https://www.londonirishstories.org/posts daily 0.75 2023-02-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1614082834179-6K2Y3K6BKLTAALT0RI9J/LIS-Logo-02.jpg Posts https://www.londonirishstories.org/posts/caroline-boyce monthly 0.5 2023-02-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/8ea3acfb-5633-4561-9af0-6413f3c9c264/IMG20230212161347.jpg Posts - Caroline Boyce - North London has a very close-knit Irish community and growing up we were really thrown into the Irish culture. My brothers both learnt how to play Irish music and I went to Irish dancing lessons. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/ef88b356-aae0-44dc-a9bf-0666192db902/caro.png Posts - Caroline Boyce - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/11a42689-7a6b-4bc6-a79b-01eb8914091a/IMG_20230212_182508.jpg Posts - Caroline Boyce - I set up my own dance school about 10 years ago now. Being able to teach such a unique form of dance is very exciting and to see my dancer’s progress is precious and very rewarding. I am always trying to build on numbers at my classes and encourage all children of all ages to get involved. It is a fun activity which builds discipline, coordination and friendships for life. Through popular demand, I now also teach adult classes in Crouch End which are so much fun. I would encourage everyone to give Irish dancing a go no matter your age or experience, you won’t regret it! ” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/b008a0ca-3b67-413a-ae03-817167cd735d/IMG_20230212_180639.jpg Posts - Caroline Boyce - My dad first took me along to Irish dance classes at the age of 5 years old. I started winning high level competitions quite young from local championships to those up the country. At my first Great Britain Championships I placed second, narrowly getting beaten by 1 point. From there on in, the competitive bug had got me. https://www.londonirishstories.org/posts/obioma-ugoala monthly 0.5 2023-01-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/f9906df3-c707-4724-a159-f9b6870a11e9/Obi1.jpg Posts - Obioma Ugoala - This year I wrote a book called ‘The Problem with My Normal Penis’ to address issues of what I noticed society is teaching young black men about race, sex and masculinity. These things that are being taught can be damaging to both men and women. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/dfe6c43d-4d0b-4854-a235-c811c180083b/Obismall.png Posts - Obioma Ugoala - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/62c4e62e-9c8c-4f05-8e4b-9447d7f5e0ec/Obi4.jpg Posts - Obioma Ugoala I used to play the tin whistle but because I went to school a bit too far away from home, it made it harder to attend the classes. Looking back, I really appreciate growing up with that London Irish community in North London, it was a lot of fun. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/bc4b067e-4b0f-4ad6-b3d8-64f3e942bfcd/Obi3.jpg Posts - Obioma Ugoala I feel lucky to have become a West End performer. I went to a school which had a good music department and the school choir I was a part of sang on film soundtracks and toured quite a lot. We were on soundtrack for Lord of the Rings, Sleepy Hollow and one of the Harry Potter films. https://www.londonirishstories.org/posts/ian-ryan monthly 0.5 2022-11-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/158d28a3-7da0-41cb-9239-8e2f18dba6c2/Ian+and+Laura.jpg Posts - Ian Ryan When I moved over an Irish guy gave me a job in a PR agency for a year which later led me to working at a gaming PR agency for three years. I’m now in gaming fundraising for a children's hospital charity in London. I work with gamers on YouTube who host live stream gaming marathons to raise money for the hospital. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/61aa882a-92e6-4933-b6b7-de0ee84f6312/Ian.jpg Posts - Ian Ryan Guinness has really taken off as a drink over in the UK and a lot more Guinness is sold over here in the last couple of years. It’s seen as a cool drink now rather than an auld fella drink like it used to be. A lot of pub owners have heard about Shit London Guinness and the fear of their pints being posted on the page keeps the pubs pouring better and better pints. