Galway on the Atlantic coast
As I head towards 50 I want to say some thank yous
I had a similar feeling on arrival in Galway as I did when I moved to St Albans 4 years later. It was a feeling of being in the right place. I hadn’t visited either before arrival so it was unexpected to feel in the right place. I have at times tried to work out what is it that makes us feel at home, is it the architecture, the design of the town or what? Maybe there is just a sense of being in the right place at the right time.
Although Galway was still on the island of Ireland it was very culturally different from my experience of living in, ‘The North’. I have often said The West of Ireland was more culturally different for me than living in the South of England.
I was now in the minority and felt akin to how minority religious groups such as the Jehovah Witnesses were perceived in my hometown. I had signed up for a two-year course in Biblical studies as a student of the Irish Christian Training Centre (ICTC). ICTC was part of what may be described as part of the New Church Movement. It was originally an Elim missionary church that became independent under its founder.
I was attracted to its vision of being a Christian church yet not bearing the religious labels of Ireland. At the time there were a growing number of churches that identified as simply Christian wanting to play a role in healing the religious divisions. That blended with my vision of Christ Unites Ireland. It wasn’t as easy as that and we were perceived as being whatever a cult may be.
My leap of faith got tested as my debts mounted leading me to seek part-time work in the catering trade. Those skills first developed in the Isle of Man continued to help me pay my way for a few years. The advantage of working got me more integrated with the locals which made the experience altogether more meaningful. I was also overcoming fears as I had thought someone perceived as a Protestant from the North would not gain work. By the time I left Galway, I had worked at 4 different establishments.
The experience taught me many things the one that comes to mind is ‘make your own decision’. People can advise you but it is only your own convincement that will sustain you. There were struggles in Galway, things weren't always as I expected and I questioned my decision to go numerous times but in the end, I stayed because I believed despite everything that was the place to be at that time.
I had only turned 19 when I went and was not quite 21 when I left so my character was still forming. As with everywhere, I met great people who were supportive during that time. I can think of Stephanie, Vincent, Liam, the Hughes and Docherty families ( I have changed names but have the individuals and families in mind).
Thank you to them and everyone I met in Galway who left an impression.
Best day,
g
Met John from my hometown in Galway he has since left the planet.
