Down Under, down at heart (a little), but in the service of Ireland’s newbies

I wanted to compliment you on the video articles contained on the home page of your website.

These bits of home brighten my day on my early morning internet scroll of home before starting my working day.

Like many others, I have fled to the southern hemisphere in hope of better opportunities. In hope of a better life, you may say.

And better it is in some aspects, the sun shines, the beer is cold, the jobs are plentiful and the money is good. I cannot complain. I will not complain. Mundane life does, however, follow — living is not cheap, the wrath of nine to five prevails, rent and bills mount. I live a good life but I do so minus my family, minus my friends, minus my identity, minus my culture.

On one of my first jobs in Australia as a barmaid in outback Western Australia the landlady told me that in her country I represented my own. If I worked hard I was doing a service to my fellow Irishmen, I would do my country proud and pave the way for future backpackers.

I feel that sense of loyalty to my own. A sense of care for the newbies out for a ‘better life’ and feeling the slog of being anonymous. Young fellas barely able to boil a spud, lost in their new-found freedom. It’s a steep learning curve. A learning curve climbed alone. Not the easy life that so many are envious of.

I will never forget who I am, where I come from. The sense of grá and pride is strengthened every day as I live the ‘better life’ down under.

Romantic Ireland is not dead and gone, it lives on strong in my heart and in my mind.

Maud Hennessy

Yarraville

Melbourne

Australia