Thousands of Irish people make the decision to move abroad every year.
It can be an exciting and great opportunity, but the big move is also a daunting prospect – especially when you have to make do without home comforts.
I’ve lived in the UK for the past two years and there are plenty of things missing, mostly things you take for granted when living in Ireland.
These are the things I miss most and the items I wish were readily available (most are food related, obviously.)
1. Sausages
It can be extremely hard to find sausages abroad that are just as good as the ones here. Even so-called ‘Irish’ sausages just aren’t the same.
2. Not having to explain my name to everybody
Poor Caoimhe and Niamh are constantly mispronounced. I’ve had to resort to using Saoirse Ronan’s ‘Saoirse like inertia’ explanation when this problem comes up.
(It comes up a lot.)
3. Spice bags
Self-explanatory.
4. Biscuits
Kimberly, Mikado, Coconut Creams.
They’re not even your favourite biscuits, but they had a constant home in the press growing up. It feels weird not being able to grab a couple with a cup of proper tea.
5. Speaking… just in general
People like to take the mick out of the Irish accent. A lot.
I have a colleague who likes to shout ‘potato’ every time he sees me. It’s an unsuccessful attempt at mimicking my accent and yet, he doesn’t stop.
6. Soda bread
Sometimes you just crave Granny’s soda bread, especially with soup on a miserable winter’s evening.
7. Telly
Sorry but ITV and BBC News will never compare to the quintessential Irishness of the Angelus followed by Six One.
Lads never slip on the ice on primetime television anywhere else.
8. Irish slang
Telling my housemates that the food is in the ‘press’ causes constant confusion.
As does me proclaiming that I’m ‘scarlet’. They just don’t understand the slang.
9. Tea
Last but definitely not least, nothing can compare to good old Lyon’s and Barry’s tea. Anything else is almost an insult.
