Corkonians Abroad: London is great...but I miss the Cork coastline

How did you end up in London?

I’m from East Cork, having grown up between Midleton, Cloyne, and Shanagarry. And now, I find myself living in Central London. My first experience of the city was in 2018, when I moved here for an internship, and I’ve now been living here for a total of four years.

I still the moment I emerged from the Underground into the heart of London for the first time and thought… I’m going to get lost a lot. I wasoverwhelmed by the towering buildings (towering for someone from rural Ireland), the roar of supercars revving at lazy tourists, and the endless tide of people crashing into your shoulder as they briskly walk past, swept along in their own unique and complicated stories. It was both exhilarating and a little daunting, as if a whole new world had opened up before me, brimming with uncertainty and possibility. I was just 21 at the time, and I would get butterflies walking through the city at first, unsure why. Even though I was only an hour’s flight from home, it felt as if I had landed somewhere entirely unfamiliar.

Those first six months were challenging but also fascinating. I learned that the only way to overcome the initial hesitation of moving somewhere new is to immerse yourself fully in its chaos. Determined to do just that, I set out to explore every corner of the city. I once let Pierce Brosnan take my place in an art exhibition queue because I didn’t want to pay the entry fee. I was hoping he’d take pity and pay for me if he heard my Irish accent, but he didn’t seem to notice. After hearing him portray a Kerry man in his latest show, MobLand, maybe he didn’t realise I had an Irish accent at all.

I hit all the classics –from the London Eye and Big Ben to Hyde Park and Buckingham Palace – countless times. Each visit renewed by the arrival of another friend from home eager to explore the same sights. I tried to walk everywhere so I could catch the city’s hidden beauty in those quiet moments where it wasn’t showing off its grand landmarks… I also did in fact get lost a lot.

During this time, I met some of my now closest friends –many fellow Irish people, with whom I bonded over our shared experience of living abroad for the first time, but also people from all over the world. London’s diversity makes it a remarkable place to meet people from every background. Within those first six months, I knew with certainty that I would return again after graduating from UCC.

How might you spend your weekends?

London isn’t all hustle and bustle. The city offers moments of tranquillity –whether you’re lounging with the wildlife (the parakeets, not the rats) in one of its vast parks, exploring an impressive array of art galleries and theatre shows, or discovering the vibrant food markets and restaurants. I like to spend my weekends unwinding in the parks or finding solace in the quiet corners of galleries and museums. Whatever your interests are, you’ll find them reflected somewhere in London. There’s also a large Irish community here; we make a point to gather each month, often taking over a restaurant or bar for the evening.

Are there any wider societal issues that you see in Ireland that aren’t a problem in your new home or vice versa? What are the main differences from Ireland?

After years in London, I find myself returning to Cork far more often than I did at first. While the excitement of city life hasn’t faded, I’ve come to cherish the peaceful escapes from the metal and concrete. The quiet country roads, fields, and streets I once found mundane as a kid have become a sanctuary, stirring a comforting nostalgia each time I visit. Flying to Cork always feels like flying home –home to fresh air, familiar smiles (though Londoners are much friendlier than they get credit for), dinners with family, and pints with friends.

There’s a unique sense of community that comes from growing up in Ireland, something truly special and not always found elsewhere. London, with nearly twenty times the population of County Cork and almost double that of all Ireland, can paradoxically feel lonelier at times. Despite being constantly surrounded by people, city life often brings more fleeting, surface-level interactions rather than deep, meaningful connections. The relentless pace and density can foster a sense of anonymity, making it difficult to build real bonds and a genuine feeling of belonging. I often sense this when I talk to people who have grown up here. It stands in stark contrast to life back home, where strong, meaningful communities flourish –whether through your town, sports teams, school, or college and so on.

The most glaring advantage of living here is the sheer abundance of activity, entertainment, and opportunity –things that simply don’t exist back home. There are countless moments when you can see the city working for its people.

Investment in recreation is evident everywhere, with meticulous attention to detail: from the well-organised markets and light shows in the winter to the beautifully maintained parks and public concerts in the summer. The city feels impressive and well cared for; it’s clear that extra effort is made to enhance the quality of life for residents.

In contrast, each time I return home, I notice little has changed –except for buildings appearing more worn, shops closing, more people leaving, and a general sense of decline. It’s a shame to come home and see the paint peeling off the buildings in our main streets. I couldn’t help but laugh when I saw the council’s feeble attempt to brighten up the city with those large, ugly, black, plastic flowerpots scattered along various streets, as if that’ll do the job.

Tell us about your line of work/career?

I work in advertising as a marketer and, separately, I own a digital art magazine. Balancing both roles comes with its challenges, but living in a creative hub like London makes all the difference. Here, I’m surrounded by opportunities to connect with others in my fields and to attend inspiring art and advertising events.

What are you looking forward to in the coming months?

I’ll be going the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in June, which you’ve probably heard of if you work in advertising. It brings together creative professionals from around the world –rs, marketers, agency executives, designers, tech innovators, musicians, athletes etc. –to celebrate and recognise the best creative work in the world. I also have a few more trips planned throughout Europe. One of the city’s better perks is how effortless it is to travel, thanks to excellent connections and affordable daily flights(and even more effortless with an Irish port).

Is there anything that you especially miss about Cork?

What I miss most is the coastline. Each time I’ve moved here, I’ve tried to find a place close to some patch of nature. The parks in London are wonderful, but nothing quite compares to living near the sea back home and being able to drive to the beach whenever I need a breath of fresh air and a quick reset. A cold plunge in the brown murky Thames isn’t so appealing –and the tetanus shot afterwards is equally uninviting.

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

I somehow ended up on an ITV game show with Iain Stirling, where my housemates, two other Corkonians, and I won £2,000, a WWII plane wing walking experience and free Pizza Hut for a year. There are very few moments that compare to thinking you’ve won free pizza for a year...but we quickly learned that the free Pizza Hut was capped at one pizza per month. A pizza cap so cruel, that every time I see Iain on screen, I still think of all the pepperoni that could’ve been.

Watching England lose in two Euros finals in a row was also pretty memorable. The atmosphere in the city during both tournaments was electric, with massive screens set up for the finals and crowds filling the city. After each defeat, the streets were intense and not for the faint-hearted. We hid our Spanish jerseys under our jackets and dodged angry bucket hat wearing hooligans as we pulled off our great escape back home.