In 2015 artist Clodagh Hendy left Ireland for Palm City, Florida (about two hours south of Miami). We caught up with her to find out how much life has changed for her, husband David, and their three children Billy (9), Jasmin (8) and Grant (5).
I’m from originally from Clonbullogue in Offaly and Dave is from Douglas in Cork. In February last year we moved to Palm City, Florida when Dave got a job with a private automotive company. It’s near West Palm Beach where Donald Trump has a massive resort. Orlando is about two hours north, and Miami is about two hours south.
At first, it was daunting as everything’s huge…enormous road infrastructures and bridges like no other place. On the other hand, everything is spotless, and Florida is super friendly – people are almost unbelievably positive.
Primary school is called elementary school here. They teach a lot of behavioural stuff, and there’s a really good mixture of educational subjects but I think Ireland has a higher standard of education. My least favourite thing is the kids’ early starts…they get up at 6:15 and bike to school which starts at 7.40 and finishes at 1.40. The children’s education is free, and you don’t have to buy books but we send in school supplies. University here is very expensive…it starts at about $25k.
The healthcare system here is superior to Ireland but our health insurance is about five times more expensive. We also pay twice as much for car insurance but less on tax.
Most people down here are very religious and we miss the banter and craic from home. I miss family and friends…and having a fire place…and Irish bacon. They have ‘farm to table’ here in fancier restaurants, but otherwise, it’s all chains, the sat nav tells me where the nearest McDonalds is even when I haven’t asked! They use a lot of preservatives and chemicals here in the States that were banned years ago in Ireland. I’m always checking for food with less sugar as it’s in everything here.
I’d have to say that the best things about our move have been the weather, lifestyle and opportunity. The beach is twenty minutes away. We live on a golf course, have a pool and the kids have every sporting facility available to them. We’re also lucky to have made an amazing group of friends here. I suppose we have a much more social lifestyle here…at weekends we hang out at the beach or have friends over. There are a lot of dinner parties, BBQs, and free family events.
Are you thinking about emigrating with your family? Email Alison.Bough@herfamily.ie or let us know your thoughts in the Facebook comments.
