‘The shoes of Irishness fit me well’

This was the title of Leaving Cert English essay question I picked on the exam paper back in 2001. It was a topical subject at the time as we had just voted and rejected the Nice Treaty. I am happy to say that I wrote about how much I loved Irish culture and how I was proud and happy to be Irish. However, at seventeen, I was keenly aware that I hadn’t experienced many other cultures or countries. I wisely stated that I could not know for sure until I went out into the world, away from the small rural village and town I grew up in. Now years later, I have returned to Wexford, not the exact same spot but close to the same town I went to school in. So looks like the question is finally answered 13 years later. But…