0:00:03 > 0:00:05Every week in Northern Ireland
0:00:05 > 0:00:08families are having to say goodbye to loved ones who are leaving the country,
0:00:08 > 0:00:12some forced to look elsewhere because they can't get a job here,
0:00:12 > 0:00:15others hoping for a better future for themselves and their children.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18Well, the amount of student loans and student debt.
0:00:18 > 0:00:23There's no future for them at the minute, you know? Not around here.
0:00:23 > 0:00:26For some, emigrating offers a chance of an exciting new start.
0:00:26 > 0:00:30Anybody with a wee bit of get up and go's heading off,
0:00:30 > 0:00:32- and it's important to do the best we can.- Will you pay for it, too?
0:00:32 > 0:00:34SHE LAUGHS
0:00:34 > 0:00:36That's maybe stretching it a wee bit.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39They're torturing me with their big, red eyes.
0:00:39 > 0:00:43For others, the decision to leave is a heartbreaking one.
0:00:43 > 0:00:47It's hard seeing your family upset and knowing that it's you that's causing it.
0:00:47 > 0:00:51For all of them, moving to a new country takes a huge leap of faith,
0:00:51 > 0:00:53They don't know what's in front of them.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57This is the hard bit.
0:00:57 > 0:01:02Departure Diaries follows some of those people in the lead-up to the biggest move of their lives.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18Uh-huh. Whose is this one?
0:01:18 > 0:01:21The Yardley family are moving to the Isle of Man.
0:01:21 > 0:01:23- That's staying. - No, it's not. It's going.
0:01:23 > 0:01:27Since his business folded, Rhys has been looking into job opportunities
0:01:27 > 0:01:28on the island where he grew up.
0:01:28 > 0:01:32On the Isle of Man there's quite a big offshore financial sector,
0:01:32 > 0:01:36mainly to do with, you know, things like tax and corporation tax and things like that.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39I've got a lot of experience in the financial industry,
0:01:39 > 0:01:43so the jobs that I've mainly applied for are all to do with, you know, finance,
0:01:43 > 0:01:45or, you know, customer service, things like that.
0:01:45 > 0:01:47Although they have no departure date,
0:01:47 > 0:01:50they have decided to let their home near Bellaghy
0:01:50 > 0:01:53and rent somewhere nearby until their plans are finalised.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56We've tried to sell our property in the past too, and we just haven't been able to do that,
0:01:56 > 0:02:00so for all of this to happen, our only solution was to rent it out,
0:02:00 > 0:02:04but we'd also, when we do move to the Isle of Man, we actually want to buy somewhere as well.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07In order for that to happen, I have to be there on the island
0:02:07 > 0:02:09and have a job and have at least three months' pay slips as well.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12That's part of the transition that we have to go through as well
0:02:12 > 0:02:14to actually physically get there.
0:02:14 > 0:02:15You need to be good!
0:02:15 > 0:02:18- OK?- But with just three days until the move,
0:02:18 > 0:02:20the Yardleys' plans have started to unravel.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23I've been running around mental all day,
0:02:23 > 0:02:26phoning estate agents, looking on the internet,
0:02:26 > 0:02:30made out some little posters and stuck them up at the Post Office.
0:02:30 > 0:02:32We had another property agreed,
0:02:32 > 0:02:34but it has fallen through.
0:02:34 > 0:02:38So, we're desperate for somewhere in the next couple of days.
0:02:38 > 0:02:41I suppose the sense of urgency is that we've rented our house out to tenants,
0:02:41 > 0:02:45and we're moving out because we know that they're good tenants.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48They're people we know and they're taking it long-term,
0:02:48 > 0:02:52which is what we want. We don't want to lose those tenants, cos we're back to square one again then.
0:02:52 > 0:02:53When could we get a viewing at that?
0:02:53 > 0:02:58We may have to put them back a week, because I think it's almost too short notice now,
0:02:58 > 0:03:01you know, with only having four or five days left to actually find somewhere.
0:03:01 > 0:03:06- So... Which we don't want to do. - We don't have four or five days.- No. - We've got till Friday.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09- Well, yeah.- Quick! Quick, quick!
0:03:12 > 0:03:17The Glens of Antrim have been particularly badly hit by the recession and emigration.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20Martin McClafferty grew up on a farm there,
0:03:20 > 0:03:25but he has his sights set further afield. He's planning on moving his family to Australia.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27I've always come over and helped out on the farm
0:03:27 > 0:03:30if anything needed to be done and that.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33Give them a hand with sheep when they're dosing, or whatever.
