Northern Roots: What can we learn from places expats live now?
By: Connor Daly
Tags: Northern Slant, Interview, Connor Daly, Expats, Northern Roots

In the second of three articles condensing and quoting some responses to our Northern Roots interviews over the past 12 months with expats originally from Northern Ireland but currently living elsewhere, we look at whether they think they’ll return to Northern Ireland, what could convince them to come back, and what they consider Northern Ireland can learn from the place they live now.

Last time, when we looked at what emigrants think of the Northern Ireland they see in the news and social media, whether they’re hopeful for the future particularly in light of Brexit, they conveyed a pervasive sense of optimism in the abilities and potential of the people of Northern Ireland, rather than a particular group or political party to change things for the better.

As to whether they’ll return, for most this prospect is highly conditional. Diversity and acceptance of difference, women’s rights, infrastructure, and employment opportunities are just some of the issues raised. They seem ready for change, but will politicians here heed their advice? What can or should political leaders be doing here to entice them back? Does there exist a complacency that if they really want to, expats will come back?

From Scotland’s rail infrastructure to bilingual policies in Belgium, there is plenty of food for thought for back home. Some lessons may be more directly applicable than others for Northern Ireland. But one thing is clear: living somewhere else has given our Northern Roots interviewees valuable reflections from the outside looking in. We should listen to their perspectives. Here’s what some of our interviewees have said — in their own words.

“Northern Ireland has huge potential but its people are often let down by its politicians.” “Were Brexit to trigger Irish unity, with huge international support, construction might need some mega projects to compete with where I work now.”

Do you think you will return to Northern Ireland? What could convince you to come back?

Carrie Hynds is in Brighton and Hove, England, and stood as the Liberal Democrat candidate there in last year’s snap general election: “Northern Ireland has huge potential but its people are often let down by its politicians… I am, however, hopeful that now Northern Ireland has had some recent attention on the mainland, we can get into a new era of debate. Labour MP Stella Creasy’s amendment to the Queen’s Speech was huge for me: a Westminster politician gaining huge cross-party support for championing the rights of Northern Irish women. Between that and the increased financial transparency of party funding, there’s a greater sense of normality. We have a real chance of making politics a more attractive area for young Northern Irish people to go into, which in turn will make for a better future for the country.”

Thomas Madill is from east Belfast with family roots in Donaghadee and Monaghan. He works and lives in the deserts of Kuwait as a civil engineer: “People may think I am a Lundy if I say the only thing I think would bring me home is a united Ireland. I have no wish to return to building wee jobs begrudgingly released by the shambles that is Stormont and administered by legions of civil servants. The stress and rewards on this treadmill are not worth it. Were Brexit to trigger Irish unity, with huge international support, construction might need some mega projects to compete with where I work now.”

“Acceptance of culture is a massive thing we could learn. I watched my first Loyal Orange Lodge parade in Liverpool.” “The big lesson I’d take from Scotland is just how good devolution can be if used properly.” “Given that Australia has just held an opinion vote on the topic of same-sex marriage, that would be a good place to start.”

What can Northern Ireland learn from the place you live now?

Danielle Thom from Belfast is in south London: “London is one of the most diverse, most exciting cities in the world. People of all backgrounds, of different races, classes and cultures live alongside one another, mostly peacefully. While it’s far from perfect, and needs to do more to tackle racial and income inequality, I think London could teach Northern Ireland a lesson in embracing diversity and seeing the value of different perspectives.”

Michael McGuigan from Armagh is in Liverpool: “Acceptance of culture is a massive thing we could learn. I watched my first Loyal Orange Lodge parade in Liverpool having been caught off guard on London Road one July morning, and had to admit I was impressed by what they did. The best thing about Scousers is their acceptance of every person who wants to be part of their city. I would love that to be said of Northern Ireland one day.”

