First Christmas in a new home

“I have the Christmas tree up in the apartment, and it’s looking very well. My plan for Christmas is to spend the morning with some of my friends from upstairs. After that, I’ll head over to my sons to have lunch with him, my daughter-in-law, and my grandchildren.”

Those are the words of Pamela Roberts who is spending her first Christmas in her new home thanks to Respond.

Having moved here from South Africa around ten years ago, she had been living with family until last June, when she was approached by Respond, an approved housing body, about living in one of their new developments.

This Christmas will be the first she spends living by herself, but she plans to spend it with family and friends. Heading into New Year's Eve, she plans on a quiet one.

“I’ll be staying at home for New Year’s I think, going out is for lots of celebrating, and lots of dancing, which isn’t for me!”

She said that she’s been very impressed with Respond. “I was approached by Respond about moving into one of their apartments, and I’ve just been so impressed. They’ve been amazing, always checking in to make sure that everything is alright, that we have everything that we need, just great.”

Respond manages 1,233 homes in Cork and provides accommodation for 2,765 tenants. It delivered 140 new homes in Cork in 2025 and currently has 1,067 under construction.

Pamela’s new apartment is in the Jacob’s Island complex in Mahon, and she’s found the community there incredibly welcoming.

“It’s such a joy living there, it’s so beautiful and safe, with lots of different nationalities. I’ve found everyone very friendly and welcoming and I’ve made some great friends here,” she added.

At home, she keeps herself busy with visits to neighbours, cooking and with arts and crafts, as well as by gardening on her patio. “I love my patio,” she said. “It’s private, I can look after my few plants, and it’s safe. Over the summer I would stay out here until eleven o’clock some nights.”

Life before Ireland

Pamela moved here from South Africa around ten years ago. Originally from Johannesberg, the country’s most populous city, she left as a result of worsening crime, which she said made her feel unsafe.

Before retiring, she worked a number of jobs. She was at different times a personal assistant, ran her own dress-making business, and managed the catering department of a company in the city.

She has gone back to South Africa several times since emigrating. She was stuck there for six months during the Covid-19 pandemic – a frightening experience when she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to return to Ireland.

Two years ago, she travelled back to see her sister, who was ill and who unfortunately passed away during her visit. However, she doesn’t think that she will go back there again, preferring to spend her life now in Ireland.

Her current home seemed the natural destination for her: her son lives here with his wife and her their three grandchildren, along with her daughter and son-in-law.

While she loves to spend time at home, Pamela has an active life outside of home. She is a regular attendee at Nano Nagle Place, where she takes part in the classes and groups they host.

“They provide a lot of things to help immigrants to get settled. Crochet, cooking, gardening. Everything really. It truly is my happy place here in Cork,” she explained.

She is also an active member of the Radical Life Church here in Cork and still works as a teaching assistant one day a week, providing English and maths lessons at Kumon in Rochestown.