Corkonians Abroad: I love my life in sweet Carolina...

THIS week’s Corkonian living abroad is Ray Barry, from Blarney Street, who lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.

Ray grew up in Briarscourt at the very top of Blarney Street and would be affectionately known in Cork as De Barra.

He currently lives with his wife Morgan in the suburb of Matthews in North Carolina.

How did you end up in the States?

I moved here in the end of 2014 for work initially. The years from 2008 to 2014 were a rough period in Ireland, so when an opportunity for a move to the United States with a visa was on the table, I took it with a view to reflect, refocus on what I was doing and where my life was headed.

Life is, night and day different from what it was back in Cork, if I’m honest. The weather, standard of living and disposable income are probably the biggest things that are different from life in Cork.

What has been the biggest challenge living abroad?

The biggest challenge by far is not seeing your family and friends, and missing out on the joyful occasions like weddings that you should be there for, including the hurling championship.

Also, you miss out on some sad occasions and are not able to pay respect to so many that have passed away.

I’ve tackled it by talking to friends over here that are in my same boat, and when you weigh up the pros and cons of being here, the pros always come out on top.

I opened an Irish restaurant and Bar in 2019 called Grace O’Malleys with the Mason Jar group, so that takes up most of my weekend time, but I always try to keep Sunday free to spend family time with Morgan.

We both enjoy sports a lot, so be it playing golf, darts, or attending an NFL game, an NBA game, baseball, etc, there are endless things to do in this fun city of Charlotte - and walking my dog Vanny is also a priority.

Tell us a bit about the culture in Charlotte?

Charlotte is a melting pot of a range of people. It still has its sweet southern charm in the suburbia, but lots of young professionals flock here with the banking scene, as we are the biggest financial city outside of Wall Street in New York.

This has been one of the most moved to cities in the USA for 10-plus years now. A lot of people come here from up north in New York, Massachusetts, and Ohio.

They come here because we have better weather, lower taxes, and it’s cheaper to live here than up north, but the cost of living, like everywhere right now, is going up here too.

I think the biggest cultural shock was the necessity for a car over here, you just can’t be without it, and they start driving at 15 years old - with restrictions of course. But I like the fact that it’s taught in school.

Are there any issues that you see links between in both Charlotte and Ireland?

It’s hard looking at great bars and restaurants closing down at home. Tourism is so big and bars are a vital aspect of that, and I feel not enough is done by the government to help save these businesses that are crying out for help

Societal issues here that I hate involve politics. Democrats versus Republicans, and it’s worse in election years. I just stay well clear of any side or talk on it.

Tell us about your career?

I’ve always been involved in hospitality - to be honest, I was serving pints when we still had Irish punts currency and you could smoke... I’m giving away my age!

I’ve worked from early morning bars to locals, to nightclubs, you name it.

If I had to pick two influences in that time, I would say Ashley O’Callaghan in the High House bar on Blarney street - I spent a lot of time working there - and Dan O’Brien in Scoozis, who taught me some valuable lessons that I still implement today.

My life now revolves around Grace O’Malleys, and thankfully I only live five minutes away from it, but sometimes Morgan isn’t a fan of being so close to my work.

America is the land of opportunity, but nobody gives you nothing for nothing, although if you work hard, you get rewarded.

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

I guess when I set out 10 years ago with just a carry-on bag and a job, my aim was to make my family and friends proud.

And now I have a stunning wife-to-be in Morgan, I run a very successful business, and we purchased a beautiful home here two years ago - and I finally drive a car, ha ha, so well on the way.

Any special mentions to friends or family back in Cork?

My mother Nora and my father Eddie. My siblings and all of my group of friends who are all still based in cork.

What are you looking forward to in the coming months?

Our wedding is this June in Dromoland castle, Co Clare, and we have 92 people travelling over from here to the wedding, so that’s what I’m looking forward to the most in the next few months - and to get to see and catch up with my family and friends.

My fiancée Morgan works in the healthcare field, mostly with Parkinson’s and dementia patients. She is so smart and loving with a great family and I couldn’t ask for more.

What do you miss most about Cork?

Things I miss about Cork the most would be a pint of Murphys and the chipper.

What would be an ideal day for you if you were back in Cork for one day?

My ideal day for me would be a.Cork v Waterford hurling game in the Páirc, with pre-match pints in the Welcome Inn, and after the game over to the Cork Arms on MacCurtain Street, then walk up home through Shandon before a nightcap in the Josh or Riverland, then a chicken baguette from Donatello’s and home.