Moving to Cork

Hello Joanne.

Welcome to Expat.com!

So as to make it more visible, your post has been moved to the Cork forum.

Thank you,
Aurélie

Hi, I live in Carrigaline. It is a very pleasant town to live in, never any trouble, and as far as I am aware very little crime, which made a very welcome change from Dublin where I lived before, and a different world to Coventry where I originated. It has a rural feel, but is close to Cork City and numerous shopping centres. It is also close to the sea. My daughters went to the local schools and I found their teachers to be excellent. The main junior school is the St John's Girls' National School which has a Catholic ethos, but being a Catholic isn't compulsory. In Ireland you are in junior school until you are (typically) 12. You then move up to secondary school which is for either 5 or 6 years, depending on whether you do the optional 4th year or not.

The main secondary school, which covers Carrigaline and surrounding areas, is the Carrigaline Community School. It too is good. My eldest finished her education there recently and loved it.

The cheapest houses start at €150k, or of course you can always rent. When you take the exchange rate into consideration the cost of living here is pretty much on a par with England for shop bought produce. Food quality here (meat and the like) is much better. Services - eating out, hair-dressers etc are more expensive though.