0:00:02 > 0:00:07This programme contains some strong language
0:00:07 > 0:00:10'In Greece, young people are rioting. In Ireland, a generation is checking out.'
0:00:10 > 0:00:15I hope the sacrifice is worth it. 'And in Japan, my age group can't even find love.'
0:00:15 > 0:00:17"Let's get married! Nice guy, nice face.
0:00:17 > 0:00:19"Whatever. Just soon."
0:00:19 > 0:00:21They're just all asking for husbands.
0:00:24 > 0:00:27'I'm Stacey Dooley, and in this series I'll be travelling the world
0:00:27 > 0:00:30'to find out what it's like to be young and caught up in
0:00:30 > 0:00:32'the worst economic crisis in living memory.'
0:00:32 > 0:00:35The sign basically says, if you're here to take your own life
0:00:35 > 0:00:37because you're so worried about money, don't.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42'I'm going behind the headlines to see what it all could mean for us
0:00:42 > 0:00:45'back at home.' You should never think
0:00:45 > 0:00:47it could never be you, cos it could.
0:00:49 > 0:00:53'This week, I'm heading to Ireland to see how the country is coping
0:00:53 > 0:00:56'after virtually running out of money several years ago.'
0:00:56 > 0:01:00I'm 45 minutes away from my home town. This is devastating.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03'I'll meet young families facing homelessness and bankruptcy.'
0:01:03 > 0:01:05It's an absolute disgrace.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08So get your finger out and do something about it.
0:01:08 > 0:01:10'Watch on as my generation are forced out.'
0:01:10 > 0:01:12It's not that I'm going because I want to go,
0:01:12 > 0:01:14I'm going cos I have to go.
0:01:14 > 0:01:18'And witness the reality for those left behind.'
0:01:18 > 0:01:20Welcome to Ireland! 2012!
0:01:27 > 0:01:33'Last week I was in Greece, a nation in the eye of the storm.
0:01:33 > 0:01:35'I found anger...'
0:01:35 > 0:01:40They must be beyond desperation for that to be an answer.
0:01:40 > 0:01:42'..And distress.'
0:01:42 > 0:01:46Oh, my God, there's someone up there.
0:01:46 > 0:01:49'But also a determination to not be beaten.'
0:01:49 > 0:01:52- Snails!- This is our last challenge.
0:01:52 > 0:01:56'Now I have come to Ireland to find out what could happen next.'
0:01:56 > 0:01:59Look! I'm home!
0:01:59 > 0:02:02I'm half-Irish. It's my crowd, look!
0:02:05 > 0:02:08'Four years since the country nearly went bust,
0:02:08 > 0:02:10'I want to see how they're coping.'
0:02:10 > 0:02:13Ireland was the first country in the whole of Europe to enter recession,
0:02:13 > 0:02:17so it's a big deal. Just going to see how it's affected the young people
0:02:17 > 0:02:19and what sort of state they're in now.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22This trip is sort of different to any others
0:02:22 > 0:02:24because my father was Irish,
0:02:24 > 0:02:27my family, I've got a lot here, and I could have grown up here,
0:02:27 > 0:02:29yeah, of course. It's very close to home.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32So when I'm having a chat with young people who've been affected,
0:02:32 > 0:02:34it could very easily have been me.
0:02:34 > 0:02:38So that just makes it all the more personal, I think, yeah.
0:02:40 > 0:02:42'Not so long ago, Ireland was the poster child
0:02:42 > 0:02:46'for economic growth, so powerful it was dubbed the Celtic Tiger.'
0:02:46 > 0:02:51NEWSREADER: The Republic has become one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.
0:02:51 > 0:02:55'But its economic swagger wasn't to last.'
0:02:55 > 0:02:57CHANTING
0:02:57 > 0:02:59- NEWSREADER:- 'Ireland enjoyed its boom.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02'Now, even these protesters probably accept
0:03:02 > 0:03:04'a price must be paid for the bust.'
0:03:04 > 0:03:07- NEWSREADER:- 'On the streets of Dublin tonight, they were calling this
0:03:07 > 0:03:10'Ireland's Black Thursday.'
0:03:10 > 0:03:13'When the crash came, the country was left so strapped for cash
0:03:13 > 0:03:17'that our neighbours had to borrow billions from other countries
0:03:17 > 0:03:18'to avoid going broke.'
0:03:18 > 0:03:21After years of plenty, the Irish are realising
0:03:21 > 0:03:23life may never be the same again.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29'Now I'm here to find out how Ireland's faring
0:03:29 > 0:03:31'a few years down the line.'
0:03:33 > 0:03:36'I'm staying right in the heart of Dublin, an area called Temple Bar,
0:03:36 > 0:03:41'well-known for its party scene, and spirits seem high.'
0:03:41 > 0:03:42They must know I'm half-Irish.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45It's the red hair and the white skin.
0:03:45 > 0:03:47'My first impression of Ireland
0:03:47 > 0:03:49'isn't that of a country reeling from a crisis.
0:03:49 > 0:03:54'But I quickly discover all is not what it seems.'
0:03:54 > 0:03:57- Our streets!- Whose streets? - Our streets.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00People's belongings were stolen by the guards yesterday.
0:04:00 > 0:04:02All the paperwork from the camp, minutes of meetings.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06Literally walking back to the hotel and I've managed to stumble across
0:04:06 > 0:04:10some kind of Occupy movement. I don't know a great deal about it.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12There's Irish flags everywhere,
0:04:12 > 0:04:15lots going on, so I just came to see what the craic is, really.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18We march en masse into Pearce Street.
0:04:18 > 0:04:19CHEERING
0:04:21 > 0:04:22Let's go!
0:04:26 > 0:04:28'This group, like the ones we've seen on the news at home,
0:04:28 > 0:04:30'is part of the global Occupy movement,
0:04:30 > 0:04:34'which has sprung up in response to the economic crisis.'
0:04:34 > 0:04:36I just don't know what's going on.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39It seems to be getting bigger and bigger, more and more people
0:04:39 > 0:04:41seem to be joining at the side of the street.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44It's insane, completely insane!
0:04:46 > 0:04:49Occupy Main Street!
0:05:09 > 0:05:11'The protesters explain that they don't think
0:05:11 > 0:05:14'the Irish people should be paying higher taxes
0:05:14 > 0:05:18'for mistakes made by banks and politicians.
0:05:18 > 0:05:20'We're approaching the busiest part of Dublin,
0:05:20 > 0:05:23'and the demonstrators decide to block the road,
0:05:23 > 0:05:24'to draw attention to their cause.'
0:05:24 > 0:05:28- Who's to blame? Who got you here?- The government.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31It's out of control with cronyism,
0:05:31 > 0:05:34with developers getting money from banks that had no regulation,
0:05:34 > 0:05:37complete corruption from the bottom up.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39It's horrible that that's happened.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42And the elites of this country are not feeling the pain.
0:05:42 > 0:05:44Austerity has been forced on the people at the bottom,
0:05:44 > 0:05:46and it's wrong, and that's why we're here.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48'But as we get closer to the Garda station,
0:05:48 > 0:05:52'I feel the atmosphere suddenly change.'
0:05:52 > 0:05:54SHOUTING
0:06:02 > 0:06:03The police...
0:06:07 > 0:06:09Move back! Move back!
0:06:12 > 0:06:14He literally pushed me against a car.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16No wonder these people are frustrated,
0:06:16 > 0:06:18no wonder these people are upset.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21Doing absolutely nothing wrong.
0:06:24 > 0:06:25Brutality!
0:06:25 > 0:06:27Shame! Shame!
0:06:27 > 0:06:30I mean, if you could just see this guy.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32Threw me straight into the Garda car.
0:06:32 > 0:06:34I was pushed by a policeman. For reporting this.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37- I was backing up you, actually! - I'm so sorry.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39- No, it's grand.- It's not your fault.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42It was you and other people, it's grand. Don't worry about it.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45- But yeah.- I'm just blown away. I cannot believe
0:06:45 > 0:06:47this is allowed to continue.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50They're meant to serve and protect. What the fuck is this?
0:06:50 > 0:06:54All we're doing is marching and standing up for our rights peacefully, and they batter us.
0:06:54 > 0:06:56That's disgraceful.
0:06:56 > 0:07:00People cannot have a peaceful assembly outside a Garda station.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02These are public servants. We are the public, who wanted
0:07:02 > 0:07:05a peaceful protest outside, and we're not allowed.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07Welcome to Ireland. 2012.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15'Despite the police presence, the protesters are staying put.'
0:07:17 > 0:07:20'And are keen to share with me their motivation for being here.'
0:07:20 > 0:07:24I've been self-employed my entire life, and I lost my business
0:07:24 > 0:07:26due to this recession.
0:07:26 > 0:07:30And my plan was to hand that over to my kids, my business.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32But now it's gone.
0:07:32 > 0:07:37And so my kids have to make it on their own. What can one man do?
0:07:37 > 0:07:39I just can't believe what's just happened.
