Background: Laird traveled to New York to complete an internship with Irish Voice sister website Irish Central. She is currently living in Queens.

Where are you from in Ireland?

“I am from a small village called Killough in Co. Down, Northern Ireland. It is about an hour’s journey away from Belfast.”

How did you end up studying in Liverpool?

“I am currently studying for a BA in journalism at Liverpool John Moores University. The course has been amazing so far. I am also the fashion reporter for the JMU Journalism website.

“My older sister went to university in Liverpool and having visited her over there many times I fell in love with the place.  The journalism courses on offer back home were nowhere near as good as what John Moores University was offering.”

Why did you come to New York to do an internship?

“Having visited New York on a few occasions I fell in love with the city and the culture. There are so many opportunities available here that when it came down to deciding my internship, New York was at the top of my list.  It is my dream to move to New York one day and to get a good job.”

What area of journalism are you most interested in and why?

“I am most interested in feature and tabloid writing as I can write about many different topics and it’s not boring. There is always something interesting going on around us and to be able to write about those things is exciting.”

What do you think about the ongoing protests in Belfast over the flying of the Union Jack?

“I think the whole situation is really ridiculous. The protests are getting out of hand and people are getting injured. They are damaging Belfast’s image.”

What is your favorite thing about New York?

“I can’t decide, there are so many things I love about this city. I guess one of my favorite things would have to be walking around exploring and constantly getting lost! I love the shopping over here as well.”

How have you found your first week living here and commuting into Manhattan?

“The first couple of days were a nightmare. I kept getting on the wrong buses and going the opposite direction and getting off at the wrong subway stops. I’m lucky that my aunt has a lot of patience as I kept ringing her non-stop for directions. My first week has been brilliant so far, I still can’t believe that I got this internship and that I am in New York.”

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

“In 10 years I hope to see myself as a journalist settled in a job that I love, and hopefully living in New York.”