Corkonians Abroad: I love life in Dallas, but miss family and the craic

Q: Where are you from originally, Shane, and what was life like there?

I’m originally from Castlemartyr, with my family spread between Castlemartyr, Midleton, and Ballinacurra. Growing up there was brilliant - small village life where everyone knows everyone, and everything revolved around sport for me.

From the time I was a kid, all I ever did was play soccer. I started out at Midleton FC, moved into the Cork Schoolboys League, and eventually played with Cork City FC. I also went to Midleton CBS, where sport was a massive part of my school years.

Most of my childhood memories are of pitches, training sessions, matches, and the people around them.

My family has deep roots in East Cork, and I’m really the only one who left the area to go abroad, so Cork will always feel like home.

It’s where everything started for me, my identity, my friends, my football, and it shaped who I am today.

Q: What drove you to move to another country?

What first pushed me to move abroad was football. I always wanted to take my sporting career as far as I could. When the chance came up to go to the U.S., I grabbed it.

I originally started off in Texas to play soccer in a full-time set up and I took it, before later moving to Louisiana to play for LSUS on a soccer scholarship.

It was a massive decision, especially coming from a family where nobody had really left Cork, but I felt it was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down. Playing with team-mates from all over the world, different cultures, different backgrounds, opened my eyes.

Q: Where do you live now, and what is it like there?

I’m living in Dallas, Texas, now, and it’s been an incredible place to settle into. It’s a huge city, completely different from growing up in Castlemartyr, but in an exciting way.

There’s always something happening here: big sports events, concerts, food spots, and people constantly moving in from all over the world.

Even though Dallas is massive, it still has a welcoming feel. And there’s a small Irish community here too. I’ve met a few Irish people from different parts of the country, and it’s always nice having that connection to home.

Dallas is full of young professionals and opportunities, especially with how fast the industries are growing. You can feel the momentum in the city, things are happening here. It’s a big change from home, but it’s been a great place to build my life and career.

That move set everything else in motion. After finishing my degree, I stayed in the U.S., built a life here, and landed a huge opportunity in Dallas.

What started with football became a chance to grow personally and professionally, and to build a future I might not have found at home.

Q: Do you have family where you live now?

I don’t have any of my own family living with me here in Dallas, everyone is still back home in Cork. But I’m not on my own. My girlfriend, Brynna, is from Texas, and over time I’ve really been integrated into her family as they also supported me.

They’ve been incredibly welcoming, and it’s made a huge difference, being so far from home. I’ve met people and families throughout my time here that are like a family, through supporting the communities here and being part of it.

My own family also comes out to visit me about once a year. They were here this past year, and they’re already planning to come back again next year, which always helps keep us close, even with the distance.

On top of that, I’ve built a solid group of friends here, including a few Irish people I’ve met along the way, so I’ve definitely created my own support system.

With all that, Dallas has really started to feel like home.

Q: What has been the most memorable moment in your new home?

Honestly, my most memorable moment here has to be going unbeaten in our conference with LSUS and winning the title. Being part of that team was something special, it was a historic group, the kind you only get to be part of once.

The culture, the standard, and the feeling around the team that season… it’s something I’ll never forget, and it really shaped my whole experience here in the U.S and what I came here for

Q: What is your job/career where you now live?

I work for a consultancy, Coalesce Management Consulting (CMC), here in Dallas. We help major utilities with billion dollar projects in electric transmission and distribution work like substations, power lines, and system upgrades.

My role is all about connecting experts with the right projects and making sure utilities get the best support with the best workers.

It’s an incredible time to be part of CMC, our U.S. office has grown by 300% in revenue this year, and we’re expanding across the country.

We’re part of the booming energy sector, especially with growth in data centres and infrastructure, and I’m proud to be working on U.S. energy projects that have a real impact.

The company is small now with under 20 employees, but we’re on track to grow these numbers fast, no doubt

Q: How might you spend your weekend?

On the weekends, I like to keep things balanced. I’ll often start the day with a workout or a run, then grab a coffee and explore different parts of the city.

Dallas has a lot of great neighbourhoods and restaurants, so I try to check out new spots to eat whenever I can. I also spend time catching up with friends, whether it’s a casual meet-up, or watching a game.

Towards the end of the weekend, I usually get myself prepared for the week ahead with work, planning, and making sure I’m ready to hit the ground running for the week ahead.

It’s a mix of staying active, discovering new places, enjoying the social side of the city, and staying on top of my career.

Q: How is the culture where you live different from Cork/Ireland? How is it the same?

The culture in Dallas is friendly and outgoing, which feels very similar to home in Cork. People are welcoming, easy to talk to, and there’s a strong sense of community in different circles, so I’ve found it easy to fit in and feel at home here.

At the same time, you’ll never have the same culture as back home. The pace, traditions, and ways people interact are different, and certain things like the craic, the close-knit small-town feel, and the way everyone knows everyone are unique to Cork.

But overall, the warmth and friendliness of people here makes the transition really smooth, and it’s easy to create your own sense of home.

Q: What do you miss most about Cork?

I really miss family, the craic, and the food. There’s nothing like being around home in Cork, catching up with everyone, having a laugh, and just enjoying the simple things.

Q: Do you get to go home to Cork often? What do you do when you return?

I usually get back to Cork about once a year around Christmas. When I’m home, I spend time going to family homes to catch up, and I make sure to head to the local pubs to see people I grew up with.

It’s a great chance to catch up on everything, whether it’s sport, news, or just sharing stories from the past year.

Q: Any special mentions to family/friends back home in Cork?

I’d like to give a special mention to my parents, Imelda and Brian O’Riordan. They supported me every step of the way when I decided to go abroad and take a chance on building a life and career for myself.

Q: If you could spend an ideal day in Cork, what would that entail?

An ideal day in Cork would be catching up with family and friends, heading out for some good food in the city centre, and finishing off by watching some sport, whether it’s Cork hurling or Ireland playing. There’s nothing quite like the atmosphere when a game is on.

Q: What are your plans for the future?

My plans for the future are to continue building my life here in the U.S. and progressing with CMC as we expand from our small Dallas office to offices all around the country.

I want to keep being part of this once in a lifetime opportunity in the booming energy industry and play a role in helping the U.S. develop and strengthen its energy infrastructure.

It’s exciting to be part of something growing so quickly and making a real impact.

I plan to continue playing at a high level with soccer while also getting involved in shaping the next generation here, helping grow the game and make a lasting impact on the sport in the U.S.