Peter came to Toronto in the summer of 2009.
He stayed at our hostel for several months before moving to an apartment in Chinatown with A.J. and Nathan; two other Irish refugees who came here to find work away from the troubled Irish economy.
A.J. has found employment in his trade as a carpenter and Nathan worked as part of the hostels staff until his work visa expired. He is now headed for Australia.
Peter works here in Toronto for “Magic Bus” a local tour company that runs sightseeing trips in the city and Niagara Falls.
The point is, Ireland is fast loosing virtually an entire generation of its’ young recent-grads. It is estimated that by next year the current exodus of young Irish will number more than 200 thousand. That is an enormous slice from a population of only around 4 million.
Laura, Peters recently retired mother, arrived for a two-week visit. She had not seen her son for over a year.
One thing that a great many of these Irish working/holiday backpackers have in common is that many are not too anxious to return to the Emerald Isles. It is the single thing that separates them from so many other travelers.
But what seems strangest of all is that so many of their parents agree with their children’s decisions to leave Ireland forever.
It isn’t because of a lack of love for their beautiful homeland. Anyone who has ever been there will agree it is a pretty nice place.
But in Ireland the economy is stagnant; jobs are scarce; opportunities lacking; and taxation outrageously high.
So we’ve been seeing more and more visiting parents flying over for a visit with their now grown children. Like all good parents, they want to check out where their children have settled.
