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IRELAND – SHE IS WORTH FIGHTING FOR. From the bog to the pub – I fell in love. Occasionally, a few people become quite cantankerous when I speak up – telling me that an American living here does not have a right to speak up. I find this perspective bemusing as I would be grateful to have the Irish living in the USA speak up and expose the corruption there! After months of paperwork, sorting a work visa, and vetting, I landed in Ireland over two decades ago for a six-month contract. I embraced everything that the Irish love about their home country and was keen to integrate – to build friendships, to work hard and brush aside the fact that I was only here for a whistle stop visit. I never left. I fell in love with the culture, heritage, landscape and people. I made a life whilst I made a living. I had never a pub person (because my town in the USA did not even have a pub) but I went to the local to socialise. I drank the Guinness, worked the bog to bring my turf home, built a house and adopted two rescue collies. I wore my Aran jumpers even when my Irish friends extracted the Michael out of the ‘American abroad’. I found places on the map and took road trips every weekend – be it hiking the Wicklow mountains, West Cork or plunging into the icy sea on Achill Island in January. It took me awhile to catch on to the Irish humour – understanding that ‘go on so’ meant yes and ‘your taxi is waiting’ didn’t mean I should get my coat and go outside for a lift. When I worked the bog, my Leitrim neighbours told me to “look out for the midgets that bite at dusk” I had heard of Irish believing in fairies but thought it was quite strange that they were telling me small people bite. Turns out it was ‘midgees’ and yes they did bite. I learned that ‘you’re so cheeky’ meant amusing – not that my arse was expanding from nights out and Sunday roasts. I enjoyed the pace here. In the USA, it was 70-80 hour weeks. In Ireland, I was told to stop starting work at 7am! I have a great respect for this country – as I have lived in a few other countries, I know how special Ireland is. The Irish-ness of Ireland that is slipping away. It’s worth fighting for. Instead of throwing stones at others, channel that energy…..ignite your patriotism…… make a change. Blessings for a beautiful and bright 2025
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