Reality of Irish Diaspora strikes home as 18 teachers leave small town

Ireland’s 21st century diaspora continues to hit international headlines, but its reality is affecting everyday life in the country’s small towns as crucial expertise is lost to overseas destinations.

Ghaoth Dobhair’s schools serve pupils from outlying villages as well as those living in town, and have lost 18 teachers over the last month to schools in the capital of Qatar, Doha. Several of the migrants had recently graduated, but had been desperately seeking permanent teaching positions for over six months without success.

According to Ni Ghallchoir, one of a group of six local teachers, she’d not even been granted an interview in spite of numerous applications, and had applied for the Doha job expecting nothing. When she was offered a position at Doha’s Newton International Academy, she jumped at the chance and arrived in the city three weeks ago.

Almost immediately, her five graduate friends were also offered and accepted jobs at the school, although the general feeling was that, had they been able to get employment locally, they’d have been happy to stay. All six are living free in an apartment building just 10 minutes from the city centre.

To many, emigrating to the desert city of Doha to teach at a tax-free salary of around €56,000 a year with free accommodation and transport is a no-brainer, but the 18 teachers who left their home town for the Middle East had no choice but to accept or remain unemployed. The working week runs Sunday through Thursday from 07:00 to 14:00, leaving plenty of time to explore and have fun.

Principal of Pobalscoll Ghaoth Dobhair Noel Gallagher told local reporters that he didn’t blame the 18 migrants for their decisions, but is hoping they’ll come back one day. Losing so many well-qualified teachers, he added, is a tragedy for the district and for its children.