In 2002?
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It took quite a bit of shoehorning to drag that one in.
My motherās family pretty much all emigrated in the 1960s from Connemara. She ended up in London working as a nurse. Her two sisters and two brothers went to US - Boston and Chicago. They settled there for good.
She said the US was seen as a much safer option - England was viewed as a lesser option and rougher but thatās where she ended up. Said she cried for weeks after arriving. Packed her bags every weekend to go home and Jack it in.
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So how can you tell me that youre lonelyā¦ And say for you that the sun donāt shine. Let me take you by the hand and lead you through the streets of London, Iāll show you something to make you change your mind.
In his eyes you see no pride, hands held loosely by his sides, yesterdays papers, telling yesterdays news.
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Sheās no time for talk
She just keeps right on walking
Carrying her home
In two carrier bags
Wouldnāt be many countries where a song like that would be taught in primary school Iād imagine.
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Itās hardly still taught?.. Itās all touchy feely them/they stuff now Iād say? No wonder kids are all fragile nowā¦ Itās all about my feelings and being precious.
Being taught through song in 3rd class about homeless alcos and the cold hard reality of life has made us the wonderful upstanding men we are today.
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Now that you mention itā¦ 
The general rule of thumb was get an English ganger man if you could though.
Other employers (such as Tom McKenna bed of heaven to that saintly man) would really really look after his staff from top but especially at the bottom.
I was talking to one of his lads who said they were often pulled off a site, and sent firstly to buy a suit for a deceased lost Irish lad, and then to dress the corpse and to carry the coffin at the funeral. It breaks my heart.
I met some of the finest of people, both Irish and English on the sites in London. Theyād look out for you. Itās why I always try and look out for people if I can.
@anon67715551 sent me a lovely couple of books, which I treasure.
As my oul fella said, going to London back then was like going to Australia now. A weekās wages and 24 hours travel to get back.
I can still remember the hardness of London. Grey, hot concrete. Quality of life entirely depended upon what your gang was like.
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And Dul. Crikey that was one depressing tome.
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howās it we all learned it? Hardly on the curriculum or anything was it.
We learned a nation once again around the same time. Our American cousins grandad on the other side from Boston visited in the late 80s with a big home video camera strapped to his shoulder. Thereās a video of me singing about our fetters being rent in twain in a squeaky voice and scoring a point in a u12 match. (Not at the same time)
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My auld lad called up to my room the morning I was heading to London as an 18 year old,he was off on the Post and I was nursing a hangover from being on the lash the Sunday night before in Donegal Town.Having spent a couple of years in Manchester in the 60s he knew what I was facing and all he said was if I didnāt like it not to be afraid to come home as there was always a bed for me there.
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I read this years ago and itās a great auld yarn, especially if you spent time on the sites in England.
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Did they, aye?
Rest I well believe.
It was actually Skype now that I recall,done by some family member,bit was incredibly weird back then to hear of someone watching a funeral on a laptop.Its commonplace nowadays since covid.
Sorry, didnāt mean to sound like a dickhead, stories like these I love about this forum, I couldnāt help but ask.
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ah ya dont have to go abroad for that, seen it when i went to college and when i started working, lads that moved up from the countryside after having never left bar a school tour and lasted pissing time cos they could not focus on their studies/ work, Iām sure i took the piss at times but never enough to flunk college or get the sack from work, difference with college/working in Ireland is you can go home every weekend(or whenever you are off) for mammieās dinner, the clothes washed and if you are lucky (I must certainly wasnt- Leitrim farmers saw no logic/reason in giving a penny to a man actually getting a weeks wage, and I would not change a thing) a loaner to tide you over till payday.
Moving abroad however, sorts men from boys. When i was in the US I worked as much as I could and enjoyed my days off to the full as you do, i was there for experience more than anything. i knew loads that never worked and never looked for it, simply had a good time untill the cash ran out and the folks refused to bankroll them
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Iād say Iāve been drunk more days than Iāve been sober this month.
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Winner Alright!
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