Oz-some life for Irish in Coogee

IT is 7am on a Wednesday morning and Coogee Beach, a suburb in eastern Sydney is full of people.

- JOHN KIERANS

Some are walking, others jogging, some are swimming in the Pacific Ocean and some are just out surfing.

Many just sit on the steps beside the ocean sipping coffee and chatting in groups of four to six people.

But the one thing they all have in common is they are almost all Irish.

They all had the same story, they were fed up living with their parents at home, couldn't afford to rent or buy so decided to take their chance and come to Australia.

They get a year long visa straight up and then a second year if they agree to do three months' farm work.

In that time they all hope that they will get a job and their new employers are so impressed by their work ethic and diligence that they will pay for a four year work visa so they can stay in Australia. All my life I have been fascinated with Australia but never got the opportunity to visit.