0:07:39 > 0:07:42I'm 45 min away from my home town, and I've been....
0:07:42 > 0:07:45- Exactly.- It's unreal. - In a European democracy.- Yeah.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48People are demonstrating about something they're passionate about,
0:07:48 > 0:07:50that might affect them in the future.
0:07:50 > 0:07:54Look at the amount of people demonstrating, and look at the amount of guards.
0:07:54 > 0:07:58Do you feel like it's the normal Irish person on the street
0:07:58 > 0:08:00- that is the hardest hit? - Absolutely.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02And this is what we're met with.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05'It's the end of my first day in Ireland,
0:08:05 > 0:08:08'and things here are worse than I thought.'
0:08:08 > 0:08:11The reason we're seeing scenes like this, the reason things like this are happening
0:08:11 > 0:08:13is because normal Irish people have just had enough,
0:08:13 > 0:08:17and they feel like have to come out and try and protest.
0:08:17 > 0:08:18And they feel passionately about it,
0:08:18 > 0:08:22so we have to listen to what they've got to say.
0:08:33 > 0:08:37'Getting caught up in a protest has left me with a lot of questions.'
0:08:37 > 0:08:40'I've arranged to meet a couple of the demonstrators,
0:08:40 > 0:08:43'to find out what made them take action.'
0:08:46 > 0:08:47Nice to see you again.
0:08:47 > 0:08:52- All a bit calmer since the last time I saw you.- A bit calmer, yeah.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55Thanks ever so much, guys, for letting me come and hang out with you,
0:08:55 > 0:08:58I was just keen to have a chat. You have to shed some light for me.
0:08:58 > 0:09:021995, around, we started having a massive economic boom.
0:09:02 > 0:09:06But the whole economy was based on a property market,
0:09:06 > 0:09:09a property bubble. And once the housing market collapsed,
0:09:09 > 0:09:13- the whole Irish economy collapsed. - All of a sudden things came down
0:09:13 > 0:09:16around people, and in a typical Irish way,
0:09:16 > 0:09:19for a while we pretend everything is fine -
0:09:19 > 0:09:24"grand" is a great word! - but even from my point of view,
0:09:24 > 0:09:27OK, I don't consider myself an activist or protester,
0:09:27 > 0:09:31but I could see people around me suffering.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34'Occupy feel that the hardship their generation is now facing
0:09:34 > 0:09:38'is the direct result of the Irish banks' reckless lending.'
0:09:38 > 0:09:42The banks went to the Irish government and said,
0:09:42 > 0:09:44"We are failing as a business.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47"The banks are going to collapse tomorrow." And it was the next day.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50- Is that right?- People would not be able to take money out of ATMs.
0:09:50 > 0:09:54So an Irish man would have went down the road, put his card in the hole in the wall,
0:09:54 > 0:09:57and he wouldn't have been able to get any euros out? It was that near?
0:09:57 > 0:10:02That was the threat, that the banks were saying would happen,
0:10:02 > 0:10:06if we didn't bail them out. And they'd say to us, like, we went mad with borrowing, you went mad.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09- As though...- Yeah, like you went on a shopping...
0:10:09 > 0:10:12Young people in Ireland are the ones who are going to be paying it,
0:10:12 > 0:10:15and the children, my children will be paying these.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18It's actually crazy debt that's impossible to ever pay.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24It seems very clear now, you know, the Irish economy, a lot of it
0:10:24 > 0:10:27relied on this property boom, I mean,
0:10:27 > 0:10:29it was a massive property bubble for couple of years,
0:10:29 > 0:10:32and banks were giving out all this money for this to happen.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35It was money they didn't have. Banks have gone to the government and said, "We've got no money,
0:10:35 > 0:10:39"you have to bail us out." The government haven't got the money,
0:10:39 > 0:10:42so Europe have to bail the government out.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45You know, so that's why Ireland is where it is now, in a nutshell.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48So I feel a lot more in the know, I feel all clued up,
0:10:48 > 0:10:52revved up, can't wait to learn more.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59'When the economy was booming, around 100 billion euros in loans
0:10:59 > 0:11:03'was given out, mainly to fund Ireland's colossal property bubble.'
0:11:03 > 0:11:07A lot of that money was in development and construction,
0:11:07 > 0:11:10so I'm off to go and see where this money ended up, where was it spent?
0:11:10 > 0:11:14'A couple of hours outside the capital are the Irish Midlands,
0:11:14 > 0:11:19'which saw huge amounts of cash pour in during the Celtic Tiger.
0:11:19 > 0:11:24'I'm meeting up with Fintan McGill, from Ireland's largest estate agent.'
0:11:24 > 0:11:28Good morning! How's things? Are you well?
0:11:28 > 0:11:30'He's been in the business since the early '90s,
0:11:30 > 0:11:33'and witnessed first-hand Europe's biggest property boom.'
0:11:33 > 0:11:36Maybe the best thing to do is go out, show you some of these places.
0:11:36 > 0:11:40- Is that OK?- Brilliant, will we make a move? Thanks, Fintan.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44- What was really going on? - The big thing was
0:11:44 > 0:11:47there were so many houses being built, so many new developments started,
0:11:47 > 0:11:51everyone was at it. I mean, everybody was at it.
0:11:51 > 0:11:53This is absolutely nuts.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57Here we are in Battery Court. This is an example
0:11:57 > 0:11:59of a project that ran into difficulty, and the banks
0:11:59 > 0:12:03took it over way back in about 2007, 2008.
0:12:03 > 0:12:07Some of them were selling at the time for nearly half a million.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10They're down to about 170, 180,000.
0:12:16 > 0:12:20It's crazy. I mean literally, there's houses here,
0:12:20 > 0:12:22they've got no roofs, they've got no windows.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25Was it literally one day, the boom was totally happening,
0:12:25 > 0:12:28building, building, the next day, we haven't got?
0:12:28 > 0:12:30Near enough, yes. It literally came to a grinding halt
0:12:30 > 0:12:32over the space of a few weeks.
0:12:32 > 0:12:34Money literally dried up.
0:12:35 > 0:12:39We were all told that the thing would have a soft landing.
0:12:39 > 0:12:41"It'll last for six months and it'll be all over,
0:12:41 > 0:12:45"and we'll get back to where we were, and keep going. Soft landing."
0:12:45 > 0:12:48You know, I can tell you that there wasn't even a runway.
0:12:48 > 0:12:52- It was just, it just hit us so hard.- Wow.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58'And this is just the tip of the iceberg. As we drive around,
0:12:58 > 0:13:01'the landscape is littered with these ghost estates.'
0:13:03 > 0:13:07'I'm now starting to understand how Ireland almost bankrupted itself.'
0:13:07 > 0:13:11Was the demand for this constant construction?
0:13:11 > 0:13:15- Because Ireland isn't that populated.- In rural areas,
0:13:15 > 0:13:17there was absolutely no demand.
0:13:17 > 0:13:21- I don't think there's anyone living here.- No.
0:13:21 > 0:13:23Visually, I think for me this just hammers home
0:13:23 > 0:13:24how insane it must have been
0:13:24 > 0:13:26in the boom years, and where Ireland is now.
0:13:26 > 0:13:30- Are we allowed to hop out and have a look inside?- I suppose you are.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32Go round and have a look.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36- I've never seen anything like it. - Have you not?
0:13:36 > 0:13:39It's crazy, cos you just think how beautiful it could be.
0:13:39 > 0:13:43Could've been lovely. I remember coming in here at the beginning,
0:13:43 > 0:13:45and there probably was 50, 60 people working here.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48- That's 50, 60 men out of work. - Yes. The cycle went on.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50- It's mind-blowing.- Isn't it?
0:13:50 > 0:13:54I just find this particularly interesting because I'm 25,
0:13:54 > 0:13:56and I would love my own little place, you know,
0:13:56 > 0:13:59and I'm stood here just thinking, if I came here to view this
0:13:59 > 0:14:01and thought I was going to have it, I would be so made up,
0:14:01 > 0:14:04and then for it to not be finished, my heart would be broken.
0:14:04 > 0:14:06You hear these great figures bandied around
0:14:06 > 0:14:10of the number of derelict estates around the country.
0:14:10 > 0:14:13I've heard people say there was 2,500. I don't know exactly how many.
0:14:13 > 0:14:15And not the worst in Ireland, absolutely not.
0:14:15 > 0:14:16SHE SIGHS
0:14:16 > 0:14:20'It's crazy to think that hundreds of thousands of homes are sat here empty
0:14:20 > 0:14:25'when back at home, we're in desperate need of new housing.'
0:14:25 > 0:14:28Developers were literally throwing houses up left, right and centre
0:14:28 > 0:14:31and no one's sat in them. They're empty. No-one can sell.
0:14:31 > 0:14:35Very few can buy. This is devastating.
0:14:41 > 0:14:45However, some houses did get snapped up during the boom,
0:14:45 > 0:14:50many by young people desperate to get on the property ladder.