0:03:33 > 0:03:37But I've never really been that interested, to be honest.
0:03:37 > 0:03:39I've went and done my time
0:03:39 > 0:03:45electrical and that, there, and that's where I see myself working rather than actually farming.
0:03:45 > 0:03:49There was periods where there was loads of work. Even if you went out of a job, it was just a matter of
0:03:49 > 0:03:54phoning somebody else and you could get straight into another one probably the next day.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57But it's not happening any more.
0:03:57 > 0:04:02Martin had to go out away to work, maybe England, for maybe three or four weeks at a time.
0:04:02 > 0:04:04He'd be home one weekend at a time.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06That's not any good.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09Especially at the teenage age, where they need their daddy.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11You'd have been doing 12-, 14-hour days.
0:04:11 > 0:04:15So, you were just going to work, coming home, get something to eat,
0:04:15 > 0:04:19and that was basically how you lived for two weeks.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22It would be great if we could afford, you know, to have him on the farm,
0:04:22 > 0:04:27but can't, really. Farming's not that hot, so it's not.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30Whenever there was periods where there was very little or no work,
0:04:30 > 0:04:35I would've been on the computer, just going through, seeing if there's any vacancies or something
0:04:35 > 0:04:40that would interest me. It just happened one day it came up, "electricians in Australia".
0:04:40 > 0:04:44So, I decided to apply for it, see how it went,
0:04:44 > 0:04:48and then, after I'd done all that, I asked my wife, Janice,
0:04:48 > 0:04:53how she would fancy it, and she says, "Aye. That'd be OK."
0:04:53 > 0:04:57I says, "Too late anyway, because I've already done it, so..."
0:04:57 > 0:05:01So, it went down OK eventually.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03They have to leave - there's nothing here for him.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05Martin's coming now 40,
0:05:05 > 0:05:08and no sign of any jobs coming up.
0:05:08 > 0:05:14But it's one of these things. But I'm not a mother that clings to the wee ones.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16I...think they should do their own thing.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19I always said that children were lent to you.
0:05:19 > 0:05:23I've just got a wee card I've left for this other family moving in.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25All Joan's house-hunting paid off,
0:05:25 > 0:05:28and, just in time, the Yardleys find a place to rent.
0:05:28 > 0:05:32- Some biccies for them? - But Joan will have to manage the move on her own.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35Rhys is on his way to the Isle of Man for a job interview.
0:05:35 > 0:05:37I left there this morning, and that's the last time I'm there.
0:05:37 > 0:05:41So, bit emotional, but, you know, it's the way forward.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44- So...- Come and get your stuff. - Joan's been fantastic.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46She's going to do most of the transitional phase from
0:05:46 > 0:05:48our own house to the new place while I'm away.
0:05:48 > 0:05:52I'm a bit more relieved now that that's sort of all settled and put to bed.
0:05:52 > 0:05:56So, we can concentrate now on getting across to the island and getting the job.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59Every time a family leaves Northern Ireland,
0:05:59 > 0:06:02there's an impact on the community they leave behind.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05Rural sports clubs have suffered particularly badly
0:06:05 > 0:06:09as young players go overseas to find work.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12In Cushendall, hurling is more than just another sport.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14Basically, if you're born around Cushendall,
0:06:14 > 0:06:18you've tried hurling or camogie at some time. Everybody has.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20It's the heart and soul of the whole community.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23For a while there it was plenty of work round home for the kids,
0:06:23 > 0:06:26and now it's all dried up again,
0:06:26 > 0:06:29and kids are starting to leave. I think something like 12 guys have left
0:06:29 > 0:06:31here within the past few months,
0:06:31 > 0:06:34and now we see with Cormac McClafferty, his family,
0:06:34 > 0:06:38the whole family's going. But it's not only the talented players we're losing.
0:06:38 > 0:06:43Cormac's mother and father are big supporters of the club. Like, Martin and myself would have played together
0:06:43 > 0:06:46and that. He would have helped coach and his wife would have helped out.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49So, you're losing a whole family, which is a rare thing.
0:06:49 > 0:06:51It's very seldom a whole family goes.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54And they're going to be a massive loss to our community.
0:06:54 > 0:06:56Turn over. There.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00Ha! Classic.
0:07:00 > 0:07:04- Bit of a surprise, is it?- Yup.
0:07:04 > 0:07:08- Ha, class!- Least he's not slagging you in it, huh?