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/3273421b-ee63-4ffb-8061-17fa403712b0/Shitlondonguiness.jfif Posts - Ian Ryan ‘Shit London Guinness’ started from a thread I created on my own Twitter account with pictures of terrible pints of Guinness I was served over here. People were really getting into it, especially people at home in Ireland who would laugh at how terrible the pints were. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/050aaee7-e2fe-4736-a5bd-f906ad02fcac/Ian2small.png Posts - Ian Ryan - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.londonirishstories.org/posts/katie-mullally monthly 0.5 2022-09-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/8df68a84-c52b-495f-a0f1-ee983df154af/KMM_LB22_139+copy.jpg Posts - Katie Mullally - London Irish Centre X Katie Mullally Be the first to be notified when Katie Mullally’s Claddagh ring in partnership with the London Irish Centre goes on sale by signing up to the London Irish Centre’s newsletter here 40% of the profits from this sale will go towards the work of the London Irish Centre. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/02f23c58-5930-413b-aae5-8f84ee436ea5/IMG_2550.jpg Posts - Katie Mullally - Since the age of 14, I would spend my school holidays at my Granny's antique silver and jewellery shop in St Christopher’s Place, beside Selfridge’s in London. There I would help her with cleaning the silver. I learned a lot at the shop. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/db260cf4-4e66-4e99-bf27-518eb0e173d7/Katie+mullally+headshot.jpg Posts - Katie Mullally - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/c2ee8a4a-1295-494c-8c47-6fc6107ea854/IMG_1988.jpg Posts - Katie Mullally - When I got married, my son Will and daughter Georgia arrived, and my work revolved around my kids. For a good while I was doing up wrecks of houses which my husband and I would buy, renovate and then sell – we moved many times! It was a creative outlet for me to renovate these houses and I really loved it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/5ef41d5e-6174-4e28-8b62-4251caa4c285/IMG_8589.jpg Posts - Katie Mullally - Growing up I was always seen as the bold one, I wasn’t particularly good at school. I later discovered that I suffered from dyslexia. This was not known about in those days, so my parents didn’t know how to help me when I wasn’t doing well at school due to my difficulties with reading. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/99889c4e-53b6-4238-ad15-e74a8e89c84c/410d9bcd-212a-4e6a-89db-5dd50f38a4f5+%281%29.JPG Posts - Katie Mullally - Initially, I began soldering silver bangles and adding vintage charms, selling them from a shop in Devon. The vintage charms were becoming increasingly hard to source and so I decided to design charms, based on my love of vintage, and then have them cast. This allowed me the opportunity to scale up the business and to ensure that every piece I sell had the KMM hallmark. Many jewellers do not take the trouble to get hallmarks for smaller pieces. But hallmarking is very important to me, as I know it tells the story of each piece in addition to adding to its value. https://www.londonirishstories.org/posts/ruth-reynolds monthly 0.5 2022-07-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/9394c79c-a8a4-491f-8f38-2b415572fe73/FB_IMG_1657387600118.jpg Posts - Ruth Reynolds I no longer play Gaelic but a few years ago I joined a tag rugby league and by chance I ended up in a team with a lot of first, second and third-generation Irish people. Tag rugby is a great way of meeting new people in London, I would recommend it to anyone. People are always coming and going in London so it’s nice to have something like tag rugby where you feel part of a team and community and can have a run about. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/fc691e4e-95de-4c41-8cd6-2ee08fcfc54d/ICgirlsgaelicteam.jpg Posts - Ruth Reynolds - I ended up chairing the Irish Society and organising Céilís and events for the society. It’s the case of becoming more Irish because you’re living abroad. However, being away from home does make you appreciate and embrace being Irish in a new way. