Nearly a decade back, Manon Gilbart had an unexpected encounter in O’Pub, a local bar in Wallonia, Belgium that ultimately led her to a career in journalism in Ireland. While studying at a university in Mons, she would frequently visit the pub where Eoin O’Brien, a native of Shannon in Co Clare, incidentally spilled hot chocolate on her and a friend one day. They soon became friends and eventually, Gilbart found herself working at the same pub.
Taking keen interest in a masters in journalism, O’Brien recommended her the University of Limerick, as he pointed out, it wasn’t far from Shannon. This decision seemed to complete a circle as she already felt an affinity towards Ireland and had some Dublin based Irish friends. However, it was Eoin who remained her steadfast companion. Albeit, he’s now relocating to Australia, to her mock-chagrin.
Irish journalism piqued her interest due to its practical approach which she found lacking in her homeland. She began studying at the University of Limerick in 2021 and later secured a job covering for absent staff at the Limerick Post, before moving to the Limerick Leader as a multimedia journalist. She is soon expected to switch to the Irish Examiner, where she will serve as a digital news journalist.
Ever since she was young, Gilbart harboured a desire to become a journalist. Despite spending two years in the industry, her zeal for her job has not dwindled. Speaking to people and storytelling are aspects she particularly relishes about her profession.
Initially, she knew little about Limerick but over time, her fondness for the city known as the Treaty City grew. Today she takes pride in her city, to the point of being protective when someone speaks ill of it, although she’s quick to clarify that she would not do so herself. She finds Limerick utterly charming; its friendly, supportive inhabitants have won her heart.
Talking about her favoured haunts, she cites one particular elderly patron’s pub on Liddy Street as her favourite. She stumbled upon it during a walk from the university to the city centre on a hot day when she was parched. This local pub, operated by Timmy Martin, was where she happened to sit alone and enjoy a glass of beer with some snacks. The amiable bartender, Tadhg, was her initial encounter with a local from Limerick. What moved her was his ability to remember her name on her subsequent visit a week later, accompanied by a friend. They’ve since created a refuge for her in Limerick, making her feel secure whenever she visits with a companion. If she happens to be there on a date and her companion excuses himself, Timmy and his son, Tadhg, make sure she’s okay and share their thoughts, which endears her greatly.
She shares how she learns new expressions daily, with ‘the cheek of them’ being her top favourite. Echoing her woes about dating in Ireland, she mentions that it’s challenging due to many having plans to move to Australia or being unsure about their future because of the high rent and housing issues. She thinks it discourages people from seeking long-term relationships as they’re unsure about settling down. From her local acquaintances, she’s heard similar stories of investing emotions into guys who wound up moving to Sydney or Perth just days later.
Her experience of dating back in Belgium, compared to Ireland, is distinctive. She finds Belgian people to be more direct and frank, unlike in Ireland, where communication often involves a kind of charming persuasion.
Openness and friendliness are personality traits she’s found common in both Irish and Belgian people; striking up a conversation about the weather, or anything for that matter, is quite straightforward. However, she admits to having engaged in more discussions with strangers in Ireland than back in Belgium.
A guide for introverts on dating was penned by the author who is married to an extrovert, appreciating the balance he brings to her life. Regardless, responding promptly to greetings still catches her off-guard. Locals often misinterpret her nationality as French, while she is actually Belgian, leading to friendly banter akin to the UK-Irish rivalry. Although French is her first language, her dream was to master English, which she now thinks in, making her visits home a challenge.
Public transport is sporadic and inconsistent, especially among cities with infrequent train services, indicating a need for further direct connections. Every day is a linguistic exploration, with her favourite local phrase being ‘the cheek of them’, a term she picked up from a roommate’s daily tales of disastrous dates. Initially, making friends, particularly in college, was somewhat strenuous and the friendships she did make were somewhat superficial rather than substantive.
Interestingly, she acknowledges the paradox of her situation. Despite the initial difficulties, living with five Irish people on campus proved effective in fostering meaningful relationships. However, the group dynamics are changing as they are now moving to different parts of the globe, including Canada and Australia. She currently resides in Limerick city, sharing accommodation with a local friend, but a considerable chunk of her income goes towards housing expenses.
Throughout my life, I’ve only attended three funerals and yet to experience an Irish one. In Ireland, it seems commonplace for people to attend funerals for individuals they may have only met once, which I find charming. You encounter friends planning for funerals instead of social gatherings. Additionally, the Irish refer to funerals as ‘celebrations of life’ on the RIP.ie website, which I find refreshing. Interestingly, I have never been to any weddings, let alone Irish ones. It seems in this country, people are constantly either attending weddings or funerals.
However, there are some downsides living in Ireland. The public transport system linking towns and cities can be highly unreliable. Everything seems to be centralised in Dublin, which is a great pity. Back in my home country, Belgium, if a bus or train was late by 15 or 25 minutes it used to bother me. Here, however, buses sometimes don’t appear at all. Furthermore, the frequency of train services between cities is also disappointing. Therefore, a journey that should take a couple of hours, can end up turning into a six-hour ordeal. I’m still trying to find an effective route from Limerick to Donegal.
Being an only child, I manage to return home a few times per annum. As my family members either age or fall ill, I feel a tinge of pain in my heart and guilt for my absence, but I know they understand that this is the life I chose. I am uncertain about the shape my future will take and I don’t visualize myself settling. My wish, in the meantime, is to keep living in Ireland, even though my whereabouts five or ten years from now are unknown. Though constant happiness is elusive, living here brings contentment, and having wonderful friends around provides comfort.