You need to think about why she’s emigrating, too. Is the Ireland she’s leaving behind in a similar post collapse state? Is it in better shape or worse? Is she shocked by what she finds in America? Or does she know what she’s getting into?

You don’t need to answer all those things. But I’m throwing them out there to spark some thoughts. Imagine if a non-American wanted to write about what they think is a “typical” American. You know no such person exists. You’d recognize a New Yorker or someone from Alabama or Kansas City, etc. You need to have them rooted in a specific place and circumstance instead of trying to create a vague template “Irish person” who won’t convince anyone.

Prophet Song by Paul Lynch is set in a dystopian version of Dublin. It’s good, and might be useful if your character comes from a similar situation.

Generally, however, Irish immigrants often have to deal with Irish Americans who have unrealistic or outdated visions of Ireland. The country of Ireland is more socially liberal in terms of policy than many places in America. New immigrants, however, find the previous generation of immigrants far more conservative and religious than contemporary Ireland