Dermot Patrick Mee

I was finishing my Master’s in Biotechnology from the University of Galway when an unexpected opportunity changed my life. My roommate’s brother Roy had been to the U.S. on a Camp Counselors USA summer program the year before and raved about the experience. Inspired by his stories, a group of us applied in late 1993. At the time, I was working as an intern at Schering Plough in Brinny, Co. Cork, when my J1 visa was approved, and I was informed I had a summer job waiting for me in California.

With only a few weeks to prepare, I took a bus from Cork to Galway, frantically finished typing up my Master’s thesis.

I left a draft copy and eight floppy disks with a friend to proofread and submit on my behalf. Amid the chaos, my mother received a call from the American embassy in Dublin about my visa. Initially confused, I thought it related to my J1, but when I called them back, they mentioned my green card application from three years earlier had been approved. There was just enough time to submit the paperwork, so I raced by bus to Dublin, completed the process, and days later left for California. By September, my Morrison Visa green card had been mailed to me in California.

The summer of 1994 was transformational in so many ways. I worked at a summer camp for special needs populations, supporting individuals with physical and mental disabilities. Toward the end of the summer, we collaborated with a group from the Bridge School, co-founded by Neil and Pegi Young. I had the privilege of working with Ben Young, Neil’s second son, who has cerebral palsy. Witnessing the Bridge School’s partnership with technology companies to develop communication tools was inspiring. Watching engineers work with Ben on text-to-speech technology and other innovations left a lasting impression. One beautiful memory from that time was seeing Neil Young join us on the camp’s closing day. He spent time with one of our counselors, a musician from England, discussing music and teaching him his songs while they sat on a bench, a moment I’ll never forget.

The biggest challenge I faced was adapting to the cultural differences and dealing with loneliness. Coming from a large family, I am one of five siblings and have over 60 first cousins, my life until then revolved around a close-knit community. In Ireland, it felt like you were never more than a month away from a family event. California, with its dynamic and transient population, was disorienting in contrast. I also didn’t immediately embed myself in the Irish community, which added to my isolation. However, that decision also led to the most significant moment of my life: meeting Cathy, who would become my wife and the mother of our three beautiful children, Ryan, Milo, and Ella.

“Building a life with Cathy has been my greatest achievement. Her family, most of whom live within a square mile of us in San Jose, welcomed me with open arms”

Their unwavering support helped me settle in California and find a sense of joy and contentment I couldn’t have imagined during my early days. Together, we’ve built a life that celebrates both our Irish heritage and the opportunities we’ve found in America. Our children love their trips to Ireland and embrace their identity as Irish-Americans.

The Morrison Visa program represents optimism, persistence, and advocacy. Bruce Morrison follows in the footsteps of great Irish-American leaders who have fostered the unique bond between Ireland and the U.S. Without his work, I wouldn’t have the life I do today, and for that, I am forever grateful.