Is this wave of Irish emigration over? The statistics have certainly swung around, but Irish people are still leaving the country in very large numbers. The big read this week takes a look at the figures, with input from recruiters, economists, migration experts and youth representatives, as well as our readers who have decided to make the move home.
Over the past decade, the highest number of New Zealand work visas for Irish citizens went to physiotherapists, with 444 work visas granted since 2009. For our Working Abroad Q&A today,Katie Nolan tells us what makes New Zealand such a popular destination for Irish physios.
As a new report shows women are being shut out of the workplace by the high cost of childcare in Ireland, The Irish Times would like to hear from readers living overseas about their family's experiences, and the facilities and supports available where you live. Click here to contribute, or email abroad@irishtimes.com.
It's back to school season here in Ireland, and Emma Prunty is writing this week about the trials and tribulations of getting her kids back into school here after returning from overseas.
The education system in the Netherlands seems pretty idyllic in comparison; Margaret Kearns shares why her kids love growing up in a country where there's less pressure to "achieve", they speak multiple languages, cycle everywhere and are expected to be heard as well as seen.
Also on the Abroad site this week, David Nash writes from Chile about social inequality; Donald Clarke reviews Black 47, the "brain-twitching Great Irish Famine revenge thriller"; and if you're living in London and fancy being in the Late Late Show audience, RTE is offering tickets for an Irish in London special in October.
You'll find plenty more stories by and about the Irish diaspora this week on irishtimes.com/abroad.
To receive this digest to your inbox each week, you can join the free Irish Times Abroad Network here.
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