0:14:50 > 0:14:53But for some, their dreams soon became a nightmare
0:14:53 > 0:14:56when they realised what they'd spent their hard-earned cash on.
0:14:58 > 0:15:02There's actually a high-profile case in Dublin, Priory Hall,
0:15:02 > 0:15:05where the residents literally had to be evacuated from their own homes,
0:15:05 > 0:15:07they were so unsafe.
0:15:07 > 0:15:09'One of them has agreed to talk to me
0:15:09 > 0:15:12'and I'm catching up with her at her mum's house.'
0:15:12 > 0:15:15DOORBELL RINGS
0:15:16 > 0:15:19- Hello!- Hello.- You must be Sinead. - I am, hello.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22- I'm Stacey. Thanks for having me. - Hello, Stacey. No problem.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26'Six months ago, the council gave residents 48 hours
0:15:26 > 0:15:29'to evacuate all 187 flats
0:15:29 > 0:15:32'when it came to light that the fireproofing was so inadequate
0:15:32 > 0:15:35'that their homes could have burnt to the ground in minutes.'
0:15:35 > 0:15:37Wow. This is just nuts, isn't it?
0:15:37 > 0:15:40'Sinead's now paying the price in more ways than one.'
0:15:40 > 0:15:43So right now, we're paying mortgages on homes we can't live in
0:15:43 > 0:15:47- and don't know when we'll live in again.- Just so I'm clear, Sinead,
0:15:47 > 0:15:50you're still paying a mortgage for a house you're not able to live in?
0:15:50 > 0:15:52The bank want their money.
0:15:52 > 0:15:54The bank don't care that I can't live in my home.
0:15:55 > 0:15:58It sounds crazy, but that's the way it is.
0:15:58 > 0:16:02It was buzzing with young families and now it's just like a ghost town.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05So I look back by and I go, "There's a grand a month again."
0:16:05 > 0:16:07- "See you."- Yeah.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09I'm sorry, I'm...
0:16:09 > 0:16:11No, you're all right. Are you all right?
0:16:11 > 0:16:13Don't worry, it's...fine.
0:16:14 > 0:16:18You just get days where you just feel hopeless.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21It's bad enough living in a building that's...
0:16:21 > 0:16:24You'll see Priory Hall, you'll understand what I mean,
0:16:24 > 0:16:29but to know that our lives were put at risk needlessly...
0:16:29 > 0:16:30It's just wrong, you know?
0:16:30 > 0:16:34Are we able to still go in there? Is it safe enough to go in?
0:16:34 > 0:16:35Well, we can go down and have a look.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38Could we? Yeah, just have a really quick nose.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41Probably has to be seen to be believed.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56Priory Hall is in Donaghmede on Dublin's Northside.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59Built at the height of the boom,
0:16:59 > 0:17:02it was a development of starter homes aimed at first-time buyers.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05The brochure promised dream contemporary-style homes
0:17:05 > 0:17:10in a pleasant urban village, but what the hundreds of residents got
0:17:10 > 0:17:13couldn't have been further from the advert.
0:17:13 > 0:17:17- Is it up here, Sinead?- Straight up. - Up, straight up.
0:17:17 > 0:17:18Okey-dokey.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23- So this is you here? - This is me. Oh, hi, Graham.
0:17:23 > 0:17:25- Hey, how's it going?- Hello!
0:17:25 > 0:17:28'Like Sinead, Graham and his girlfriend took out a large mortgage
0:17:28 > 0:17:31'to get on the property ladder.'
0:17:31 > 0:17:35- Just seems such an awful time for you all. - The whole thing's been a nightmare,
0:17:35 > 0:17:36just an absolute nightmare.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39Graham, I'm going to go in and grab a few bits and show Stacy around.
0:17:39 > 0:17:43- Do you want to come in with us? - Yeah.- Are you sure?- Yeah? Cool.
0:17:44 > 0:17:46Welcome.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51Home sweet home.
0:17:52 > 0:17:55- It's like an empty shell.- It is.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58It's hard to believe these were our homes for the last four years.
0:17:58 > 0:18:02I'm certainly no expert, but I know in the UK,
0:18:02 > 0:18:04if you're putting buildings and properties up,
0:18:04 > 0:18:08they have to, you know, pass certain regulations. Council have to check
0:18:08 > 0:18:11and there's people in charge to make sure it's a safe environment.
0:18:11 > 0:18:12Does that not go on here?
0:18:12 > 0:18:15Ireland is one of the few countries in the developed world
0:18:15 > 0:18:18that doesn't do inspections during construction.
0:18:18 > 0:18:21The former president of the Royal Institute of Architects said
0:18:21 > 0:18:25that Ireland's building control regime was on a par with Namibia's.
0:18:25 > 0:18:26- In Africa?- In Africa.
0:18:26 > 0:18:29I mean, the developer, what's he saying?
0:18:29 > 0:18:31Has he taken any responsibility?
0:18:31 > 0:18:35He's expressed sympathy for the residents
0:18:35 > 0:18:38- but he would claim this isn't his fault.- Whose fault is it?
0:18:38 > 0:18:40God knows, God knows.
0:18:40 > 0:18:44He's now bankrupt, so he's not going to be part of any solution.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47But we've huge mortgages. I spent a quarter of a million on my apartment.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50I'm sure Sinead spent something similar.
0:18:51 > 0:18:53There is no way we can pay that off.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56We can never sell it, you can't live here,
0:18:56 > 0:18:58so basically, whether we like it or not,
0:18:58 > 0:19:01insolvency and bankruptcy may be the end of the road.
0:19:01 > 0:19:03'I can't believe the predicament
0:19:03 > 0:19:08'Sinead and Graham have found themselves in through seemingly no fault of their own,
0:19:08 > 0:19:11'and given how many developments went up in the boom,
0:19:11 > 0:19:13'this isn't an isolated case.'
0:19:13 > 0:19:14Wow.
0:19:15 > 0:19:17It's probably not the sight you envisioned
0:19:17 > 0:19:19- when you bought the place. - No, not at all.
0:19:19 > 0:19:22- That's my dream home over there. - Which one is yours, Graham?
0:19:22 > 0:19:25- The first floor one. - Is that you there?- Yeah.
0:19:25 > 0:19:27All your dreams come true, and then...
0:19:27 > 0:19:30Not so much now.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33That's where we were going to start our family and start our life
0:19:33 > 0:19:35and now it's just turned into a nightmare.
0:19:35 > 0:19:37I feel scared for the future.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40Like, I should have been happily living here,
0:19:40 > 0:19:43bringing you over for something to eat,
0:19:43 > 0:19:47not showing you the wreck of what's left. It's just...
0:19:47 > 0:19:49It's heartbreaking.
0:19:50 > 0:19:54It doesn't even feel like a home any more. It's just a noose around our neck.
0:20:03 > 0:20:05Sinead and Graham's lives are in limbo.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09The council are pursuing the developer through the courts,
0:20:09 > 0:20:12but as of yet have had no success.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15They are also paying for them to live elsewhere,
0:20:15 > 0:20:17but are now trying to stop this support
0:20:17 > 0:20:21as they don't see private homeowners as their responsibility.
0:20:21 > 0:20:23I've had a call from Sinead,
0:20:23 > 0:20:26and she's asked me to join her on a protest outside Parliament.
0:20:26 > 0:20:30They now see government intervention as their only hope.
0:20:30 > 0:20:34- Sinead! How are you? How's things? - Good to see you.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36- What a turnout!- I know, yeah.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39- There's a fair few here.- Yeah, there's a good few, thank God.
0:20:39 > 0:20:41Thank God, yeah. And do you think anyone will come out
0:20:41 > 0:20:44- and have a chat with you? - I hope so, Stacy.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47We've been out here every Tuesday lunchtime since October,
0:20:47 > 0:20:50so we'd really hope that the Taoiseach and Minister Hogan
0:20:50 > 0:20:53would come out and just show us some respect.
0:20:53 > 0:20:55'It's the Irish Taoiseach,
0:20:55 > 0:20:57'the Prime Minister, and the Minister for Environment
0:20:57 > 0:21:00'who ultimately have the power to turn things around,
0:21:00 > 0:21:02'but they're nowhere to be seen
0:21:02 > 0:21:06'and I'm starting to understand why these people feel so frustrated.'
0:21:06 > 0:21:10Heartbreaking that every week we stand here and they completely ignore us.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13Nobody seems to want to help us at all.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16We lived on the fourth and fifth floor with no means of escape.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19If there had been a fire, we wouldn't have survived.
0:21:19 > 0:21:20How old's your little one?
0:21:20 > 0:21:23She's one next week, so she's been half her life homeless.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26I also have a six-year-old, who was there for five years.
0:21:26 > 0:21:31You know, and surely it's a right that we are entitled to
0:21:31 > 0:21:34- to know that we were living in a deathtrap.- Yeah.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38It's been a couple of hours,
0:21:38 > 0:21:41and soon the residents will need to return to work.
