They built England and lost Ireland
By Tom McGurk
Dublin, Ireland, 11 August, 2002

In ways they are the Irish disappeared, a generation for whom the only option in the independent Ireland that they had been born into was to leave. From the 1940s to the 1980s hundreds of thousands of Irish people took the boat for England.

For most, the quays and piers at Dublin, Dun Laoghaire, Cork and Rosslare were the places they spent the last moments of their lives before becoming permanent exiles.

Few, at the moment of sailing, could have imagined that for one reason or another they would never come back. Thousands of those who left in the 1950s, in particular, still find themselves a generation later trapped as though in a time warp.

A report by the Government Task Force on Emigration was leaked this week in the Irish Times and it recommends that funding will have to increase by 500 per cent to cope with the mounting social problems now being experienced in particular by those who left in the 1950s.

Most of these emigrants are now retired, may live alone on social welfare and many are plagued by poverty, alcohol and mental illness.

I still have vivid memories of that generation; I met them when I worked as a student in London in the 1970s. They still lived then in the lodging houses of Cricklewood, Finsbury Park, Acton, Ealing and Brent.

Sometimes living three to a room, their lives were spent in manual labour and their evenings in front of electric fires in their rooms or down in the pub.

They bought their local papers or the Irish nationals on the High Street and they tuned radios to fading Radio éireann signals.

Over the years their families in Ireland were represented by collections of letters and cards, or by the coins stuffed into slots in the old, echoing public telephone booths. Their holidays were two weeks back home in the summer or a few days squeezed in over Christmas.

Most came from rural Ireland and little in their background prepared them for the lives they would live. They came out of that post-independence Ireland where levels of personal self-esteem were low, and went to a society where being Irish was even worse.

They retreated into ghettoes, they reconstructed parts of the hinterland from which they had come in the pubs and dance halls of West London, and few if any ever exited the class and they social group they had entered into when they stepped onto the platform at Euston Station.

Few had more than primary education, and in the 1950s manual work was so plentiful and reasonably well paid that they drifted into it. Most stayed there.

Many worked `on the lump', which made the mainly Irish building contractors who employed them very rich; by contrast many of the their labourers live in rented accommodation, mostly pensionless.

Very many didn't marry, never founded a new family or found a proper home. Ironically, as the years went by and the Ireland they left became more and more prosperous, it was even more difficult for them to return.

They were frequently too embarrassed to visit, finding the relatives they had left behind were now much better off in terms of housing, education and employment.

If anything, the Irish prosperity of recent years has served to isolate them even more. Sadly, it profoundly deepened their sense of individual failure not only in Britain, but also at home in Ireland.

As England changed around them and as Ireland changed behind them, they seemed to have disappeared into some sort of time warp. Now many are suffering in age, from poverty and associated problems. Many would like to come back to end their days here -- but considering the current property shortage and prices it is hard to imagine how that can be achieved.

Apart from these Irish in Britain there are thousands from this older generation living across the world from Canada to Australia. Not to mention the growing problem of Irish illegals in the USA.

Judging by the newspaper leak, the Task Force document is both comprehensive and radical. It recommends that, in future the emigrant constituency become the direct responsibility of the Department of Foreign Affairs, instead of being shared across numerous agencies and groups.

Now the economic migration we experienced throughout much of the life of the state has ended, surely the time has come to recognise the responsibility and the debt we owe to those who left.

Apart from direct funding, there must be other imaginative ways in which the government could begin to alleviate the hardship suffered by those Irish the new Ireland seems to have forgotten.

Tax incentives could encourage private development to re-house those who want to return, local authorities need to be made more conscious of their particular needs. Perhaps it might increase the awareness of the problem if we were officially to designate a day in the year in testimony to them.

In many ways they came from the unluckiest of our generations. Many lost any quality of life in their desperate need to earn a living in the most difficult circumstances, and many lost contact with the families they left behind.

What they had not lost (in my memory of them) was their devotion to the notion of home and their pride in being Irish.

Their pennies and their pounds, posted home, put food on tables and dressed and educated the children who would inherit a very different land.

We all owe them. And we should now, as a nation, set about seriously repaying that long outstanding debt.

Comments on " They built England and lost Ireland "

Russell Padmore, BBC World Service, London, 16/08/2002:

Where is the much talked about concern for the welfare of Ireland's diaspora from President Mary McAleese? Is it possible that direct presidential intervention at county council level would shame and pressurise Ireland's councillors into providing a way home for our lost generation, to whom we owe so much? Perhaps the problem is that the Dail's politicians can see no votes in it. Maybe this is time for one of Bertie's big gestures. This issue is a true test for the Celtic Tiger and its cubs.

