Gaeltacht to New Life: 45 Years Later
here’s a breakdown of the data from the text, categorized for clarity:
1. Location & Demographics:
Country: New Zealand
Specific Location: A small country town (Tokoroa)
population: Similar to Ireland, but New Zealand has a much larger land mass (comparable to the British Isles).
Cultural Mix: Diverse – critically important populations of pacific Islanders, Maori, and older immigrants from England, Scotland, and the Netherlands (who came for the timber industry).
2. Personal Background & History:
Origin: Ireland
Length of Time in new Zealand: 45 years
Family: Married, three children, and now grandchildren. Career:
Initially a Registered nurse (RN) in a local hospital.
Owned and operated a convenience store (like a Spar) for 17 years while raising children.
Returned to nursing after selling the store, specializing in district nursing, palliative care, diabetes care, and teaching. Trained as a nurse in Whipps Cross (East London) and midwifery in The Erinville (Cork).
Religion: Regularly attends Mass; religious beliefs are central to her life.
3. Challenges of Moving/Living in New Zealand:
Initial Hardship: Loneliness due to being far from family and friends.
Current Challenges: Distance and cost of travel to Ireland.
Economic Shift: While initially offering more opportunities, New Zealand now has expensive housing and relatively low pay compared to other countries.
Unemployment: Currently around 5%.
4. Lifestyle & Leisure:
Weekends:
Family-focused – attending grandchildren’s sports (rugby, cricket, netball, hockey).
Watching rugby or cricket.
Summer activities: beach, biking, walking.
Sunday: Mass attendance.
Priorities: Making regular trips home to Ireland and maintaining connections with loved ones.
5. Opportunities (Past & Present):
1980s: New Zealand’s economy was stronger than Ireland’s, making it easier to find nursing work.* Recent Years: The advantage in opportunity has diminished due to housing costs and pay rates.