Newry’s Lost Generation, with JJ McAnulty

Name: JJ McAnulty.

Age: 25.

JJ left Newry and moved to Australia

Education/experience: Bsc Hons Building Surveying with a Diploma in Industrial Studies from the University of Ulster, Jordanstown. 10 GCSE’s & 3 A Levels from St Pauls High School, Bessbrook.

What part of Newry & Mourne are you originally from? Just outside Newry in Camlough.

When did you leave Newry? University I suppose was the first time I lived away from home in 2005-2010 when I moved to Belfast. After I graduated in July 2010 I moved to Perth in Australia one month later and have been here ever since.

Why did you leave Newry? There was no job prospects for me other than my 20 hour contract in Topman so my Girlfriend and I decided to chance our luck down under.

Who did you go with? My Girlfriend (now fiancé) Megan.

What are you doing now? Are you working? I was lucky to land a Building Surveying job with a Local Council in my second week here, have been here since and its going very well.

Are you enjoying life away from Newry? Yes very much so.

What do you miss most about Newry? In no particular order:

Jamesies Chinese on Canal Street, Chicken Chip Kebabs from La Dolce Vita, Decent pints of Guinness, Happy Villa Chinese, Coors Light, Timony’s Ice Cream, Soda bread, Shelbourne bakery Scones, Canal Court on a Saturday night, Golf Club Turkey and ham on a Sunday morning, McCoy’s Salt and Vinegar, People saying “Bai” at the end of every sentence, Lucozade, Saturday football on at a sociable hour.

I come from a very close family so miss them a lot but with Skype it’s easier to keep in contact, I will see them all over Christmas and with a bit of luck they will be over to Australia in a few months for a holiday so knowing that makes it that little bit easier being away.

When will you return to Newry? I am returning very shortly for Christmas but just for a holiday, we intend to stay in Australia for the foreseeable future.

Career ambition (i.e. your perfect job): I intend to become a Chartered Building Surveyor in the next 2 years. If I ever decide to return to Ireland the experience I’ve got here won’t have been for nothing, after that who knows where I could end up!

What would you say to anybody still living in Newry who can’t find work? Don’t come to Australia, there is too many of us here as it is, try Canada – ive heard good things.. But definitely spread the wings a bit and see what’s out there, we took a gamble by coming over here but it has definitely paid off so I would recommend anybody else to do the same and see a bit of the world.

Anything else you would like to add? Best of luck with the new e-paper it looks great and I will be able to keep on top of all the craic back home now! Also im looking forward to seeing everyone again at Christmas!

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Posted by Newry Times News on Dec 7 2011. Filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry