‘I’m taking Mum to visit her four sons in Canada’

Bernadette O'Donnell has waved goodbye to four sons over the past three years, as they scattered to Canada and Australia after work dried up in their home county of Donegal.

Knowing how much her mother missed them all, Bernadette’s eldest daughter Maureen Curran, a teacher living in Ramelton, entered the Irish Times Flying Visit competition to win a trip for them both to visit the boys in Canada. Her entry has been selected from almost 10,000 as the winner of the competition.

The eldest of the O'Donnell brothers, 39-year-old steel erector Brian, lost his job in the downturn in the construction industry. He was attracted to Canada because of a love for Neil Young's music, and moved to Alberta three years ago in search of work there.

“Ironically, he ended up in Edmonton working in fracking, which is totally against Neil Young’s green principles,” his sister Maureen says. “But he really loves it there. I have a feeling he is there for good. He seems to have a mythical attachment to Canada, and loves the landscape.”

Their youngest brother John (26), a panel beater by trade, followed Brian to Edmonton in April 2013.

“He had his own small business here in Donegal,” Maureen says. “He didn’t have to give up work, but thought he could make a better living for himself if he were to go away. So he joined Brian, and got a job with a large car repair shop in Edmonton, working alongside men from all over the world. It is such a multicultural environment compared to where we grew up in Milford in Donegal.”

In July that year, John and Brian were joined by Aidan (32).

“Aidan was a sports writer for a small local paper in Letterkenny, but he wasn’t earning a huge amount. So he flew over to join his brothers, and is now working in an Irish bar. He’s a great chatter, and loves the sports bar scene over there.”

Another brother Peter (29) also worked in the construction industry before leaving Donegal for Australia in 2012, where he worked in the mines in Port Hedland near Perth. After two and a half years there, he is back in Donegal now, but has a visa to work in Canada and will be joining his brothers in Edmonton next spring.

Maureen says it will be “absolutely magical” for her and her mum to visit the four boys in Edmonton next year.

“She couldn’t believe it when I told her the news, she thought it was a scam,” she says.

“She is very philosophical about the boys being away, and is the first to say they are doing the right thing. But like any mammy, she misses them terribly. She will relish every moment of this trip.”

Maureen says the prize is especially timely, as Bernadette is recovering from a recent hip operation, and will also celebrate her 67th birthday this weekend.

“Skype calls and Viber and WhatsApp messaging have been great… but to get to spend some time in Edmonton, to see where the boys hang out, where they work and live and drink tea together in their city, will be magic.”