The Places That Make Us.

the vehn diagram between environment and indentity.

My first superpower is that is was born in Dublin in 1977, I grew up in 80s and 90s Dublin driven by Jack Charlton, Mary Robinson and a new found optimism in our individual power and our belief in community. This would mean nothing without my mam & dad, my dad always worked in community roles and quietly made everything around him 10% better. my Mam dug in harder then anyone I’ve yet to meet. 2 and 3 jobs at a time and even when I have given her every reason to give up on me she never did. This was the Dublin culture that made me and I’ll forever be proud of it. I honestly believe I have a perspective from it that other people don’t have. Dublin born and bred me.

When I was 18-21 I got to live in Sunderland, make no mistake that Sunderland more than anything made me the man I am today. It’s hard to explain but I literally love the concrete on the streets of Sunderland. At a time when I was looking for something, and I didn’t even know what, Sunlun gave it to me without question. It sounds trite but more than ever when it comes to the overall will of the people Sunlun is amazing. I could have gone either way at 19, Sunlun truly made me a think about an individuals power to effect the people around them and I’ll forever be grateful. 25 years after leaving the city I still feel every cold breath of air off the harbour and I still get it..