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/37122aa8-5efd-4426-b351-27c07c632c16/clogherhead.jpg Posts - Ruth Reynolds - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/d87d7f9e-aae1-49d3-8e62-6222a9c9c586/graduation.jpg Posts - Ruth Reynolds - I always liked maths and fixing things, so it made sense to me to go for it. I think the fact that it was outside of the expected choice spurred me on to want to do it more. It’s not always straightforward for women in technology but I think it’s great to see more girls going into it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/f01b9755-ab0e-4497-bfef-6e7c8d8ff4a0/southbank.jpg Posts - Ruth Reynolds - I guess in London you can express yourself anyway you want, and no one passes any remarks either way which is something that is great and very freeing about being here. https://www.londonirishstories.org/posts/farah-abushwesha monthly 0.5 2022-06-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/7f25fc89-b5c7-4489-b87a-630e59baa6f1/Edit+with+border.jpg Posts - Farah Abushwesha - I got into activism during the Libyan revolution. My dad was unable to communicate with us as he had throat cancer and lost his voice. Gaddafi shut down texts and social media, making it impossible to get a hold of him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/284fbde8-499b-4758-89f3-43c59e7cebd2/11169067_10153570893295129_5953129665994978327_n.jpg Posts - Farah Abushwesha - She would make me write and re-write letters to my parents in Libya until they were perfect! My Granny was a singer in her youth and sung for Maud Gonne who she befriended. I can speak some Irish because of her and it’s handy sometimes. As a child, I had a big personality, seeking out different opportunities and auditions to express myself like the Dublin Children’s Opera. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/20564e8f-2d4a-4b4d-a0f2-7e2ef05b9049/21059_351050025128_5845497_n.jpg Posts - Farah Abushwesha - The move back to Ireland from Libya was hard because even though I could speak two languages, I wasn’t at the same reading and writing level as my peers. The school wanted to put me a lower younger class, but my grandmother, an Irish teacher, insisted that she would get me up to the same level as my peers within six weeks and she did. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/7c182b31-1897-4750-8d2b-72b4f19d7c48/Farah+Headshot.jpeg Posts - Farah Abushwesha - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.londonirishstories.org/posts/fr-bernrd-j-lynch monthly 0.5 2022-05-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/153f7f8d-1d28-414a-a9a4-d27e2ded2e3e/Bernard+Young.jpg Posts - Fr Bernárd J Lynch - I had no idea that I was gay growing up. I just knew I wasn't as sexually attracted to girls as my friends were. To study psychology in the US you had to go into therapy yourself, which at that time was very unusual. It was during my time in therapy that I began to undo my sexual pathology and discovered that I was gay. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/3fcfb595-a1f7-48f9-a56e-4ce4a71e1159/Pride.jpg Posts - Fr Bernárd J Lynch One Saturday evening mass the usual priest didn’t show up and there was a group of 200 people worried that they wouldn’t receive mass. In that moment I told them I was a priest. Of course that was me out of the closet. Soon after that our numbers grew from 200 to 1200. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/0e9195e4-70ac-4af2-80a6-c7a84e215de1/Billy+and+Bernard.jpg Posts - Fr Bernárd J Lynch - While I was in New York I testified for a bill that was before the city council which said that no one could discriminate against people in jobs and housing if they were part of the LGBT+ community. I knew once I testified, I would lose my job- which I did. But the bill finally passed along with the help of others. The catholic church then saw me as a traitor to their theology and wanted to have me deported from the United States, but they couldn’t as I then had a US passport. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/e94a0156-9e7b-4a52-8768-bc618e3028b9/NYC.jpg Posts - Fr Bernárd J Lynch - I stayed working helping AIDS/ HIV for 40 years and it was the reason I came to London. I came here in 1992 and worked with an organisation called CARA, care and resources for people with AIDS, which had an office across from London lighthouse. I only intended on staying here for three years initially but I met my husband, Billy, so that changed everything! