With more people emigrating from Ireland to countries such as Australia and Canada, emotional homecoming videos are becoming increasingly popular — with some family members looking to capture their relatives’ reactions to them returning.
Kerryman Mícheál Ó Móráin took it to the next level, however — as he timed a swim to shore as his family were on Camp Beach just outside Tralee. When he reached them, he joked that he swam all the way from Australia.
@irishdaily Kerry Man surprised his mom & dad by prentending he swam home from Australia😄☘️💚🇮🇪 . 📸👉 IG:michealom_97 👏☘️😄 #irishdaily #tiktokoftheday #ireland #happynews #irish #irishtiktok #tiktokireland #kerry #surprisecominghome #ireland #irishfamily #happiness ♬ original sound - Irish Daily
The video was shared to social media and was picked up by the Irish Daily TikTok account, where it gained a massive 61,000 likes — with people hailing the brilliant idea and thinking the family’s reaction was hilarious.
"His mum backing away in disbelief!" one person wrote, while another joked "the Dad is acting like he saw him yesterday!"
Others cracked jokes at the impossible swimming distance between Australia and Kerry, with one person commenting "I did it once never again.. took me about 2 hours."
"He hardly swam that distance? That’s Olympic 1500m level stuff," another joked, while another simply added "I believe him."
With the emotional reunions becoming part and parcel of emigrating, it is becoming an increasing reality for young people — with Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns saying earlier this year that young people have been forced to emigrate because they have no hope of owning their own home or availing of a proper health service.
Speaking at her maiden speech as party leader back in February, Ms Cairns said "Lately, I have spent a lot of time reflecting on the idea of a better Ireland. And more especially, [I’ve been thinking] I suppose about the increasing number of people out there who have lost hope in the possibility of that. Who feel the country is no longer working for them."
Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns spoke about how more young people are emigrating due to "disillusionment" that comes from "a profound disconnect — between where we are as a country and where we should be.
"I think this disillusionment comes from a profound disconnect – between where we are as a country and where we should be.
"A disconnect between a GDP per capita that makes us one of the richest countries in the world, and 4,000 children growing up in emergency accommodation. Between full employment and half a million adults currently living in their childhood bedrooms."
The Cork South-West TD then questioned how a country could have an Exchequer surplus of €8bn, and yet still have "over 600,000 people living in poverty.
"Is it any wonder people feel disillusioned?"
* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.
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