Mary Jo sends New Year greetings from sunny Australia

Mary Jo McLoughlin from Pullough moved to Australia in 2012 and has been living on the Central Coast of New South Wales, about 90 minutes from Sydney, with her Kerry-born partner, Declan Murphy, since 2015.

She decided to make the move to Australia after being given an opportunity to work for a former boss. “Myself and Declan took the plunge and headed off in February 2012…it was a big risk in your mid-forties, but thankfully, after a rocky start, it all worked out.”

Mary Jo says it’s “not an easy thing to pack up and leave your family and friends” but at the same time she would encourage any young person to “go and explore the world before you get too old to do so” describing it as “an amazing experience”.

When she made the move to Australia, the Pullough woman wasn’t working in Ireland and her partner was over in London working on a construction project for the 2012 Olympics. “We were looking at buying a house, but we were given an opportunity to move to Australia, and I am currently studying and working part-time and Declan is working in construction.

The couple recently got their Australian citizenship and are now dual passport holders. “It was important for both of us to retain our Irish passport,” says Mary Jo.

Despite loving “the lifestyle, weather and work opportunities” in Australia, Mary Jo McLoughlin and her partner find it very hard to be away from Ireland and their loved ones, especially at Christmas.

When asked what is the hardest part, Mary Jo says:“Where do you start? Missing family and friends and the atmosphere. Christmas in Australia is not the same, obviously, the summer weather is a factor. Always strange to see Santa dressed up in 40-degree heat. It's hard to reconcile that one! While it's a much different proposition you obviously adapt. But yes not being with your family and friends, and being so far away is the hardest thing. It never gets any easier. To this day I still get emotional at the Irish flag, the anthem and don't get me started when the Late Late Toy Show is on”.

Some of the best things about her new home include the fact that Australia is “a very diverse country, and they love an Irish accent” but among the worst aspects is the fact that it is so far away from Ireland. “It’s much harder to get home, particularly during the pandemic, but we were lucky to be home in December 2019 before the pandemic hit, so we are hoping to get back next year at some stage – fingers crossed.”

The Offaly native had a traditional Christmas with all the trimmings in Australia. “This is despite the heat, air conditioning is your best friend,” she laughs. Her cousin, Enda Connolly from Clara, Offaly, lives just a street away, so with him, his wife Hanna, and two boys James and Enda, they celebrated Chrismtas this year Irish style. "Our Australian friends don't get it..(which is very funny). They have a cold dinner, mostly eaten at the beach,” she says.

Having always spent Christmas at the family home of her parents, Ethna and Fred, in Pullough, Christmas 2021 was certainly different for Mary Jo McLoughlin, and she still has very fond memories of her last Irish Christmas in 2019.

“There was some fun that day. I don't ever remember laughing so much. We normally would do two sittings but we all squeezed around the table, we played games, yeah I remember the bingo game, which went on forever only to realise that there were numbers missing and I remember my nephew saying ‘seriously granny, how could you let this happen?’. Our last before that was in August 2016, I guess that had a lot to do with it being a special day. Most of all when your mother cooks your dinner for you... can't beat the Mammy's food.”

In sharp contrast to an Irish Christmas, she says the build-up to this Christmas in Australia this year was severely impacted by Covid. “We are just recently out of a six month lockdown and there is still a lot of uncertainty. People are hesitant. 2020 and 2021 have been challenging and there seems to be an air of ‘ let’s just get it done and move on to 2022.’ Australians have been through a lot in the past two years.... Bush fires, drought, floods and a pandemic. They are a resilient bunch and will send out 2021 with a bang,” she adds.

Mary Jo and her partner, who is from Listowel, stay home and watch the Sydney midnight fireworks on TV on New Year’s Eve, but they always try to do “something special” on New Year’s Day. “Our last outing for New Year’s Eve was in Ireland in 2019, that was a good one, we got to share it with family and friends in Fergie’s Bar in Tullamore,” she recalls.

Among their favourite festive traditions in their adopted home are “seeing the surfing Santas, a trip to the beach and the must do barbecue” and they would like to send New Year greetings back home to Mary Jo’s parents, Ethna and Fred in Pullough, her brothers and sisters far and wide and to all her family and friends. She adds: “Barbara this is for you lol”.

“I would also like to mention my partner Declan Murphy whose family reside in Listowel in Kerry and finally to my sister, Siobhan, who is getting married in June 2022, an exciting time for the family - the first wedding.

“All our best wishes for 2022 and we hope everyone has a very special year. You are always in our thoughts and forever in our hearts," she ends.