Portal reunited mother and son on Mother's Day across Atlantic before shutdown

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A young Canadian man working in Ireland enjoyed a fortuitous reunion with his mother and sister at the Dublin Portal earlier this week.

Junior electrical engineer Connor McGovern, 22, said he finds it tough being away from his mother Angie and big sister Kayleigh while he pursues his dream career in Ireland.

But thanks to the Dublin-New York Portal, Connor — who lives with his dad’s family in Dublin’s East Wall — had an emotional public reunion. Incredibly, Angie and Kayleigh were passing through the Big Apple on the way back to Canada on Sunday night and linked up with Connor.

And the lucky transatlantic encounter happened to coincide with their Mother’s Day and Kayleigh’s 25th birthday. It was the first time Connor, who works for a major tech outfit in Leixlip, had seen his mother in almost a year.

He only found out last Friday that they would be in New York for the weekend, giving him the idea for the portal link-up.

So they all arranged to front up at their respective portals on Sunday at 6pm Dublin time, or 1pm in New York.

“We’re very close. We’re always communicating, every day. By text, call or both,” said Technological University of the Shannon graduate Connor.

“It is tough. But if I feel that way, I’ll send her a message and I’ll know she has my back and is supporting me through all of it. You need a familiar voice to talk to.”

So on Sunday, Connor battled his way through crowds surrounding the North Earl Street portal to steal 20 minutes face-to-face with his nearest and dearest.

While waving cardboard Happy Mother’s Day and Happy Birthday signs at his ecstatic mum and sister, Connor got on the phone to Angie, telling her: “Everyone says hello from over here! I love you!”

Connor’s dad Thomas was back in Canada minding the family’s two pooches, with Angie and Kayleigh about to board a plane home.

An emotional Connor continued: “It’s not often we get to have a real conversation while seeing each other. It felt emotional being there and being able to do it.

“To do something good to make her day a bit better. They all seemed thrilled.”

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