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1fc3ddb9-7e27-459d-ad0c-e9061f77e8d0/1.jpg Posts - Fr Bernárd J Lynch - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.londonirishstories.org/posts/in-memory-of-billy-and-nancy-mcnamara monthly 0.5 2022-04-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/004e60c1-675d-46f6-b395-e1e8f21b4293/3.jpg Posts - Billy and Nancy McNamara - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/2d745210-1652-4694-9231-67225f7257a3/2.jpg Posts - Billy and Nancy McNamara - Make it stand out "Nancy and Billy had 4 children. They have 6 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. Dad was born in Tullamore Offaly and Mum in Athenry Galway. They came to England in the early 50s and met through their work with the Catholic Church in Quex Road Kilburn. After raising their children in Hayes Middlesex, they retired to the south coast Bournemouth. Here their grandchildren had endless summers on the beach. Their life revolved around the church and their grandchildren. Dad passed away in 2013 and Mum in 2017. They are dearly missed” - Trish Appel https://www.londonirishstories.org/posts/troy-gallagher monthly 0.5 2022-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/5bb8312d-96eb-478b-9294-817809397aa3/Mr+Mayor+inauguration+2.jpg Posts - Troy Gallagher - The year is already flying by, but I’m delighted to be working with charities that I hold dear to my heart and chose to raise money for with the Council this year. James Place and ICAP both are working to help those suffering from depression and Forum+, helps bring equality and support to the LGBTQ+ community in Islington. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/0941acb7-a4fa-457d-a5ed-a28a003bc2ef/Mr+Mayor+Freedom+of+the+borough.jpg Posts - Troy Gallagher I first moved over to the UK to attend Westminster College in Oxford to study English and literature in 1995. In Oxford, I finally met people who were openly gay. It was a relief to be able to talk about it and just have friends that knew. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/26723f3f-3252-4357-964c-8625649b6ef7/Mr+Mayor+inauguration.png Posts - Troy Gallagher - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.londonirishstories.org/posts/annie-power monthly 0.5 2022-03-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/2ffbfabe-3392-43e5-9c8c-69c1398a9b0f/Annie+2.jpeg Posts - Annie Power - There was a great character in the Favourite called Gerry who played bodhran, did card tricks and sleight of hand magic, and the atmosphere was tremendous. At the end of the session, we’d all pile into the same café on the Holloway Road for a roast dinner, or bacon and cabbage. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1fc2c295-5740-4378-8f72-57dd4eec98b8/Annie+5.jpeg Posts - Annie Power - I trained as a teacher in Birmingham, and it was there that I went to my first folk clubs and Irish music venues and started performing. In 1974 I came to London to teach, and never left, apart from a couple of years teaching English in Greece. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/7b37fe53-e009-438c-814e-3ab7ac41f4cc/Annie+8.jpeg Posts - Annie Power - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.londonirishstories.org/posts/trish-oflynn monthly 0.5 2022-03-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/635813f2-cdea-4fad-9c64-0bdc5a01a3a0/Me+Brian+Ireland+1969+%282%29.jpg Posts - Trish O’Flynn - “Growing up, my brothers and I were sent off to Galway to my uncle’s farm the day after school broke up for the summer and we would spend the summers with my cousins.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/855d1ba3-56a4-4c2a-9cc4-f42146a882ee/Shillelagh+Sisters+1983.jpg Posts - Trish O’Flynn - “We were brought up with the country bands and the Ceilí bands, but this was our version of Irish music!” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/7b433ba4-e4a2-4c8c-85e4-d7e7f6dd01f3/IMG-20180922-WA0037.jpg Posts - Trish O’Flynn - “When I finished my time in education, I moved back to London and began working in research for Reading University and City, University of London. Now I’m doing consultancy work with a futures agency looking at what is coming up in the next 20 years in different sectors, which I'm finding very interesting.