Alice Fallon	Declan Cassidy	Lisa McGinty

In part 14 of a series on the many nationalities that have made the Cayman Islands a true international melting pot, Steven Knipp takes a look at the Irish community in Cayman.

Ireland is arguably the most famous island in the world. And if you ever tell an Irish person that this is not so, you might well find yourself in an argument.

While that statement is made in jest, what cannot be argued is that for a rain-soaked island on the far western edge of Europe, Ireland and the Irish have had an astonishing influence on the wider world.

When the Dark Ages fell across Europe, and barbarian tribes virtually turned back time, it was Irish monks, in their remote wind-swept West Irish monasteries, who literally saved Civilisation by protecting and preserving the classical learning of the ancient Greeks and Romans.

Ireland is especially famous for its gifted writers, actors and singers. Noted Irish writers include Brendan Behan, James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, George Bernard Shaw, Bram Stoker (who wrote ‘Dracula’), and Jonathan Swift, to name but a few. Famous Irish actors include Daniel Day-Lewis, Colin Farrell, Liam Neeson, Pierce Brosnan, Maureen O’Hara and Peter O’Toole.

Some of the world’s most popular singers are Irish-born or ethnically Irish, including Sinead O’Connor, Bono, Chris de Burgh, Van Morrison, Bob Geldof and John Lennon (originally O’Leannain).

Though the population of the island is only six million, the number of people internationally who trace their roots back to the Emerald Isle is astonishing. There are said to be 40 million Irish-Americans alone, with many millions more spread across Europe, Asia, Australia and South America. Here in Cayman, government statistics suggest that there are some 250 Irish nationals.

Alice Fallon, who hails from the southern Irish city of Limerick, came here because of her sister. “My sister had been living in Grand Cayman for six months, working for the Hyatt Hotel and she returned [from a holiday in Ireland] with me and I went to work with her at the Hyatt.”

She says that the best things about living in Cayman are: “The great weather, meeting other nationalities, and not living a rat race, enjoying life.”

When not working as a concierge at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, Ms Fallon enjoys “spending time with my husband, Anthony, and our three-year-old daughter, Yasmin. We like going to the beach and also going out for dinner with our friends. We both work fulltime so the time we get for ourselves we cherish.”

What she misses most from Ireland is “the good fun in the pubs, and the music, and also the Irish taytos (potato chips).”

Declan Cassidy, who is from West Meath in the centre of Ireland, arrived in Cayman in August 2006, and works as Head of Business Sales for Digicel. His first reaction upon arriving was that: “I thought it was beautiful and the weather was amazing - it rains quite a bit back home. I also found all the local and non-local people to be very friendly and welcoming.”

He says that the best things about life in Cayman are “the sunshine, the beaches and the lifestyle.” Aside from his family and friends back in Ireland, the one thing that he misses is the “Irish breakfast, which consists of Irish sausages and bacon and eggs, beans and black and white pudding, cup of tea and brown bread.”

When not working he likes to play soccer for Sunset Football Club. “I am also involved in the Gaelic Club on island and like to chill out on Seven Mile Beach.”

Lisa McGinty, who hails from County Dublin, is a marketing and public relations executive for Celebrations, the island’s leading wedding planner. She first arrived here in April 2007.

“I and my boyfriend Ger were originally supposed to move to Toronto. But Irish friends there kept complaining about the freezing weather so we decided to move here instead as Ger is in funds.
“I had always wanted to live in the Caribbean. So this was a dream come true for me. We have since convinced our friends that were living in Toronto to move here, too.”

Her initial reaction to Cayman was that it “was bigger than I had thought it would be. I thought we would be able to walk everywhere.We really didn’t know what to expect, as we didn’t know anyone here. It took me a few months to settle in, but I love it here now.”

She says that the best things about living in Cayman are “that the weather is obviously a lot better than it is in Ireland. I love that friends and family come to visit. There’s no shortage of visitors when you live on a beautiful island like this. The people here are very nice, and we’ve made a lot of great friends.

“I love my job because the special events industry is so dynamic. And I love promoting the Cayman Islands as the perfect location for destination weddings. I think we have a lot to offer here.”

When not working she enjoys golf. “I also started playing Gaelic football last April for the first time. I had to come all the way to the Caribbean to learn how to play the national sport of Ireland. And I’m also starting diving lessons.”

Speaking of her homeland, she says, “It’s a great place to visit - and when the sun shines, Ireland is the most beautiful place in the world.”