Many of the best and brightest young people in Ireland are making their mark in Britain.
With President Michael D Higgins about to begin his first four day visit to the United Kingdom, RTÉ News meets three young Irish success stories in London.
As the brain drain from Ireland picked up speed, London is where many of our brightest and best came to seek their fortune.
Margaret O'Connor, from the Burren in County Clare, is a milliner with a studio in Walthamstow sast London. Her designs have been turning heads. Last year Lady Gaga wore one of her creations. She feels London offers opportunities that she would not have in Ireland.
You can do anything in London. No one even flinches.
Video game designer Terry Cavanagh from County Monaghan is another London success story. Earlier this year, he was listed as one to watch in Forbes Magazine. Now living and working in Shoreditch he could do his job from anywhere in the world as all he needs is a laptop and an internet connection. He chose to live in London because it has an existing community of people who do what he does.
In Chiswick in west London, all of the staff of Will Norton's recruitment company are Irish. Originally from Kilkenny William Norton and his company recruits for SMEs including many Irish firms expanding to the UK market. He sees the Irish as people who are educated, enthusiastic and can achieve anything in London with the right mindset.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 3 April 2014. The reporter is Philip Bromwell.