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/91176327-a676-4dde-a96b-97d874b4cfdb/IMG-20180922-WA0011.jpg Posts - Trish O’Flynn - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.londonirishstories.org/posts/sean-mcgovern monthly 0.5 2022-03-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/3fba2cd9-b880-4896-a4aa-80b31bd77812/In+the+warehouse%2C+2011.jpg Posts - Sean McGovern - While living in the warehouse, I had my mind opened- I met new people, did new things, fell in love (a few times!), had conversations, read books, and the things that I had previously thought were challenged and changed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/00a44eb5-b662-412c-9dba-c208bd909e30/Brixton+2019%2C+photo+by+Andrew+Urwin.png Posts - Sean McGovern - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/6e071b1a-9e48-4cac-a3da-ec3b41d70e50/Tiny+man+on+a+big+stage%2C+London+Film+Festival+2019%2C+a+big+moment+for+me.JPG Posts - Sean McGovern - From this experience I got a job working with the BFI Flare Festival, Fringe! Queer Film Fest, the BFI London Film Festival and then as Festival Programmer at GAZE, Ireland’s LGBTQ+ festival in Dublin. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/ae2e6c42-23a2-4831-8ef6-324976fee2e7/Graduation+2020.+We+left+college+to+emigrate+or+go+on+the+dole.jpg Posts - Sean McGovern - I finished school in 2007 and went to UCD in Dublin to do English and Film Studies. Back then, we were told that going to college to do any course was guaranteed to open doors for you. https://www.londonirishstories.org/posts/arveene-juthan monthly 0.5 2022-02-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/929b5238-553c-4cc3-85a8-65c890dd980c/arveene+8.jpg Posts - Arveene Juthan - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/aa4213fb-d5dc-41f2-84a0-d183076a5568/arveene+7.jpg Posts - Arveene Juthan - “I was booked to DJ at the MTV Music Awards along with Carl Cox and Darren Emerson. So, Dublin really was the epicentre of cool at that point, having its moment in the sunlight.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/bf5dbfc5-37cd-425f-86ce-adaade85db55/arveene+9.jpg Posts - Arveene Juthan “I’d consider relocating to Ireland full time if it becomes more open to the electronic music scene and invests in it.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/710fb75f-66bc-4280-bbfb-f8181260fb81/arveene+3.jpg Posts - Arveene Juthan “There should be struggle when change is happening as it helps us face uncomfortable issues, that can tend to be swept or avoided.” https://www.londonirishstories.org/posts/angela-brady monthly 0.5 2022-01-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/a584c8d7-dfa4-49e9-a2ef-a6c968a6e2d4/women.jpg Posts - Angela Brady - “When I started working in London, I found out that women were paid less then men and had fewer career opportunities.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/5b8b1a15-7bbd-4f15-bfd9-5b0500d82c25/glass.jpg Posts - Angela Brady “My side hustle for the past 15 years and to keep my artistic side alive, is making fused glass artworks.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/be7b751e-fbe2-4165-a90e-182142d92320/Angela.png Posts - Angela Brady - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/044104f3-a269-4f79-86a7-7a8444aab40a/protest.jpg Posts - Angela Brady - “Then later at a talk I gave, as soon as I mentioned my dress, I was invited to donate it to the Protest Fashion section of the Museum of London. I was delighted to do so!” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/965d4273-2af5-44c7-b494-14a2abe38c13/angela.jpg Posts - Angela Brady “It was such a lovely TV series to make with RTE and it’s now streaming worldwide on Amazon Prime.” https://www.londonirishstories.org/posts/maeve-heath monthly 0.5 2021-12-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/440c90b3-e8df-42e3-af42-d3088a977ed2/With+Maeve.jpg Posts - Maeve Heath - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/8285b212-2485-4466-90dc-c6c895d063bc/20200201_LICBrigids-7782+%281%29.jpg Posts - Maeve Heath “Now it’s great to see the younger generation coming into the centre and bringing all their new ideas. That’s the future of this place and it’s wonderful to see.