I’m part of the squeezed middle. A €325 weekly artist’s payment would be life-changing

The Irish Times · Emer McLysaght · 2026-11-05 06:00 UTC

The arts are dominated by the privileged because they come from backgrounds that support them financially

It sometimes feels like the job alert I’ve set up for roles in the Civil Service is mocking me. I distinctly remember setting the parameters for admin posts, part-time, yet I’m notified daily about job openings for consultant gastroenterologists or senior engineers. If I thought I could do either I’d apply, but I’m not sure an MA in international relations and 20 years of journalism and writing are going to sort out anyone’s ulcer.

I set up the job alert because my middle has become so squeezed I’m afraid it’s going to meet in the centre. The squeezed middle refers to a portion of the population who earn in the middle- and lower-middle-income ranges, find themselves struggling financially because of economic circumstances, but don’t qualify for significant Government support.

Last year I earned, as a single, self-employed creative, an amount low enough to qualify me for the social-housing list and therefore the housing assistance payment. I spent much of the year cowriting a bestselling novel, plus a large chunk in outpatient hospital treatment.

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