Niamh Hartnett

I received my Morrison Visa in January 1994. At the time, I was living in London, a tough city for an Irish person in the years before the Good Friday Agreement. Even though I had a college degree, there were virtually no job opportunities in Ireland in the late 80s and early 90s, and being Irish in London came with its own set of challenges. The Morrison Visa felt like a lifeline. It gave me a way out, and a path forward.

Moving to New York changed everything. I couldn’t believe how warmly the Irish were received.

“It was such a shift to feel proud of my identity, rather than nervous about it. Of course, we worked hard, we all did, but that warm welcome helped lay the foundation for the life I was about to build.”

New York in the 90s was gritty, loud, and full of life, the perfect place to be in your twenties. I started out sharing a tiny room in the East Village with a friend. The only things we could fit were a borrowed mattress and our backpacks. We shared a bathroom with people in the building who were struggling with drug addiction, I kid you not. It was rough, but we had a plan.

We worked multiple jobs, saved what we could, and eventually rented a small apartment in Brooklyn. Life improved drastically from there. Still, the early days were tough. Without a credit history, it was hard to open a bank account or get a credit card. It took time, sweat, and sheer determination to get on our feet.

But we did.

I eventually went back to college and earned my master’s degree. I now work as a special educator, and I’m incredibly proud of the work I do each day to support young people. I met my American husband here, and we have two wonderful boys who are both now in college. That in itself feels like a full-circle moment, to give them the kind of educational opportunities I could only dream of as a young immigrant.

“I’ve never seen America as a place for a free ride. Those of us who came here knew what we were signing up for: blood, sweat, and tears. The people who cross oceans to build a better life, we are not looking for shortcuts.”

We come with drive, with heart, and with the hope that our children will have more. That was always the promise of America.

But lately, I do worry. With rising education costs, unaffordable healthcare, and economic pressure, it’s getting harder to give our kids the same chances we had. America can, and should, do better.

Still, I will always be grateful for the opportunity the Morrison Visa gave me. It opened the door to a life filled with purpose, family, and pride.