Ireland's of Legacy of Pain and Suffering caused by its inability to hold on to its most precious resource its people.
Because of our family’s history and background emigration is a sensitive and emotive subject. Most people who have emigrated from Ireland, over the years, were and still are predominantly from the working class strata of society, who in times of economic difficulties, find themselves in a situation of being forced to become “self exiled” because they have not got the means to live or survive in their own country without employment.
When I and a number of my Brothers Sisters were born in Ireland in the early 1940s, it was into a world that was in turmoil. Commonly known by the Irish people as “the time of the emergency”. Abroad a Second World War was raging and at home in Ireland severe economic difficulties, were being experienced, which was being made worse by the political instability of the period. Ireland had only experienced two single party governments during the first 25 years of the Free States existence, the short lived two “inter-party” coalitions and one (Fiana Fail minority administration) now followed each other in quick succession. None of these cabinets was able to get to grips with the enormous problems facing the country during that period, although in 1949 the first inter-party government did take the dramatic step of formally declaring a republic. The political parties in power since the gaining of independence in 1922 were not able to come to terms with and deal effectively with the crippling economic problems facing the country.
The above, caused a resurgence in emigration which reached levels not seen since the days of the Great Famine of mid 1880s and came to symbolise the failure of the Irish State to provide a basic standard of living for its citizens, contrary to the hopes and expectations of those who had fought and campaigned so hard for its independence. Besides the above the increase in emigration was due to a combination of factors most notably the increased use of machinery in rural areas which reduced the demand for farm labour, the lack of industrial development both in urban and rural centres and the demand for labour in England and other countries. All these factors conspired to siphon of enormous numbers of young Irish men and women to help in the recovery of the countries which had been devastated by the War. While some efforts were made to arrest this loss of population which was accentuated by a decline in demand for Irish goods and agricultural products. All of the measures taken by the Irish Government to control and arrest the situation failed
It was as a direct result of the above that my parents along with thousands of other Irish citizens had to make the momentous decision to uproot themselves and their families and emigrate to England in 1948. The total number who emigrated from Ireland during the period 1945 to 1955 was in the region of 350,000 to 400,000. We effectively became part of the world wide Irish Diaspora which is estimated to be the region of at least 70,000,000 persons world wide who have a genealogical and cultural connection with Ireland directly or indirectly.
When I and a number of my Brothers Sisters were born in Ireland in the early 1940s, it was into a world that was in turmoil. Commonly known by the Irish people as “the time of the emergency”. Abroad a Second World War was raging and at home in Ireland severe economic difficulties, were being experienced, which was being made worse by the political instability of the period. Ireland had only experienced two single party governments during the first 25 years of the Free States existence, the short lived two “inter-party” coalitions and one (Fiana Fail minority administration) now followed each other in quick succession. None of these cabinets was able to get to grips with the enormous problems facing the country during that period, although in 1949 the first inter-party government did take the dramatic step of formally declaring a republic. The political parties in power since the gaining of independence in 1922 were not able to come to terms with and deal effectively with the crippling economic problems facing the country.
The above, caused a resurgence in emigration which reached levels not seen since the days of the Great Famine of mid 1880s and came to symbolise the failure of the Irish State to provide a basic standard of living for its citizens, contrary to the hopes and expectations of those who had fought and campaigned so hard for its independence. Besides the above the increase in emigration was due to a combination of factors most notably the increased use of machinery in rural areas which reduced the demand for farm labour, the lack of industrial development both in urban and rural centres and the demand for labour in England and other countries. All these factors conspired to siphon of enormous numbers of young Irish men and women to help in the recovery of the countries which had been devastated by the War. While some efforts were made to arrest this loss of population which was accentuated by a decline in demand for Irish goods and agricultural products. All of the measures taken by the Irish Government to control and arrest the situation failed
It was as a direct result of the above that my parents along with thousands of other Irish citizens had to make the momentous decision to uproot themselves and their families and emigrate to England in 1948. The total number who emigrated from Ireland during the period 1945 to 1955 was in the region of 350,000 to 400,000. We effectively became part of the world wide Irish Diaspora which is estimated to be the region of at least 70,000,000 persons world wide who have a genealogical and cultural connection with Ireland directly or indirectly.
he Lawlor’s and thousands of other Irish people did not emigrate from Ireland to a foreign hostile country (England) for the love of adventure or to experience another culture, we emigrated because as stated above it was because a number of circumstances beyond our control forced us to emigrate, we do not have to ashamed or apologise for that The sacrifices that we and the many thousands of other Irish exiles made, in fact, helped Ireland, and the those who remained at home. For the vast majority of those who had to leave their homeland they certainly did not get anything like a warm welcome nor did they find the streets paved with gold. What most of the men found including myself and members of my own family was bigotry, hostility, and lots of gut racking hard work, long working hours and modest wages, usually working under appalling conditions in the toughest of occupations such construction, mining, heavy engineering, and for the women they contributed greatly to the labour requirements of the National Health Service and factory, shop and domestic service. Those who emigrated earned money by the sweat of their brows and sent what they could afford selflessly to those at home who badly needed it, an estimated 2.2 billion pounds in cheques and money orders alone came from the Irish in Britain just between 1949 and 1969.
