I see my family… as a source of inspiration. I was raised in Ireland by a single mother who worked incredibly hard to take care of me and my four older sisters. She left school at 15, so she always encouraged us to continue our education. My eldest sister in particular was a great role model. She was the first of us to go to university, build a career and move abroad. She paved the way for the rest of us. I chose to cut ties with my father. He was never a big part of my life and when I became an adult, I thought, “This relationship adds nothing of value to my life.” My mother always played the role of both mom and dad.
"Speaking Irish helps me feel connected to my culture and roots"
Favourite Irish word? Feileachāin. It means butterfly. I love the way it sounds; it fits the meaning perfectly. Back when I lived in Ireland, I taught Irish at a secondary school, but I got totally disenchanted. I wanted to be the fun teacher – I was already a group leader at an Irish language summer camp, and teaching children the basics of the language gave me so much joy and fulfilment – but encountered a rigid and outdated curriculum. The final exam only tests reading and writing skills, but language truly comes alive through speaking. If you focus exclusively on reading and writing, learning a language will never be fun or accessible. This is part of the reason why many Irish people have a complicated relationship with the language; few speak it. It doesn’t help that Irish was banned under British rule – we seem to have that ingrained in our subconscious. But I feel like things are changing. Last year, I organised a get-together at an Irish pub in Maastricht for Irish people who want to practise the language. People really enjoyed it. I’d love to do it more often; it helps me feel connected to my culture and roots.
I pray sometimes. Never to a god, but I do occasionally talk to loved ones who have passed away, like my granny. I know she’s watching over me. Sometimes things just go suspiciously smoothly, like how this PhD position fell into my lap – it was offered to me – or how easily I found a nice place to live in Maastricht. There must be somebody up there looking out for me.
"It felt like there were two different versions of me"
Is there anything you’ve done that you wouldn’t let your children do? I don’t think I want children – at least not biological ones, though I am open to fostering. I would tell my younger self, “Dare to be different. Dare to be yourself. Don’t let society put you in a box.” The school I worked at was rather conservative. We teachers had to follow the same appearance code as students, meaning no unnatural hair colours, no visible piercings or tattoos. It felt like there were two different versions of me – one at school and one at home. I felt more and more disconnected.
When was the last time you cried? Sometime in April. I was having a bad day and felt very lonely. Then I dropped my phone, cracking the screen, and it all just came out. I don’t cry often; it had been building up for a while. This is my second year in Maastricht and while I’ve found my place and made friends, sometimes it’s just hard living in a different country with a different language. I missed my people – my best friends, my family.
I hate going to the gym. I never go to the gym; I much prefer exercising in nature. I love anything to do with water – swimming, kayaking, or just walking by the river.
"I never want to teach secondary school again"
Never eat meat again or never fly again? I’m a flexitarian, so I’d give up meat. I’ve become a more creative cook. Sustainability has always been a part of my life; my mother was always sustainable-minded, and as a secondary school teacher, I taught my students about it and took them on beach clean-ups. When I decided to change my life and quit my job, I applied for a master’s in Sustainability Science, Policy and Society here in Maastricht.
I’m a teacher through and through. During the pandemic, I reassessed my life. I was exhausted. I was running myself ragged organising fun classes and activities for my students, while some of my colleagues were only in teaching because of the long holidays. And I was frustrated. I had all these ideas about the curriculum and the education system, but teachers have no control over any of that. If I wanted to make a difference in education policy, I needed to educate myself, so I pursued a master’s degree here in Maastricht. I wanted to experience living in another country and try out a different education system. I never want to teach secondary school again, but after my master’s, I worked for a Dublin-based youth organisation promoting informal environmental education for teenagers. Now, alongside my PhD research on sustainability education, I’m teaching UM students. I absolutely love it.