0:21:41 > 0:21:43Their prime minister hasn't shown up,
0:21:43 > 0:21:46but there is a TD, an MP from the ruling party that's come out
0:21:46 > 0:21:49so I'm just going to go and have a quick chat with him.
0:21:49 > 0:21:51'Terence Flanagan is their local MP,
0:21:51 > 0:21:53'which means one of his responsibilities
0:21:53 > 0:21:56'is to represent the people of Priory Hall at government level.'
0:21:56 > 0:22:00Do you feel like in your heart, your party have honestly done enough?
0:22:00 > 0:22:02The government are very interested in this issue.
0:22:02 > 0:22:04We want this issue resolved. It will be resolved.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06Unfortunately, we cannot intervene,
0:22:06 > 0:22:09the Minister cannot intervene when there's a court case ongoing.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12'The residents view this as a stalling tactic by the government
0:22:12 > 0:22:15'as they have no involvement in the case,
0:22:15 > 0:22:17'which is between the council and the developer.'
0:22:17 > 0:22:20These people haven't had a chance to speak to the Prime Minister
0:22:20 > 0:22:22cos he's not had the decency to come out.
0:22:22 > 0:22:25Well, he doesn't actually leave the offices and come out...
0:22:25 > 0:22:28Do you think it would be a decent thing of him to maybe do that,
0:22:28 > 0:22:32just to show the people that he's here with them?
0:22:32 > 0:22:34Be honest, it would be a decent thing to do, wouldn't it?
0:22:34 > 0:22:37- Possibly, yes. Absolutely. - But he's not done that.
0:22:37 > 0:22:39No, he hasn't done that. Maybe if he was formally asked
0:22:39 > 0:22:42- to come out to meet the people... - He has been formally asked, Terence.
0:22:42 > 0:22:44He's been formally asked for a matter of months.
0:22:44 > 0:22:46How bad does it have to get?
0:22:46 > 0:22:50Does something, really, does a fatality have to happen
0:22:50 > 0:22:54for the government, for the Taoiseach to wake up?
0:22:54 > 0:22:55All I can say is, this government,
0:22:55 > 0:22:57we've inherited a complete mess economically.
0:22:57 > 0:22:59But you're in power now,
0:22:59 > 0:23:02so it's your responsibility to look after your people.
0:23:02 > 0:23:05It's an absolute disgrace. And you are responsible.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08You're responsible as our leaders, as our government,
0:23:08 > 0:23:10so get your finger out and do something about it.
0:23:14 > 0:23:15OK?
0:23:16 > 0:23:19- OK, thanks. - Terence, thank you for your time.
0:23:19 > 0:23:21The residents feel absolutely, no question, gutted
0:23:21 > 0:23:25by the way they've been treated by absolutely everyone involved.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27The thing that winds me up the most
0:23:27 > 0:23:30is just how ridiculously unfair this whole scenario is.
0:23:30 > 0:23:35They've gone above and beyond to make sure they've done everything
0:23:35 > 0:23:37legit and proper, and what was the point?
0:23:37 > 0:23:41Because their lives have just been...hell
0:23:41 > 0:23:45because they bought a home, a shoddy home in a shoddy development.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52It isn't just young people who bought into property
0:23:52 > 0:23:54that are now having a hard time. It's bigger than that.
0:23:54 > 0:23:59This recession is affecting all young people in one way or another.
0:24:00 > 0:24:01Since the big crash,
0:24:01 > 0:24:05the amount of young people in Ireland without a job has trebled,
0:24:05 > 0:24:10and now almost a third of my age group are unemployed,
0:24:10 > 0:24:12compared to under a quarter back at home.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15I'm off today to a careers fair. I think this is a great opportunity
0:24:15 > 0:24:19to speak to loads of young people and see what is on offer for them.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23'This is the largest event of its kind here, so I'm confident
0:24:23 > 0:24:27'I'll find plenty of young Irish jobseekers to talk to.'
0:24:27 > 0:24:30What is it like? We hear rumours, it's hard, it's tricky,
0:24:30 > 0:24:32it's tough to get a job here. What's the reality?
0:24:32 > 0:24:36It's pretty tough, I suppose. There's nothing really happening.
0:24:36 > 0:24:37I don't see too many people hiring.
0:24:37 > 0:24:39A lot of colleges, that's what you kind of see.
0:24:39 > 0:24:41It's a tough job market.
0:24:41 > 0:24:43- It's not easy. - It doesn't sound easy!- Absolutely.
0:24:43 > 0:24:47Just going out with my law degree, it's not good enough any more.
0:24:47 > 0:24:49It's crazy! A law degree is not enough.
0:24:49 > 0:24:50What are you girls doing here?
0:24:50 > 0:24:53We found out a couple of weeks ago we're going to be made redundant,
0:24:53 > 0:24:55so we heard about this online,
0:24:55 > 0:24:58so we said we'd come down and have a look and see what our options are.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01- Do you think it will be easy to get another job?- We have to.
0:25:01 > 0:25:03- We have to, to pay the rent. - Yeah, exactly.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05Have you found it helpful today?
0:25:05 > 0:25:09I don't think there's much opportunity here. I think the education system is good,
0:25:09 > 0:25:12but I don't think the job system is, really, to be honest.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20This is Ireland's largest careers and education fair.
0:25:20 > 0:25:24It's the biggest one they do, and I've had a look around the stalls
0:25:24 > 0:25:27and it does seem to be the vast majority are really pushing
0:25:27 > 0:25:31to just further your education, keep taking these courses, do everything you can.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34There's only three or four, there's a handful actually offering jobs,
0:25:34 > 0:25:38offering recruitment, so that's a telling sign in itself.
0:25:38 > 0:25:41'Unfortunately, the Irish companies who are recruiting
0:25:41 > 0:25:43'choose not to speak to me,
0:25:43 > 0:25:47'but I'm determined to get to the bottom of the job situation here.'
0:25:47 > 0:25:49Genuinely, how hard is it to get a job here?
0:25:49 > 0:25:51Erm...
0:25:52 > 0:25:56- Really?- Honestly, yeah. - Honestly? It's impossible.
0:25:56 > 0:26:00I'm here today more in hope than expectation.
0:26:00 > 0:26:05I have not had an interview for a job in Ireland.
0:26:05 > 0:26:09I have not had a positive response to a job application in Ireland.
0:26:09 > 0:26:13- That's interesting.- My last term of employment here in Ireland was...
0:26:15 > 0:26:17I can't remember, actually.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20- Really? It's been that long? - Yeah, it's that long ago, yeah.
0:26:20 > 0:26:22- Jeez.- Yeah, maybe four years.
0:26:22 > 0:26:27- And did you lose your job because of the recession?- Yes.
0:26:27 > 0:26:28I'd done a degree in psychology.
0:26:28 > 0:26:32- Wow.- And after that I got a Masters degree in social anthropology.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35- Brian, you brainbox! And even you... - Lots of people are well-educated,
0:26:35 > 0:26:38this is the problem. They're just not employed.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41- Yet they're still struggling to find work.- Yes.
0:26:41 > 0:26:45- I'm probably painting a pretty grim picture.- No, but it's fascinating!
0:26:45 > 0:26:47You've had your head in the books for years, you've trained,
0:26:47 > 0:26:51you've worked really hard, there's absolutely nothing here for you
0:26:51 > 0:26:53when you're ready to go out and earn.
0:26:53 > 0:26:55Yeah, that's the fact of the matter. It really is.
0:26:55 > 0:27:00This big event just wasn't as packed with young people as I expected,
0:27:00 > 0:27:02but it's definitely been worth the visit.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05I've managed to wangle myself a date with Brian and his pals,
0:27:05 > 0:27:08which is great, I'm just so up for speaking to as many people as I can
0:27:08 > 0:27:11just to get a real feel, so yeah, that's where I'm off to next.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14I'm to the pub with a load of Irish lads.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23Brian is from a town called Tullamore,
0:27:23 > 0:27:25an hour outside of Dublin.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31Areas like this saw rapid growth during the Celtic Tiger,
0:27:31 > 0:27:35but have now become unemployment blackspots.
0:27:35 > 0:27:37Just keen to hear his friends' side of things, really,
0:27:37 > 0:27:40how's the recession affected them and their lives.
0:27:45 > 0:27:48Brian! How are you?
0:27:48 > 0:27:49- You well?- Yes!
0:27:49 > 0:27:52- Hello!- Hello!- Hi! I'm Stacey. - Come on in, join us.
0:27:52 > 0:27:56- Am I able to sit with the girls? - Yeah, of course! Have a seat.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59So how many of us here are in full-time employment?
0:28:00 > 0:28:02- Uh, I'm obviously working. - Just the one, yeah.
0:28:02 > 0:28:06- You're the only one employed, are you?- I think so.- Wow.
0:28:06 > 0:28:08At the moment I work in Aldi, the supermarket,
0:28:08 > 0:28:11but before that, it's not what I planned to do.