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/679485e0-237b-4ef2-a034-aa0473ec3894/Maeve4.jpg Posts - Maeve Heath “When my sister and I first came over and we were looking for a room, the first place we went had a note in the window saying, “No Blacks, No Dogs, No Irish” and I thought it was disgusting.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/93bfd7b8-9ae5-4561-8683-2979772355e8/20200201_LICBrigids-7592.jpg Posts - Maeve Heath “London of course is my home now because my kids are here, and their families are here.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/9d0046ba-aba2-4620-85c5-a9343af32f0d/Maeve+5.png Posts - Maeve Heath “We had absolutely nothing! And that is what motivated the decision for a better life by moving to London.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/f645c304-a427-4cb9-b38d-5d5262009812/Maeve1.png Posts - Maeve Heath When I first started seeing my husband we were out for a drive in the countryside and I said, “Oh so you do have trees out here?!” He said ‘you're crazy, of course we have trees.’ https://www.londonirishstories.org/posts/declan-kelly monthly 0.5 2021-08-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1628602233219-TUS8S2MIEK5VTCV30HNP/Declan+Kelly+2.png Posts - Declan Kelly - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1628607817967-KC4IO9LUMEYA4BE88XEY/DECLAN+KELLY+OPENING+1.jpg Posts - Declan Kelly - We go for a walk in the park, I get to hear about their story, about coming out, about what they’ve faced in London, then I take their photo. This project has brought me so much joy in the past few months coming out of lockdown. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1628608625669-Y42LUUDOY41MN29YHWQG/Declan+Kelly+3.png Posts - Declan Kelly - I came out when I left secondary school and had a strong group of college friends who I trusted. Coming out as gay was the best feeling ever and I would do it again if I could. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1628601833347-YOZ5IQP4WR0NYT1T1YCM/Declan+Kelly+4.jpeg Posts - Declan Kelly I love Dublin, you can cycle from one end of the city to the other in no time. I loved Sunday bingo at the George, brunch at two boys brew and knowing there was always someone around for pint and a chat. https://www.londonirishstories.org/posts/john-reavey monthly 0.5 2021-07-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1627487328562-J9YX93YKQ6503SFAAJFZ/Photo+-+John+Reavey+3.png Posts - John Reavey - “I had no expectations going into the piece but set up a crowdfunding page with a goal of raising £3000. We didn't think we would hit that but thought people might donate more to help us get there.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1627487239976-HPC1V5HJJD5SLT6OEWXL/image-asset.png Posts - John Reavey - “When I first found YouTube, I was obsessed with the idea that you could create anything from your phone.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1627487285823-2N4DNF164KDQ6FG3SGZD/Photo+-+John+Reavey+1+.png Posts - John Reavey “I moved over completely alone with no parents, no friends, no industry connections, but I was driven on by seeing all my dreams come to reality.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1627486396993-AKL7NC0W3LU3N2CZQP1B/Main+Image+-+John+Reavey.png Posts - John Reavey - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.londonirishstories.org/posts/aisling-drennan monthly 0.5 2021-07-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1625829158373-F5C5AX33J7OZSH3EWVJZ/Aisling+Drennan+at+her+studio+in+Earldsfield%2C+London..jpeg Posts - Aisling Drennan - “Central Saint Martin's was the only art school I applied to and was accepted onto their Masters in Fine Art programme, I couldn't believe it. I remember getting the letter and asking my Dad to open it because I was just too nervous.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1625829461974-Z1T78NTVS6RSPQR1ZBLB/Aisling+Drennan+painting+in+her+studio Posts - Aisling Drennan - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1625830191030-I85QBZYZ0CNC8MO9AKWX/Aisling+Drennan+Riverdance%2C+New+York+2004.png Posts - Aisling Drennan - “When I went out on tour, I always had my sketchbook and my paint box in the suitcase. I would go see the galleries or museums and try to connect myself with the art world.