Ireland on a Working Visa #25

Requiem for a Good Job

July 10th
Up in the morning, I put on my dress shirt and pin-stripe trousers, then trekked out for my 30-minute walk from my new home in Newcastle, into city centre for work at noon. A bit of chill, a bit of mist, but the air was nice, crisp, refreshing – always good for a Monday morning. It was just another Monday of another week in Galway, another week (albeit my last) at work.

So I thought.

Not long after I got to Kinney’s, Sean called me in back for a chat, and a few minutes later handed me my last wages. Looks like I got all dressed up for nothing: I was being let go. Effective immediately.

There’s no need for detail; things weren’t dramatic or explosive. In a nutshell, suffice it to say that Galway is having a slow summer, business- and tourist-wise – though the streets are packed, local businesses haven’t been getting their usual summer rushes – and there’s not as much need for us part-timers. No biggie, really; it’s not like I wasn’t leaving Kinney’s in a few days anyway.

As Sean and I shook hands he said, “Well, Anthony, when you get back to Oregon and are doing your writing about this trip, I hope that we’re something you can say positive things about.”

I smiled. “It is, Sean. Don’t worry. This has been a great job” – thinking about these words, I know I say nothing original, only something true, which can often sound banal – “and all of you have been wonderful to work with. I’ve nothing but positive things to say about working here.”

We chatted a bit more, then I said bye to the girls – J.J. has Mondays off, though – and left my job.

This is fine with me, but I am still in a touch of shock as I write this, since I expected to be working another week. Still, it’s nice to have a week fall free and clear into my lap like this; after all, as I’ve said before, the only reason I was staying in Galway was for the sake of the job.

What I say next, many of you may not care about. Skip to the end if you wish, or read the left column and move on, but I’m going to take a few paragraphs and sing some praises. Besides, Sean told me to feel free to send him anything I write about the shop, so here it is:

To the staff of Kinney’s Jewellers & Goldsmiths:

Thank you for a wonderful two months. Of patience, of teaching, of laughter – and even a few drinks. Thanks for giving a job to a mischievous, headstrong American, who doesn’t like ties or dress shoes, and who came in knowing as little about jewelry as a toucan knows about polar bears. I’ve loved learning, about everything from displays, to gold- and silver-smithing, to the difference between blue topaz and aquamarine (both are blue, but aquamarine is so light and faint that it is almost clear).

I don’t like to single people out, and I’m not going to. Besides, there isn’t much need; as co-workers go, you’re a great group, and you’ve all been good to me. I’m grateful, to all that’s high and low, to have had the chance to work with such good people.

I’m sure I’ll wind up in Ireland again someday, and when I do, I’ll be back around to say hello, and probably to do a little buying. Speaking of, J.J., I will single you out for a moment (I’m sorry I didn’t get to tell you bye), in hopes that you’ll still be around next time I’m in town: I was serious when I said I wanted you to make those, ahem, “important” rings (don’t expect an order anytime soon, though!), and I would be honored if you did.

Thank you all, and good luck, good health, and good fortune to you all.

Okay, back to the non-Kinney’s readers: a piece of advice before I close. If you’re in Galway and are looking for some jewelry, for whatever occasion or whim, silver claddagh ring to gold brooch, go to Kinney’s. I know this is a biased and subjective thing to say, but oh well: I’m a biased and subjective person. In any case, I know the staff will be good to you, and whether traveling or at home, we all want to deal with people who are good to us. So go to Kinney’s, in Corbett Court (part of the Eyre Square Centre); Kaytoo, the shop I mainly worked in, is on the ground floor, across from the escalator.

Tell them Anthony sent you.

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