, 11:49 AM EDT
A Sheoirse, is aoibhinn do ráiteas a léamh agus táim an-bhuíoch díot as. Mar a dúirt an Daibhiseach?, "Níl inti ach leath náisiún tír gann teanga". Cé nach minic a bhíonn seans agam an teanga álainn seo a chur i bhfeidm le Gaeilgeoirí eile, deirim cúpla focal Gaeilge le mo bheanchéile gach uile lá. Cé gur rugadh agus tógadh i Nua-Shasana í, is maith a thuigeann sí abairtíní mas seo: Dún an doras. Las an solas, Tabhair dom scian. Cá bhfuil mo scocaí? - agus dornán eile mar iad. Ní chuirfinn a lán lochta ar na daoine in Éinrinn a tháinig ó thíorta eile nuair a chuireann siad in iúl dúinn nach bhfuil aon tacaíocht acu don Ghaeilge. Is soléir dóibh nach bhfuil meas mo mhadra ag cuid mhaith den dream sa Dáil ar an dteanga oifigiúil den Stát. Go maire an Ghaeilge choíche, go deo, go hearr aimsire.
GeorgeDillon | Jun 09, 2012, 10:03 AM EDT
A Sheanmor (nó a Sheáin Mhóir?): Ní cheapaimse gur amadán thú toisc go mbaineann tú feidhm as teanga ársa na nGael. Is suimiúl an t-ábhar a luann tú, sé sin cén tionchur a bheidh ag na hinimircigh ar thodhchaí na Gaeilge. Is léir nach bhfuil suim dá laghad ag formhór na ninimirceach sa teanga, agus tá mé cinnte nach fada go mbeidh siad ag éileamh nach múinfí í dá gcuid pháisti. Cén fáth go mbeadh bá ag duine as an Phólainn nó an Rúis leis an teanga Gaeilge? Cheana féin chonacamar cúpla bliain ó shin cás cúirte i gCiarraí ina raibh tuismitheoirí cailín Rúise ag gearán mar go raibh ”iachall” á chur ar a n-iníon an Ghaeilge a fhoghlaim. Agus é seo i nDaingean, baile Gaeltachta (mar dhea)! Agus chun sampla eile a thabhairt duit, bhíos féin ar Arann tamall ó shin, agus thug mé faoi ndeara go raibh scata mhór d’oibrithe as Oirthear na hEorpa fostaithe ann, ach nach raibh puinn Gaeilge ag duine ar bith a labhair mé leis, agus ní raibh suim acu sa teanga ach an oiread.
Seanmor | Jun 08, 2012, 10:46 PM EDT
Irishandproud: I'd like to know what percentage of the natives of the Irish state share your opinion. As I understand it, recent arrivals, including Arabs, Indians and Africans are no longer considered foreign nationals but the new Irish. When those of us who are Irish natives return, where do we fit in among the 'modern' Irish who regard themselves as Europeans first? Agus cad mar gheall ar an nGaeilge?. Nuair a dheinim iarracht an teanga sin a labhairt, ceapeann cuid mhaith acu gur amadán atá ionam.
Bythebay | Jun 08, 2012, 01:28 PM EDT
Certainly a reflection that emigrants can't afford to return to Ireland or if they return can't afford to buy a house when house prices are at the lowest they've been in years. They didn't do well in the US at all.
BrianO | Jun 08, 2012, 12:36 PM EDT
Reilly1 with the young Irish leaving Ireland and less educated workers as your competition, go for it, live your life the way you would like it, Go back to Ireland, you are still a citizen of Ireland you have less impediments than others, anyone can afford to pursue what they really want if they decide to go for it.
Bythebay | Jun 08, 2012, 11:10 AM EDT
The Mooneys won't have to worry about driving yet. Their US driving licenses, if they had them (many in the Bronx who emigrated couldn't learn to drive) aren't valid in Ireland. They have to pass the new driving regulations which are far stricter than the old ones. They'll even need a sponsor under the new rules!
EamonnDublin | Jun 08, 2012, 10:22 AM EDT
If I may, a "follow up" to my message to April Drew, below. I have just looked through the rest of the posts, and I realised that I might appear to be a little unfeeling towards those others who say they wish they could return to Ireland. I say this in all sincerity - if I had to leave Ireland again, the only place I would wish to go to is the United States. I have always had a great welcome there, and that is primarily due to the fact that those Irish who have made a new life there through the years have paved the way for acceptance and love towards the Irish by Americans. So, you have all done, and are still doing, a great job over there - making any required transition from Ireland far easier to make good than it might otherwise have been. To you all I say - keep it up and be happy and proud! God Bless You All. Éamonn, Dublin, Ireland.
