Immigration to Boston from Ireland:
The story of Paula Craig
Early Childhood
Paula Craig was born in Ireland. She described a typical Irish upbringing as "simple". Her home which was in the City of Drogheda, was safe and picturesque. After school she would participate in clubs, ride bikes, and teach herself how to play different instruments.
The Town of Drogheda
Millmount Fort
Laurence's Gate
College
Paula left Drogheda to attend the University of Dublin. She pursued a degree in nursing, and secured a job at a local hospital. There, she worked alongside. At that time, the Church had a significant foothold in all Irish life, particularly in the schools and hospitals; hence her non-secular training.
During this chapter of her life, Northern Ireland and Britain were becoming more and more hostile. Paula Craig remembers traveling to her friends house in Northern Ireland, and experienced British troops checking her bus. It seemed as if the North was a completely different world than the Ireland she grew up in.
Finding Love
After graduating school with a nursing degree, Paula Craig worked in a Dublin hospital as a pediatric nurse.
At the hospital, she met a student doctor named Michael Curry, and the two fell in love. Their wedding was at an old Irish castle, and Paula's mother sewed all the bridesmaid dresses herself.
Paula and Michael in 2020
The Decision to Move to Massachusetts
As Paula and Michael's relationship grew, they had to make a hard decision. Michael wanted to advance his medical career and specialize in disorders of the liver. However, due to the limited clinical population in Ireland, there would be limited opportunities for him to pursue this professional interest. Michael and Paula came to the difficult realization that they had no option but to move to the United States or England if the dream of being a hepatologist was to become a reality.
Micheal and Paula explored all the different options. They narrowed the search down to two locations; Boston or London. They made the decision that Boston was the best fit for the family. Paula and Michael soon moved into a 3 story house in Dorchester, Massachusetts. The house had an extra special connection for Paula and Michael. The other tenants were Irish immigrants also making new paths in Boston, Massachusetts. Because of the Irish connections, they all grew close and shared a special bond.
While Michael was able to treat more patients and learn his new medical speciality, life for the couple became drastically harder in a multitude of ways.
Dorchester, Massachusetts
Life for Paula and Michael became more complicated with the move to Massachusetts. The couple had no car, no family, only one (small) salary, and a 10 week old child. By comparison, in Ireland they had a car, a supportive community, and two (substantial) salaries. Things were rough to begin with after the move, but eventually things started to settle down. The couple liked the Irish community in Boston and established many ties to different groups through their newborn, and their Irish heritage.
Moving Once Again...
After a few years, Paula and Michael's family had grown to include 2 daughters and 2 sons. The family decided it was time to move to a bigger home in Needham, Massachusetts. Paula feels that Needham reminds her of her childhood home in Ireland, which was comforting to her. While times have changed and children have devices and different types of technology available to them, she has raised her children in a very similar way to how she grew up in Ireland.
Becoming a Citizen
Paula and Michael came to Boston on a work visa in 1999. Twenty-Two years later, they decided to become US Citizens. Despite being a challenging process, when completed it was a proud family moment and one that they all will remember and tell their own children about in years to come!
Below is Paula, Micheal, and their first born in August 2016 after becoming citizens
