Paul Gallen

I received my Morrison Visa in 1994 while I was living in Ashford, Kent, in the U.K. At the time, I had just graduated from Shannon College of Hotel Management. With no job prospects in Ireland, I had taken a position with Forte Hotels in the U.K. The work was demanding, the pay was poor, and I wasn’t excited about the idea of building my life there. It didn’t feel sustainable, and I wasn’t optimistic about what the future might hold.

My mum had applied for the visa lottery on my behalf, and when I found out I had been selected, it felt like the answer I didn’t know I had been waiting for. Moving to the U.S. was a no-brainer. I packed my bags and headed to New York City. I didn’t know exactly what lay ahead, but I knew I was ready to give it a shot.

“One of my favorite early memories was going on a ski trip to the Poconos with the Irish Business Organization, almost everyone there was a Morrison Visa recipient like me.”

It was my very first time skiing, and I’ll never forget how much fun we had. It was one of those formative experiences where you realize you’re part of a wider community of people, all figuring things out together.

That said, the beginning wasn’t easy. Finding an apartment I could afford was a real challenge. I spent two months sleeping on a friend’s couch before finally getting a place of my own. But step by step, things came together.

The Morrison Visa changed everything about my life. I’m still here, 30 years later. I’ve built a career far beyond anything I ever dreamed of. I met and married my best friend, and we now have four amazing kids. The life I have today would not have been possible without the opportunities that visa opened up for me.

Bruce Morrison’s legacy lives on in the lives he changed, the families he helped build, and the futures he made possible. Mine is just one of many. I will forever carry a deep sense of gratitude to him for the opportunities he made possible, opportunities that reshaped my life and the lives of my children.