Journey to Massachusetts
The couple holding Niamh outside of their first apartment in Dorchester.
The two initially moved to Dorchester. This came mainly as a result of them already knowing a friend who lived in the area. It was reassuring for them to know that they had someone they knew that would be able to help them navigate and adapt to the new "American way of life". The new parents got their first apartment and lived there for the next few years before deciding to expand their family. Whilst living in Dorchester, the pair continued to maintain constant contact with their families. Below you see a photo of their Dorchester apartment that they sent to the grandparents of the Curry family so they would gain a strong sense of what their lives were like across the ocean. Notably, the clock is shown in Irish time; a simple, yet touching ode to their lives and the family they left back in Ireland.
Written-on photo of the Dorchester apartment layout that was later sent to family in Ireland.
Massachusetts and Boston are known for their high Irish population. Despite the simultaneous adaptation to the new social environment, the two continued to maintain some of the Irish traditions they had back during their childhoods and throughout their young adulthood. The youngest child of the family, Brian, went on to talk about these traditions, with one being Sunday dinners, a practice Brian’s parents had while growing up in Ireland, where the entire family sits at home and enjoys a nice dinner together to wrap up the weekend. Although all of their children except Brian are currently attending or have recently graduated from universities, Brian and his parents still continue to have these weekly dinners together; a special way to preserve a simple, customary tradition.
One of the main differences that Brian notes about life in Ireland versus America with his parents is the impact of religion. Ireland is a very Catholic country, where two or three weeks are blocked off and are dedicated to Easter celebrations and spending time with family. This long break can also be credited due to Easter's importance to Ireland’s independence from British rule in 1916: also known as Easter Rising. This is obviously very different from how America treats religious holidays, specifically Easter, as Americans are much more casual about these kinds of events, and only dedicate one day to celebrations. Many other difference in lifestyles, including these, contribute to why the Curry children were raised the way they were. Paula and Michael both adjusted their parenting styles in order to work with the difference in American versus Irish lifestyles.
In 2002, the couple introduced twins into the family, John and Emma, who sparked a motivation for the two to begin looking into buying their own house. In the midst of their search, the Currys came across a home in Needham, located near one of the town's elementary schools. With little-to-no knowledge of the area or the neighborhood around them, they chose to make the move, and lived in that house for the next few years, including through the birth and childhood of their youngest son Brian. When he was seven years old, the family decided to move again, but now to a newly built house that was a two-minute walk from the one they currently resided in. When asked why the family chose to stay in Needham rather than move to a different area of Massachusetts, Brian responded with:
“[My parents] decided to stay in Needham because it’s such a nice town and they have always loved it here”.