Corkonians Abroad: The Deasy family on life Down Under

THIS week, I caught up with Stephen Deasy, from Dublin Hill, who lives in Sydney with his wife Caroline. They live 300 metres from the famous Coogee beach and have been in Australia for more than a decade.

When did you guys move to Australia?

On 11/11/2012, which is my eldest brother Michael’s birthday. He still says today, “You ruined my birthday forever” because our mother was heartbroken watching her baby leave home.

Why Australia?

My now wife Caroline always wanted to travel. I was more relaxed as I still wanted to be a footballer and get back into the League of Ireland with Cobh Ramblers. Unfortunately, that didn’t work out and we decided in January, 2012, to make the trip of a lifetime. 

We went to Thailand, Vietnam and eventually Australia on a 12-month working holiday visa.

My brother Robbie had been in Sydney along with many of our friends from Dublin Hill.

On Christmas Eve, 2012, at Bondi Junction at the Tea Gardens, there were 12 of us ladies and gents that had all grown up with each other from Dublin Hill, which was a real eye opener into the mass migration post the 08/09 crash.

What is life like in your new home?

Life here is simply easy. Yes, we have the standard day to day that everyone has, Caroline and I have two beautiful boys Ruben (5) and Roman (3). Ruben attends the local Catholic school in Randwick, Roman attends the daycare next door.

Caroline is the proud part owner of a hairdressing salon in Coogee called Collective and Co. I am also a part owner of a construction company that specialises in waterproofing.

With the madness of having two kids and our own businesses, we are busy, but Caroline and I complement each other and work hard to give our family the best life has to offer.

What has been the biggest challenge?

I think we all go through the same battles, finding jobs, a new home, sponsorship, etc. I found when you surround yourself with people who have done it, you listen to their story and see what worked and what didn’t, also, surrounding yourself with like-minded people building a new family away from home.

The Irish community will always help each other and after 11+ years of being here, we do the same for the newbies fresh off the boat. 

I think, being Irish and the way both sets of parents brought us up, we take on every challenge as a team.

What happens at the weekends?

Weekends can vary, one weekend you can be a rock star and the next daddy daycare.

Rock star weekend could be lunch with other business owners in Randwick or Coogee that normally runs into the early evening.

Saturday is time with the kids, in winter, football in the morning and park in the afternoon.

In summer it’s the beach all day. Caroline normally finishes around 3 or 4. BBQ in the afternoon and then get the babysitter over to watch the kids while we enjoy a party with friends or just catch up with mates.

Over here, everything starts early, going out at 9pm on a Saturday night would be insanity. But for us we start early and finish early unless United are on.

Sunday is family day, the options to choose from are endless, ideally a BBQ in the late afternoon and watching a UFC main event.

Tell us a bit about the culture of where you live?

Coogee is full of Irish, so you always feel at home. Eastern suburbs of Sydney are full of ex-pats from all over the world. Everyone is here to have fun and they most certainly do.

I can remember playing a game five hours west of Sydney in a place called Orange, it was snowing and a Kangaroo was bouncing around the pitch.

What are the main differences from Ireland?

The weather is the biggest difference, having decent weather pretty much all year round is worth its weight in gold. 

Everyone is happy and ready for the craic.

Any culture shock type moments for you over the years?

Australia is a multi-cultural country, Sydney has suburbs where English isn’t the first language, but it seems to work, meeting people from all walks of life makes it a special place.

Tell us about your line of work/career?

The Australian dream is real, you can come here and if you work hard enough and meet the right people you can do whatever you want. I have jumped industry a few times and now I am the proud owner of a thriving business. Work life balance is important to me and my crew(s).

Tell us your thoughts on opportunity - do you see more in different parts of the world than Ireland?

When I returned to Ireland for the second time, it was only then we started to be tourists, that’s a shame I didn’t take advantage when I was younger. Once you step outside your normal, you tend to be more adventurous.

What has been your most memorable moment in your new location so far?

We’ve shared some great moments, it’s impossible to keep it to one. Winning football titles at local level and then moving up to playing in NSW National Premier League 4 & 3 with Dunbar Rover, still involved with the club as a sponsor of the Boys U14 team. Our team would play Sydney FC in pre-season every year.

Getting engaged by Sydney Opera House, playing Hens and Stags. The wedding in Portugal with 120 of our friends and family. Receiving permeant residency and citizenship. Starting my business. The birth of our two sons, Ruben and Roman. Opening Caroline’s salon. Holidays in Thailand, Vietnam, Dubai, Fiji, Bali, Japan, and across Australian. To name a few!

Any special mentions to friends or family back in Cork?

Of course, to my parents Michael and Christine. My brother Michael and family, Sylvia, Michael Jnr, Ryan and Jake down in Carrigtwohill. My sister Laura and family, John, Des, Cillian and Erin down in Cobh.

My in-laws who spent Christmas and New Year with us, Jer, Eileen from Togher, Jenny Julian down in Crosshaven, Ger and Callum over in Scotland.

If you were back in Cork for one day, what would the ideal day be for you?

I loved a Super Sunday watching the football and then over to Sober for a coin toss, next up would be Soho for $5 Daiquiris, Long Island for a bit of house, then Havana’s to close out the night.

What are you looking forward to in the coming months?

Closing off our first major project and rolling into another, I’ve got Bali at the end of March, then start planning for Christmas, 2024.

Is there anything that you especially miss about Cork?

Pearl River was our absolute favourite place to eat as kids, I hope it’s still open. 

And of course, the people of Cork are built different, a lovely bunch of people altogether.

Signing off from Coogee Beach, Australia, The Deasys down under.