Martin
McDonagh
 by
Imelda and Francis Murphy
Back
and forth multiple times before he was 20, Martin McDonagh has had
a transatlantic rearing.
He
came to Boston first with his parents when he was two years old
from Knocklettermullen, Connemara. It was back home again at age
six and to Boston again at twelve, when he became a United States
Citizen. When his father retired from his construction job in Boston,
Martin returned to Connemara as a 17-year-old, where he worked in
a fish factory making a modest wage.
While
on a holiday trip home, Martin's uncle, Jimmy McDonagh asked him
if he'd be interested in working as a construction worker on the
Big Dig. Jimmy promised that the work would be easy and the money
good. Martin decided to come over and has been on the project for
3 and half years. The work has not been easy, but the money hasn't
been too bad!
As
a union labourer, his tasks do vary. He helps carpenters in their
work and assists in concrete-pours. Lately, he has been jack hammering
on State Street along the Blue Line near the Aquarium "T"
(i.e. Subway or underground train) station. The jack hammer is heavy
and noisy and the work dirty.
Martin
is not looking forward to the cold New England winter. He finds
the weather harsh although now that he works deep in the tunnels
he is protected from the wind, and the temperatures below ground
are a little milder.
Martin
enjoys the company of co-workers from the Connemara area beneath
the streets of Boston. With his uncles Jimmy and Pat close by, he
can be heard speaking Irish on the job. His parents would speak
Irish at home amongst themselves but usually addressed him in English.
Martin's
girlfriend, Bridgeen Doherty, is from Buncrana, Donegal. She works
as a bartender in a pub in Dorchester. They have been seeing each
other for about a year now. This past summer they shared their holidays
together in Ireland both in Galway and Donegal.
© Copyright
Francis and Imelda Murphy
All rights reserved
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