Christmas Abroad: From Castledaly to Canada
For our annual feature on local people who won't be home for Christmas, Adrian Cusack compiled interviews with people from the greater Athlone area who are spending the festive season in Canada, England and Australia. Here is our interview with Shaun Henson:
Castledaly man Shaun Henson has been based in Toronto, Canada, for the last seven and a half years. He attended primary school in Castledaly, secondary school in Moate, and went to university in Galway.
How did the move to Canada come about, and what do you do there?
It was a bit of a jump off the bandwagon situation by me. After spending much of my life in Castledaly and Galway, I decided to 'go on an adventure' with a friend of mine, Ian Murray, from Longford. We had been university friends for years.
When I got here, I worked for a tech company selling software, and then as a sales person for Elon Musk and Tesla for four years. In 2022, I became a sales director for TELUS Health and currently I run a global Employee Perks department with offices in Europe, Canada, US and Asia.
I broker business partnerships between TELUS Health and other multinational companies in this space.
What are the best and worst things about living in Canada?
The best thing about Canada is that there are set seasons, meaning you are guaranteed a cold winter and guaranteed a hot summer. That makes planning a little easier.
I don't really think about worst or bad things. I am privileged to have a great career and a fantastic family, but of course I will always miss my family in Castledaly and Athlone.
What are your plans for Christmas Day this year?
This year I am lucky enough to be spending it on the beach in the Caribbean. This is the first time I will spend Christmas on the beach, so it will be a big change from snow to sand.
We will have a family dinner and relax after a busy year, with a new baby added to the family and a toddler to keep us on our toes.
What are some of the things you will miss most about Christmas in Ireland?
I do miss the Irish welcome and the open door policy of visiting houses in Ireland. Irish people really celebrate Christmas time, and the cosy pint of Guinness beside a fire in the local pub is harder to find here in Toronto.
My mother, Margaret, in particular always finds a way to make Christmas special with her home cooking.
Her welcoming nature and overall gratitude at having her kids and grandkids around is what I will really miss. Nana will look down on you, be proud, and keep you safe.
Is there any message you'd like to send to your friends or family reading this?
To my family, although we are a long distance apart, I will always be thinking of you. My sister Michelle is an incredible mother and my niece, Nairobi, is blessed to have you. Ireland will always be home in many ways, and I am delighted to have such a supportive family.
To my friends in Ireland, you are living in an amazing country with great people and I know you are thankful for that.
To my kids and my wife Katelyn, I love you very much. We will see everyone next summer. Finally, to everyone who reads this; Have a wonderful Christmas and a prosperous New Year.