May the road rise up to meet you until we meet again.

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Candace Phelps
5 years ago
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1 May the road rise up to meet you until we meet again. How Traditional Gaelic Blessings & Other Cultural Cues Consistently Bring Irish Emigrants Back Home Hollie Blakeney and Elizabeth Douet Global Training Specialists

2 May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand. Traditional Gaelic Blessing

Emigration in Context Irish Emigration Statistics 2013 Irish population - 4.

to March 2013 3 243 people leaving the country daily Clare Daly http://claredaly.

3 Emigration in Context Irish Emigration Statistics 2013 Irish population million 89,000 emigrants (2013) Highest number in more than a century Nearly half are Irish Irish Times Emigration Year to March people leaving the country daily Clare Daly the-image-of-irish-emigrants-as-tragic-exiles-still-fit-for-purpose

Emigration Considerations Sheer Persistence of Emigration as a

emigrate as a normal choice, in the sense that decades and

simply not the case in many other developed countries.

4 Emigration Considerations Sheer Persistence of Emigration as a Default Option It would be fair to describe the decision to emigrate as a normal choice, in the sense that decades and even centuries of habit have made it so, in a way that is simply not the case in many other developed countries. Irish Times 4

5 Repatriation Considerations Repatriation as a Default Option? 50% of the 1980 s emigration generation returned to Ireland 30% of current day emigrants return home 15,700 Irish returned from abroad (2013) Minister of the Diaspora created in Budget allocation of 12.6 M Irish Times 5

6 Can Cultural Cues Consistently Bring Irish Emigrants Home? Observable Cultural Cues (top of the iceberg) Appearance Dress Language Behaviours Habits Customs Beliefs Traditions 6

7 Online Survey Requirements: Irish citizenship At least 15 years living in Ireland before the age of 21 After the age of 15, emigrated overseas for at least one year Have returned to Ireland to live Number of respondents:30

Factors Impacting the Decision to Emigrate

positively impacted my decision to leave

I knew from when I was a teenager that I

My immediate family supported my decision

8 Factors Impacting the Decision to Emigrate Knowing other people who moved abroad positively impacted my decision to leave Ireland. I knew from when I was a teenager that I would move abroad one day. My immediate family supported my decision to LEAVE Ireland. My immediate family was excited that I was LEAVING Ireland. Yes=7+, No=4- out of 10

When I was growing up in Ireland, I remember hearing Irish STORIES about

9 Cultural Cues about Emigration When I was growing up in Ireland, I remember hearing Irish SONGS about people LEAVING Ireland. When I was growing up in Ireland, I remember hearing Irish STORIES about people LEAVING Ireland. My family often spoke about family and friends that LEFT Ireland. Yes=7+, No=4- out of 10

10 Irish Mythology 75% of respondents strong knowledge of Irish mythology (scored 7 and over)

Irish Cultural Connections While Overseas Over

Irish diaspora while overseas (predominantly

11 Irish Cultural Connections While Overseas Over half read Irish news articles at least once a week 3/4 spoke to family members in Ireland at least once a fortnight 1/6 were involved in Irish diaspora while overseas (predominantly sports) 1/6 strongly relied on Irish networks when overseas

Factors Impacting the Decision to Repatriate Title 50 pt Arial

Text 24 pt Arial Narrow I had a very close-knit family growing

12 Factors Impacting the Decision to Repatriate Title 50 pt Arial Sub-Title 20 pt Arial Narrow My immediate family encouraged me to RETURN to Ireland. My immediate family supported my decision to RETURN to Ireland. Insert Photo or More Text 24 pt Arial Narrow I had a very close-knit family growing up. Home is where the heart is at and for me that is Ireland. Yes=7+, No=4- out of 10

Arial Narrow When I was growing up in Ireland, I remember Irish STORIES about people RETURNING to Ireland.

13 When I was growing up in Ireland, I remember Irish SONGS about people RETURNING to Ireland. Title 50 pt Arial Insert Photo or More Text 24 pt Arial Narrow Cultural Cues about Repatriation Sub-title 20 pt Arial Narrow When I was growing up in Ireland, I remember Irish STORIES about people RETURNING to Ireland. Insert Photo or More Text 24 pt Arial Narrokkfw My family often spoke about family and friends that RETURNED to Ireland. Yes=7+, No=4- out of 10

14 Reasons for Repatriation 1. Family 2. Work 3. Continuing education What Was Missed Most While Away 1. Family 2. Irish sense of humour 3. Irish food and drink What Was Missed Least While Away 1. Small mindedness/begrudgery 2. The economy 3. The weather

15 What the Future Holds Over 90% had a positive experience abroad Over 50% plan to emigrate again

16 Get in Touch We welcome hearing from you! Thank You for Listening 6-9 Trinity Street, Dublin 2, Ireland +353 (0) Follow us on social media 16

Note on the Emigrant Support Programme

Note on the Emigrant Support Programme Background The Emigrant Support Programme (ESP) provides funding to not-for-profit organisations and projects to support Irish communities overseas and to facilitate