Ireland to me is like a love affair with a woman I could never live with

I was born in 1964 in Dublin 7. I always seemed to be in trouble. Anything that was going on, I was in the thick of it. Fortunately, I got an apprenticeship as a plumber/pipe fitter after I was expelled from school. I left Ireland in 1985. It was my first time on a plane, and I went to Australia on a year’s working visa. That was an awakening. Sunshine, lots of work and great money. The Ireland I had left was depressing and gloomy, with high unemployment. The joke then was, “Would the last man out turn off the lights?”

I arrived in Orlando, in Florida, illegally in 1990, after living in Amsterdam and London. My plan was to keep travelling — my only possessions were in a bag. I married my daughter’s mother two months after my daughter was born. My plan was to be a better father than the one I had had. That was September 1993, and I got my green card in 1994.

I started Emerald Plumbing in 1996, working out of my house, and for the first time in my life I gave it everything I had. Failure was not an option. Nobody was going to save me

I started Emerald Plumbing in 1996, working out of my house, and for the first time in my life I gave it everything I had. Failure was not an option. Nobody was going to save me. I became a workaholic and tried to be a devoted father too. I quickly started to grow the business, and I currently have more than 50 employees. Business is great, and we have a great family culture, too — my daughter Kiera works in the office. I am like a proud father regarding Emerald Plumbing.

When Kiera was four I started taking her for pony lessons, as it was always something I had wanted to do, but besides getting on some old nags I never got a chance. This time around I started riding myself, and within a couple of years we’d moved to a five-acre mini-farm and had three horses.

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My farrier at the time put me in touch with a Scotsman, John Brown, who was an Olympic-level showjumper. We are still great friends. As soon I jumped a horse, that was me caught. I started showjumping at 38 and loved it. We moved to Ocala, in central Florida, which is famous for all things horse, and I bought a 42-acre horse farm, Emerald Oaks, and started a business that would pay for my expensive hobby.

The recession was tough, but I kept everyone in a job and we didn’t lay off anyone, which is one of my proudest achievements

My marriage was challenging, and if it hadn’t been for work, the horses and Kiera, it would not have lasted so long. I got divorced 2011. It was an ugly, bitter experience, but I kept the farm.

The recession here was tough, but I kept everyone in a job and we didn’t lay off anyone, which is one of my proudest achievements.

I had a bad riding accident on October 2nd, 2011, which put me in hospital with a dislocated pelvis and blew out my knee, but the real problem was my sciatic nerve. I’ve had quite a few injuries over the years, but this one had me in a wheelchair, unable to move, for three months. This time in my life was the lowest, as I didn’t think I would walk again.

But aquatherapy got me back on my feet. I stopped jumping but kept riding. Although I craved what I loved, I couldn’t afford another serious injury.

Ten or so years ago I found out about my daughter Catriona, in Ireland, who I knew nothing about. I brought her and her family out to Florida for three weeks. We get on great. I was a grandfather when I was 40

Around this time I found out about my daughter Catriona, in Ireland, who I knew nothing about. I brought her and her partner and two kids out to Florida for three weeks. We get on great. I was a grandfather when I was 40.

My second marriage lasted six years — and that divorce was tougher. Then I had another accident, where a horse bolted and ran me into a tree. I shattered my scapula and broke four ribs, but they reared us tough in Dublin in the 1960s and 1970s. I managed to rehabilitate myself, as you can’t keep a bad thing down.

Today life is great. It was a journey getting here, but I wouldn’t change too much — maybe I’d have a few less injuries. I live on a beautiful farm with my two Rottweilers and my horses. I’m back jumping and competing. Business is great, and I only have to go in one day a week, as I’m only there to guide people. I have good friends both here and back in Ireland, too, so it’s all good.

I met Denise by fluke, on a Monday night in Bruxelles, the pub off Grafton Street, while I was home four years ago. Keeping a long-distance relationship going through Covid was very testing, but here we are, making it work

Now I am in a great relationship with Denise, who lives in Dublin. We only see each other every few weeks, so that is just one of life’s challenges.

I met Denise by fluke, on a Monday night in Bruxelles, the pub off Grafton Street, while I was home four years ago. We just started chatting and made this mad connection. Keeping a long-distance relationship going through Covid was very testing, but here we are, making it work.

When I’m asked if I would live in Ireland again, I can honestly say no, I wouldn’t be able. The weather would cripple me, and I would never have the lifestyle I have in Florida. I still have a strong accent, and I’m a very proud Dub, but Ireland to me is like a love affair with a woman I could never live with.

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