To be honest, I’m Irish and it seems to me colonialism influences a country to cling to their cultural practices more fiercely. Couple that with massive inter-generational trauma. In the case of Ireland, unfortunately that meant we had a brutal theocracy for decades after the British left.

I think the only reason Ireland is in any way more progressive now is because they let us join the European Union, and they gave us money!

Anyway I think you sound like a great person and the best of luck. I emigrated myself too, to England ironically…