It might have started as a rumour but it’s beginning to look a lot like reality…
The short documentary recently released by MEL films asked the 58 citizens of Inishturk how they would react to hordes of Americans moving to the island to escape Donald Trump.
This is no longer a joke or a rhetorical céad míle failte, Inishturk is talking logistics, they are talking ferry schedules and they are talking skyscrapers.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BEMSGn_CuRh/?taken-by=inishturkisland
Last March Inishturk became the subject of international news when the development officer for the island was quoted as saying, “I’ve heard there are quite a few people in America looking to move to Ireland and other countries if Donald Trump becomes president.
“I’d like them to know that we’d love to see them consider moving over here.”
While the seriousness of the spokesperson’s remark is debatable, it prompted a flurry of Google searches on ‘how to move to Ireland.’
The story went airborne both sides of the Atlantic as Irish people and Americans shared it alike.
Five months ago the prospect of Trump winning the Republican nomination was still farcical and the idea of his presidency laughable. This is no longer the case. The most unconventional campaign ever to be run continues to divide America, igniting racial tensions and threatening the peace of so many communities.
If all of the 35 million Americans who claim Irish descent decided to move to Inishturk it would probably sink under the weight of them, but maybe a few of them really will find refuge from Trump on this beautiful island.
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