0:28:11 > 0:28:13- I did a degree in theology and sociology.- Wow.
0:28:13 > 0:28:17- And then I went on to do my Masters in journalism.- Look at you go!
0:28:17 > 0:28:21Yeah, but I came out of college at the worst possible time, so...
0:28:21 > 0:28:24There was no jobs, and I was actually quite lucky
0:28:24 > 0:28:26to get a job in Aldi, it took me a long time.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29I know it's funny, like, happy to have a job in Aldi,
0:28:29 > 0:28:32but I really was delighted to have something.
0:28:32 > 0:28:35As much as I feel hard done by. There's a lot of people out there
0:28:35 > 0:28:38who can't get any work whatsoever.
0:28:38 > 0:28:42Tina's story will tell it all, you know. Masters, no job, Aldi.
0:28:42 > 0:28:44Doesn't sound good, does it?
0:28:44 > 0:28:46What is your line of work? What do you do?
0:28:46 > 0:28:48Bricklayer.
0:28:48 > 0:28:50We had plenty of work, but we laid all the bricks
0:28:50 > 0:28:52so there's no more bricks left to lay.
0:28:52 > 0:28:56So when it was kind of, I suppose, taken away from us,
0:28:56 > 0:28:58all of a sudden, you're like, "What the fuck do I do?"
0:28:58 > 0:29:01- That must change your life. - It changes your life, yeah.
0:29:01 > 0:29:04People do want to work, they just can't find it here,
0:29:04 > 0:29:08so their hand is being forced. No work in Ireland,
0:29:08 > 0:29:10you have to leave the country to work.
0:29:10 > 0:29:13Last week, they were giving away visas up in Dublin
0:29:13 > 0:29:15- for Canada and Australia, wasn't that right?- Yeah.
0:29:15 > 0:29:20But two days before that, there was people camping on the street
0:29:20 > 0:29:22in queues waiting to get into the thing.
0:29:22 > 0:29:24- No!- Yeah.- That's how desperate people are.
0:29:24 > 0:29:28- That's how desperate people are, you know?- To get away from here.
0:29:28 > 0:29:33Yeah, to get away, that's just kind of, that's what's happening.
0:29:33 > 0:29:36I love my country, but I'm not going to swear fidelity
0:29:36 > 0:29:39to the land of Ireland, cos I'm going to leave this land
0:29:39 > 0:29:41in order to make a better life.
0:29:41 > 0:29:46I think one thing that's becoming very clear very quickly
0:29:46 > 0:29:48is just how hard it is to get a job here in Ireland.
0:29:48 > 0:29:51I appreciate it's tricky at home and even a couple of my friends
0:29:51 > 0:29:54are finding it difficult to find jobs.
0:29:54 > 0:29:58But if you think it's bad at home, I'd say it's five times worse here.
0:29:58 > 0:30:01It's just...people are leaving,
0:30:01 > 0:30:06fleeing the country in order to earn a living. It's that serious.
0:30:14 > 0:30:18'The Irish leaving Ireland to find work isn't something new.
0:30:18 > 0:30:22'My family themselves did it. But it sounds like this old trend is back.'
0:30:22 > 0:30:24The reason I came here is because I was keen to know
0:30:24 > 0:30:27how the young people were coping with the recession.
0:30:27 > 0:30:29How do you live through an economic crisis?
0:30:29 > 0:30:33One of the main things they're doing is they're off, they're leaving.
0:30:33 > 0:30:35A lot of them are having to emigrate.
0:30:35 > 0:30:38'I'm off to meet a family in Athenry
0:30:38 > 0:30:41'who have already lost one child to emigration,
0:30:41 > 0:30:46'and are preparing to say goodbye to another.'
0:30:46 > 0:30:50Hello, you must be Ciara. I'm Stacey. Thank you for having me.
0:30:50 > 0:30:54- Welcome to Athenry.- Oh, thank you. It's nice out there. I like it.
0:30:54 > 0:30:56- Is this the family home?- Yeah.
0:30:56 > 0:31:00- We've been here for, like, 20 years.- It's lovely.
0:31:02 > 0:31:06- Hello! How's things? I'm Stacey. - Hi, Stacey, I'm Patricia.
0:31:06 > 0:31:07Pleasure to meet you...
0:31:07 > 0:31:10'Ciara graduated from one of the most prestigious universities
0:31:10 > 0:31:13'in Ireland last year. But like everyone else on her course,
0:31:13 > 0:31:17'she's been unable to find full-time work on home ground.
0:31:17 > 0:31:19'So she's taken up a job offer in Australia,
0:31:19 > 0:31:21'over 9,000 miles away.'
0:31:21 > 0:31:25So now you're all qualified, you're a total speech therapist,
0:31:25 > 0:31:29- yet you're having to go abroad. You're emigrating.- Yeah.
0:31:29 > 0:31:32- How long is it for?- Four years.
0:31:33 > 0:31:36- Wow. That's a long time.- Yeah.
0:31:36 > 0:31:39I have never even had, like, a phone contract for four years.
0:31:41 > 0:31:45- D'you know anyone in Perth? - My brother's already over there.
0:31:45 > 0:31:48He emigrated four weeks ago.
0:31:48 > 0:31:51So your son who went a month ago...
0:31:51 > 0:31:54Our only son, we've only one son, so yeah, so he's gone.
0:31:54 > 0:31:58Obviously, you'd much rather have them here,
0:31:58 > 0:32:01but it is a chance for them to go off and get work.
0:32:01 > 0:32:03They're certainly not going to get any work here.
0:32:03 > 0:32:06I can't imagine having to leave my home country
0:32:06 > 0:32:09just because I'm keen to work, and I can't find anything at home.
0:32:09 > 0:32:15And how do you feel, girls? Big sister's off, four years.
0:32:15 > 0:32:16What d'you reckon?
0:32:16 > 0:32:18It's really sad, you know,
0:32:18 > 0:32:21trying to keep your emotions in check and everything.
0:32:21 > 0:32:23I've been asking her not to hug me recently.
0:32:23 > 0:32:26So it's getting pretty bad now, but I mean...
0:32:26 > 0:32:29Oh, don't worry, hon. You're all right, you're all right.
0:32:29 > 0:32:34- It's hard, isn't it?- Yeah.- It'd be weird if you didn't get upset.
0:32:34 > 0:32:38I hear that emigration was a big deal in the '80s,
0:32:38 > 0:32:40a lot of people having to leave.
0:32:40 > 0:32:42- We ourselves had to do that. - Is that right?
0:32:42 > 0:32:44Well, I met Tag in London,
0:32:44 > 0:32:48but we wanted to raise our family in Ireland.
0:32:48 > 0:32:52So we came back. We didn't think they would have to start emigrating
0:32:52 > 0:32:55like we had to do when we were younger.
0:32:59 > 0:33:03'Ciara's got plenty to do before she leaves.
0:33:03 > 0:33:05'So I want to take this chance to find out
0:33:05 > 0:33:09'how her mum really feels about waving off her eldest daughter.'
0:33:09 > 0:33:11- Hi, Patricia, you all right? - I'm fine, yeah.
0:33:11 > 0:33:14- Just going to make a cup of tea. - Good stuff.
0:33:14 > 0:33:15How are you feeling?
0:33:15 > 0:33:20Erm, fairly OK, yeah.
0:33:20 > 0:33:23It'll probably hit me when the last few bits of packing are being done
0:33:23 > 0:33:27and what have you. I was actually talking to someone this morning
0:33:27 > 0:33:30and her daughter went for a year to Australia,
0:33:30 > 0:33:33- and she's ended up being there ten years.- No!- Hmm, yeah.
0:33:35 > 0:33:39It's so far away. Guess I just have to start saving.
0:33:43 > 0:33:46'Sarah and Maeve are two of Ciara's closest friends
0:33:46 > 0:33:49'and they've come round to help her prepare for the big move.'
0:33:49 > 0:33:51Hey! How's things?
0:33:51 > 0:33:53Hi.
0:33:53 > 0:33:54Will we start on that box?
0:33:54 > 0:33:56Yeah, all right.
0:33:56 > 0:33:57- Are these photos?- Yeah.
0:33:57 > 0:34:00- Oh, God! - THEY LAUGH
0:34:00 > 0:34:03Stop it, is that Sarah?
0:34:03 > 0:34:05- We are in primary school there. - We're about ten.
0:34:05 > 0:34:07Hang on a second, Sarah. You look exactly the same.
0:34:07 > 0:34:12It's very Irish. You're all playing around in these lovely green fields.
0:34:12 > 0:34:16I used to hang around under, like, a dirty bridge.
0:34:16 > 0:34:17Like a troll.
0:34:17 > 0:34:19Like a minging old troll.
0:34:19 > 0:34:22You were sort of galloping through green fields.
0:34:22 > 0:34:25Sarah, how long have you known Ciara?
0:34:25 > 0:34:28- About 15 years.- Oh, my God.
