This week’s Rebel Rambler is Cathedral Road’s Emma O’Connell. Emma left Ireland nearly three years ago and has since settled Down Under in Sydney. The jet setting IT Recruitment Consultant clearly has relaxation on the brain with an initial holiday turning into a near permanent one! Regardless of her original motives, Emma has settled in Australia but still retains that bit of Rebel attitude.

Name: Emma O Connell
Age: 27
Occupation: IT Recruitment Consultant
Where in Cork you are from: Cathedral Road

How long has it been since you emigrated from Ireland?

I left Ireland in September 2009 to travel South East Asia and Australia with two friends Heather and Kathy. After Asia, we travelled the East Coast of Australia and spent Christmas 2009 in Sydney. I stayed in Australia after that and they continued to travel.

Why did you decide to leave Cork?

I left after I finished my Masters as it was a good time to travel as there were no real opportunities at home. Also I thought I deserved the break after six years of studying in UCC!

What made you emigrate to the place you live in at the moment?

I had heard a lot of stories from people who had made the move! When I arrived in Bondi, I absolutely fell in love with the place! I knew I wanted to live and work here.

What’s your favourite thing about your new home?

My favourite thing about my new home has to be the weather and the beaches. I live about a ten minute walk from Bondi beach which is amazing! It’s a great place to hang out at the weekends during the summer! I am also surrounded with a great bunch of people that I have met over here, majority of them Corkonians.

What do you miss most about Cork?

Family and friends would be a joint number one.  It’s really hard sometime being so far away from them. A close second would be the Irish sense of humour! I work for Morgan McKinley in Sydney which is an Irish company and the majority of the staff are from Ireland and the UK which makes being so far away from home a bit easier- that and the endless supply of Barry’s Tea we get from Cork.

What do you miss least about Cork?  

What I don’t miss is the weather!! An average winters day in Sydney is about 10C, which is hard enough to deal with!

How did family and friends react when you emigrated?

Initially it was a holiday so the majority were happy to see me off! I think a few were disappointed (I hope)  when I decided not to come back. My family were very supportive, the knew the best opportunities were overseas and encouraged me to stay- that or they didn’t like me very much!

Do you plan to return to live in Ireland anytime in the future?

Depends on what happens. It is really hard to tell at the moment.

Would you like to raise your family abroad?

I would like to, especially in Australia with the beach and outdoor lifestyle.

Does social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Skype make it easier to move abroad?

It makes it easier but it can also be a lazy way of communicating, especially Facebook. I am guilty of it myself but what happened to picking up the phone for chat with your friends or family! HINT!