I found this video recently and it poignantly captures the Irish backdrop to 1950s emigration. Our own parents left Ireland during this period, and their parents, like many thousands of others, saw their children ‘take the boat’. It’s a reminder of the hardships of the time…
The start of the 21st century sees a new generation of talented people leaving Ireland – emigrants by definition, and potentially ambassadors by choice.
Are we ready to accept the idea that our citizens abroad can be part of the national discussion, considered equal and worthy of political representation within the state. Are we prepared to take that sense of unity, underpinned by enfranchisement, to the next level?
Incidentally VICA have just launched their new website.
I watched the Ireland vs Australia match yesterday morning, and it turned out to be a great way to start the day. Coming in as underdogs against the tournament favourites, defeating Ireland as far as most of Australia was concerned was expected to be a formaility.
Ah, not so, and the team in green reminded one of the giants of the southern hemisphere why you underestimate the Irish at your peril. Australia were given a lesson as Ireland dominated across the field, and it’s one they won’t forget in a hurry. The final score was Ireland 15, Australia 6, and the gap could have been wider.
Apart from a great performance and a brilliant win, the other thing that stood out was the Irish support at the match. The tournamant is being held in New Zealand and it’s estimated that 30,000 Irish fans were in the stadium. Some of those would have flown over from Ireland, but the vast majority would have travelled from Australia or already been in New Zealand.
Following the silence about emigration since the last general election, it was a reminder of how many are again leaving these shores. Or as Brian O’Driscoll put it after the game – it was like playing in Dublin!
Here’s a video by Māori Television, and it’s good to see the lads and lasses helping each other out and enjoying themselves in the lead-up to the game.
And…
Remaining Pool C games… Ireland vs Russia: 25/9/2011 Ireland vs Italy: 2.10.2011 and then the quarter finals – bring it on!
President Barack Obama’s great-great-great-grandfather, Falmouth Kearney, left Ireland in 1850. He was following in the footsteps of family members who had departed for the United States as far back as the late 1700s and who, as described by Steve MacDonogh (the late author), were highly representative of the people who developed the frontier regions of the US.
Destined for Ohio where a relative had left property in his name he later married, had 10 children, and settled in Indiana where he worked as a farmer. Obama’s mother, Ann Dunham, was a descendant of one of Kearney’s daughters, Mary Ann Kearney, and Jacob William Dunham. Now, some 161 years later, Barack is returning for a visit in May of this year that will take him to his ancestral home in Moneygall, a village of approximately 300 people in County Offaly, and possibly also to Shinrone – the townland with the earliest recorded connection to his Irish ancestors.
There’s sure to be a warm welcome and it’ll be interesting to see in which of the two Moneygall bars (it’s a small place!) he has a drop of the black stuff. Not to worry about ‘drinking on the job’ either, you’re allowed a moment here!
Looking forward to your visit sir, céad míle fáilte.
Live update! Slainte sir, and some truly amazing scenes from Moneygall – wonderful to see.
One argument used against emigrant voting rights is the misconception that the Irish lose interest in domestic politics when we leave.
Michael Ryan is an Irish emigrant living in the UK, and he is running as an independent candidate in the Irish General Election. He left the country 15 years ago and has been travelling back to Ireland every weekend for the last three years.
Having lived abroad all his working life he shares the belief that ‘the Irish Diaspora needs a voice in Irish politics in order to promote their greater involvement in helping Ireland through its current crisis’.
Michael has five key objectives in his manifesto:
Referendum to determine an appropriate strategy to tackle the Financial Crisis
Reduce the number of TDs by 25%
Make Dail pensions only payable at retirement age
Encourage emigrants to take an active part in Ireland’s future by giving them the vote
Create a national volunteering scheme that enables people to improve Ireland’s fortunes
His candidacy is a timely reminder that Irish emigrants are keen to reconnect with Irish politics, and it reinforces the message that the diaspora is a willing and able part of the Irish nation.
Here’s his detailed Election Manifesto and if you’re in the Dublin Mid-West constituency, or simply interested in what he has to say, you should have a read.
Well done to Michael for running and we wish him well on election day.
The ‘Leaving Dublin’ project is an inspired work-in-progress by photographer David Monahan.
Since early 2010 David has been capturing a moment just before Irelands young and talented become voluntary exiles, and set in Dublin at night they make for striking images.
Each background has a particular significance for the subject, and in his own words “the idea is to make a heroic shot, to celebrate the person, to say they’re full of pride, full of dignity, they’re going out to do something, and they’re going to do it well.”
David recognises the differences between this and previous waves of emigration, and at the same time acknowledges that the quest remains the same – the search for a better life. He honours the courage behind the decision, and the fact that moving to a different country can dramatically shape the future lives of those who leave.
Emigration is tinged with all sorts of emotion, the sadness of seeing loved ones go, the anticipation of those who leave – sometimes uncertain, other times full of confidence – and Leaving Dublin reminds us of the intensely personal nature of such a decision.
This project is an important recording of modern Irish history, and it’s a visually artistic masterpiece. David is looking for new participants and if you’re leaving Dublin you can contact him via his blog or viewpage:
If you have a story to tell, launched a new business, got an initiative off the ground, or just have some good news with an inspirational nature let us know and we'll pass it on.
