“I was really aware that something humiliating was happening inside him.” David McWilliams on his father’s unemployment

"It was only for the neighbours. That’s Ireland. This is the squinting windows, you know?"

From the economic boom to the inevitable crash, unemployment is an issue that has affected many families and individuals in Ireland. This week on Ireland Unfiltered, Dion was joined by author and economist David McWilliams. The pair discussed Ireland's housing crisis, why our country is obsessed with class and the shame his father felt following unemployment. Baring all, David explained that for two years his father's daily routine consisted of putting on a shirt and tie and pretending to go to work; not to protect his kids, but to hide the shame of being unemployed from his prying neighbours. David told Dion: "It was only for the neighbours. That’s Ireland. This is the squinting windows, you know?" His parents' hushed conversations of anxiety at night soon made David very aware that something humiliating was happening to his father. However, his father's need to keep up appearances was never a concern for David, who consistently saw his father as one of the most important people in the world regardless of his employment status or financial situation. You can check out the full episode below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gdr66lQlBUA Ireland Unfiltered, brought to you in partnership with Carlsberg Unfiltered, will be available everywhere you get your podcasts and on YouTube every Tuesday.