Kansas City, MO personal injury attorney Geordie McGonagle talks about his background & experience and how it prepared him for his current practice. He explains that his speech impediment is a clue that he’s not from Kansas City. He was raised in a small town outside Derry called Liaty, located in the northwest of Ireland. Surrounded by mountains, the town looked like a picture-perfect Irish scene, and he had a happy childhood there. However, when he entered his early teen years, the Troubles in Northern Ireland escalated. Anyone familiar with Irish history knows that the conflict had been ongoing for centuries, but it intensified during his adolescence.

One thing that kept him safe during this turbulent time was his involvement in soccer. He played in the Irish League, which helped him maintain his amateur status and eventually led to the opportunity to come to the United States around 1980-81. This period coincided with the Irish hunger strikes, a protest led by the Republican movement (not the political party) that aimed to unify Ireland. The hunger strikes were a dramatic and tragic chapter in Irish history, with many prisoners dying as they fought for political status.

The situation in Northern Ireland was becoming increasingly dangerous, and his father grew concerned for his safety. One day, someone suggested he go play football (soccer) in America. His father encouraged him to seize the opportunity, and though he never intended to stay in the U.S., he left in the summer of 1981. Given the escalating violence in Northern Ireland, it seemed like a wise decision for him to leave. What began as a one-year stay turned into two, and he eventually met his wife in college. The two have been married for 37 years.

When he first arrived in the States, he had never been on an airplane. His mother insisted he wear a woolen suit for the trip. Upon landing in Miami, he was immediately overwhelmed by the heat and humidity. He doubted he would be able to adjust, but eventually, he did. Now, many years later, he reflects on how his journey to the U.S. began.