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1625829075102-3ATLZY62CX6COSOM8ABM/Aisling+Drennan+Riverdance+Tokyo+2008.jpg Posts - Aisling Drennan - “Irish dancing had never been considered in a different format; it was always following on from what it had been before for aeons.” https://www.londonirishstories.org/posts/shara-tochia monthly 0.5 2021-06-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1624875144761-AU046SJSBQ8SMPLZU6N5/Shara+Tochia+smiling+with+her+parents Posts - Shara Tochia - “People will sometimes say ‘Oh my God, it’s such an unusual mix’ – it’s not. Irish and Indian families are both centred around food and lots of people at all times.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1624875105602-1Q88DT33MED4CV14YKU0/Shara+Tochia+-+Photo+7.jpeg Posts - Shara Tochia - “My Dad is Indian and grew up in Narobi Kenya. He moved here when he was 19. He gate-crashed an Irish nursing disco, where they met, and they're still together to this day.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1624875194012-YDR3ANYXXAKYB17FCMPZ/Shara+Tochia+as+a+child+holding+eggs+beside+a+chicken+coop Posts - Shara Tochia - “My sisters and I would visit Ireland for six weeks every summer holiday. We would go to the farm where my Grandmother lived – where my Mum grew up – and wake up the hens and name all the stray cats. I used to love going to church because the sweet shop was next door.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1624878604858-SFY00ZYHCFSWEYV4AXCF/Shara+Tochia+leaning+against+brick+wall Posts - Shara Tochia - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.londonirishstories.org/posts/evin-oriordain monthly 0.5 2021-06-18 https://www.londonirishstories.org/posts/charlie-ryder monthly 0.5 2021-06-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1623324497178-DPTH7VOSZNFBZXTH8R6E/Charlie+holding+lacrosse+net+with+helmet Posts - Charlie Ryder - “I also used to play lacrosse and helped develop Ireland’s lacrosse team. We played in the European Championships, and I was the captain. Now I've stepped back but I was just happy to see it develop.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1623314518455-DZFNVKC26RZF28NGM4R9/Charlie+Ryder++sitting+outside+the+London+Irish+Centre+with+handmade+puppets Posts - Charlie Ryder - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1623324343226-8PD7TV85PPHRYSSQ4LYB/Charlie+in+Irish+Jersey+standing+outside+Little+Angel+Theatre+with+handmade+puppets Posts - Charlie Ryder - "My Dad suffered from alcoholism. I think he suffered moving away from Ireland and got into the drinking culture. I found a 12-step fellowship called Al-Anon, for relatives of alcoholics, which helped me heal and come to a place of forgiveness." https://www.londonirishstories.org/posts/michelle-lyons monthly 0.5 2021-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1622214457159-9QET1N7AI43KC1DBHA25/Michelle+standing+arms+wide+open+on+the+beach Posts - Michelle Lyons - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1622210615291-3UD9H30CZEN3A74ID36K/Michelle+smiling+sitting+on+a+bench+with+her+dog+beside+her Posts - Michelle Lyons - “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.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1622212379911-32HVSSV84LBX5ZYLQ5YE/Michelle+smiling+standing+beside+her+bike+at+the+side+of+country+road Posts - Michelle Lyons - “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.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1622212440304-G5BCF8RQ030Z6LMHQU4Y/Michelle+on+top+of+mountain+with+lake+views+below+her Posts - Michelle Lyons - “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.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1622212463546-10Y8R13ON886QB5I45I2/Michelle+standing+outside+the+Taj+Mahal Posts - Michelle Lyons - “I saved up for a round the world ticket when I was twenty-two.” https://www.londonirishstories.org/posts/leah-hayden-cassidy monthly 0.5 2021-05-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1621440973797-1C90QJK0X1ZW7S6MYWKM/Leah+doing+a+haircut+demonstration+on+a+male+in+front+of+audience Posts - Leah Hayden Cassidy - “My teaching used to take me away every weekend around the world. In 2019, I would go to Brazil, then I would come back to London for a day, swap bags, and then go to Vancouver, then Romania, then Germany.