There is no place like home at Christmas or any time of the year

by Auld Stock

WE are often reminded that Ireland is one of the richest countries in Europe, that Irish students are amongst the best educated in the world and that there are plenty of jobs in this country if they wish to stay at home.

Great news all-round.

Why, then, do seven out of 10 Irish students intend to emigrate?

The main reason appears there are better prospects and pay abroad.

I heard one young man, a teacher in Abu Dhabi, being interviewed on radio, who spoke in glowing terms of the situation of members of the teaching profession in that country.

There are drawbacks, of course, one being that you cannot become a citizen of those countries unless you adopt their religion.

I am one of the few members of my family who hasn’t emigrated.

I am a firm believer in the old saying, ‘There is no place like home’.

I’ll drink to that.