Corkonians Abroad: 'As a doctor, it was hard to resist the allure of Oz'

Where are you from in Cork, Roan?

I’m originally from Sallybrook, Glanmire. I lived there up until 2021 with my parents, Dave and Shirley, and my younger sister Niamh.

I have many fond memories of growing up in Glanmire. From spending long summer days with my cousin Aidan playing football down The Pike field, to making the ritual evening stroll to Grandon’s for a 99, to gallivanting with my childhood friends, John, Cian and Stephen.

In many ways, I feel fortunate to have grown up in an era without some of the digital distractions of today. Having the freedom to explore the outdoors allowed more room for imagination and real-world interaction that you could argue is somewhat lacking today.

How did you end up in Melbourne?

I relocated to Melbourne in September, 2021.

From a young age, I was fascinated by Australian wildlife and impressed by its natural beauty and diverse landscapes. Ultimately the decision to move there would be driven by work.

As is the case for many young Irish doctors, the allure of Australia’s warm climate and ample opportunities for employment and career progression proved to be a little too hard to resist!

My original plan had been to move to Perth for a year or two after finishing my internship. That was completely derailed by the covid pandemic, and I spent the next 18 months working as an NCHD (Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors) between CUH, South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, and Mallow General Hospital, before I was fortunate enough to be offered a job at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

How is life in your new home?

Aside from the first two weeks, which were spent in hotel quarantine and having to adjust to Melbourne’s harsh covid restrictions at the time, as a true Corkonian would say, “It’s me daza!”

I’m currently living in an apartment in south Melbourne, in a vibrant suburb just 2km from the central business district (CBD) that offers the perfect blend of inner-city convenience and proximity to major hubs like St Kilda (Melbourne’s ‘Little Ireland’), Albert Park (home to the F1 Australian Grand Prix) and the Royal Botanic Gardens, to name just a few.

What has been the biggest challenge?

Not being able to watch my beloved Man United play live due to the time difference! Ah, but no, of course it’s being so far from friends and family. I didn’t realise how much I would miss them until I landed here.

I’ve been fortunate enough to travel back home to Cork for the past two years and it’s something I wish I could do more often.

I try to keep in regular contact with family through WhatsApp and over phone calls and I’ve got a few different friend groups on WhatsApp that provide me with a dose of much- needed Irish banter!

How might you spend your weekends?

If I’m not rostered to work, you’ll probably find me at one of the plethora of live music and sports events that Melbourne is world-renowned for.

I like to kick off my weekend with a walk to the nearby South Melbourne Market, where I might pick up a croissant from Agathé Pâtisserie, or just immersing myself in Melbourne’s coffee culture and catching up with a friend at a laneway café - the city’s coffee game is no joke.

I enjoy exploring the different suburbs and popping into vintage shops and eyeing the street art (bit of grit, bit of class!).

If I’m eating out for dinner, I might head to Leonardo’s for a pizza followed by a few drinks at Caretaker’s Cottage.

If I’m celebrating with friends or looking for a late-night rave, there’s a place called Revs, a Melbourne institution. If you know, you know…

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

Melbourne is known for consistently ranking among the world’s most liveable cities, and while it’s far from perfect, with a high cost of living and being so cut-off from the rest of the world geographically, it has a unique buzz along with the famous laidback Aussie ethos that makes it a great place to live.

Melbourne is known for having wildly unpredictable weather by Australian standards, but still enjoys far more sunshine compared to Cork. That results in a climate-driven lifestyle and outdoor-centric culture - think frequent barbecues, trips to the beach and hikes.

While Cork’s population is diversifying more, Melbourne is a true melting pot, with something like a third of its population being born overseas.

The food scene here reflects that diversity - dumplings one night, souvlaki the next.

When it comes to dry wit, community-first mindset, and the craic, Cork has the edge!

Tell us about your line of work/career?

Since moving to Melbourne, I have commenced specialist training in psychiatry. I’m currently doing a six-month rotation in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry which involves working with a diverse group of young people with a wide range of mental health difficulties.

My working week is well structured. Mondays are at an outpatient clinic, where I will typically see young people to provide psychotherapy or review medications.

Tuesdays tend to be admin heavy and largely consist of multidisciplinary team meetings.

On Wednesdays, I provide a virtual/telehealth clinic and provide a consultation liaison service to the paediatric ward of the hospital.

I get a half-day every Thursday, which allows me to attend a formal education training course which is run online by the University of Sydney and mandatory for all trainees.

On Fridays, I provide a consultation liaison service to the Emergency Department, which tends to be my busiest but often most exciting day of the week.

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

It’s a bit of a cliché, but I’d probably say attending one of the main sporting events like the Formula 1 Grand Prix or having a seat at the Australian Open Men’s Final to watch Rafael Nadal lift his 21st Grand Slam after beating Daniil Medvedev in an all-time classic final.

Any special mentions to friends or family back in Cork?

I have to be careful here! My nan and good friend Sheila Burke have probably been buying The Echo for the last 50 years and hopefully seeing her name here will bring a smile to her face.

On the other hand, she hates the attention, so she’ll probably give out to me!

Shout out to mom and dad, Shirley and Dave, sister Niamh, the Palmer family and my auntie Lily who’s also a life-long reader. Also, a special mention to my friend Cian who’s getting married next month!

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

I’d start off at home and enjoy a nice fry-up. Next, I’d pop up to my nan’s for a chat and listen to her moan about Donald Trump!

I’d then meet up with my good friends John and Cian for a game of Footgolf, which I would almost certainly win!

Following that, I might leave them behind and travel down to Kinsale and get some fish n’chips from Catch of The Day and pop into The Bulman for a tipple of whiskey with my friend and Kinsale local Fergus.

And to finish off, I’d probably head back into town for a night out with some of my other good friends, Sean, Ken, Liam, and Eugene.

Is there anything that you especially miss about Cork?

Other than my family and friends, I’d have to say Smiths Bacon Fries, Tanora, and a good spud are sorely missed.

What are you looking forward to in the coming months?

I’ve recently booked a trip to Java, Indonesia for August, so I’m looking forward to ticking that one off the bucket list and have already begun planning the itinerary in forensic detail.

My sister will be visiting me here in Melbourne in April, so I suppose I’d get in trouble if I didn’t mention that also.