EamonnDublin | Jun 08, 2012, 10:10 AM EDT
Welcome home, April - and your family. Céad Míle, Míle Fáilte! I spent 21 years in England and came back home with my young family 32 years ago. I liked England and the English people, but it's always great to "come back to Éireann". Happy though I was to be home, I initially found it quite difficult to adjust back to Irish life. The bad driving - ignoring the rules of the road, the ignorance of failing to let another driver out from a side road, the failure to let pedestrians have their chance to cross the road, the failure to allow an oncoming right-turning car to go around in front of you in order to let the cars behind it get moving again, etc., ad infinitum, made me sad. The very slow, lackadaisical attitude to life raised an eyebrow of wonder. Dare I say it - the unkempt appearance of a lot of our society - most men seemed to have never heard of shoe polish, etc.(this was 32 years ago,it has improved since). And a few other bits and pieces! Then, one day, I muttered to another member of an unmoving queue that the delay was ridiculous. He said simply, "Sure what would you be doing"? It was then I realised that perhaps it was ME! Five minutes wasn't going to make any difference. Now? Happy as Larry! I wouldn't live anywhere else. Neither would my family. So, April, make the most of it. Forget the weather bit - could be worse, we don't have earthquakes, tsunamis or much natural disasters. Enjoy the fact that you can talk to total strangers, about anything, anywhere. Enjoy the fact that you can cross the country to see any of our beautiful scenery in a short enough drive. Enjoy the fact that a really sunny day is like heaven on earth! Enjoy the fresh food. Enjoy the sense of humour and fun. Enjoy just enjoying yourself. And, when you are working, be happy and do it to the best of your ability, as no doubt you already do. Go to it April - ENJOY IRELAND, and your family with you! God Bless, Éamonn, Dublin, Ireland.
IrishAndProud | Jun 08, 2012, 03:29 AM EDT
Cead Mile Failte, my fellow Irish! If only it was the case vastly more...Irish returning home, and Africans/Asians/Muslims LEAVING. It is not possible for such groups to contribute to Irish culture; every such person who enters Ireland makes it that much less Irish. Every Irish person who returns preserves Ireland that much more.
canadianirish | Jun 07, 2012, 08:38 PM EDT
@GeorgeDillon - lol!!! It's a lot like Toronto as well :)
Searlit | Jun 07, 2012, 06:58 PM EDT
Nice picture! It's nice to see your son Colum holding hands with his new friend. Adorable!
reilly1 | Jun 07, 2012, 06:54 PM EDT
hope everything works out for April and her family,as someone who immigrated to the us almost 18 years ago I would give anything to be able to afford to go home. I miss it everyday.
culdalee | Jun 07, 2012, 06:34 PM EDT
I have enjoyed this article and April's previous article about her return to Ireland.I look forword to more.I have been living out of Ireland for many years and I welcome articles such as this to keep me aware of the Ireland of today. I really hope that April and her family can "make it" back home and not have to return to the US unless she really wants to .
culdalee | Jun 07, 2012, 03:42 PM EDT
GeorDillon: oddly and with more than a touch of irony, it would seem Eire is becoming something of a USA in miniature. May God have mercy on your souls. :)
irishtxn | Jun 07, 2012, 12:24 PM EDT
As an Irish-American, I keep dreaming about going home to my roots! I'd gladly immigrate to Ireland if it were possible! As for the rain, I live in SE Texas where all we do is pray for it since last years drought!
jamieLM | Jun 07, 2012, 11:17 AM EDT
I like rain, but just enough of it to keep everything green so I don't have to water the flowers and shrubs. I wouldn't do well in the Pacific NW of the U.S. or any place where it rained often. I want to see sun and blue skies when I look out the windows in our big sun room. It's good to know that you're adjusting and enjoying being back in Ireland. Good for you.
GeorgeDillon | Jun 07, 2012, 11:06 AM EDT
I wouldn't share the writer's concern about Emigration from Ireland. The great thing about Ireland is that even as the young Irish are leaving to go elsewhere there are streams of Arabs, Azeris, Armenians, Burundis, Bangladeshis, Borneans etc crowding into the island to take their places. It's not depopulation, it's repopulation! Ireland is real interesting now, with all those ethnic groups milling around, some of them even working. It's just like an airport terminal.
LiamScanlan | Jun 07, 2012, 11:06 AM EDT
Could an editor please work on this article a bit? "Very handy if your starting out in life" should be "Very handy if you're starting out in life" and "more real estate agents today so will see" should be "more real estate agents today so we'll see". I stopped reading at that point.
seamusdenais | Jun 07, 2012, 11:02 AM EDT
We're obsessed about the rain because a decent summer only lasts a week!!
Frosty38 | Jun 07, 2012, 09:35 AM EDT
I have been to Ireland a lot. I'm from Boston Ma and we were all living in the same house all cousins and we after retirement moved to central florid and we get a lot of rain as well. I like it, I could stay in a nice note and GALWAY BAY HOTeL and stay on the porch and love it I would love to file for duel citizenship but can not find a record of birth for my granny