Corkonians Abroad: 'I had to leave Cork to pursue my dream'

Where are you from in Cork, Robert?

I am from Gurranabraher on the beautiful northside of Cork city.

I had a great time growing up, 10 minutes from town, 15 from Blackpool - you really had everything around you that you could want. Everyone was sound and it was a real community up there - an ‘everyone knows everyone knows everyone’ sort of vibe.

When did you move to London?

I moved to the UK in 2021, first to Essex, where I began studying my degree in Musical Theatre. I spent three years there before moving into London in mid-July 2024.

What is life like in your new home?

London is a huge city and life moves so fast, it is quite a big contrast to the normal life in Cork city!

It is much more accessible here though, buses running all night, tubes to get you from one end of London to the other in 30 minutes - it does make it quite convenient to get around.

What has been the biggest challenge in your new home, and how have you tackled it?

The biggest adjustment I had to make was definitely how busy it is here.

You can’t just pause for a moment on the street, otherwise you get trampled on (I learned that the hard way)!

People are also just ruder here, there is no saying hi to someone when you them on the street, or giving a wave to someone across the road - they’ll think you are some sort of stalker!

How might you spend your weekends?

There is always something to do in London, which is great, whether that’s going to see a show on the West End, going for a drink, or even some pottery painting - there is plenty to do and see around the city.

I do like to walk around new areas that I haven’t explored, my friend and I make a habit of taking the train to a random new spot and walking around for the day and seeing what else there is to see.

Tell us a bit about the culture of where you live? What are the main differences from Ireland?

Although England is quite similar to Ireland in some respects, there are quite a few things I’ve noticed that really make this such a different environment.

In general, Irish people are just so much more sound than English people - there is no smiling at people as you walk past them or saying ‘morning’ to everyone as you them on the street.

Also, the Irish accent stands out like a sore thumb LOL. So, people always love to mention the fact you are Irish.

I think the biggest cultural shock for me was that you can’t get a hot chicken roll and wedges when you are hungover.

Tell us about your line of work/career?

I moved to England to study Musical Theatre and finished that in May, 2024. It is a tough industry as there are such few opportunities compared to the number of performers out there!

So, right now, I am working as a Groups and Events Executive in a hotel in Central London.

I love having the opportunity to work in lots of different fields, and I feel my degree, although unconventional for most, has really allowed me to explore different avenues and try my luck in lots of different industries.

There are a lot of skills you pick up alongside, of course, the main areas of singing, acting, and dancing!

Tell us your thoughts on opportunity - and how a different part of the world might offer more opportunities?

I love Ireland as a place to call home. The culture, the identity, the togetherness is second to none - however, there are certain jobs and opportunities that just don’t exist there.

For a country that has such a rich history in music and theatre, I feel like we don’t appreciate the arts enough and therefore there are not many opportunities in the country.

I would love to be able to perform at home and develop my skills there, however, there are just no opportunities to be able to grow and develop very well.

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

I think my most memorable moment was probably completing my degree!

After almost five years of studying - starting in Cork and then moving to the UK to continue my education - it felt like a long, long time!

So, being able to finally put on that cap and gown and receive that piece of paper was special.

Any special mentions to friends or family back in Cork?

A big shout-out to my mam and dad, Deirdre and John, who have always ed me and told me to follow my dreams.

Also, a special mention to my nan and granda who have always been my No.1 ers since I started singing at my First Communion, lol!

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

A perfect day for me... it’s proper sunny and everyone knows that Cork in the sun is elite.

I’d be down in Youghal, sitting on the beach, then, when the sun starts to go down, head to the Roma Grill and get a No.5 with onions and a bag of chips with just salt (you have to make sure to shake the bag though because the salt sits on the top of the chips). Go back to the caravan and munch on that, then head to Farrells where Diva Sensations will be playing.

What are you looking forward to in the coming months?

I’m looking forward to London in the sun! It’s almost beer garden weather and I’m excited to enjoy the warmth and finally get rid of the cold winter that we had.

Is there anything that you especially miss about Cork?

I miss a cold bottle of Tanora - every time I come home, the first thing I try do is get to a shop and buy a bottle. I was traumatised when I came home the last time and there was a shortage.

I also miss the people, the friendliness, how everyone knows everyone, and you can’t go five minutes without bumping into someone you know asking you ‘How are you getting on over?’