0:34:28 > 0:34:32- How are you feeling about the move? - It only really hit me last night,
0:34:32 > 0:34:35and erm, then it was like, "Oh, no, it's real.
0:34:35 > 0:34:38"She's actually going to the other side of the world."
0:34:38 > 0:34:41I'm afraid that all my friends and my family think that
0:34:41 > 0:34:45I'm coming home in four years' time.
0:34:45 > 0:34:49Like, realistically, I don't know if I will.
0:34:49 > 0:34:52I know I haven't got there yet or anything,
0:34:52 > 0:34:55but will I come home?
0:34:55 > 0:34:58Cos I'm moving, I'm going.
0:34:58 > 0:35:02I think I'll be applying for my citizenship after two years
0:35:02 > 0:35:03and staying on.
0:35:03 > 0:35:07It's like, am I going to have to wait until I'm nearly 29
0:35:07 > 0:35:11to start my settled life? D'you know what I mean?
0:35:11 > 0:35:14- That's not realistic or fair. - Putting everything on hold.
0:35:14 > 0:35:16Yeah, putting everything on the long finger.
0:35:16 > 0:35:19It's a tough one, you know.
0:35:19 > 0:35:24It almost seems like, you know, we're being educated for export.
0:35:24 > 0:35:27Because skilled, trained people,
0:35:27 > 0:35:29they're the ones that are leaving
0:35:29 > 0:35:30and it's not that we don't need them,
0:35:30 > 0:35:32we just can't afford to employ them.
0:35:32 > 0:35:36Doesn't the government pay for us to go to college as well?
0:35:36 > 0:35:37We get free third-level education,
0:35:37 > 0:35:40so you don't actually have to pay to go to university.
0:35:40 > 0:35:44Everybody's getting the benefit of free education
0:35:44 > 0:35:48and some other country is getting the benefit of that education.
0:35:48 > 0:35:53Here we are sat in your living room, packing you away.
0:35:53 > 0:35:56Well, I'm not individual in this.
0:35:56 > 0:36:00You know, it's happening in other houses along this street.
0:36:00 > 0:36:01Just the way it is, now.
0:36:01 > 0:36:05My heart does go out to Ciara. She's sat in there with her pals
0:36:05 > 0:36:08that she's spent most of her life with, special friendships.
0:36:09 > 0:36:13But she's having to leave because she needs to work. It's...
0:36:14 > 0:36:17It's a tough call, it's a big sacrifice to make.
0:36:17 > 0:36:22'I'll be catching up with Ciara in a couple of days to say goodbye.'
0:36:24 > 0:36:27'Now, I'm heading further into the countryside,
0:36:27 > 0:36:30'where I've heard this surge in emigration
0:36:30 > 0:36:34'is not just affecting families, but entire communities.
0:36:34 > 0:36:39'Ireland's population is already 15 times smaller than ours,
0:36:39 > 0:36:42'and they're now losing nearly 1,000 people every week.'
0:36:46 > 0:36:48'County Clare is on the west coast,
0:36:48 > 0:36:51'and around here, the pub is at the heart of the community.
0:36:51 > 0:36:54'So I've checked myself in to the local to see what's what.'
0:36:54 > 0:36:57- Hello!- Hello. - How are you?- I'm excellent.
0:36:57 > 0:36:59What's your name?
0:36:59 > 0:37:02Martin. Man of the house. Would you like a drink?
0:37:02 > 0:37:04- Will I have a drink? - Have a glass of Guinness.
0:37:04 > 0:37:06A Guinness, yes. So what's going on here tonight?
0:37:06 > 0:37:08Very little. God be with the days
0:37:08 > 0:37:10when the pub would be packed this hour of the evening.
0:37:10 > 0:37:12- But it's a Friday!- Yes.
0:37:12 > 0:37:14Those good days are gone.
0:37:14 > 0:37:17You know, the recession, kids emigrating.
0:37:17 > 0:37:21We've lost a generation, the 20-year-olds to the 30-year-olds.
0:37:21 > 0:37:25It's crazy, isn't it? Emigration is such a big deal over here,
0:37:25 > 0:37:27so much more than back at home in England.
0:37:27 > 0:37:30Well, you wouldn't notice in big cities. Take the likes of London,
0:37:30 > 0:37:33you wouldn't miss 100,000 people out of London,
0:37:33 > 0:37:38where we'd miss 40 people out of a little parish like Cooraclare.
0:37:38 > 0:37:40We've four boys and the four of them are in Australia.
0:37:40 > 0:37:43- Every one of your sons has had to leave?- They're gone.
0:37:43 > 0:37:47It was our dream that they would not have to emigrate.
0:37:47 > 0:37:50And then the bubble burst and then you have to go to the airport,
0:37:50 > 0:37:52and the feeling that you have there,
0:37:52 > 0:37:55hugging a guy that you hugged when he was four years of age,
0:37:55 > 0:37:58and he's crying and you're trying to say, "OK, take it easy."
0:37:58 > 0:38:02You walk away with a lump in your throat. That's the toughest part.
0:38:02 > 0:38:03That's heartbreaking.
0:38:03 > 0:38:07It's like as if we have failed a generation.
0:38:07 > 0:38:09- Oh, my God, that's really sad.- Yeah.
0:38:09 > 0:38:13The Tubridys are in this house 110 years.
0:38:13 > 0:38:17- So your dad had it? - My grandfather and grandmum had it.
0:38:17 > 0:38:21My mum and dad had it, and then myself here.
0:38:21 > 0:38:26The four boys were the next generation. Question mark.
0:38:26 > 0:38:30The two grandkids are after those. Question mark.
0:38:30 > 0:38:33You can't answer that question, you know. I was thinking about this,
0:38:33 > 0:38:36and I said I was going to write a little poem.
0:38:36 > 0:38:40- Would you like me to sing it? - I would love you to sing it.
0:38:40 > 0:38:42# The countryside is empty
0:38:42 > 0:38:45# Old stone houses in decay
0:38:45 > 0:38:47# The older folks are dying
0:38:47 > 0:38:50# And the youths are going away
0:38:50 > 0:38:54# But the few of us that's left around
0:38:54 > 0:38:57# Are trying to replay
0:38:57 > 0:39:01# The music, songs and stories that we heard from yesterday. #
0:39:01 > 0:39:04- Woo! - APPLAUSE
0:39:04 > 0:39:09- That's a beautiful song, Martin. Thank you.- You're welcome.
0:39:09 > 0:39:12- I really mean that, thank you. - Good talking to you.
0:39:12 > 0:39:15It's not a small thing that's going on here. It's massive.
0:39:15 > 0:39:17He said to me, "We've lost a generation."
0:39:17 > 0:39:21And you only have to speak to him for a short while
0:39:21 > 0:39:24to realise what a devastating effect
0:39:24 > 0:39:30the young people leaving has on families, businesses, everything.
0:39:34 > 0:39:38'One age-old tradition that is being threatened by emigration
0:39:38 > 0:39:41'is Gaelic football. Ireland's most popular sport has been around
0:39:41 > 0:39:44'for hundreds of years and has been described
0:39:44 > 0:39:47'as "the spiritual core of the nation."'
0:39:47 > 0:39:49Believe it or not, this morning I am off to go
0:39:49 > 0:39:52and hang about with two football teams. All I've heard is,
0:39:52 > 0:39:54since people have been leaving
0:39:54 > 0:39:57they've found it tricky to keep the tradition going.
0:39:57 > 0:40:00I'm going to go and have a play, have a chat and see what's what.
0:40:00 > 0:40:04'Today's game is between two neighbouring villages,
0:40:04 > 0:40:07'who have been bitter rivals for generations.'
0:40:07 > 0:40:09Going to see if I can have a word with them in the dressing room.
0:40:09 > 0:40:11Got to speak to them somewhere.
0:40:13 > 0:40:17See that jersey you're wearing? That jersey represents this club.
0:40:17 > 0:40:20It represents this area.
0:40:20 > 0:40:21My own father wore that jersey.
0:40:21 > 0:40:24Probably your own father wore that jersey.
0:40:24 > 0:40:27Don't let your club down today, OK? Give it everything.
0:40:27 > 0:40:30Right, are you ready? ALL: Come on, boys!
0:40:30 > 0:40:32Are you ready?! ALL: Come on, boys!
0:40:32 > 0:40:34Right so, off you go! Come on!
0:40:40 > 0:40:43We're expecting big things from you, Stacey, yeah?
0:40:43 > 0:40:45- Expectations.- We need all the help we can get here.
0:40:45 > 0:40:48Listen, I'm raring to go.
0:40:51 > 0:40:55Another day at the office,
0:40:55 > 0:40:58investigating what's going on in the world.
0:40:58 > 0:40:59STACEY LAUGHS
0:41:02 > 0:41:05I know you guys are struggling to get the numbers.
0:41:05 > 0:41:08Boys are leaving all the time now.