0:07:08 > 0:07:11The article I wrote in the newspaper was just the fact that
0:07:11 > 0:07:14we come from a very small community
0:07:14 > 0:07:19and when you get a kid with talent, hold onto them,
0:07:19 > 0:07:23and he comes through the ranks, and plays for the club's senior, and then he goes on and plays for the county.
0:07:24 > 0:07:29And I just wrote about how, you know, the time and effort and the development you put into him there,
0:07:29 > 0:07:32and watch him develop, and then he gets on a plane, and so...
0:07:32 > 0:07:35you know, not a waste of time or anything, but it just seems,
0:07:35 > 0:07:39you know, from a totally selfish point of view, from the club,
0:07:39 > 0:07:43he's going to be a big, big loss to us.
0:07:43 > 0:07:48You don't play hurling then just don't come to Cushendall. That's the way I see it.
0:07:48 > 0:07:54It's massive. Usually when you see a youngster about Cushendall,
0:07:54 > 0:07:57they'll have a hurling stick in their hand.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00You go out and you meet your friends on the street and you bring your hurley,
0:08:00 > 0:08:04and you pop about with each other and just mess about...
0:08:04 > 0:08:05- BALL THUDS - Oops.
0:08:05 > 0:08:09Ha! So, I'll be close to the majority of people
0:08:09 > 0:08:16and then just leaving it all behind and then going out and not knowing anyone.
0:08:16 > 0:08:18Whoo, I don't even want to think about it.
0:08:18 > 0:08:20It's crazy.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25But sure, it'll all be worth it, maybe.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28Oh, no. no.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31The Yardleys' new home may only be a few miles down the road,
0:08:31 > 0:08:35but it's a step closer in their big move to the Isle of Man.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40We're out of the other house and we're in here,
0:08:40 > 0:08:43and the boys are very excited.
0:08:43 > 0:08:48And things are a bit chaotic-looking.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50I really don't know where we're going to start tonight.
0:08:50 > 0:08:52All the mattresses are lying in one room
0:08:52 > 0:08:56and we'll just bed down there and throw as many quilts as we can over us.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58We've no heating till Tuesday.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00- Daddy's room.- I'm relieved to be in.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02I'm glad that we're in.
0:09:02 > 0:09:06But...I don't know where to start.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09And Rhys will be home soon. I got a text message from him there a while ago.
0:09:09 > 0:09:13- He's boarded the plane. - This is the funny ceiling.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23I just want to go to a hotel.
0:09:23 > 0:09:28- Look what happened to my trousers. - I see that, darling. Anne-Marie, is there a spare room in your house?
0:09:31 > 0:09:35The McClaffertys' move to Australia is only weeks away.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38Janice and the girls have made a start on the packing.
0:09:38 > 0:09:39There you go.
0:09:39 > 0:09:44- Go on.- Go on. You won't find that...!
0:09:44 > 0:09:49Be our first time on a plane, so it will, and out of this country.
0:09:49 > 0:09:51- Never been on a plane before. - Be a bit of exciting.
0:09:51 > 0:09:55It's more for the kids, because if they finish school here,
0:09:55 > 0:09:57there's absolutely nothing for them.
0:09:57 > 0:10:03The amount of students you see nowadays that are degrees and that,
0:10:03 > 0:10:05and they're stacking shelves in supermarkets.
0:10:10 > 0:10:12Upsy-daisy!
0:10:12 > 0:10:14The Yardleys aren't moving to the other side of the world,
0:10:14 > 0:10:17but the effect on the community they leave behind
0:10:17 > 0:10:20- is going to be just the same as if they were.- Whee!
0:10:20 > 0:10:23- DENTIST: How's big daddy been getting on this week?- Not too bad.
0:10:23 > 0:10:25He's a bit of news for you.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27I'm looking at jobs in the Isle of Man.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30- For the moment.- Back at home? - That's right.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33- WOMAN: So, yous'll be moving there? - Mm.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37- That's the plan.- That's right. - That's a big step for you.- Mm-hm.
0:10:37 > 0:10:39DENTIST: Big step for all of you.
0:10:39 > 0:10:44I've known Joan for approximately 30 years - 29, 30 years.
0:10:44 > 0:10:46Not too much sweeties.
0:10:46 > 0:10:50For them to take the step of going to the Isle of Man again to start over
0:10:50 > 0:10:54means new schools, new dentists, new doctor, new everything to them.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57And that's a big step, that's a harsh step for them to have to take.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00And especially with Joan leaving her family.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03It'll be difficult.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06It's sad that the family are leaving, with four young children they've got.
0:11:06 > 0:11:10That affects schools, it affects us, it affects other businesses.
