COMMUNITY NOTES: BALLYHAUNIS - WESTERN PEOPLE (OCTOBER 14 EDITION)
Ballyhaunis’ loss is Cavan’s gain as popular barber Diego Carlos prepares to move to Cavan.
“My wife has very little English and wasn’t able to find a job in Ballyhaunis but she has parents in Cavan and her uncle has worked for 20 years in a meat factory there and he found her a job,” Diego explained.
The Brazil native spent seven years barbering in Ballyhaunis, most of that time spent upstairs at Eddie Muphy’s Menswear clothes shop on Main Street. He built a loyal following with local youths through his TikTok social media channel where he frequently appears with his customers.
“They enjoy coming to my barber shop,” explained Diego. “I may become a barber in Cavan but I don’t know, I need to go and check the situation there,” he explained.
As in Ballyhaunis, there are many Brazilians in Cavan town due to the presence of a large meat processing plant.
Like many in Ballyhaunis’ large Brazilian population, Diego came to Ireland on a work permit to work at Dawn Meats, moving to barbering after four years in the meat plant.
“I think there are better barbers than me, but every day I learn something new, that is the difference between me and others. I like to build good relations so I say ‘How are you?’ how is your day?’”
Diego has extended family in Ballyhaunis while his mother moved to Castlerea to work the night shift in Harmaq. His brother, who also works in Harmaq, sings and plays guitar in the choir at the Brazilian church in Ballyhaunis. Another Ballyhaunis-based brother makes cakes.
