Today, I will be speaking with Michael Boyle. Originally from Derry, Michael left the North of Ireland in the late 1960s, just as the Troubles were beginning to kick off. Bound for a teaching job in Fogo Island, his arrival in Canada did not go as smoothly as expected. But as Michael often says, ‘If you come to a fork in the road, take it.’ Michael took this fork and has ended up spending the rest of his life in Newfoundland. In this chat, we discuss how Newfoundland became his home away from Derry. We also discuss his relationship with Ireland and the Irish language. It was through speaking Irish on Monday nights in St. John’s a number of years ago where I first ran into Michael. 

Michael released his memoir recently, On New Turf and I would encourage anyone to pick up a copy and experience the life of an Irish immigrant to Newfoundland. I have included a link below: https://www.amazon.ca/New-Turf-Memoir-Michael-Boyle/dp/1989109411