‘I have never felt more safe anywhere’ says new Carlow resident 

“I FEEL life is a lot more peaceful, not so fast moving. That’s what I like about Carlow. You can just take your time,” said Princy Sara, who moved from southern India to Carlow in 2023 to complete a master’s degree at SETU.

In comparison to where the 30-year-old grew up, in Kuwait, or where she lived for ten years, in southern India, life in Ireland is “a lot more free”, she said.

“People are more independent once you reach 18 years’ old. It’s considered normal. But in India, if you’re just going out shopping or going out a little later in the day, you would need to get permission from your parents.” 

In Kuwait, too, a Muslim country, “they have a lot of restrictions and rules. Because of the job that my dad was working in and he didn’t have a lot of days off, we’d be at home. It was just a very protected childhood that I had. There wasn’t any going out or anything. I found my freedom when I went to India because then I started living away from my family,” she reflected.

“But I think things have changed over the years with life in the Middle East. When the generation changes, things change. There’s a mindset change coming in.” 

Princy moved to Karnataka state in India to go to university. She graduated as a doctor of pharmacy and lived there for ten years, working as a medical writer for a pharmaceutical company. She decided to move to Carlow at the age of 27 to do a master’s in pharmaceutical regulatory affairs at South East Technological University. She now works as a pharmacy assistant and is waiting to be registered as a pharmacist.

“When I moved to Ireland, it was a welcome change. Initially, it was a little hard because, obviously, it’s a new culture, the food is different. Language-wise, I was okay. I speak English anyway, but it was just a lot of adjusting, getting used to the weather.

“I wasn’t expecting people to be so welcoming. It was a lot nicer than I thought it might be. I feel like it’s a very supportive environment and it’s flexible, manageable.” 

While she was aware of the reporting of a series of attacks on people from India last year, she said she has not experienced anything like that herself. “I have never felt more safe anywhere. Everybody on the street speaks to you, stops to say ‘hello’, smiles. That makes the biggest difference. It helps you get through the not-so-easy weather and the rainy days.” 

On the brighter days in Carlow, “I just stroll about in town,” she said. “I love going window shopping. I go into the charity shops a lot and I love reading. So, I’m always in Sue Ryder’s bookstore. I think it’s a hidden treasure.” 

 She also enjoys occasionally meeting up with work friends for dinner and coffee. “I used to go out with my friends when I was in college, I want to say once a month, twice a month. Back when Weatherspoon’s was open, we would go there.” When the discount bar closed in 2024, there was one less affordable place for students like Princy to hang out in.

As for other challenges: “I’d say that housing is a little difficult just because of rising rent, as somebody who is managing the finances on their own,” said Princy.

She currently rents a room in a shared house and says that living by herself is currently out of the question. “Maybe if I had a partner, that might have been different, but when you’re on your own it’s just hard to find places.” 

She also takes issue with the bus system and lack of shelters at bus stops, which means she has turned up to work soaked through. “With public transport, it’s not very easy or doesn’t really take you to where you want to go. I’m working on my licence, so, I’m hoping that I might just be able to get a driver’s licence and be able to drive myself around.” 

Princy misses “the kind of food that if you visited me in India my mum would make it for you” and, of course, her family, who are spread across the world. Her sister’s family continues to live in Kuwait, but her mother goes back and forth between Kerala in India and Kuwait, now that her dad has passed away.

“It’s hard to meet the entire family; it’s hard to plan.” 

As for the future, Princy hopes to stay in Ireland and has a relaxed attitude towards the visa process. “I try not to worry too much about it just because it doesn’t really help. It’s just about living in the moment, doing what you can.”