Tom Beisty, The Safe Start Foundation, Claremont Rd, Cricklewood, London NW2 1TD, 14/08/2002:

I agree, Tom McGurk has got the picture and its true that the Irish Government should really consider improving its package of support to these people who more than paid their way. The money they sent home and the families they helped rear and the knock on effect that had when Ireland was a poor emerging nation some 50 years ago, and since, is immeasurable. They really do deserve better recognition and respect. There is certainly merit in repatriating some of the elderly Irish who are trapped and isolated in England. Our Safe Start Foundation received approx 80 enquiries from a small advert in just one edition of the Irish Post in March 2000 – so many are keen. While, a small percentage of these secured places in Dr Jerry Crowley’s St Brendan’s Village Project in Mulranny Co Mayo, the rest could not muster the courage to make the move… Medical complications, Fear of losing welfare or pension entitlements, Fear of losing their home in the event that they’d like to come back, Fear that their dream of their homeland would be shattered by reality, had most of them staying put.. All these issue’s should be addressed to “level the playing field” for those contemplating returning. Additionally, I would recommend that a “St Brendan’s” should be on every local community’s agenda back home , Cork or Sligo or Kerry or Donegal etc. It could be the deciding factor for many considering returning and it would invigorate the community - as it has in Mulranny. Dr Jerry Crowley has the formula to replicate this marvelous caring scheme for the elderly throughout Ireland – so the Government should support initiatives like those – for everyone’s sake. --- Projects like the Aisling project in Camden works well and provides a great focus for Irish people in the area. They have a social programme and support system that lifts the loneliness out of peoples lives…. With resources and management, it too, could be replicated in any City of the world - It must be remembered that not all Irish exiles want to go back, so more money should go towards projects that improve their quality of life. Not all immigration was back in the 50’s the Safe Start Foundation was founded to support the forced immigration wave of the late eighties and early nineties when some 20,000 a year descended on London and many more worldwide. We provided a Safe Start to more than twenty five thousand of these with most of our funding provided by the Local Authorities we work in, The European Commission (thanks to Padraic Flynn) and the British Government. Our Foyer Building which provides training and short term accommodation to 24 mostly vulnerable young Irish people, could also be replicated anywhere throughout the world - with more support from the Irish Government – although they do support us reasonably well in our current year. …So as the politician says there’s much done and much to be done… I hope they heed and act on the recommendations of the report. Tom Beisty. Chairman.. Safestart Foundation London

Brendan Birthistle, , Sydney, Australia, 14/08/2002:

I found Tom McGurk's article very sad and very true. Mick Geraghty's response summed it up and tallied with my short experiences of working on English building sites. Big wages, big drinking, and spending everything - encouraged by relentless peer pressure. John McGahern's "Among Women" describes the short-lived showing off when Paddy returned home. Not that the natives were fooled. A tragedy caused mainly by low self-esteem.

Joe McGarry, Aisling Project, London NW1 Camden Town, 13/08/2002:

Well done to Tom McGurk and his excellent article. Its time Ireland hit the runway of reality and remembered just what it has developed from. And it can thank God that all its exiles don't want to reclaim their birth right and return home to Ireland. Maybe Tom McGurk and others remember an Irish Navvy rhyme from 1960-1970 London. (The green and the grey and the R.S.K.)

Alex McDonnell, Aisling Return to Ireland Project, London Irish Centre, Camden Town, 13/08/2002:

Tom McGurk writes movingly and knowledgeably of the lost generation of Irish emigrants in Britain and, in particular, in London. The Aisling Project came together from workers in the Irish centre here in Camden and Arlington House, a huge hostel in this area. Many of the people we have worked with over the last 8 years are, as Tom described, living in very poor circumstances. However, they always had a community around them to provide support and company. This too is changing. The life expectancy of hostel dwelling Irish men is under 60. The years of hardship are taking their toll. Areas like Camden and Kilburn are no longer safe havens for the London Irish. Camden is the centre for style-conscious London youth and Kilburn is a desirable real-estate address. It's not only Ireland that is changing. Time is running out. Give us a hand to bring them home to Ireland. Visit our web-site at www.aisling.org.uk.

Pat Agnew, , Saudi Arabia, 13/08/2002:

I've some relatives still in England who are isolated as described in this article. There are some good initiatives out there in support of people who are unable to get back home. See the link www.rural-health.net/Article1.htm as an example. There was a Galway businessman in England who bought a couple of houses around the country a few years back and renovated them for people to return and stay for short term visits, for example at Christmas - but nothing systematic at a Government level. Are you surprised? These are the people who are caught between the loss of life by emigration, and the end of life. There is a lot of emptiness and regret in their stories, but resignation to their circumstances seems too often to be the only available response. Support for them is another good cause among many.

