Meeting Maire.

It’s been an exhausting voyage for 22-year-old Maire, who only last week checked into a 50 cent a night Brooklyn hotel. With the New York skyline ahead of us and Central Park in the rear of our view, we sip coffee in a tawdry café. Wearing a beautiful modest Irish tailored flowered frock, she plays with her long dark hair as she tells me about her experiences in Ireland on this blazing hot American afternoon. Her mannerisms are strikingly peculiar, but she is very polite and cordial, maintaining her humble Irish stance. Squinting from the rays of sunshine, which rages through the murky windows, she sips her coffee and excuses herself as she fortuitously spills a little on the dark russet stool. But our already-stained grubby table allows me to feel lowlier and I begin to relate to the adverse life of Maire. However, we equally enjoy our exquisite backdrop, which also makes me realise why migrants like Maire arrive in America.

Asked about her thoughts on leaving indigenous Ireland to construct a lucrative life in New York, she quickly responds by telling me of an incident in school, which was a hedge-school. A hedge-school set up contrary to the penal laws of Ireland forbidding education. Maire was “fed up” of being taught useless Greek and Latin, and insisted on being taught English if she was to have a chance of being successful in America. But her teacher, Manus, dismissed her point and continued the worthless twaddle that was taught. “… I began to feel bitter and annoyed with my education – or lack of it… that was mainly down to Manus! I was determined to learn English.” She then describes one occasion when Manus even proposed marriage to her“… well, it was blatantly obvious what he was digging at… something about moving away to start a new life on an Irish island somewhere.” Nearly choking on her coffee, she breaks into laughter, then sharply looks me dead in the eye admitting that she loved him more than her own father. But she quickly tries to cover this affection and sentiment with another break out of giggles. But her seriousness soon recovers I learnt of their difference in hopes and aspirations. “Manus was too wrapped up in his cocoon of bliss and oblivion. His happiness happened lay in Ireland… and he was oblivious to my hopes and aspirations – and that’s what scared me! I feel quite apprehensive actually… I feel… I have left a lot behind and that I will be unwanted if I ever decided to go back to Ireland… like I have committed treason – that also scares me!”

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For a short duration Maire did find some happiness. In fact it was only an evening later that she fell for an English soldier – Yolland. “Oh he was a great crack! Even though I hadn’t an idea of what was coming out of his mouth. I could feel the sensations of his lyrical words… so passionate.” It become apparent that Maire’s sweetheart worked for the British government and it was his responsibility to survey the land and was positioned in Baile Beag, Maire’s hometown. But he got more than he bargained for – he too fell for Maire. He not only fell in love with Maire, but also with the people themselves, the land and the Irish way of life. Nevertheless, it was Yolland’s obligation to complete his fixed assignment. His love for the land made it awkward for him to change the native village road signs from Irish into English. He had, already fell for the Irish language and couldn’t understand why these beautiful sounding names had to be converted into prosaic English names. But ill-fated Maire had other problems to attend to. She was in love with a man that she couldn’t understand, and he didn’t understand her either. Their communication barrier worsened as their love grew. “There was so much tension between us. I was so frustrated. I am sure he was too. There was simply nothing that we could do. I had a passion to learn English even before I met Yolland… but this only made things worse. I was dying to live the life I always wanted. He could give me that… he was totally gorgeous.” A fairy tale that almost reminds one of a Shakespearean tragedy destined to fail. The Romeo and Juliet of modern day Ireland set in the idyllic settings of a tiny village. The fairy tale continued… “We struggled to find a way of communicating our feelings… we both knew that we fancied each other, but you need reassurance, you know?” So, was this love at first sight? “Oh… laughs yeah, I guess so… oh great! Pauses I didn’t even believe that two souls could entice at first meeting. Goodness! I have just contradicted myself haven’t I?” She finishes the last of the now tepid coffee that remained in her cup as we continued to engross in our amiable idle chat. She gazes into the mist of the potential profit-yielding skyline that has become a haven for immigrants seeking to fulfil the “American Dream” that Maire often refers to. “Yup, it was love. But I guess I over stayed my welcome in that village after they heard of my affair with an Englishman. It was time to come to America. It’s what I had always wanted. Here or London… but after my endurance in that liaison, I decided that America was the ultimate place. The American Dream that was waiting for me. Yes, it was waiting for me. She continues to gaze In my mind we had a joint vision for each other. I could achieve my happiness and offer America work. And here I am. We are both happy now. America and I.” I was totally astounded by what I just heard. At first, it was just an ordinary statement, but on second thought, it at last dawned on me the struggle this woman must have been through. Maire came to a point in her life when “fed up,” sounded like an understatement from someone who battled through hardships, which is exactly what Maire is.