"Without question, I would not be where I am today without the Morrison Visa. It gave me a future."
I received my Morrison Visa in June of 1993. At the time, I was living in Clonmel, County Tipperary. I had just qualified as a hairdresser, but I felt incredibly unsettled. Work in Ireland was scarce, wages were low, and I couldn’t see a clear path forward. I knew I needed something different, a new start.
“So I booked a one way ticket to New York with just $400 in my pocket. It didn’t last long.”
I stayed with friends and immediately began knocking on doors, cold-calling offices, trying to find work. I eventually landed an office job, though I had to, let’s say, creatively enhance my experience to get my foot in the door. I’ll never forget sitting down on day one, a huge computer monitor in front of me, a copy of WordPerfect for Dummies on my lap, completely clueless.
But I learned quickly. I realized early on that if I wanted to progress, I’d need more education, and ideally, to work for a company that would help pay for it. In 1997, I joined DLJ, and that’s where my journey back to school began. I studied at night while working full-time, and six years later, I had earned my undergraduate degree. By that point, I was working for JP Morgan.
“Coming to New York was hands down the best decision I’ve ever made. The city gave me opportunities I never imagined possible. It gave me a future.”
I’ve built a fantastic network of friends from all over the world, and I’ve been lucky to work alongside colleagues and mentors who truly supported my growth.
At one point, I did move back to Ireland while my children were young. I continued my education there, earning a Master’s in Business and a Postgraduate Degree in Education. But ultimately, my heart was still in New York. I returned more than a decade ago, and my kids, now 19 and 17, are thriving here. They’re just beginning their own journeys, and I’m so excited to see what lies ahead for them.
Looking back, there’s absolutely no question in my mind: I would not be where I am today without the Morrison Visa. It opened the door to a life that simply wouldn’t have been possible for me in Ireland at that time.
Your experience is a part of the Morrison Legacy. Whether it’s about the opportunities the Morrison Visa created or the connections it fostered, your experience helps celebrate the lasting impact of this program on the Irish-American community. Join us in preserving this incredible legacy by sharing your journey today.
