Lost Generation?

scotty_irish

I live in Scotland. My brother lives in Canada. Everytime I go home, more of my friends have gone to Oz. It seems that anyone who can escape, is escaping. Those of you who have moved, are you gonna come back some day? Or do you think that there'll be nothing in Ireland for us for a long time? If you have moved are you happy abroad and even if an opportunity comes up to return will you? Personally, I'm happy out where I am now and don't see myself living in Ireland for a long time, regardless of whether things improve or not. So is our generation of under 30s lost forever?

seamus

No. The vast majority of under-30's I know who've emigrated have gone off and spent their time working in bars or labouring while partying the rest of the time and playing on the beach.

Only a small proportion in my experience have actually gone off to build a life and a career in the other country.

orourkeda

scotty_irish wrote: »

I live in Scotland. My brother lives in Canada. Everytime I go home, more of my friends have gone to Oz. It seems that anyone who can escape, is escaping. Those of you who have moved, are you gonna come back some day? Or do you think that there'll be nothing in Ireland for us for a long time? If you have moved are you happy abroad and even if an opportunity comes up to return will you? Personally, I'm happy out where I am now and don't see myself living in Ireland for a long time, regardless of whether things improve or not. So is our generation of under 30s lost forever?

Makes little difference to the people who stayed

lcrcboy

Im going on a J1 this summer but I would prefer to move permanently, as I think there are places in the world that offer more than Ireland (But I might be a bit biased as I grew up always moving from one country to the next)

FatherLen

as soon as i get the chance i am off to california.
so i would say yes. this generation might disappear to foreign lands.

scotty_irish

seamus wrote: »

No. The vast majority of under-30's I know who've emigrated have gone off and spent their time working in bars or labouring while partying the rest of the time and playing on the beach.

Only a small proportion in my experience have actually gone off to build a life and a career in the other country.

I think most people have gone for the year of boozing but there'll be nothing to come home to so they'll have to stay.

alexjk

I'm hoping to do a Master's here, with an internship abroad at the end of it. I've lost just about all my friends here to immigration over the last year and at the end of the summer, even more are moving to Canada. We're all roughly 22-25.

It's depressing watching everyone go, but at the same time you can see why it's happening.

hardCopy

I commute weekly to the UK. Not the same as emigrating but I want to work in Ireland.

I've managed to find work back home starting this summer so am leaving the company to avoid commuting.

Duffy the Vampire Slayer

Most of the people who have emigrated to Australia from my town are no loss. 'Export all our best'... Do we ****, rake of gob****es have left from here.

AnonoBoy

Google Maps.

You're all gonna be fine.

Kojak

Duffy the Vampire Slayer wrote: »

Most of the people who have emigrated to Australia from my town are no loss. 'Export all our best'... Do we ****, rake of gob****es have left from here.

Same here - some of them that went from my area will probably depress the economoy's of the countries they have gone to. Good riddance to them I say.

cocoshovel

"Ireland" & "Happy" aren't two words I like to associate with each other.

syklops

Once I am sufficiently well respected and valued in my company, that they will let me work from home, I shall arise and go to Innisfree some small irish town with decent broadband coverage, and a small cabinmedium-sized house I shall build there of clay and wattles bricks and mortar made. Nine bean rows will I have there 10Mbps will I have there, and a hive for the honey beea decent download limit, And live alone in the bee-loud glade. and live there with my polish missus, our two cats and hopefully an Irish wolfhound too.

jester77

scotty_irish wrote: »

I live in Scotland. My brother lives in Canada. Everytime I go home, more of my friends have gone to Oz. It seems that anyone who can escape, is escaping. Those of you who have moved, are you gonna come back some day? Or do you think that there'll be nothing in Ireland for us for a long time? If you have moved are you happy abroad and even if an opportunity comes up to return will you? Personally, I'm happy out where I am now and don't see myself living in Ireland for a long time, regardless of whether things improve or not. So is our generation of under 30s lost forever?

The true lost generation are those that emigrated in the late 70's, early 80's. Very few to none of them have returned. It was much harder back then due to recession, Ireland being poor and the high costs of transport. Plus it was easier to stay and become legal in the US for those that went there. Half my family emigrated back then and of those that did, only 1 returned but he had never married and was based in the UK so was easier for him.

The people today have no idea what tough is. They may have severe financial problems, but most of those that do are living in over sized houses and apartments, all kitted out with a relatively new car out front. They don't have to share a room with 3 or 4 brothers/sisters, go down the fields and have to pick potatoes, go to the bog to turn turf to heat the 1 room in the house that has an open fire.

It's amazing how things have changed in just 20 years and how easily the hard times have been forgotten. It's not all that bad in Ireland, the dole is higher than wages in most countries around the world and very few are dying from lack of food.

Burgo

jester77 wrote: »

It's amazing how things have changed in just 20 years and how easily the hard times have been forgotten. It's not all that bad in Ireland, the dole is higher than wages in most countries around the world and very few are dying from lack of food.

Well most of the people that seem to be emigrating are in their early/mid 20s so they can't rally relate to the tough times of the past since they were just children at the time.

To answer the OP, im currently living in England and will finish my degree on Friday and would love to go back to Ireland, but will go wherever I can to get a job.

Einhard

scotty_irish wrote: »

I live in Scotland. My brother lives in Canada. Everytime I go home, more of my friends have gone to Oz.

I think the whole idea behind someone being lost, is not knowing where they are!!

dlofnep

I like Ireland, but I'm stuck here for the near-future, as I'm too ill to go abroad. I had pondered the idea of moving to Canada when/if I regain my health. It's just too costly to live here, and the job prospects aren't great.

Fukuyama

I remember thinking a few years ago that Ireland would never have to emigrate enmass again. My ma always said it'd kill her to see us leave like her siblings did when she was younger.

I'm 19 now. And when I finish college I cant see a future for myself here. I know they say things will improve but will they?

A lot of people (those with a brain in their heads anyway) are talking along the same lines. My best friend plans to head to England. Girlfriends sister is off to Oz in a few weeks. Lecturers in college are always talking about job markets abroad and foreign companies for 'when we go abroad'. They're just assuming we'll all be shipping out - and rightly so it seems.

Whats the point in staying here? So you can sit around on the dole or put your degree to work flipping burgers instead of being happy else where?

SharpshooterTom

The grass is always greener on the other side.

I was born in England and left there when I was 14 and thought it was absolutely crap at the time. I was delighted to move to Ireland, honestly Ireland's not as bad as you think. It's worth a try maybe to emigrate and see anyway.

NTMK

I'm happy here but once i get my degree next year I will emigrate to the UK for a masters hopefully and then most likely on to the U.S for work

GavRedKing

In my job we have the option to move to Singapore or Toronto to work in the same position just different time zones, Its something i'd like to consider if the opprtunity comes up anytime soon.