Sam. O'Rourke, N/A, Ballincollig, 12/08/2002:

M.J.Stewart hit the nail on the head with his comment. He forgot to add that if you are a foreigner you will definitely get permission to buy up half of Ireland and keep out the locals, as is happening. No it cannot go on, and I am sure we have a generation who will stop it, as did previous generations.

M.J. Stewart, , spain, 12/08/2002:

I left Ireland 1999 to build a new life. Why ? Because to ensure your future you need to base it on a strong foundation and a solid system. For most of the emigrants that left with some kind of education they have found a better way of life. Its a bad sign when you have so much land available and a farmer with 10 acres or less cannot get permission to build a house for one of his children, but his neighbour next door with 20 or more gets permission to build 300 houses! This situation still exists to day. When will they realize that the world sees them with their little games of - "my big buddies and me". The system needs to be corrected to take the power from the vultures that are still in control. These people have a lot to answer for, thats one of the reasons why nobody wants to return. Corruption my dear friend. Corruption.

Mick Geraghty, MJG English Language Services, Bs. As. Argentina, 12/08/2002:

I enjoyed the article very much and it reminded me of my own days in a bed sit in the Archway and the nights "down at the pub". They were good times 'cos I was young enough neither to know what was happening or to care. But it also brought back the memories of the older lads who were gone insane or alcoholic and were always sad. There was a lot of human suffering for the majority of paddies who never made it and were exploited by the few clever hoors who hit the big time by just exploiting their own on the lump. Let's hope the government can do something for them. Bed sits and pubs are great when you're 20 or 25, but they're a different kettle of fish altogether when you are over 45!

Augustin McEvoy, , LLausanne, Switzerland, 12/08/2002:

Once again Tom McGurk displays his commitment to an ideal of a better Ireland - this from a more recent high-tech emigrant, from just before the "boom" years. One thought - why not encourage a return, not price-inflated rat-race Dublin, but to those areas in the other three provinces which were depopulated in the 1950's and where incoming residents - even if they are older folk- could contribute by their presence to a renewed vitality.

Murt Gleeson, Sony, Germany, 12/08/2002:

I would not doubt one word in the article but I think it only paints half of the picture. As one works around the world these days one cannot help but admire the fact that the scattered 'labouring' generation of the fifties, through blood, sweat and tears, have produced and made way for the scattered 'professional' generation of the nineties. These people can therefore hold their heads high.

Charlie Conaghan, , Canada, 11/08/2002:

I read this article and returned a day later and read it again. These people exist and they are now paying a penalty for trying to provide for themselves and their families. Rural Ireland did not have a famine in the 1950's and 60's but an exodus it most definitely had. Thank you for refreshing our poor memories on a generation who still are very much with us.

G. Murphy, , Toronto, 11/08/2002:

This is a beautifully written and very timely article. My parents left in the 50's for Canada but the longing to return never left. Over the years, they did try to return but there were never any jobs in Dublin, especially with a minor education. Then it became too risky to give up established Canadian jobs with pensions. But the longing to return NEVER went away. A few years ago, my father, newly retired, passed away suddenly, on the very day he visited the travel agency in order to purchase a ticket to return to Dublin to buy a little house, to "fix up" for himself and my mum. I agree with the previous comment, Irish are not kind to each other overseas. In this Canadian city, they did not support each other like the Italians, Chinese and East Indian which so strongly populate this city and make it their own with festivals, 24 hour tv and radio stations and newspapers. Irish always seemed a bit reluctant to acknowledge each other. There was always a small Irish - Canadian club with a few very friendly individuals, but that was all. Nothing like the annual Italian picnic here, drawing hundreds of thousands or the Dragon Boat race drawing close to a million. The last Irish budget did a tremendous harm. Just as house prices were beginning to settle, it artificially interfered and encouraged them to rise to unapproachable levels. My elderly aunt in Manchester, having lost her son and husband, would love to return to Dublin but cannot afford to. She has been on the social housing waiting list for four years. Yet,three years ago, her young neighbour, newly emigrated from another continent, applied to join her relatives in Dublin. As she explained to my aunt, Ireland was an 'easy mark' for social housing and benefits. Several months later, she was offered a house in Dublin. I agree with the article, it would be a lovely gesture, to offer some sort of special consideration and help to the elderly to facilitate their return. I know their longing is very sincere.

Sean Quinn , none, Germany, 11/08/2002:

As somebody who has worked in The US, Australia, England and now Germany I agree completely with the piece, I am often asked would I move back to Ireland and my answer is always no. The Ireland of today is a selfish land with every conversation dominated by the price of housing. The Irish in England are much more neighbourly and more willing to help others, the new generation in Ireland have forgotten this they can only remember yesterdays interest rate. I only hope the weather stays fine for them. Yours Sean Quinn

Brenda Kelliher, , Annapolis Maryland USA, 11/08/2002: