According to the Irish Central Statistics Office the net influx of Irish Nationals coming back to Ireland between 2006 and 2009 was just over 13,000…
Immigration and Emigration : Irish Nationals : 2006 – 2009
2006
2007
2008
2009
TOTAL
Immigration
18,900
20,000
16,200
18,400
73,500
Emigration
15,300
13,100
13,400
18,400
60,200
Looking to the future, the ESRI (Economic and Social Research Institute) predicts that 120,000 Irish Nationals will leave during 2010 and 2011, and possibly upwards of 200,000 by 2015.
“The Third Wave”
Albeit smaller than in previous eras many of the reasons are similar. A contracted economy, limited job prospects, and government suggestions (see video, 6 minutes in) that emigration and exporting our talent isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Some however would have a different perspective, e.g, Martina Devlin, The Independent.
Whatever your views about emigration the effect on ordinary families is largely the same, and the direction that peoples lives take is still open to the same influences as in the past.
THE NATURAL COURSE OF THINGS
For most the plan will be to spend a year or so away from home, gain some experience, and consider their options when things start to pick up. That’s the intention to start with, but things change. A different career path offers itself, opportunities arise, or a new girlfriend or boyfriend appears on the scene, and gradually those original plans drift to the background.
The same cycle that existed for previous generations will repeat itself – newly dispersed families. Many that leave will settle and bring their culture and heritage with them, they will pass those values on, and their new families will become part of the melting pot of diverse accents that is the Irish diaspora.
AND THE POINT?
As Gabriel Byrne recently put it…
“Ireland forgets about the seeds that have gone away, but the seeds that have gone away have never forgotten about Ireland”
So what can we do to change that, how can we change the way of thinking so that Ireland doesn’t forget?
The Ireland Homecoming Study Programme (IHSP) was launched as a pilot on March 16th 2010 in Washington D.C by An Taoiseach Mr. Brian Cowen, and is part of the strategy initiated at the Farmleigh diaspora conference last year.
The programme is available to the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Irish emigrants and offers a semester of study, two semesters, or an entire undergraduate degree at one of Irelands Institutes of Technology.
Non-European students have to pay fees to study in Ireland, but the new scheme means that those who qualify will pay up to 40pc less than the normal rate – hence of particular interest to those outside of the EU. Students will be able to stay with Irish families so it’s also a fantastic opportunity to add to the cultural experience whilst in Ireland.
The deadline for applications is July 4th 2010, and spaces may vary from Institute to Institute. You can get more information and register your interest at the IHSP Website, and there’s also a Facebook page for a more social interaction!
A great initiative, and here’s hoping the programme becomes a permanent fixture well into the future.
For decades now fear has prevented progress whenever the subject of emigrant voting is raised. Knee-jerk reactions have stopped policy makers in their tracks, concerned they’d be heading down a dead end road.
The reasons for change are more apparent these days:
21st century migration is seeing new generations leave and it’s important they don’t feel excluded. The old times when emigrants boarded the ship and said goodbye no longer exist – technology and cheap travel keeps Ireland close at hand. Exclusion doesn’t fit a modern world.
A vote means attachment, and attachment encourages a sense of belonging, responsibility, and an interest in staying informed. A vote ensures the relationship is fostered and protected.
Ireland is trying to engage with its ‘business elite’ abroad. An emigrant vote removes future hurdles – tomorrows ‘elite’ will already feel that connection with Ireland Inc quite naturally.
Moving our thinking away from being a peripheral European country to a globally connected community (or nation) is a powerful proposition with new opportunities. Approach it as a two-way street with shared responsibilities and we’ll see shared benefits in return.
Here’s some recent articles by others on the subject:
So the question is not really whether Ireland should bring in emigrant voting (in my opinion anyway), but how it can be implemented in a way that allows representation and participation without biasing or slanting the results…
Global Irish constituencies: the UK, Europe, Nth America, Sth America, Australia, Africa, Asia maybe? Time limits on eligibility..?
I’ve kept this simple but what’s your thoughts, what am i missing?