0:11:10 > 0:11:14You're losing four kids from the workforce in another 10, 15 years.
0:11:14 > 0:11:20- Let me see yours.- There are a lot of kids from the probably 20-plus bracket
0:11:20 > 0:11:25leaving, going to Australia. Lots of those kids will never return. Some will, but lots of them won't.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28High-five! 'I call it the missing generation.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30'We're going to have a missing generation.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33'It's sad. It'll be sad, yeah.'
0:11:38 > 0:11:43Dozens of young people have left the Glens of Antrim to find work in the past year.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46And local business are feeling the pinch.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49Certainly has a big impact. Chippies, shops...
0:11:49 > 0:11:51buying houses. We see an impact there.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55Young ones that would be thinking about buying their first home, they're not there.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57They're away looking for work other parts of the world.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00Some'll be looking to come home and buy houses,
0:12:00 > 0:12:03but at this moment in time, most of them are focused elsewhere.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06Local businessman Danny McAlister
0:12:06 > 0:12:09has two daughters of his own planning on going to Australia.
0:12:09 > 0:12:13The eldest girl is Emma, who's a beauty salon upstairs here.
0:12:13 > 0:12:15She started it on her own. It's doing quite well,
0:12:15 > 0:12:17but she's this urge to go to Australia.
0:12:17 > 0:12:19I'd love to do it, but just for the pros and cons.
0:12:19 > 0:12:23I mean, the lifestyle out there, but then I've made it here.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26- How are you?- How are you today? - Oh, my God, work was mad today.
0:12:26 > 0:12:28Had the salon for six years, so...
0:12:28 > 0:12:32I'm in a job, whereas most people are going there cos they don't have a job.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35So, I'd really have to think about it long and hard.
0:12:35 > 0:12:40Helena's just graduated out of Queens with a degree, but she's just a difficulty getting a job,
0:12:40 > 0:12:43and is for Australia now in the start of the year now.
0:12:43 > 0:12:48I done a planning degree and just finished a Master's in urban design.
0:12:48 > 0:12:52I'm just currently working in a shop. I haven't got a permanent full-time job.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55I love my job, but obviously it's not to do with my degree,
0:12:55 > 0:12:59so I have been doing some research in jobs in Australia,
0:12:59 > 0:13:01and there seems to be loads of jobs out there.
0:13:01 > 0:13:05I think there'll be a wee bit more out there than there'll be in Cushendall, that's for sure.
0:13:05 > 0:13:10- It is a lot quieter about. For us, we've noticed it even in the bars and that.- Yeah.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13All the local ones are leaving. All our age group is leaving.
0:13:13 > 0:13:15- A lot of friends, as well, have left.- Yeah.- So...
0:13:15 > 0:13:20- It seems like the thing to do now is to head away, isn't it?- Definitely.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22Loads of people from here.
0:13:22 > 0:13:28My boyfriend, he wants to go as well, so it just seems to be the right stage for us to go,
0:13:28 > 0:13:31and really earn a lot of money to make a foundation for when we do come back.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34You know, we want to set up home when we come back.
0:13:36 > 0:13:40Rhys has heard back about the job interview he went for on the Isle of Man.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43I had word back there that, unfortunately, I wasn't successful.
0:13:43 > 0:13:47- Don't go down the hutch. - I'm waiting to hear back on six other jobs that I've gone for.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50I keep checking up every day to see what new's coming up.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52Just got to really sort of keep on the ball.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55With the move to the Isle of Man no nearer,
0:13:55 > 0:13:58Joan is making the most of the time to be with her family.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01I would maybe be here two or three times a week
0:14:01 > 0:14:04with one of them or all four of them.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07"Can we go down the garden to see the rabbits?" And that'll be their first question.
0:14:07 > 0:14:10And you'll try and talk them out of it maybe for half an hour,
0:14:10 > 0:14:13if you're lucky, but they still keep coming back and asking.
0:14:13 > 0:14:19And then it's straight down the garden then to nurse and pet them
0:14:19 > 0:14:24- and talk to them.- I guess they called her Anne-Marie cos your hair's fluffy and her hair's fluffy.
0:14:24 > 0:14:26- You think that's what it is?- Yes.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29- Ready, steady, go! - Ready, steady, go!- Who's that, boys?
0:14:29 > 0:14:31- Thumper. - Thumper? Is he your favourite?
0:14:31 > 0:14:34"I want to do hay, I want to do sawdust, I want to help with the water."
0:14:34 > 0:14:38They love them. I think the rabbits'll miss them too.
0:14:38 > 0:14:42We're all close as a family, but Anne-Marie and I have been very close.