Joel Cassells, now contributor to Northern Slant, was in Reading when we interviewed him: “I currently live in Reading and it’s my example of how Northern Ireland should be modelling itself in 2017: a leading multicultural city with a huge tech hub outside of London. This is where a future post-Brexit NI could thrive: a business-facing province, attracting new companies into the country using huge economic incentives, lobbying, trade conferences, whatever it takes to get companies here.”

Shane Greer, in Washington DC, runs Campaigns & Elections, a publishing and events business serving the political campaign industry: “One of the things I love most about the US, and London for that matter, is the embrace of new ideas, the go-get-’em attitude in pursuing those ideas and the acceptance, even celebration, of failures along the way to success. That wasn’t my experience of Northern Ireland, but as the country’s politics normalize and it moves further away from its troubled past, I’m confident we’ll see that change.”

Dave Scott from Lisburn is Director of Nil by Mouth, the campaign to challenge sectarianism in Scotland: “The big lesson I’d take from Scotland is just how good devolution can be if used properly. I can honestly say that even parties I’ve never voted for have pushed through some good ideas which have benefited the country and political engagement with unions, business, charities and wider society is excellent. The Scottish Parliament has been excellent for Scotland and I’d hope that Stormont can be rebooted and start to deliver similar results for people.”

Mo Ruddy from Newry, now in Glasgow: “If I could take one thing to change in Northern Ireland it would be the railway system. Don’t get me wrong, Scotrail come in for just as much if not more criticism as compared to NI Railways/Ulsterbus. It’s the accessibility to go anywhere you want and at a reasonable price without having to spend hours on a bus. The options to travel by rail back home are extremely poor.”

Gareth Brown from Belfast is in Edinburgh, an Associate in a strategic communications and political relations firm: “To its credit, the SNP and the Scottish Government have sought to use devolution to its maximum potential (except on tax, although watch this space). Ministers, MSPs and the civil service embrace outside contributions and seek to build sectoral collaboration when designing and implementing policy. The outcome, generally speaking, is better law-making and better scrutiny of that law-making. I’ve always thought Northern Ireland could do the same if there was a mindset shift in the Northern Ireland Civil Service — although it takes its lead from an Executive *cue tumbleweed*.”

Ciaran Fleming from Craigavon is a Senior Product Consultant at Fintech startup Fenergo in Sydney, Australia: “Given that Australia has just held an opinion vote on the topic of same-sex marriage, that would be a good place to start. At a minimum, the people of the country should be given a voice rather than having to settle for the current abuse of Petitions of Concern.”

Méabh Nic Alastair from Cushendall is now in London: “London is a wonderfully diverse and multicultural city where inclusivity and acceptance are part of the fabric of life here. Each day one can meet people of all class, colours and persuasion, and that you should not fear what you don’t understand. I think especially with the debate around the Irish language — something that is of huge importance to me — NI could learn to be more tolerant and that linguistic diversity is something to be proud of, not to fear. Every day on the tubes, trains, buses, so many different languages are to be heard and it is fascinating. We are bringing our daughter up bilingually, and it is such a norm here in London to do that, yet it is met with distain at home.”

Nathan Stewart is from east Belfast now working in public affairs in Brussels: “One of the main things I do notice every day are the bilingual street signs. Obviously, Northern Ireland has its own reasons to be wary of rolling out bilingualism everywhere but it works pretty well on a practical level here in the Belgian capital. Once you head out into Wallonia or Flanders they mostly go back to French or Dutch anyway, so there’s definitely compromises to be found. I’d love for Northern Ireland to be able to move away from thinking about how things could be bad for us, and think about the good they could be for them. It’s not all zero sum.”

Ruth Foster was studying in Edinburgh: “When I first moved to Edinburgh I was shocked by how open and confident people were in themselves. Throughout my upbringing in Northern Ireland I was taught to be reserved, and that to talk about myself or my achievements is to be boastful and proud. As a result of this we seem to have created a society of low self esteem, as we are afraid to express ourselves out of fear of causing too much of a fuss.”