North Carolina
Moving from Ireland to North Carolina: Covid was the greatest catalyst for something new
I always knew I wanted to travel and potentially work abroad. I never thought it would take me to Durham, North Carolina, however.
To be honest, I didn’t even really know where Durham, North Carolina was before I moved here. Because of Covid, I moved here in September 2021 sight unseen. Covid was the greatest catalyst for something new.
Ireland was still very much in the depths of Covid restrictions and I had just completed my PhD in Human Genetics at Trinity College Dublin, which was not without its challenges during Covid.
I carried out my PhD viva from my childhood bedroom via Zoom and celebrated with a walk on the beach and a bag of chips with my parents. Not what I would have expected, but those were the norms during Covid.
Everything is bigger here, the roads, the cars/pickups and the food portions
The daily walks in my neighbourhood, social distance catch-ups with friends and baking with my mum are what I have come to miss most about home.
My boyfriend (also Irish) and I moved here for the experience and to finally live together. With his work in Galway and my studies in Dublin, we had never had the opportunity to live in the same county.
The US provided that opportunity as he worked for an American company in Ireland and so we made the transition over here.
It might not be surprising to some that academia led me to the US as there are not huge opportunities in Ireland – certainly not well-paid opportunities for postdoctoral researchers.
The wages in the US are slightly better and enable us to comfortably rent a two-bedroom town house. One could only dream of renting such accommodation in Dublin.
The freshly-painted and newly-carpeted house we currently live in is a far cry from some of the places I lived in while renting in Dublin.
Settling into North Carolina was quite the culture shock and took some time.
The humidity and wildlife were and still are, an adjustment. The worst thing you’d encounter on a walk in Ireland is some dog litter, not a venomous snake. Everything is bigger here, the roads, the cars/pickups and the food portions.
I was pleasantly surprised by the diverseness of Durham and the wide variety of activities to do and great places to eat. The relaxed nature of the area suited us down to the ground, with plenty of breweries and lots of outdoor activities.
The people of Durham are always willing to get involved in local events. We have been to outdoor concerts, museum light shows and weekend markets and are always surprised to see the crowds that show up.
That being said, Americans tend to go to the pub early and leave by 9pm. We have found ourselves being the only people in our local at 11pm on more than one occasion.
The bigger city of Raleigh is under an hour away and even bigger again, Charlotte, is about two hours away. There is always live music, sports or anything you’d fancy really, not too far away.
When I first moved here, the locals revelled in their proximity to the sea, which is two and a half hours away – a bitter disappointment for a Déise girl. That’s like travelling from one side of the country to the other to go to the beach, I explained.
I look forward to knowing the response ‘No bother’ will suffice, rather than ‘You have an awesome day’
One of the benefits of academia is getting to travel for conferences, which has allowed us to explore many parts of the US.
We have taken in the vastness of the Rockys, danced to jazz in New Orleans and kayaked alongside alligators the Outer Banks, the big tourist destination here known for its wide expanse of open beachfront and ecological diversity.
On the other hand, the overturning of Roe vs Wade has also happened since we moved here and the tumultuous political climate that exists here is hard to ignore.
We are still very much connected to our Irish roots. I have become reacquainted with Irish music since moving here and play alongside like-minded Irish expats in the area. My boyfriend is also on the local GAA team in Raleigh.
We came to the United States knowing we would always move back to Ireland, however. As much as the US has to offer, it isn’t home.
We know the housing crisis awaits us when we attempt to purchase our first home and finding a job in both our fields in the same county is going to be a challenge.
Our lives would probably be more successful here in the US, but friends and family remain back home in Ireland.
I look forward to not having to tip for every transaction and not having to drive to go for a walk, as there is no such thing as a functional footpath here.
I also look forward to knowing the response “No bother” will suffice, rather than “You have an awesome day”.
We will remember our time here fondly and have made lifelong friends while living here. The hidden gem that is Durham, North Carolina will always be a special place for us.
Ruth Gallagher is from Newrath, Waterford and her boyfriend, who moved to North Carolina with her, is Ronan Glynn is from Knocklyon, Dublin. Gallagher studied in Trinity College Dublin for both her undergraduate degree and for her PhD
If you live overseas and would like to share your experience with Irish Times Abroad, email abroad@irishtimes.com with a little information about you and what you do
North Carolina
North Carolina A&T now offers degree in artificial intelligence
GREENSBORO, N.C. (WTVD) — North Carolina A&T State University is now offering a bachelor’s degree in artificial intelligence.
It is a milestone for the university to be the first in our state and one of only a handful in the nation to offer this program.
In the program, students can pick one of two concentrations: Advanced AI Systems through the College of Engineering and Applied AI in the College of Science and Technology. Courses are available both in-person and online.
Some schools already offer a concentration in artificial intelligence, but A&T will be offering a full program dedicated to AI. The university said there are talks to develop a graduate studies program in AI.