0:14:42 > 0:14:45We, usually, on a Sunday, we'd have a picnic, even at this time of the year.
0:14:45 > 0:14:47You'd get us anywhere with a picnic.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50- Do you love him?- Oh, yeah.- Oh, yeah.
0:14:50 > 0:14:53He's the cutest bunny in the world.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56Going to have to go to the Isle of Man more often.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59Never been in my life, but I'm going to have to go. So...
0:14:59 > 0:15:01Everybody else is getting very emotional about it,
0:15:01 > 0:15:04and I'm just trying not to.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07- Cos if I do... - SHE LAUGHS
0:15:07 > 0:15:12The day that the container was there and we filled it, it was definite,
0:15:12 > 0:15:15it was, like, all real. It's really real.
0:15:15 > 0:15:16(I have to go.)
0:15:16 > 0:15:21It's hard seeing your family upset and knowing that it's you that's causing it.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24That's difficult.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35Today marks the start of the McClaffertys' move to Australia.
0:15:38 > 0:15:40It's just a matter of counting down the days
0:15:40 > 0:15:45and trying to get through everything, try and get the car sold, and different things.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47Busy.
0:15:47 > 0:15:51Just running about, making sure everything's OK.
0:15:51 > 0:15:55You expect to be doing it yourself.
0:15:55 > 0:16:00Getting everything ready. I think it's even more strange seeing men doing it.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03Although they don't fly for another couple of weeks,
0:16:03 > 0:16:05their belongings are being shipped out ahead of them.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08Takes 12 to 14 weeks to get there.
0:16:08 > 0:16:11So, that's why we're actually sending it out now.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14So we won't be without it for too long whenever we get there.
0:16:16 > 0:16:20Probably not sink in until it's all empty and you just realise, "My God!
0:16:20 > 0:16:22"Actually going." So...
0:16:22 > 0:16:24It'll certainly even be worse when the kids come home.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27- Aye.- And they realise that everything's gone.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30The PlayStation's away, their Wii's away.
0:16:30 > 0:16:31Hurling stick's away.
0:16:31 > 0:16:35It's going to be hard during summer not watching Cormac play hurling
0:16:35 > 0:16:38and Aoife not playing camogie.
0:16:38 > 0:16:40Just...been born into it, love it.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43Aoife actually started, I think, she was three,
0:16:43 > 0:16:46because I was taking them at that time,
0:16:46 > 0:16:50and had no baby-sitter for her, so she was taken down with me.
0:16:50 > 0:16:53And I can remember her running on first game, and somebody going,
0:16:53 > 0:16:56"Why's she there? Look at the size of her!"
0:16:56 > 0:16:59I don't know what we'll do without it.
0:16:59 > 0:17:03You can see there's been extra ones bought to take out with us.
0:17:03 > 0:17:05CAR HORN BEEPS
0:17:05 > 0:17:12- That's the majority of it gone. - I'm just glad it's away. That's one less thing to worry about.
0:17:12 > 0:17:16Just so bare now.
0:17:16 > 0:17:19It's actually happening.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC PLAYS
0:17:24 > 0:17:27It's not only family and friends that the Yardleys are going to miss,
0:17:27 > 0:17:29it's the community and also their culture,
0:17:29 > 0:17:32and that's something that they can't recreate on the Isle of Man.
0:17:32 > 0:17:36They've been coming here since we first moved here and Alex went to Reception class at the school.
0:17:36 > 0:17:41And then Dylan and Kaylen and Noah, well, they've been coming since they were babies sitting on my knee.
0:17:41 > 0:17:45So, they just joined in when they were fit to walk, and they love coming here.
0:17:45 > 0:17:47There's loads of fun, loads of music,
0:17:47 > 0:17:50and they enjoy it.
0:17:50 > 0:17:54I get the blame of favouring the boys. That sounds terrible, but I do.
0:17:54 > 0:17:58Especially in teams, you've three boys and then you need another one.
0:17:58 > 0:18:03And one leaves you, then... I blame you.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06In my head, it's a roundabout.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09Sometimes it's most definitely the right thing to do,
0:18:09 > 0:18:12and then other times it's, "Why am I doing this?"
0:18:12 > 0:18:16Because I can see that Rhys'll be much happier at home.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18He's been here ten years
0:18:18 > 0:18:22and it has been hard for him, it really has.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24The boys as well.
0:18:24 > 0:18:27Job-wise for them in a few years' time.
0:18:27 > 0:18:30I just think it's the right thing for them.
