Carlynn McCarthy: To stay or to go, the big question facing Ireland’s youth

Should I leave or should I stay and fight for the meagre career crumbs that will become increasingly difficult to find, asks Carlynn McCarthy

A MIDDLE-AGED woman stands alone at the kitchen sink, preparing a meal for one, anxiously waiting for her phone to beep; a message from one of her loved ones, letting her know they are OK or that they miss her or that they hope she is well.

Rewind six years, the same woman was all hustle and bustle, running to the shops after work because her two kids, partner, and her younger brothers and sisters were calling over for a meal and a chat later.