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1621442566974-00GTKGU7RW1EF6HDPEIC/Leah+standing+wearing+her+own+merch+tshirt Posts - Leah Hayden Cassidy - “It was a scary time, but I got to experience London and fell in love with London. We are so central, and the streets were empty. It was probably the only time you'll ever get to see things like that.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1621440663947-MZGDAC3E0GZ9DUH9QYH1/Leah+playing+football Posts - Leah Hayden Cassidy - “I got a scholarship in America and went to university there. Three years into my scholarship, there was a slide tackle and I broke my leg.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1621412994520-C230NQKZWBQ67DKEV1JA/Leah+walking+down+Portobello+road+in+London Posts - Leah Hayden Cassidy - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.londonirishstories.org/posts/miki-garcia monthly 0.5 2021-05-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1620743065023-UUF35NBAHT10PJQHSYRU/Miki+headshot+with+green+border Posts - Miki Garcia - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1620744732235-DBPVJUEL88T9JBY9YACI/Miki+smiling+at+ornamental+door Posts - Miki Garcia - “One of the books I wrote is The Caribbean Irish: How the Slave Myth was Made. It was a response to the Black Lives Matter movement and how people were talking on the internet about Irish slaves and sharing wrong information. I wanted to write something easy, but informative.” Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1620744212083-J8BOZFNDOMCYX8W9P1X7/Miki+playing+the+uilleann+pipes Posts - Miki Garcia - “I learnt to play the bodhrán, the tin whistle, and the Uilleann pipes. I learned everything at the Irish centre. I immersed myself in order to understand the history, the culture, and all the rest. I think I got carried away. I just couldn't stop.” Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.londonirishstories.org/posts/elly-okeeffe monthly 0.5 2021-04-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1619702716579-U0Z88C6FNAZ4DONUSA6Q/Candid+photo+of+Elly+in+Sepia+tone Posts - Elly O'Keeffe - “I realised that I just needed a bit of a bigger world and probably needed to be in a creative environment.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1619710623714-JAA1IO34NYI0OMZ9LSPQ/Elly+looking+pensively+into+the+distance+in+a+forest+setting Posts - Elly O'Keeffe https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1619702855303-K76WAA78HY5XIUKC6R58/Elly+playing+guitar+in+black+and+white Posts - Elly O'Keeffe - “It was hard time financially, and I worked very hard in a little old mans pub in Farringdon but I was just putting all my energy into my music really.” https://www.londonirishstories.org/posts/nicholas-fitzgerald monthly 0.5 2021-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1617112404478-OLTLYBU2ZBCA00I6WKCT/Nicholas+squeezing+lime+onto+tacos+on+the+pass Posts - Nicholas Fitzgerald https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1616687058762-38GM3IK88NRKK3VTMNM6/Nick+behind+bar+at+his+restaurant+Tacos+Padre Posts - Nicholas Fitzgerald “The first three months, we were running a taqueria making lots of tacos every day. Then we all had to close from March onwards. There was nothing we could do about it.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1616686736593-U29FY85R09Q9ILUZTVBP/Nicholas+in+hair+net+smiling+in+a+group+photo+at+a+BBQ+in+mexico Posts - Nicholas Fitzgerald “It was the best introduction to Mexico I could have hoped for.” https://www.londonirishstories.org/posts/laura-fay monthly 0.5 2021-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1614075537349-WBOXWC6IZ14QEX691PDO/Laura+smiling%2C+waving+at+camera+wearing+scrubs+holding+a+cup+tea Posts - Laura Fay “My aspiration always was to become a nurse, so I sugar-coated the job in my mind.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1614075149439-S7UJW9WBFYHLSLNBR3UH/Laura+smiling+leaning+into+male+friend+beside+Christmas+tree Posts - Laura Fay “Working in the health system, I would say communicate with your family and friends, they can be your best asset.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602c03669f10401f2e624bb8/1614074320314-TVTVW3NXCX76OJ6ZX7M4/Laura+smiling%2C+arms+open+on+a+street+in+London Posts - 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