New York New York

I received my Morrison Visa in 1992 while living in New York.

Ireland in the early nineties had little going on, unemployment was high, and opportunities were scarce. Having visited New York when I was ten years old, I had always wanted to return. After finishing my Leaving Cert exams, I was on a plane to New York the following week with a visa obtained through the American Embassy. Once I was in New York, I applied for the Morrison Visa.

My first trip into New York City left me mesmerized by its sheer scale, the towering buildings and the energy of the city were unlike anything I had ever seen. The biggest challenge was learning to survive. New York isn’t a place for the faint-hearted. You have to develop a thick skin quickly and be willing to hustle and work hard. Honestly, I don’t know where I’d be if I hadn’t come here. New York and the United States have given me so much. There is no way I would have achieved in Ireland what I have accomplished here.

The proudest moment of my life was the day I was sworn in as an American citizen. My second proudest moment was working for Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

Coming from a small village in Ireland where pictures of JFK and RFK hung on the walls of homes, I never imagined I would one day work for a Kennedy.

The experiences and opportunities that came from that were priceless, and I am extremely proud of how far I have come.

I am so grateful for the Morrison Visa. Had it not been available at the time, I likely would have ended up back in Ireland, uncertain of what my future would hold. Because of the Morrison Visa Program, I have had incredible opportunities and experiences that have shaped my life.