Hi.
This is the story of how life can change too fast. From Asian beaches to Irish chemo wards, we document it here.
This is the story of how life can change too fast. From Asian beaches to Irish chemo wards, we document it here.
Moving to Florida from Country Kildare was a massive change for a 10 year old, but one I was willing to accept if it meant being to go swimming in our very own pool after school every day. For those first few years in that strange land with giant cars, endless blues skies, and people who countlessly had my Dad spelling his name out, only for him to allow them to call him 'Donald' (Americans cant do the long O in Donal).
'Home' was always associated with smells, sounds and tastes of Ireland. The smell of brown bread if Mom decided to be brave and bake for hours in 100 degree heat. Tucking into the package of Galtee rashers and sausages that Grandad sent every Christmas while listening to the Chieftains 'Bells of Christmas' album on repeat. The look on my Mothers' face when someone brought her a Christmas cake: part jubilance, part longing to be cutting it in the from kitchen of her mothers house.
As I grew older, my families idea of 'home' changed as they moulded their ways to America and its Land of Free, Home of the Brave and Ireland with its green pastures, became more of a passport identity.
After leaving America at 18 in search of 'home' I found myself always wanting to go back to Ireland, to where my parents had called home, to where I had left as a kid never realising I wouldn't be Irish. But with that will for identity I realised that I don't have to be in Ireland to be Irish or feel at home. From Australia to London to Bangkok, where I have lived for the last two years, there are Irish people, pubs and traditions that form a wonderful community to make you feel at home. And whether you are looking for a bit of craic, where to buy Tayto's in your local city or to celebrate a Six Nations win for the boys in Green, there are always people to make you feel at home. And you don’t have to be Irish to be Irish, I like to think that it’s the lively spirit, pride and good times we all exude on Paddy's Day that bring us together, after all countries are only geographical identifiers.
- Rebecca Dowling 2018