0:41:08 > 0:41:10With emigration and work, work is scarce
0:41:10 > 0:41:12so we are tight enough in numbers
0:41:12 > 0:41:15so everyone is important in a small area like this, you know.
0:41:18 > 0:41:20STACEY LAUGHS
0:41:23 > 0:41:26It's a really big deal here. It holds the communities together.
0:41:26 > 0:41:28It's part of what you guys are.
0:41:28 > 0:41:32Well there's a very strong tradition, a lot of pride in the clubs.
0:41:32 > 0:41:34There's a big effort, not just by the players
0:41:34 > 0:41:37- but by the women and children in the area.- Troops rally round.
0:41:37 > 0:41:41- Exactly, yeah.- It would be a shame if you couldn't continue to do this.
0:41:41 > 0:41:43It would be, yeah, definitely.
0:41:43 > 0:41:48'With the game over, I want to find out from the boys how they feel
0:41:48 > 0:41:50'about the threat to their way of life.'
0:41:50 > 0:41:54Is the worry there that this isn't going to be able to continue?
0:41:54 > 0:41:58You don't want to be the generation that dissolves the club.
0:41:58 > 0:42:02All our fathers, grandfathers even, they have played for the club
0:42:02 > 0:42:05so you just want to keep it going for as long as possible,
0:42:05 > 0:42:08if it is possible to keep it going.
0:42:08 > 0:42:11How many lads have you lost to emigration?
0:42:11 > 0:42:13About eight, and that's massive for us.
0:42:13 > 0:42:15They'd all be starting on the team.
0:42:15 > 0:42:17So that is a big deal, it's half the team gone.
0:42:17 > 0:42:19You're not going to stop them leaving, either.
0:42:19 > 0:42:22There's huge amounts leaving and loads of teams are finding it hard.
0:42:22 > 0:42:24- This isn't an isolated case. - No, this is...
0:42:24 > 0:42:27- ..it's representative of rural Ireland.- Exactly.
0:42:27 > 0:42:31What would this area be like if the football was no more,
0:42:31 > 0:42:32if so many people left
0:42:32 > 0:42:35that they couldn't physically get the teams together.
0:42:35 > 0:42:37- What effect would it have? - It would be massive.
0:42:37 > 0:42:40A lot more than just playing the game as well.
0:42:40 > 0:42:43There isn't much else happening, to be honest. It's a focal point.
0:42:43 > 0:42:47If things did pick up, you would see a lot of these people coming home.
0:42:47 > 0:42:49Their heart is in this area.
0:42:49 > 0:42:51Yeah.
0:42:51 > 0:42:53You do worry that if young people aren't here any more,
0:42:53 > 0:42:58to carry on the traditions and live the way their dads lived
0:42:58 > 0:43:00or their grandfathers lived, things will change.
0:43:00 > 0:43:02It won't be the same as it was.
0:43:02 > 0:43:04The identity of this place will be lost.
0:43:08 > 0:43:12Thankfully, not every young person in Ireland is leaving.
0:43:12 > 0:43:15After an in-depth search, I have discovered a group o twenty-somethings,
0:43:15 > 0:43:18who have decided enough is enough.
0:43:18 > 0:43:21I'm off to the offices of Hireland.
0:43:21 > 0:43:24Hireland is a group of young people who have taken it upon themselves
0:43:24 > 0:43:27to create jobs here. They're actually creating jobs.
0:43:27 > 0:43:30I'd love to know how they are doing that. I can't wait to meet them.
0:43:30 > 0:43:33Hireland's approach is simple.
0:43:33 > 0:43:35They've been contacting companies around the country,
0:43:35 > 0:43:37asking them to hire one additional person.
0:43:37 > 0:43:39Hello.
0:43:39 > 0:43:41Hi, I'm Stacey.
0:43:43 > 0:43:48The group of volunteers came together 9 weeks ago with a budget of just 147 euros.
0:43:48 > 0:43:51How important is it for you to make sure that
0:43:51 > 0:43:54young Irish people aren't emigrating all the time?
0:43:54 > 0:43:57It's hugely important.
0:43:57 > 0:44:01What we want to get out of it is we can live and work in Ireland.
0:44:01 > 0:44:03We can have families, we can settle in Ireland.
0:44:03 > 0:44:07Your option isn't just emigrating.
0:44:07 > 0:44:09It's not just employees that are leaving,
0:44:09 > 0:44:12it's brothers, sisters, sons, daughters that are leaving.
0:44:12 > 0:44:16It is emotional. It's our friends as well that are leaving.
0:44:16 > 0:44:19That's what we want to do to say, "Your skills are needed in Ireland.
0:44:19 > 0:44:23"We need you guys to work to help this get going."
0:44:23 > 0:44:25Do a lot of people know about you?
0:44:25 > 0:44:27We launched January 12th, 2012
0:44:27 > 0:44:31and already we've had over 3,500 pledges.
0:44:31 > 0:44:32It's just been really buzz.
0:44:32 > 0:44:34Wow!
0:44:34 > 0:44:38I think it's a brilliant idea. I'm totally pro-Hireland.
0:44:38 > 0:44:40I'm totally with you all!
0:44:42 > 0:44:43It's a big day for these guys.
0:44:43 > 0:44:46They've got a meeting with the Irish Times
0:44:46 > 0:44:48to try and get the paper to give them free publicity.
0:44:48 > 0:44:51- Will we get a move on? Ready? - Sounds good.
0:44:54 > 0:44:57It's essential for them to increase their profile, if they are to meet
0:44:57 > 0:45:01their goal of creating thousands of job opportunities.
0:45:01 > 0:45:05- How are you feeling, Sarah?- Nervous. - A bit nervous?
0:45:05 > 0:45:07I'm a bit nervous, weirdly. Butterflies in my tummy.
0:45:07 > 0:45:10- But nerves are good.- Nerves are good.
0:45:10 > 0:45:11It means it's really important.
0:45:11 > 0:45:15It's an important thing. You've got to do it. Get on with it.
0:45:15 > 0:45:18- Then we'll be thrilled when he gives us the thumbs up.- The big yes.
0:45:18 > 0:45:21Everything is riding on today.
0:45:21 > 0:45:23Without the backing of a major player like the Irish Times,
0:45:23 > 0:45:25Hireland's mission of curbing the current wave of emigration
0:45:25 > 0:45:28may remain a pipe dream.
0:45:28 > 0:45:31There's a lot riding on it.
0:45:31 > 0:45:35They could be stopping thousands of people from leaving the country.
0:45:35 > 0:45:38It's a big deal for Hireland and for the young people here.
0:45:38 > 0:45:40Hi. You're welcome.
0:45:40 > 0:45:45Hireland have got just one hour to convince editor Kevin O'Sullivan
0:45:45 > 0:45:48that their concept is worth investing his time and money in.
0:45:50 > 0:45:54When we came with this plan, we had set out to get more businesses to make a pledge
0:45:54 > 0:45:56to employ people by the end of the year.
0:45:56 > 0:45:58We've got this idea for you.
0:45:58 > 0:46:01The "Hirish" Times.
0:46:01 > 0:46:03APPLAUSE
0:46:03 > 0:46:07If you can imagine the year 2022, Ireland is perfect.
0:46:07 > 0:46:11The economy is robust, there's no unemployment,
0:46:11 > 0:46:14society is vibrant,
0:46:14 > 0:46:16even the weather in the summer is perfect.
0:46:16 > 0:46:19What would reporters write about?
0:46:19 > 0:46:21We want journalists from the Irish Times
0:46:21 > 0:46:25to write positive news of what Ireland will look like in 2022.
0:46:26 > 0:46:30The theory is that by presenting a positive image of the future,
0:46:30 > 0:46:32companies will pledge more jobs to make this vision a reality.
0:46:32 > 0:46:35Rather than leaving, young people will realise
0:46:35 > 0:46:38there is a life for them in Ireland.
0:46:38 > 0:46:42We want you to print off 10,000 copies of the Hirish Times.
0:46:42 > 0:46:44The Irish Times will run as normal on the same day.
0:46:44 > 0:46:47Who benefits from this?
0:46:47 > 0:46:50The first one is Hireland. Hireland gets more publicity.
0:46:50 > 0:46:52It gets more pledges. The second is job seekers.
0:46:52 > 0:46:56Employers will pledge. More people will get employed from this.
0:46:56 > 0:46:58Finally, most importantly, the Irish Times.
0:46:58 > 0:47:01Thank you for your time.
0:47:01 > 0:47:05The presentation was superb. Superb and the positivity
0:47:05 > 0:47:07was genuine.
0:47:07 > 0:47:10We believe in the concept of Hireland.
0:47:10 > 0:47:16Your suggestion of 10,000 extra copies is very modest.
0:47:16 > 0:47:17Why not make it 50,000?
0:47:19 > 0:47:21We want to work with you and we need to work together
0:47:21 > 0:47:23to bring it to the next stage.
0:47:24 > 0:47:28It will have a significant impact - I have no doubt about that.
