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The Safe Home Programme is proud to introduce:
Coming
Home
A collection of stories from people who left Ireland as
young men and women and, after many years in exile, closed
the circle of emigration by coming home again.
Author: Fran Browner / Safe Home
ISBN: 978-1-906018-71-9
Emigration had darkened the Irish landscape for almost
one hundred and fifty years. Approximately half a million
people left Ireland in the 1950's alone.
Frances Browner has conducted thirty-six fascinating
interviews that highlight the heartache of leaving home; the
struggles and successes of survival in a new land; the joy,
and sometimes trauma, of returning.
These are their
stories
"The whole generation before us had gone - there was
something like 50,000 people leaving the West of Ireland
every year - a huge exodus. Indeed whole villages were
decimated" (Joseph Mullarkey)
Nobody ever envisaged that they would come back.
"That time they had to emigrate. There was nothing here.
They had to go away. Now they're bringing them back, it's
come the full circle. I never foreseen that. I never thought
you'd see that day" (John Coyne)
Improved travel conditions made it easier.
"It was all boat that time" (Martin Cawley)
"Flying is the only way to travel now. Knock airport in
Mayo was a godsend for the West of Ireland and of course,
Ryanair. Where would we be without them?" (Seamus Roddy)
The 'Safe-Home' Programme made it happen.
The Celtic Tiger; retirement; illness; the death of a
spouse; are some of the reasons they wanted to come home.
Others were compelled to return because of eviction or war;
many merely harboured the hope of spending their twilight
years in Ireland.
The book can be purchased via the Original
Writing website.
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