Michelle Lyons
A London Irish Story as told to Matthew Dunne-Miles
“Being Irish in London still felt tricky in the mid 1990s.... It felt that the perception of Irish stereotypes was still there, microaggressions as you would call them now, but that language didn’t exist in those days.”
“I was born in a small place outside Castlebar, County Mayo. I was the youngest of seven and moved to Dublin when I was four. ‘The Big Smoke’. It was a massive shift for my parents. I grew up in South County Dublin. Our house was like Grand Central. We used to leave our key in the front door until it got stolen.
We were the outliers, being what they call ‘culchies’, and they didn't know what to make of us. All the families around us were just two or three children – then there was us from the wild wild west! It was the 1970s and you could play out on the streets until 11 o'clock. I'm still in touch with the friends I made in those childhood days, although we may not see each other as much.
I won book tokens at a race for my school sports day. I bought a small book with an atlas. I ended up knowing every capital of every country. I was obsessed with looking at these places and wanted to go visit them.
“I saved up for a round the world ticket when I was twenty-two.”
I saved up for a round the world ticket when I was twenty-two. That was difficult for my parents. I was the youngest, they were protective, and nobody else in my family had done this. At the same time, they were supportive and selfless.
I was working at an estate agent during the day then at a bar at night – where I would save all my tips. I would give my Mum rent. That was their big thing, you had to pay your way. Six months later, when I had saved up all my money and before I left, my Mum gave me back all the money that I gave her for rent wrapped up in an elastic band. It was so selfless and one of the most moving things.
“After my travels, I went back to Ireland, and I struggled to settle. I wasn't ready to go home. I applied for one of the Morrison visas for America and ten months later I got a letter from the US Embassy.”
I ended up in Australia and met a great bunch of girls in a house share. We would gather round the table when my Mother's letters would arrive. She would always finish her letters with 'If things get hard, all you need to do is say: “Oh Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in thee' and everything will be alright.”’ We laughed, but even to this day, one of my friends says she always thinks of that.
After my travels, I went back to Ireland, and I struggled to settle. I wasn't ready to go home. I applied for one of the Morrison visas for America and ten months later I got a letter from the US Embassy. Boston was a fantastic city to be Irish in, but those winters were long and hard!
I got offered a job in London with the same company I was working for in Boston. I didn't know a soul but wanted to move into a creative industry and London was the place to do that. I also could just go home to Dublin for a weekend.
“London excited me, the big lights, the diversity, everything that London has to offer. I went into a house in Battersea, and I stayed in that area for ten years.”
Being Irish in London still felt tricky in the mid 1990s. I was in the middle ground between the generation you have today who are professional, educated, and have so much to offer and the generation that came in the 1950s to 1970s who didn't have that same confidence but they paved the way for the rest of us. It felt that the perception of Irish stereotypes was still there, microaggressions as you would call them now, but that language didn't exist in those days.
“Home is always Ireland. Even though I've been here twenty years and have a house and a life here. Regardless of that wanderlust and that atlas, Ireland always pulls you back.”
London excited me, the big lights, the diversity, everything that London has to offer. I went into a house in Battersea, and I stayed in that area for ten years. London's very transient and I think you gravitate towards others who are similar. I met a lot of Antipodeans and I ended up marrying a South African.
My parents are in their nineties now. As a family, we’re taking care of them and that means making the tough choice of remaining distant. My Mum is a whizz on WhatsApp and FaceTime because she's determined to stay connected – but it's not the same. No amount of Zoom calls makes up for that.
I'm at a point in my life where community is important. You don't know your neighbours in London and your friendship groups can be spread across the city. With restrictions and lockdowns, me and my Husband have been quite isolated. Seeing the restrictions starting to lift in Ireland, I'm ready to book that flight. I will get my second vaccine soon and my Mum turns ninety in June. A hug is all I want.
Home is always Ireland. Even though I've been here twenty years and have a house and a life here. Regardless of that wanderlust and that atlas, Ireland always pulls you back."
