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Moville emigrant adjusts to Boston
22.10.10
by Caoimhinn Barr, Inishowen Independent
AS Ireland falls deeper into recession more and more
of Inishowen’s young graduates are forced to
emigrate to pursue successful careers.
One of those making waves across the Atlantic is
Moville man Oran McGonagle, who emigrated to the
United States two years ago after achieving a
business degree.
Unable to find employment in Ireland, Oran (25) is
one of the lucky ones on an upward career path in
Boston, where he is an advertising and promotions
manager for an Irish bar. He would rather ply his
trade at home though.
“I suppose that from talking to most people from
Inishowen over here they feel the same as me, which
is important for people to know. We all would prefer
to make things happen at home but instead we had to
move away to do it,” he said.
“If anyone is wondering where half of Inishowen is
they're here in Boston! It’s crazy the amount of
people from the peninsula that have landed out here
in the past few years. I’ve met people from Carn,
Buncrana, Glengad and a lot of people from Clonmany
too.”
Oran said he didn’t feel ‘stuck in America’ but
there was definitely something ‘pushing him away’. |
“I don't feel stuck in
America but I definitely feel there is something
pushing me away from Ireland, which is a terrible
feeling to have about your own country," he said.
"I feel Ireland needs to rectify the situation for
graduates as quickly as possible. There are more and
more young people landing in Boston every week. I
was talking to an older emigrant who has been living
here for years and he believes that the cycle has
just begun again, from his generation coming here,
to the new graduates landing. That is a scary
thought for Ireland."
A former popular DJ at Moville’s Town Clock, Oran
secured a long term H1B visa, allowing him to
legally live and work in the States. He is unlikely
to return to Inishowen anytime soon. |
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Oran McGonagle: "I’ve met people from
Carn, Buncrana, Glengad and a lot of people from
Clonmany too." |
“I’m thinking since I
got my long term visa that it has became a lot more
permanent for me. I’m not saying I'll never head
back home just not in the foreseeable future,” he
said.
“I would say the quality of life is better in
Boston, the drawbacks to that being that I miss my
family and all my friends at home. But that is the
price I have to pay.” |
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