0:18:30 > 0:18:35And then I'm so convinced of that, and then, in the next thought, I think to myself,
0:18:35 > 0:18:39"Why am I taking them away from everything that they know and everything that they love?"
0:18:39 > 0:18:41And it's not the right thing for them.
0:18:41 > 0:18:44Come on, yous. Come on. Walk on.
0:18:44 > 0:18:49News of the McClaffertys' departure hasn't taken long to spread round Cushendall,
0:18:49 > 0:18:54where emigration, who is leaving, and where they are going to is the talk of the town.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57- Not much heat out today. - No heat in the day at all.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00- So...- When are you heading away? - Heading away in January.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03Funny, I had two boys on the phone there.
0:19:03 > 0:19:0617 degrees out there and it's half ten at night.
0:19:06 > 0:19:10- Ah, brilliant.- Seven of them went out together, and they've kind of split into a four and a three.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13- Ah.- They're all working.
0:19:13 > 0:19:16Over here they'd be still lying about pulling their hair out of their heads
0:19:16 > 0:19:18saying, "Well, what are we going to do for money here?"
0:19:18 > 0:19:21Dominic, what's that like?
0:19:21 > 0:19:23One for you, yes. It's a chick flick.
0:19:23 > 0:19:24Yes, it's a chick flick.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27- The only thing that'll be a big miss here is your son.- Aye, my son.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30He'll be a big miss for the hurling.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33Imagine the amount of boys that's moved over there from here.
0:19:33 > 0:19:37Probably two or three hurling teams over there from the Glens of Antrim anyway.
0:19:37 > 0:19:41Paul and them boys, they phone me every Friday, so...
0:19:41 > 0:19:43- It's not too expensive to phone here.- No, it's not.
0:19:43 > 0:19:49When I see an international call, I say, "Here comes Australia."
0:19:49 > 0:19:52- All the best.- Cheers.- Cheers.- Bye.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57You looking forward to getting away, or...what?
0:19:57 > 0:20:01While Helena and Emma-Louise McAlister may not be leaving for several months,
0:20:01 > 0:20:05Australia is still the main topic of conversation in their home.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08Anybody with a wee bit of get up and go's heading off.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11There's nothing for them here in the Glens.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14No jobs, no prospects.
0:20:14 > 0:20:16I notice it down the village at night, there.
0:20:16 > 0:20:20- Yeah.- Used to be, you went down to the village on a Saturday night or a Sunday night
0:20:20 > 0:20:25- and there was a pile of young'uns... - Their cars up.- ..sitting in cars or a wee bit of fun.
0:20:25 > 0:20:29And the other Sunday night, I was sitting with a fella outside the office,
0:20:29 > 0:20:32and there was nobody in the street at nine o'clock on a Sunday night.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35- Sure, you were talking about 32 or 33 of them that we knew.- Past month.
0:20:35 > 0:20:39- Yeah.- In this last month or two. They're at the age for it now,
0:20:39 > 0:20:44- in your 20s, and if you don't do it now, you'll not do it when you're in your 50s or 60s.- True.
0:20:44 > 0:20:48Get up and go for it. You know, that's what I say. Have a go at it.
0:20:48 > 0:20:52- Your mother mightn't think that, mind,- No, no.
0:20:52 > 0:20:54- Might be a few tears. - She doesn't want to see us go,
0:20:54 > 0:20:57but she knows that it's good for us, it will be good for us.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00If you make it big-time, you could always fly her out.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03That's if we can get her on a plane.
0:21:03 > 0:21:07I think Mum's come round to the idea now. At the start, it was a definite, "No, you're not going.
0:21:07 > 0:21:11"You'll not leave me." But now that she knows that we're so set on doing it...
0:21:11 > 0:21:15Yeah, now she definitely has come round.
0:21:15 > 0:21:19She knows that there's so many more opportunities out there and it's the best thing for us at this time.
0:21:19 > 0:21:24I'm happy enough for yous going because I know that, if I needed to get yous home or get out to yous,
0:21:24 > 0:21:28- it's only a day away, thereabouts. - Yeah.- You're only a phone call away.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31We can see you on Skype if you can get your hair and your make-up fixed up.
0:21:31 > 0:21:35I don't know about that. You've seen us first thing.
0:21:35 > 0:21:39Well, I've seen yous first thing in the morning. I know how rough yous are.
0:21:39 > 0:21:41Charming!
0:21:42 > 0:21:44I'm taking that out.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49INDISTINCT SPEECH
0:21:49 > 0:21:52As the McClaffertys pack up the rest of their belongings,
0:21:52 > 0:21:55the realisation that they are actually emigrating
0:21:55 > 0:21:59- is starting to hit home. - I think it's been a bit stressful.
