When Geraldine Murray moved to Dublin as an 18-year-old she had no idea she would never live in Inishowen again, and she certainly never imagined leaving the country altogether for a life in Australia.
But while working in the capital she met her husband Tom - who is originally from Kildare - a publican at the time, and the pair's lives dramatically changed.

After falling head over heels in love with each other the couple married and had their first child, Darragh - now aged 26 - and decided to up sticks for a life in Oz.

Geraldine said the couple had planned to live there for a few years but never envisaged staying for 25.

But when they arrived in Brisbane, Queensland they were hooked on the laid back lifestyle and later had two more children - Dillon, aged 23, and Phaedra, aged 18.

Geraldine said she loves coming home to see her family - her brother Raymond and sisters Jacqueline, Bernie and Caroline, as well as their families - as much as she can.

The 51-year-old, who runs a property development business with Tom back in Queensland, Brisbane, is currently holidaying in Inishowen for three months and recently attended the Carndonagh Community Schools reunion.

She said it was a shock to see some of the old faces.

She told the Journal: "I didn't know about the reunion until I got home and was delighted I was able to go along to it. I attended the school and then I went to the tech.

"I thought it would be a great way to meet up with some old school mates. But on the night there were some girls who I didn't even recognise.

"I was really shocked to see them and I am sure they probably didn't recognise me either.

"It was a fantastic night and I really enjoyed it."

Keeping in touch

Geraldine said when her children were growing up she desperately wanted them to get to know her family and took them home as much as she could.
The trio even did a stint at Carndonagh schools when they were growing up, in a bid for them to find out what the education system is like in another country.

Geraldine said: "They all did some schooling over here. I wanted them to experience an Irish education, so when they got their summer holidays at Christmas time, I would take them over here and let them go to the local schools.

"My children all love Ireland, and particularly Carndonagh.

"My oldest boy Darragh even lived here for a year.

"He went around Europe after Uni and decided to live here for a while and he loved it."

But despite Geraldine's love for Inishowen she said her new home is Brisbane and she hasn't any plans to leave there yet.

She said in her most recent visits to the town she has seen a vast amount of change.

She added: "On my visit back home this time I have found that Carndonagh has changed significantly. Of course I can't expect it to stay how it was, but there is a lot of building work going on at the moment.

"But there is no doubt that the people of Carn have not changed.

"They are still as welcoming as they always have been.

"There is a lovely sense of community spirit here and I just love the people here."