Grab your ticket and your suitcase, thunder’s rolling down this track
Don’t know where you’re goin’ now, but you know you won’t be back
Darlin’ if you’re weary, lay your head upon my chest
We’ll take what we can carry, y’and we’ll leave the rest
Big wheels roll through fields where sunlight streams
Meet me in a land of hope and dreams
Well here I will provide for you, and I’ll stand by your side
You’ll need a good companion now, for this part of the ride
Leave behind your sorrows, let this day be the last
Tomorrow there’ll be sunshine, and all this darkness past
Big wheels roll through fields where sunlight streams
Meet me in a land of hope and dreams
Well this train carries saints and sinners, this train carries losers and winners
This train carries whores and gamblers, this train carries lost souls
I said this train dreams will not be thwarted, this train faith will be rewarded
This train hear the steel wheels singin’, this train bells of freedom ringin’
Well this train carries saints and sinners, this train carries losers and winners
This train, carries whores and gamblers, this train carries lost souls
I said this train carries broken-hearted, thieves and sweet souls departed
This train carries fools and kings, this train, all aboard
I said now this train, dreams will not be thwarted
This train, faith will be rewarded,
This train, hear the steel wheels singin’
This train, bells of freedom ringin’
I said this train, I said this train, board this train
People get ready, there’s a train comin’
People get ready, there’s a train comin’
People get ready, people get ready
People get ready, people get ready
People get ready, there’s a train comin’
Don’t need no ticket just get on board.
Bruce Springsteen, paternal grandmother Martha O’Hagan, and great-great-grandmother Ann Garrity from County Westmeath who left Ireland in 1852.
Just think, if it wasn’t for An Gorta Mor we might not have Bruce!
Keep on rockin’ it’s a strange world but sometimes isn’t it great!
Since then a new group has started at Ning.com, and if you feel a fresh look at the present restrictions is a good idea you can get involved at Irish diaspora for Irish citizenship (you’ll need to join Ning – it’s pretty straight forward).
Maybe also leave a comment here, and if there’s enough momentum i’ll create a mechanism on diaspora.ie where people can register their support for a review of the legislation.
If you’re trying to trace your ancestral roots in County Laois then Laois Genealogy could be the company to help you fill in the gaps.
They have a series of tips on how to get started yourself, but where Laois Genealogy comes into its own is with its extensive range of gravestone information.
They have collected thousands of headstone inscription records from hundreds of graveyards throughout the county, plus a number in bordering counties, and if you can provide them with some specifics they’ll send you any details they have on file.
It can be very difficult finding records from before the early 1900s, and very often the only evidence of an ancestors existence is the actual headstone on their grave – Laois Genealogy hope to save you the shoe-leather you’d be using visiting far flung cemetries.
You can find out more about their services, including ‘roots records’ that they hold for a number of other areas, by visiting them at the Laois Genealogy website.
I have to say that this is one of those ‘projects’ that makes you stop and think. It has taken two years for those involved to collect the records, and the service being offered is free. It’s a great spirit of generosity when individuals do something like this to help people explore their Irish ancestry – so ‘hats off’ and well done to all who worked so hard to put this one together!
See your ancestors records online from the Irish Census 1911…
The Census of Ireland, 1911, covered the whole of the island of Ireland, and was carried out on Sunday 2 April of that year. The National Archives of Ireland have been busy digitising the census and have make it available online.
The census itself was recorded on the following forms:
* Form A, which was completed by the head of family
* Forms B1, B2, and N, completed by the census enumerator
Form A contained information about each person in the home on the night of 2 April.
Form B1, the House and Building Return, was completed by the enumerator and summarized administrative information for the street or townland, or part thereof.
Form B2, the Return of Outhouses and Farm-Steadings, gave more detailed information on secondary buildings attached to a property, such as outhouses, workshops, and various kinds of farm buildings.
Form N, the Enumerator’s Abstract for a Townland or Street, recorded the enumerator’s name, the same administrative information as listed for Form B1, the properties and which were inhabited, and the numbers of families, males, and females, and persons of each religious denomination.
I did a search for my family (the Regans of Brulea townland, Co. Cork) and got a PDF scan of the original census form. My great-grandfather, who was 67 years old at the time, was listed as ‘head of family’ but was also listed as ‘cannot read’. I can only guess that maybe my great-grandmother was the one who actually filled out the form?
Rather reassuringly though, none of my ancestors were recorded as being either imbecile, idiot, or lunatic (phew!).
If you have a story to tell, launched a new business, got an initiative off the ground, landed on a foreign shore and getting your foot on the first rung, or just have some good news with an inspirational nature let us know and we'll pass it on.
Here’s some recent articles by others on the subject:
They have a series of tips on how to get started yourself, but where Laois Genealogy comes into its own is with its extensive range of gravestone information. 
See your ancestors records online from the Irish Census 1911…
