Seamus Connolly (47) has been unemployed for most of the six years since he left farming. Having lived and worked on his parents' farm seven miles outside Cavan town, he decided to sell up soon after they died.
"I was living on my own there and I could have kept it going if I wanted, but you could say it was isolating. I wanted to look around and try something else, so I sold it.
"I looked for work, had a few interviews, but Cavan has been a real black spot for unemployment for a good number of years. There had been no new industry in the town for 20 years until the announcement last year that the American Terradyne USA was opening and there would be more than 700 jobs. So at that time there was nothing really."
He bought a bungalow with the proceeds of the farm sale and had a little left to live on, combined with unemployment assistance. He got involved with St Vincent de Paul, helping in the night shelter for homeless people and working with Travellers.
In late 1997 he volunteered to work in India. He trained with the Viatores Christi, a lay missionary organisation in Dublin, and travelled to Calcutta in January 1998 where he worked with the Missionaries of Charity for three months.
He was employed briefly as a ward worker in St Felim's Hospital in Cavan upon his return, but in September that year he opted to do a FAS course in construction and decorating. "I thought I'd get work in that area no bother," he says. "I wasn't too worried at first. In fact, I was pretty confident I'd be employed in no time. I was willing to travel, but didn't get anything. I suppose you could say there was a lack of work about."
Asked how he feels when people say that, these days, anyone out of work clearly does not want to work, he holds himself up as proof that that is not true.
"I would like to work. I've done all I can to overcome the barriers to finding work. When I didn't get work in construction, I thought I'd really like to work in social care. I did night classes in Monaghan and distance education with University College Galway. In June this year I got my certificate in social care and also did a placement for practical caring skills."
At the same time he was participating in a Community Employment scheme, gardening with the Garrymore Association in Ballinagh, Co Cavan.
AS-sponsored back-to-work training programme.
"And the only training centres are in Dundalk and Dublin so people have to travel large distances just to get training."
Having received the certificate in social care, Seamus applied for jobs around Cavan and in Dublin. So far he has had "about eight interviews", and while he felt they "went well" he has not yet been offered work.
Since 1994, he estimates he has had about 40 to 50 interviews.
"I wouldn't say I'm depressed, but I do miss the structure and friendship I had when I was on the CE scheme, meeting people every day and the sense of purpose. Sometimes you stop feeling valued or significant."
His income is £77.50 per week unemployment assistance, though this is due to increase to £85.50 in April.
"I get by on it," he says. "I know I'd be better off with a job, but for now, I'm inclined to go to one shop - Dunnes - get nearly everything there. You check the prices yes, make sure not to spend too much.
"I wouldn't go to restaurants much, but I am out nearly every night, at meetings or with the St Vincent de Paul. It's important to keep busy."
Irish Lives appears in The Irish Times each Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in the run-up to Christmas