Living in Cork

Ireland is always a popular holiday destination, drawing a record 10.3 million visitors in 2016 alone, thanks to its vast amount of sights and natural beauty (and possibly its role in Star Wars). You could easily spend all of your leisure time in Ireland exploring ruined castles and cathedrals, hiking the hills and coastline, or learning through the museums. The Irish also know how to have fun, too, with plenty of pubs and live music.

In Ireland, it is compulsory for children aged 6 through 16 to attend full-time education. If you move to Ireland with children younger than 6, then you may need to find a childcare solution. There are a variety of options available to parents, from pre-primary school to individual nanny care.

Importing a pet to a new country can seem like a complicated process due to customs laws and restrictions, but Ireland’s Department of Agriculture lays out the rules very clearly. With enough planning you should be able to move your animal to your home in Ireland without issue, provided the pet is healthy.

Sports are a huge part of Irish culture, whether you want to participate as a player or a spectator. From the traditional to the mainstream, Ireland plays them all. Gaelic football and hurling are the quintessential Irish sports that remain the most popular in the country. Football, rugby, and golf are also favoured sports. Ireland does well in sports professionally and is often represented in high profile world sporting events, like the Olympics and World Cups.

Ireland has an extensive telecommunications network for both mobiles and landlines, and you will want to set one, or both, of these up pretty soon after landing in your new country. Make sure to compare providers and costs, and feel free to go into shops to seek more information and advice.