0:47:28 > 0:47:29Good luck. Fantastic. Well done.
0:47:29 > 0:47:32- We'll talk!- Yes.
0:47:34 > 0:47:39Oh, my God! You guys were out of this world. Amazing!
0:47:39 > 0:47:40I can't believe it.
0:47:40 > 0:47:43It's surreal but it happened and it went well.
0:47:43 > 0:47:45It was great!
0:47:45 > 0:47:48I am positive about what can come up from this.
0:47:48 > 0:47:53It's nice to hear...positive things going on.
0:47:53 > 0:47:57You guys are taking the initiative to do it.
0:47:57 > 0:48:01Being given the thumbs up means Hireland are one step closer
0:48:01 > 0:48:06to getting thousands more companies to create new job opportunities.
0:48:06 > 0:48:09Brilliant day for Hireland. I'm pleased for them.
0:48:09 > 0:48:12If this grows the way they want it to,
0:48:12 > 0:48:15people like Ciara won't have to stay in Australia for ever.
0:48:15 > 0:48:17There'll be jobs to come home to.
0:48:17 > 0:48:20Ireland will pick itself up again
0:48:20 > 0:48:22and people will be able to come home and work.
0:48:22 > 0:48:24Big things to come, I think!
0:48:27 > 0:48:30You hope for Ireland that there will come a time
0:48:30 > 0:48:31when there's enough work here for everyone.
0:48:33 > 0:48:35But that's not going to happen overnight.
0:48:35 > 0:48:37For Ciara, it's not come soon enough.
0:48:39 > 0:48:43It's almost time for her to leave for Australia. Her friends and family have arranged a get-together
0:48:43 > 0:48:45so they can say their goodbyes.
0:48:47 > 0:48:48This one?
0:48:49 > 0:48:51Ooh!
0:48:51 > 0:48:52This is your crowd.
0:48:55 > 0:48:56Hi!
0:48:56 > 0:48:59ALL: Hi!
0:48:59 > 0:49:01It's nice to meet you all.
0:49:01 > 0:49:02ALL TALK AT ONCE
0:49:02 > 0:49:05Oh no!
0:49:13 > 0:49:16It wasn't supposed to have that effect!
0:49:16 > 0:49:17What have your pals written?
0:49:18 > 0:49:21"Best of luck in Oz. I hope you have a great time.
0:49:21 > 0:49:24"All the best on your new job."
0:49:27 > 0:49:29Very nice. It's lovely, guys.
0:49:33 > 0:49:34Compose yourself, woman!
0:49:37 > 0:49:42- Do you think it's hit you that tonight you're leaving? - Yeah. It's full on.
0:49:42 > 0:49:44"This is it. You're going.
0:49:44 > 0:49:46"Like it or lump it."
0:49:46 > 0:49:49It's not that I'm going because I want to go.
0:49:49 > 0:49:51I'm going because I have to go.
0:49:51 > 0:49:54It's like my arm has been twisted.
0:49:54 > 0:49:59I have to go and that's it. And you're leaving. Just deal with it.
0:49:59 > 0:50:05- I know there are bigger things going on in the world but this is the biggest thing in my world.- Yeah.
0:50:05 > 0:50:07It's huge.
0:50:07 > 0:50:11I'm leaving where I was brought up for the last 20 years.
0:50:11 > 0:50:14I'm leaving all my friends and leaving my family
0:50:14 > 0:50:18and I'm going to be alone.
0:50:18 > 0:50:20I'm going to be on my own.
0:50:24 > 0:50:28As the night goes on, the enormity of what Ciara is about to do
0:50:28 > 0:50:30really hits home.
0:50:33 > 0:50:37I know Australia is a lovely country and there's opportunities there
0:50:37 > 0:50:40but it's important to remember she hasn't chose
0:50:40 > 0:50:43to go and have a year in Australia and travel.
0:50:43 > 0:50:49You know. She's going to be 29 by the time her contract finishes.
0:50:49 > 0:50:51That's a long time.
0:50:51 > 0:50:55She's not going travelling, she's going to live alone
0:50:55 > 0:50:57in Australia.
0:50:57 > 0:51:00She's leaving her family...behind.
0:51:10 > 0:51:13Ciara's flight's leaving in just a few hours.
0:51:15 > 0:51:17I'm on my way to the airport to see her off.
0:51:18 > 0:51:24I'm dreading it. I don't...really want to see her get upset.
0:51:26 > 0:51:27Big day for the family.
0:51:27 > 0:51:31You have to try and be positive for her.
0:51:31 > 0:51:34It's going to be tough for her.
0:51:34 > 0:51:37I feel made up that they've let me come along
0:51:37 > 0:51:43and see what effect...the economic crisis can have on families,
0:51:43 > 0:51:45on real people.
0:51:52 > 0:51:55Hello! How are we all?
0:51:55 > 0:51:57How are you, love?
0:51:59 > 0:52:01All right? How are you feeling?
0:52:02 > 0:52:04- Nervous. - And Mum and Dad?
0:52:04 > 0:52:07Numb I would say at the moment.
0:52:07 > 0:52:10It's finally here. She's heading off.
0:52:10 > 0:52:14- Will we go in?- Yeah. - Cool. Let's go.
0:52:17 > 0:52:20I can't imagine what the family are going through.
0:52:20 > 0:52:24This is the second time they've had to do this in a matter of weeks.
0:52:45 > 0:52:46- Stacey...- Good luck!
0:52:48 > 0:52:50- I hope you love it.- I hope so too.
0:52:53 > 0:52:55THEY TALK AT ONCE
0:52:55 > 0:52:58Watch out for them sharks!
0:52:59 > 0:53:03Thanks for letting me spend time with you. I appreciate it.
0:53:03 > 0:53:06- I hope you're really happy out there.- I hope so too.
0:53:06 > 0:53:07Good luck.
0:53:10 > 0:53:14- This is it.- Yeah.- You just go through there.
0:53:14 > 0:53:19There's a big shopping area inside for travellers.
0:53:27 > 0:53:29I think Ciara's gutted.
0:53:29 > 0:53:32I think Ciara doesn't want to go.
0:53:32 > 0:53:34I admire her. I don't think I could do it.
0:53:41 > 0:53:44You've got to remember it's Mum's second time waving a child off.
0:53:49 > 0:53:53My mum's only got two girls. That would be her on her own.
0:53:54 > 0:53:56I'll go home and light a candle.
0:53:57 > 0:54:00I just hope it really works out for her.
0:54:03 > 0:54:04I do.
0:54:08 > 0:54:10Bye.
0:54:10 > 0:54:11Go.
0:54:35 > 0:54:37There you go.
0:54:51 > 0:54:54My time in Ireland has come to an end.
0:54:54 > 0:54:56What I've experienced here has made me
0:54:56 > 0:54:59seriously think about our lives back home.
0:55:00 > 0:55:03Young people here are having a rougher time than at home.
0:55:03 > 0:55:04That's tough and then you think,
0:55:04 > 0:55:08"It's not there fault, they didn't put themselves in that situation."
0:55:08 > 0:55:12The people you're supposed to trust
0:55:12 > 0:55:16the politicians and the bankers and all the people who are supposed to
0:55:16 > 0:55:19look after you and your generation and your country,
0:55:19 > 0:55:21to make sure you're never in a crisis,
0:55:21 > 0:55:23that's exactly what's happened here.
0:55:23 > 0:55:27We're not far. We're not far from home. It's next door.
0:55:27 > 0:55:29Then you think, "Could this happen at home?"
0:55:29 > 0:55:32It makes you think, "Do I need to look more into politics,
0:55:32 > 0:55:35"Do I need to get more into the economy side of things?"
0:55:35 > 0:55:39I could be in the same boat as a lot of the young people I've met here.
0:55:39 > 0:55:41I could be struggling.
0:55:41 > 0:55:45You should never think it could never be you cos it could!
0:55:46 > 0:55:48Next week I'm in Japan
0:55:48 > 0:55:52where despite being one of the richest countries in the world,
0:55:52 > 0:55:55the economy has been flatlining for over 20 years.
0:55:55 > 0:55:57THEY SHOUT
0:55:57 > 0:56:00I'm shocked by what lengths my generation are having to go to
0:56:00 > 0:56:02just to bag a job.
0:56:02 > 0:56:05I don't think you can understand the enormity of it
0:56:05 > 0:56:07until you come somewhere like this.
0:56:07 > 0:56:11I discover how hard it's become to find a husband.
0:56:11 > 0:56:13What is your job? Where do you work?
0:56:13 > 0:56:14Have you been dumped by somebody?
0:56:14 > 0:56:17- SHE LAUGHS - Yes!
0:56:17 > 0:56:21And witness what it means to fall through the cracks
0:56:21 > 0:56:23in a country used to success.
0:56:23 > 0:56:25Can you imagine staying somewhere like this for a couple of years?
0:56:25 > 0:56:27I can't. I'd lose my mind.
0:56:30 > 0:56:32Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd