Corkonians Abroad: 'We're in Canton GAA grounds most weekends,' say former Cork players 

How did you end up in Boston, Suzanne?

We have been living in Boston for the last two-and-a-half years, but before that we lived in Chicago for six years.

My now husband Steve and I moved to Chicago in 2016, fresh-faced and newly engaged. I had just taken a job with IDA Ireland, and he was working on his Masters.

We lived downtown and enjoyed socialising and travelling - we were so excited about the opportunity to live and work in the USA.

Fast forward eight-and-a-half years later, and we are proud parents to three kids - Saoirse, aged five, Teagan, aged three, and three-month-old Jack, and we have a dog called Wrigley.

We live a more suburban lifestyle outside of Boston now, since I moved here with my role in the IDA, and Steve works as a Supply Chain Manager in JDE.

Now, our socialising comprises of playground conversations and our travel is chaotic plane rides, bringing the kids to Cork to see our family.

What is your life like in your new home?

Our life here is centred around our children and doing things we enjoy as a family. We spend most of our time outdoors, especially during the better weather.

You’ll find us out for walks, swimming, exploring woods, at the zoo... and I can tell you anything you want to know about every playground that’s a five-mile radius from our house.

Of course, we’re in Canton GAA grounds most weekends, bouncing from adults’ to kids’ games and training sessions.

What has been the biggest challenge for you living abroad?

The biggest challenge of living abroad for us is undoubtedly raising young kids without extended family nearby.

I think when young parents speak about that, people assume you mean you want a break or a date night, but in reality, it’s a matter of health and safety.

I can moving to a new city and ing my eldest for school and having no name or number to put down as emergency . A few weeks later, I was in a car crash on the way to pick her up from school. We only had one car at the time and Steve was at home with our middle child who was a baby, so he couldn’t even jump in an Uber without a car seat.

It was one of those moments where you realise how isolated you are in the event of an emergency.

Tell us a bit about how sport has played a part in your life?

Sport in Ireland has created so many opportunities for me.

Camogie was an important outlet for me growing up, and I learned so many skills through sport that would me off the field as much as on the field.

When I was in 6th year, I was playing Cork Minor and Cork Intermediate. Steve was playing Cork Minor, Cork under 21, and had just been called up to the Cork Senior hurling . On top of that, we were playing for numerous club teams and our school team.

There were nights when Steve would be training in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, and I’d be in the car outside studying.

Steve and I were both GAA-obsessed but at the same time knew how important it was to travel and grab other life experiences.

So, even though we were both playing club and county during our college years, we still managed to squeeze in J1s and Thailand back- packing trips with our own groups of friends.

In 2012, after we graduated from college, we decided we would move to Australia for a year. We bought our tickets, I quit my job and moved out of my apartment.

Then Stephen called me at work one day and said that Jimmy Barry Murphy had just called him about the year ahead and was eager for Stephen to stick around - that he had a good feeling about this season.

Steve called me and said, “What do you think we should do?” I told him he had to go for it, Australia will always be there, but this could be a big turning point for him in his sporting career. He went on to play Clare in the All-Ireland final in Croke Park that season, and I know how much it meant to his family and everyone in Ballygarvan.

While sport kept throwing these incredible opportunities at us, our itch to travel was still there.

So, in 2016 we decided to do Route 66, and while on the trip I turned to Steve and said, “Wow, I always thought I’d work in the States at some stage, looks like it’s not meant to be.”

A few days later, while standing at the Chicago River I got a LinkedIn email from a recruiter asking me to take a look at a role with the IDA in Chicago - the very city I was standing in. I took a call and was put through to the next round.

That very same day, I called my mom, who I would usually speak to most days, and I was starting to wonder why I wasn’t getting her typical Irish mammy calls telling me what the weather was like that day in Cork. I get through to her and ask her what’s up. She comes clean and tells me she’s in hospital after getting two strokes. My world comes crashing down.

I’m no longer thinking about our next stop along Route 66, or my next round interview for my dream job, I just want to be in CUH with my mom.

But she makes it clear that she didn’t want me to even know about what happened to her because she wanted to me to finish the trip.

A few weeks later, when we’re in her kitchen and well into recovery, I tell her and my dad, who was also battling cancer, that I’ve been offered a job with the IDA in Chicago but that I wouldn’t go if it was too much for the family right now.

They both laughed me off the stage and told me to get packing.

Since becoming a parent myself, I totally get where they were coming from. I think every parent wants their kids to grab opportunities and don’t look back.

Whenever I think about that time, it’s a good reminder of how life will always have ups and downs, but you must persevere.

What has been your most memorable moment in your new location so far?

Of course, it’s been the arrival of our three kids here, who now sport American accents.

But outside of family moments, it’s been access to top class events. My favourite sporting event so far was the 2021 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits, and I have to mention going to Taylor Swift’s Eras tour in Gillette Stadium in 2023.

Any special mentions to friends or family back in Cork?

My aunt Geraldine ed away a few months ago and one thing she always did was call my mom if my name was in any way featured in the Echo after a Camogie game. She’d be straight on the phone, saying, “Noreen, I just got the Echo and Suzanne is on it, make sure you run out to get a copy.”

She’d make it sound like I was on the front page when in reality it was the results section after a weekend of games.

I’m also thinking of my cousin Joan Forde who is 96 years old and living in Ballinhassig. Hopefully, I’ll get the chance to read some of this interview to her when I’m home this summer.

If you were back in Cork for one day, what would be the ideal day for you?

After a morning of being on the farm with the kids, we’d all head over to the pitch for training. From there, we’d make our way into the Páirc where Cork hurlers would have a home game.

We’d pick up a KC’s on the way home and all watch The Sunday Game analysis together. Dónal Óg Cusack would be head pundit and we’d agree or disagree on his analysis, pressing pause every few minutes to argue our case.

What are you looking forward to in the coming months?

We have our son Jack’s christening coming up over the Easter break.

In June, we are going to Martha’s Vineyard, which has become a new annual tradition thanks to our wonderful neighbours Larry and Jen, who generously invite us to stay at their place there.

Towards the end of the year, I am getting major surgery to correct some problems I have since having my three babies. I suffered with HG (hyperemesis gravidarum, severe sickness and vomiting) on all of my pregnancies, had three big babies, all while juggling work and toddlers, so it’s definitely taken its toll.

The reason I’m looking forward to the surgery is because I want to go back playing camogie next year once I navigate recovery. Keeping my eye on the prize!

But most importantly, the five of us will be spending a month in Ireland in July/August. You’ll hear us before you see us.

The children are obsessed with their cousins in Ireland and our annual trip home is their time to play freely outside with them all.

I love watching the multi-generational play between the nine cousins, which range in age from three months to 11 years old. It’s also lovely to see them enjoy the freedom the countryside offers.

Their favourite thing to do when we are home is to spend their mornings at their Grandad’s farm and their evenings with their cousins.

We are so grateful to everyone in our lives who loves to spend time with our children, especially my sister Jennifer.