‘It will feel strange not being with family’

Many young Irish people are taking a chance and leaving for New York. John Riordan meets some of them to talk about how they adapted to life in the Big Apple and their plans for Christmas

ON Christmas Day, at the north Cork family home of Elaine Keating, Jess the border collie’s ears will suddenly perk up.

On a Skype call from the Bronx, a familiar voice will set his tail wagging. The Keatings will hover around the computer to send greetings to their daughter, sister, aunt more than 3,000 miles away and the over-excited Jess will dart between legs and bark at the air, confused.