0:21:59 > 0:22:04Tempers have been on edge for the odd time, but I think the closer we get to it
0:22:04 > 0:22:07it's a bit easier and everything, and everybody's more or less, I think,
0:22:07 > 0:22:12just looking to finally get out and move on to the next chapter.
0:22:12 > 0:22:14We didn't have half this stuff moving in.
0:22:17 > 0:22:21That view? I know we take it for granted, but putting bags into the car there
0:22:21 > 0:22:24and realising...
0:22:25 > 0:22:27..I'm not going to see it every day.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30You'd only see that in a picture. You'll not get that anywhere else in the world.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33It's just, absolutely... To me, that's just home.
0:22:33 > 0:22:35Sea, mountains around it.
0:22:35 > 0:22:37You've got everything.
0:22:37 > 0:22:39Oh!
0:22:43 > 0:22:45ZombieLab, where is it?
0:22:45 > 0:22:49It's nearly Christmas, and the Yardley boys are getting their lists ready for Santa.
0:22:49 > 0:22:53- There's one.- That's all I'm looking for.- Which one's that?
0:22:53 > 0:22:56I was in the Isle of Man this week for another couple of interviews.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59And hopefully, fingers crossed, they've gone well.
0:22:59 > 0:23:01Had a bit of feedback from them there just on Friday.
0:23:01 > 0:23:06And I've got one more phone call to get through, so fingers crossed, it's looking quite good.
0:23:06 > 0:23:08Who's going to put this on the door?
0:23:08 > 0:23:11A few months ago, I was a bit anxious, cos things were starting to drag their heels a bit.
0:23:11 > 0:23:16But I'm a lot more...in a much better place now knowing that things are starting to fall into place.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19- Fantastic!- Fantastic!
0:23:21 > 0:23:25Helena and Emma-Louise McAlister's mum is coming to terms with the fact that
0:23:25 > 0:23:28she might not have the girls with her next Christmas.
0:23:28 > 0:23:30I find it hard that they want to leave
0:23:30 > 0:23:33and go away, you know, but...
0:23:33 > 0:23:38it's a big world out there, and they might as well. Can't keep them at home for ever.
0:23:38 > 0:23:40Emma-Louise is still weighing up her options,
0:23:40 > 0:23:43but Helena plans to leave in March.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46I was devastated, and I kept thinking, "She'll not... She'll not go."
0:23:46 > 0:23:51You know? "It's only talk." But, no, as the time's went on, she has just said, "No.
0:23:51 > 0:23:55"Mum, I want to go and see how it goes."
0:23:55 > 0:23:59I just hope that she will come back.
0:24:04 > 0:24:09The McClaffertys have spent their last Christmas in Northern Ireland with Martin's parents.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12Tomorrow, they leave for Australia.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15- Martin's done all the packing? - Not really, no.- Not really.
0:24:15 > 0:24:19I'm not allowed to. I would only make a mess of it.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22He has a full-time job to go to, so...
0:24:22 > 0:24:26that is the big weight off the shoulders.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29- Aside that, I don't think we'd have took the plunge, would we?- No.
0:24:29 > 0:24:33Aoife, she's... Whatever comes along, she just goes with the flow.
0:24:33 > 0:24:35Amy, I asked her, "Are you excited?"
0:24:35 > 0:24:39It went from "yes" to "a bit" now.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42So, I says, "Why are you just 'a bit'?"
0:24:42 > 0:24:44And she says, "Because of the flying and that."
0:24:44 > 0:24:47She's a wee bit nervous of that. So...
0:24:47 > 0:24:51As long as it's nothing more than that, it's not too bad.
0:24:51 > 0:24:52That's my form class.
0:24:52 > 0:24:57They gave it to me as a leaving present. When I got it, I was pretty emotional
0:24:57 > 0:25:01cos they're all in your face and then they're saying how bad it is that you're leaving and all.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04At the age I am, I've basically got close to a lot of people.
0:25:04 > 0:25:09And then having to leave that and trying to get close to other people.
0:25:09 > 0:25:11That's what I'm pretty scared about, so...
0:25:11 > 0:25:14That's probably going to be the hardest thing. Apart from that,
0:25:14 > 0:25:18cos I'm loud and all, I'll just hopefully get on with people.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21"Remember us and let us know how you're getting on."
0:25:21 > 0:25:24'Wee bit anxious about how quickly they'll make friends
0:25:24 > 0:25:29'and things like that, but if they're as outgoing there as they are here, it should be OK.'
