Donegal to Florida

I received my Morrison Visa in 1993 while living in Donegal. Initially, I settled in Boston, but I now call Florida home.

I had just finished studying at the Regional Technical College in Sligo, and my options for work were limited. One day, I saw an article in the Donegal News about the Morrison Visa program. The application form was simple, so I decided to give it a shot, never expecting to be called. When I was, it was a pleasant and rapid surprise that changed my life.

“It may sound cliché, but coming from Buncrana, the density of Boston is still a striking memory – the highways, the multi-story buildings – it was literally awesome”

Yet, weekend trips whitewater rafting, skiing nearby in Vermont, or just hanging out in Boston Common on a Sunday provided a sense of home and a welcome reprieve from the intensity of the city.

Loneliness was my biggest challenge. I had so much ambition, and the American Dream felt within reach, but I feared making the wrong choices, letting my family down. I was torn between the lure of Donegal summers, local festivals, and the picturesque life I had imagined in Ireland against the hustle and opportunity that Boston provided. I overcame this by immersing myself in the Irish community—buying the Irish Sunday papers from the local pub on Sunday evenings, fresh off the Aer Lingus flight, and taking up GAA with the Donegal Boston team in Dorchester. During the week, I worked in construction as a civil engineer, steadily moving up the ranks to management and eventually becoming a business owner. On weekends, I was a lad from Donegal. Looking back, they are happy memories, but at the time, it was heart-wrenching.

“The move didn’t just change my life—it created opportunities for my parents, who became frequent visitors to our home in Boston and now Orlando.”

I am most proud that my hard work, education, and ambition allowed me to create a new life for my family, especially my parents. I was the first in my family to immigrate. They were both excited and nervous, and now, when we reflect on those lonely times, we do so with pride—proud of our determination and proud to be American. Today, I employ 170 people in Florida. There have been ups and downs with economic challenges, but I stayed focused, and now I am truly living the American Dream.

The Morrison Visa program provided the foundation for my success. Arriving Stateside with an education and a working visa was a game changer. Within 12 months, I had visited three states and kept a map of the U.S. in my bedroom, determined to see as much of the country as possible. At the time, I didn’t think I would stay, but I am so happy I did. I haven’t made it to all 50 states yet, but I am working on it. I hope that future generations will have this opportunity, and I am so grateful to Congressman Morrison for his foresight—he did good!