The "boomerangs" are back. Lured home by a buoyant economy, job opportunities and the security of friends and family, emigrants are returning to Ireland's shores in record numbers, and although Dublin is absorbing many of them, life outside the capital is also increasingly enticing. The repercussions are beginning to be felt in various sectors. Recently, for example, Dr John FitzGerald, of the Economic and Social Research Institute, said that pressure from returned emigrants may have added as much as 5 per cent to house prices in the State last year.
Housing prices combined with many returned emigrants' desire for a simple, more family-orientated life is what leads them specifically to rural Ireland.
"When people contact us they have not decided to come back yet. People are most shocked at the cost of housing. That will push them outside of Dublin," said Ms Paula O'Sullivan of the Emigrant Advice Bureau.
But comprehensive information on rural areas is difficult for emigrants to get before moving back. Mr Padraig McCormack lived in England for 12 years before deciding to come home to Co Sligo with his wife and two children.
"For two years before I returned I was trying to get information, and either I couldn't get it, or it was very limited. There's a lot of emphasis for people to go abroad, but nothing to help people return."
In an attempt to change that, and after moving to Castlebaldwin, Mr McCormack formed the Centre of Returned Emigrants (CORE), which aims to offer practical advice and information for returned emigrants on living in areas hit by rural depopulation.
Pat and Nora Morgan retired to Rosslare Harbour, Co Wexford, four years ago because it was less expensive than other areas. They, like other returned, retired emigrants, probably found settling in easier than others because getting employment is no longer a factor at that stage of life.
The Morgans had no difficulty adjusting to their new life and became actively involved in the community. "It's a much more positive experience than we expected." Economics played a major part in their decision to pick Rosslare. It was simply far less expensive than Dublin.
Leahy Property Consultants in Leixlip, Co Kildare, receives many phone calls from Irish abroad hoping to come home. "I would say they are somewhere between 15 to 20 per cent of our queries and 10 per cent of our business," said the managing director, Mr Gerry Leahy.
Positive net migration has played havoc with Government population projections over the last few years.
An estimated 46 per cent of those immigrating to Ireland during the 12 months to April 1997 were Irish nationals, or 20,500 of a total of 44,000, according to Central Statistics Office figures. Determining budgets for health and education services is proving difficult.
Many businesses, however, have benefited from the trend. The international mover and storer, Natross Limited, is one of many companies providing relocation services for the Irish moving home as well as those going abroad.
Its sales and marketing manager, Mr Michael O'Byrne, said incoming traffic had increased greatly during the last 12 months.
Mr O'Byrne has noticed a trend in the professions of those coming back. "Many of them are in technology, finance or pharmaceutical industries."
In recent years new businesses have developed to lure the Irish home. Tactics are reflected in the business supplements and flyers handed out at airports during Christmas, elaborate Internet sites and recruitment companies sending "missions" to Australia, England and the United States. "That's our focus, to bring people back home," said Mr Denis O'Brien, advertising sales manager for the Irish Emigrant Professional website. As its name implies, this business and jobs information site targets the Irish abroad. "Our advertisers have hired people as far afield as Taiwan. We send 12,000 direct newsletters a month."
In planning to come home specifically to the regions, a flexible job or lifestyle is almost essential. Those with skills required by companies in less populated areas - retirees and the self-employed - fit into this category.
Mr Chris Devine spent years working abroad for a petrochemical company. Even though he enjoyed his time in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, something was missing. "It was about time, I suppose. I'm in my mid-50s and I always intended to come back."
Readjustment was easy since his family was already settled in Carrigtwohill, Co Cork, and he is self-employed.
More traditional methods of employment are also tempting some returning emigrants.
After several years in the States, Mr Percy Podger came home to the estate that has been in his family for generations. "I came back because of my tie to the land. The quality of life rearing sheep on the open plains of the Curragh of Kildare is more important to me than making money in America."
In many cases returned emigrants find they are not welcomed home with open arms and the fattened calf.
Many have difficulty adjusting and feel isolated and frustrated. Some even return to their adopted home within months or years. Support groups have formed across the country to help, but receive no Government funding.
Ms Aine O'Connor, a primal psychotherapist living in south Dublin, came home three years ago. "It's more difficult because I've come back on my own, not as part of a couple and without children. It's harder to become part of the community."
Ms O'Connor and others formed a support group after hearing an immigrant on a phone-in radio programme talk about how hard it could be to be accepted here.
Ireland, she feels, can be a closed society even for those who were born and grew up here.
Ms Bernie Burke (26), originally from Co Kerry, worked in New York for several years before returning last year. Coming home had nothing to do with the economy, said Ms Burke. She always planned to return, but did find disadvantages.
"There's an underlying sense that returned emigrants are adding to the problem, putting pressure on the economy."
Websites
Emigrant Advice Bureau, http:// indigo.ie/ emigrant Irish Emigrant, http:// www.emigrant.ie/