0:25:29 > 0:25:32"Good luck. I'll miss you so much."
0:25:32 > 0:25:35- Pass me a plate there, please, Alex.- Me too.
0:25:35 > 0:25:40Rhys Yardley has accepted a job in the Isle of Man and starts work there tomorrow.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43- It's like The Last Supper. - This is The Last Supper.
0:25:43 > 0:25:47Daddy won't be having lunch with us again until...a fortnight's time.
0:25:47 > 0:25:51Reality's here now. He'll be away and we'll be here.
0:25:51 > 0:25:53And it'll be tough for the boys.
0:25:53 > 0:25:57Because... Especially Noah. I know he's the youngest, you'd think it'd be easiest on him,
0:25:57 > 0:26:02but whenever Rhys comes home in the evening, he goes running to the door. "Daddy's home!"
0:26:02 > 0:26:04- So, who's going to miss Daddy?- Me!
0:26:04 > 0:26:06- Me!- And him.
0:26:06 > 0:26:09- Are you going to miss us? - I'm going to miss you very much.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11Hopefully I'll get back every, at least, two or three weeks.
0:26:11 > 0:26:13So, it won't be too bad, but at the same time
0:26:13 > 0:26:17it's still going to be tough not being here with Joan and the boys as well.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20- What will you miss?- I'll miss his iPod.- You'll miss his iPod?
0:26:20 > 0:26:21THEY LAUGH
0:26:21 > 0:26:25He said it kicked in for him when he was packing his bag,
0:26:25 > 0:26:27that he was going and he wouldn't see us for two weeks.
0:26:27 > 0:26:29So, although he's positive, he's a bit like myself.
0:26:29 > 0:26:33You just got to keep it in there,
0:26:33 > 0:26:37but when we're together, just him and I, we talk about our worries and our fears.
0:26:37 > 0:26:38I love you.
0:26:38 > 0:26:42In front of the kids, and probably in front of most people, it's all very,
0:26:42 > 0:26:45"Oh, this is so exciting! We can't wait to get started our new life!"
0:26:45 > 0:26:47Say, "Bye, Daddy. We love you."
0:26:47 > 0:26:49While it will be tough without him,
0:26:49 > 0:26:53Joan knows that she'll see Rhys again in only a matter of weeks.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58As the McClaffertys set out on their journey to Australia,
0:26:58 > 0:27:01their family know it could be years before they see them again.
0:27:01 > 0:27:05Martin and Janice knows that we would never hold them back.
0:27:05 > 0:27:09This is what they want, and we never once said, "Don't go."
0:27:09 > 0:27:12We wouldn't even contemplate it, so we wouldn't.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15They had to get away - it was getting to the stage where
0:27:15 > 0:27:19Martin was getting depressed at having to go away to work and not seeing the wee ones
0:27:19 > 0:27:22maybe for three or four weeks. Janice was left to rear the wee'uns,
0:27:22 > 0:27:26and mind you, it's not easy rearing 16-year-olds.
0:27:26 > 0:27:27Take care.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34I'm going to miss Martin and Janice, yes, but...
0:27:34 > 0:27:39we're that well used with the grand-wee'uns over with us.
0:27:39 > 0:27:43- See you later, Grandad.- It's going to be hard on the grandson.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46More so on the girls.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50It's unbelievable the presents that young fella got from all his friends.
0:27:50 > 0:27:55And it broke his heart last night after saying cheerio to all his friends.
0:27:55 > 0:27:58- OK, Martin. See you later. - Thanks, Dad.
0:27:58 > 0:28:03I'm going to miss them all. Definitely the three wee'uns.
0:28:03 > 0:28:09Because they don't know what's in front of them, so it is.
0:28:09 > 0:28:11This is the hard bit.
0:28:11 > 0:28:13Bye!
0:28:13 > 0:28:17Next time on Departure Diaries...
0:28:17 > 0:28:20Barrister Dane Barr packs away his gown and wig
0:28:20 > 0:28:22in search of work in the Far East.
0:28:22 > 0:28:25That's one of the tools of my former trade.
0:28:25 > 0:28:28The couple swapping stacking shelves in Toome
0:28:28 > 0:28:30for career opportunities in New Zealand.
0:28:30 > 0:28:34I haven't really had the heart to tell them that, if it goes well, I could stay out there longer.
0:28:34 > 0:28:40And the Lurgan man planning more than a busman's holiday in Melbourne, Australia.
0:28:53 > 0:28:57Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd