For those in desperate need of work to put food on the table or to keep a roof over their heads, the decision to emigrate is relatively straightforward. That is not to assume it is an easy choice to make.
For others, there are lots of reasons for choosing to leave, and even more to consider when deciding whether to stay put or to return to Ireland at some point in the future.
I discovered some of the motivations emigrants consider when faced with these life-changing decisions while making my documentary, Coming Home. The film charts the stories of five Irish emigrants pursuing their dreams of returning to live in Ireland one day.
For those who have a choice in the matter, here are some of the attractions of moving abroad:
Adventure: Opening yourself up to new places and cultures, meeting new people and practising new customs can be invigorating. This can lead to different ways of perceiving the world, which in turn may produce a more content outlook on life. The weather and environment an emigrant experiences might also play a big part in shaping their mood – a literal and metaphorical parting of the clouds was noted by some of the film's subjects who moved to sunnier destinations.
Opportunity knocks: Moving to bigger countries with larger populations opens up opportunities to try new careers and progress a lot quicker up the career ladder in some cases. The anonymity afforded by new countries and big cities offers the emigrant a chance to reinvent or fully express themselves in ways not possible back home.
Distance: An emigrant may elect to move to a new country to move away from a toxic situation they find themselves in through no choice of their own and they often flourish once they find some breathing space and distance between themselves and what they left behind.
Quality of life: Some emigrants experience a better general quality of life abroad. This can refer to having more disposable income, better work-life balance, an active outdoors lifestyle, a good environment to raise a family and reliable support services, infrastructure such as health services and so on.
Why return? The passing of time is a key factor in an emigrant's journey often leading to a shift in priorities. When all is said and done for most emigrants it comes back to family and friends, a sense of identity and belonging, and enjoying those special moments in life with loved ones before it's too late.
'Coming Home' will be screened at the Dublin Civic Offices on Wood Quay on Monday, November 14th, as part of the 'Moving to Ireland' conference hosted by the Crosscare Migrant Project and Dublin City Council. The conference runs from 9.30am to 1pm, with a Q&A with the director, and Irish Times Abroad editor Ciara Kenny. To register for the free event, see movingtoireland.eventbrite.ie .
The film will also be shown at Movies@Dundrum from Friday, November 18th, to Thursday, November 24th, daily at 8pm, and at the Carlton Cinema Toronto from Friday, November 25th, to Thursday, December Ist, daily at 7pm. For further screening details see:
Film screenings:
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