Proudly Growing Closer to Ireland Each Year: John’s Story

My Father was from Donegal and we went back there every few years for my first few years living in England.
We moved to Dublin in 1980, going to Donegal a lot more, then back to England in 1984. I came back a proper little 14 year old Dub, to a small town on Oxfordshire with no other Irish people  and had a hard time at school. I consciously changed my accent.
Times returning to Donegal petered out, but then when my Father died unexpectedly in 1998 we took him back and buried him in his childhood Parish near the ocean. It probably wasn’t until he died that I felt he, and I, belonged in Donegal.
We went back every year for Graveside Mass, bought a house there and now go 5 times a year, taking my five children and always impressing on them their history, love of the land and the culture.
I always wanted an Irish Passport, but used to think it would be frivolous, as it wouldn’t make any practical difference to my travel. Then Brexit came along and changed that.
I applied straight away and now love my Irish Passport. I travel on it often and proudly as I seem to grow closer to Ireland every year.