School officials report that AI jobs are increasing in North Carolina, which will help in workforce development. According to a recent Hanover Research report, North Carolina is projected to grow at a pace over three times faster than the overall labor market, potentially generating more than 20,000 new jobs.
“Artificial Intelligence and machine learning are increasingly part of everyday life with the potential for profound and far-reaching impact on virtually every facet of society,” Chancellor James R. Martin II said in a news release. “Collaborating with federal and state agencies, major industry leaders and fellow research universities, we have created a rich AI learning environment that is well informed by the latest in science and policy. Our new bachelor’s degree will prepare students for immediate impact, especially in the critical area of human interaction with AI.”
They anticipate enrolling their first group next fall.
SEE ALSO | James Martin II announced as new chancellor for NC A&T after UNC BOG unanimous vote
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North Carolina
As energy needs grow, North Carolina faces solar roadblocks
North Carolina’s solar energy landscape is at a crossroads as the state works to meet its ambitious climate goals.
Under House Bill 951, passed in 2021, North Carolina is required to cut carbon emissions in the energy sector by 70% from 2005 levels by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. However, meeting these targets is proving difficult as energy demand surges.
Jeff Hughes, a commissioner with the North Carolina Utilities Commission, says that it’s challenging to maintain grid reliability while pursuing aggressive decarbonization goals.
“If we have two gigawatts of load coming in the next three or four years, it’s going to be very difficult to model our way, to solarize our way out of it,” Hughes said, pointing to the growing demand from industries like AI-driven data centers.
Duke Energy, the state’s largest utility, has said fossil fuels are essential to ensuring reliable power amid increasing demand. Critics argue that the company’s reliance on natural gas and coal could derail progress toward cutting emissions.
North Carolina has long been a leader in solar energy, initially driven by smaller, five-megawatt projects. Today, the focus has shifted to larger installations, which are more efficient but face growing local opposition.
Carson Hart, CEO of Carolina Solar Energy, said scaling up has been key to increasing clean energy capacity. “Moving to these bigger projects has been really beneficial for getting more megawatts in the ground and meeting the state’s climate goals,” Hart said. But she noted that large projects often draw pushback from residents concerned about aesthetics and land use.
Rural areas are at the heart of the state’s solar boom, hosting about 80% of large-scale projects. Reginald Bynum Jr., director of community outreach at the Center for Energy Education, said rural North Carolina plays a critical role in meeting the state’s clean energy goals.
“My job is to make sure rural communities don’t miss the movement,” Bynum said. “These projects bring jobs, economic growth, and opportunities to areas that desperately need them.”
The economic impact of solar energy is substantial. In counties with significant solar development, property tax revenues have increased by as much as 1,600%, according to the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association. These funds have supported schools, infrastructure, and emergency services in areas facing population declines and economic challenges.
The state’s clean energy sector also supports more than 110,000 full-time jobs, according to a report from e2, with many more expected as solar development continues.
Hughes said the state’s carbon plan, which is updated every two years, will play a key role in charting a path forward.
“There’s a lot of check and adjust that will occur over the next few years,” he said.
As North Carolina advances its solar energy ambitions, balancing the needs of developers, communities, and environmental goals will be essential to achieving a sustainable and reliable energy future.
North Carolina
3 men charged in connection with woman’s death at Cook Out restaurant in North Carolina
Two men have been charged with murder in the death of 29-year-old Davicia Jean Ann Lee at a Cook Out restaurant in Durham, North Carolina, last month. A third is facing a weapons charge.
Two men have been charged with murder in the fatal shooting of a woman at the fast-food restaurant Cook Out in North Carolina.
Twenty-three-year-old Alexander Kenyon Carlton Jr. and 19-year-old Calvin Jerade Spence Jr. have been charged with first-degree murder in the killing of 29-year-old Davicia Jean Ann Lee late last month in Durham, the Durham County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release on Friday.
A third man, 18-year-old Jamari Treyvon McKnight, is charged with one count of going armed to the terror of the people, which basically means terrorizing someone with a weapon like a gun.
USA TODAY could not immediately find attorneys representing the three men.
The shooting occurred just after 10:30 p.m. on Oct. 26 at the Cook Out on South Miami Boulevard, according to the sheriff’s office. When deputies arrived at the scene, they found Lee dead.
The sheriff’s office called the shooting “an isolated incident” that happened after shots broke out following a fight, WNCN-TV reported.
Arrests made in fatal shooting of Davicia Jean Ann Lee
Detectives arrested Spence and Carlton on Thursday and took them to the Durham County Detention Center without bond on charges of carrying a concealed gun, felony conspiracy, going armed to the terror of the people and first-degree murder, the sheriff’s office said.
McKnight was also taken into custody and arrested Thursday night on misdemeanor going armed to the terror of the people, according to the sheriff’s office. The Morrisville police arrested him and he is currently being held in the Wake County Detention Center until his first court appearance, the agency added.
The investigation into Lee’s homicide is ongoing, while all findings are now in the process of being turned over to the Durham County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution, according to the sheriff’s office.
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