Two hundred thousand Irishmen worked in the British construction industry in the nineteen forties and fifties and sixties. They were indispensable to post-war reconstruction. The contribution of Irish labour to the construction industry was 'immeasurable'. Britain's fledgling National Health Service was staffed mainly by Irish nurses and catering in schools, hotels, and hospitals depended heavily on Irish labour. Many of the honest hardworking Irish men who were employed in the construction industry over their lives suffered from a range of physical ailments due to the arduous nature of the work they did and by exposure to dust, cold and general lack of health and welfare facilities and many others, especially those who remained single, also suffered from mental health problems brought on by feelings of not belonging or fitting in, loss of identity, and loneliness. I have no doubt that in quiet moment their thoughts would drift back to memories of the beautiful homeland they had to leave and to the loved ones they left behind.
I find it hard to believe that as I am writing this in March 2011, we are again witnessing a repeat of what has occurred in Ireland on several occasions since the 1940s and 50s. At this time in March 2011, it is reported there is now 50,000, out of a comparatively small population of 4,000, 0000, well educated and skilled young people both men women getting ready to leave Ireland as a direct result of the recent disastrous economic turndown, which has brought the country to its knees and close bankruptancy. The main causes are attributable to unfettered greed, irresponsible behavior of the banks, out of control property developing and speculating and a government in office who by their acts and omissions have proven to be incapable of governing the country properly or effectively.
At the present time, unemployment levels are so high in Ireland that men and women in their late teens and early twenties are not prepared to hang around at home or on street corners waiting for non existent job opportunities to emerge, for we now have a return of the dark days of emigration, which Ireland does in regular cycles, and as it has done it the past. This present situation is leaving a depressing and an indelible mark on the affected communities. Many towns in Ireland are now relying entirely on tourism for business. This situation has killed the Celtic Tiger and the ensuing inevitable economic downturn is also again driving away Ireland’s young people and families, who cannot see a viable future for themselves or their families in Ireland now or in the future. Emigration is now running at levels higher than the last main bout of emigration that took place in 1980s.
While the governing party Fianna Fáil wasted time playing musical deckchairs on the Titanic, the rest of the country is now hanging its head in despair and anyone who has a chance - mainly single men and women - are getting out of the country. In the latest wave of emigration, it was predicted that emigration in Ireland this year 2011, will be worse than the 1980s. It is estimated the total leaving the county could be as high as 50,000.
The figure confirms what every family in Ireland knows and many who are living abroad, the country has again reared a "lost generation” of well educated, articulate, skilled and semi-skilled workers and graduates who have no choice but to leave their homeland to find work and new life abroad.
Two hundred thousand Irishmen worked in the British construction industry in the nineteen forties and fifties and sixties. They were indispensable to post-war reconstruction. The contribution of Irish labour to the construction industry was 'immeasurable'. Britain's fledgling National Health Service was staffed mainly by Irish nurses and catering in schools, hotels, and hospitals depended heavily on Irish labour. Many of the honest hardworking Irish men who were employed in the construction industry over their lives suffered from a range of physical ailments due to the arduous nature of the work they did and by exposure to dust, cold and general lack of health and welfare facilities and many others, especially those who remained single, also suffered from mental health problems brought on by feelings of not belonging or fitting in, loss of identity, and loneliness. I have no doubt that in quiet moment their thoughts would drift back to memories of the beautiful homeland they had to leave and to the loved ones they left behind.
I find it hard to believe that as I am writing this in March 2011, we are again witnessing a repeat of what has occurred in Ireland on several occasions since the 1940s and 50s. At this time in March 2011, it is reported there is now 50,000, out of a comparatively small population of 4,000, 0000, well educated and skilled young people both men women getting ready to leave Ireland as a direct result of the recent disastrous economic turndown, which has brought the country to its knees and close bankruptancy. The main causes are attributable to unfettered greed, irresponsible behavior of the banks, out of control property developing and speculating and a government in office who by their acts and omissions have proven to be incapable of governing the country properly or effectively.
At the present time, unemployment levels are so high in Ireland that men and women in their late teens and early twenties are not prepared to hang around at home or on street corners waiting for non existent job opportunities to emerge, for we now have a return of the dark days of emigration, which Ireland does in regular cycles, and as it has done it the past. This present situation is leaving a depressing and an indelible mark on the affected communities. Many towns in Ireland are now relying entirely on tourism for business. This situation has killed the Celtic Tiger and the ensuing inevitable economic downturn is also again driving away Ireland’s young people and families, who cannot see a viable future for themselves or their families in Ireland now or in the future. Emigration is now running at levels higher than the last main bout of emigration that took place in 1980s.
While the governing party Fianna Fáil wasted time playing musical deckchairs on the Titanic, the rest of the country is now hanging its head in despair and anyone who has a chance - mainly single men and women - are getting out of the country. In the latest wave of emigration, it was predicted that emigration in Ireland this year 2011, will be worse than the 1980s. It is estimated the total leaving the county could be as high as 50,000.
The figure confirms what every family in Ireland knows and many who are living abroad, the country has again reared a "lost generation” of well educated, articulate, skilled and semi-skilled workers and graduates who have no choice but to leave their homeland to find work and new life abroad.
Never mind will we ever see Ireland free, will we ever see Ireland as place to go to and not a place go from!!!??