hello all.
this is my first post on mumsnet, but i have been reading for a few days .
im from ireland, and i agree with a lot of the points made.
however, my husband isn't irish, in fact he is an african immigrant who came here seeking asylum.
once he was granted a visa to work he never had a problem getting a job.
he now is in a very high position in his company, not being irish did not hinder him in any way.
i work in social services and am about to be made redundant.
however i cannot seek alternative work becaue the hse (health service board) has put an embargo on recruitment, because it overspent and is out of funds.
what it spent it's funds on i really cannot work out, it certainly was not our health care system!!!
as for schools, yes they teach religion.
i suppose we are used to it though so we dont see it as strange.
my lads go to the local gaelcsoil and they are state run (i think someone asked earlier if they were independant schools).
one of my sons plays gaelic football in his own time, and they both play gaelic and hurling as part of the cirruculum in school.
the lad that plays gaelic outside school also plays soccer.
his inclusion on the gaelic team was never based on whether he went to mass or not, and certainly not on a family history.
im catholic, and the kids have been baptised and the boys have made their communions.
my husband is anglican (used to be muslim, just to confuse ye!!), and the children fully participate in his church also.
anyway, look at me rambling on and i have a child to collect from gaelic training!!!
what i wanted to say i suppose, every country sucks in some respects and is great in others.
if they didnt, well then we'd all be living in utopia, and the place would be jammed!!!