Anybody in Ireland? And not just Dublin?

hi Lulu,

When do you arrive in Ireland ? and how many long time do you stay there ?


ps: By the way, How going on the weather there ?

The weather ... what a story!
Today is showers like if you receive a full bucket of water in the face and at the same time, blue sky
I'm here for 4 years and we've planned to ... stay but sometimes it's hard

You lucky lucky person, I want to move to Ireland.

Lucky???
Hmmm...
I'm not so sure, I've just came back from holidays in Italy and France and ...   

I'm American, living in London, married to an Irish Citizen.  My in-laws are also living in London, for the past 30 years.  However, they have very close ties with their homeland (Galway and Sligo).

In addition, many of their friends are moving back or buying a 2nd homes in Ireland, but they are finding it extremely difficult to be accepted back.  I can see why.  They are outsiders and they always will be to the eyes of some people.  I speak to the locals in Ireland, they get upset with the deep pockets (thanks to the £ strong exchange rate) of the outsiders driving up the real-estate market and not making it possilbe for the locals to buy.  Also, not sure if you know this, but there are two prices in the market.  A local price and a price for the non-irish.

Anyway, I agree with Lulu, Ireland is a wonderful and magical place and the Irish are lovely people.  However, these days it's not uncommon to see an outsider in any small village these days.

Don't tell me!!!! We have already tried to buy four times. The first time the auctioner told us "No" it's not for you! ... Ok. The second time we had paid a deposit and were waiting for the solicitor appointment ... a day we went to the house just to have a look to discuss about works ... SOLD !!!!! We managed to get back our money. The third time we were two potential buyers but even if we were first and wanted to put a bit more than the other the saler prefered an irish ... The fourth time they tried to sell to us a site with false papers......... I love this spirit!
I have some irish friends coming back from UK tens years after moving over there. They are the bloody english, worse they are bloody irish coming back when life is easier. Maybe they have more difficulties than I have mylself.

Olla!
Well, I have moved just 4 months ago from Amsterdam to Ireland, Ennis with my husband and two kids. I haven't found many expats yet, so i find it pretty hard to meet new people.

Hi Kaatje, I live in south west. Is your husband irish?

Hi Lulu,

I"m an American living in Cork city right now, where in the Southwest are you? :-)

Lindsay

I'm living between Mallow and Killarney, about an hour from Crok city . What are you doing in Cork? It's a pretty town isn't it?

I came over here on a 4 month work visa and was working. Tried to get it renewed (my employer was keen and my job should have been ok...) but was rejected, so i'm moving in November (some traveling first but eventually landing in New Zealand by January). So mostly i'm just hanging out right now. To be honest i know Cork is a city but i find it rather quaint. I like it tho.

What do you think about irish life? Do you enjoy it?
New Zealand will be great!

The country here is absolutly amazing. The scenery is just breathtaking. The people are so friendly and relaxed. Only here would my pizza delivery man say "god bless!". That being said, i kind of struggled here initially i think because having grown up outside New York City and having spent the last year living in the center of London i was very much accustomed to life at a fast pace, a 24 hour environment and a constant go-go attitude. I think i've slowly gotten used to a much more smaller and relaxed environment (even in the 2nd largest city!). The only criticism i could say really is that in this slow pace, some things aren't as much of a priority--we had a bit of a horror getting our internet in (suprising since we live in a brand spanking new flat 5 min walk from the city centre). The first company came by 3 weeks after we placed our order and said, sorry there's a tree in the way of our transmitter (we live on a hill at the top of the city...come on!). The second company we rang said no problem and promised to waive the 10 day waiting period and would install our line/internet ASAP. Just shy of 3 MONTHS later and multiple phone calls to them each week we got our line in. And it then took another week to get the broadband actually activated. As my boyfriend is a web designer this seriously impaired his work (which we told them) and he ended up spending several hundred euros camping out at net cafes. If you're curious i keep a blog of my musings of life in Ireland (and if you go far enough back my life in England off and on the last few years) at http://lindsayinlondon.blogspot.com

I'm really excited about New Zealand, i've never been to that part of the world before and i've heard it's even more stunning than Ireland.

How are you finding life here? What made you choose the area you're living in?

I'm here for 4 years now. It was very hard for me at the beginning, I missed France a lot, family and friends of course but a lot of others things. Now I'm more settled and it is ok, mainly because I know that every place has its good and bad sides... I like this life, so quiet, I like the lanscape and a lot of other things. The things I dislike are not so important now, I mannage .
I have two teenagers so I do not want to move now but if I could I would

Waow, I read all what said about Ireland, and I must admit I think differently than everybody.
I'm French, living in Dublin since June, working in financial field. I HATE Dublin. I'm really really disappointed about the country, the mentality and plenty of things. I'm frustrated to live like that. I'm here to improve my skills in an english speaking job, otherwise I don't care about the rest... How did u do to get used to the irish mentality Lulu ? HELP !!!!!!!!!

lulu wrote:

Now I'm more settled and it is ok, mainly because I know that every place has its good and bad sides... I like this life, so quiet, I like the lanscape and a lot of other things. The things I dislike are not so important now, I mannage .
I have two teenagers so I do not want to move now but if I could I would

As I said between lines... If my kids were younger enough not to suffer again because of the move or if they were older enough to give us the chance ... I think I'll fly away!
I am a new hermit in my country side and I manage my life like this, more I kind of appreciate it now.
But after a (big) while, I've settled anyway, time is a settlement maker, making foreigner friends, establishing some routine, investing in a house, in our big job, children having friends (even if...), school, diploma equivalence,  etc... It is not easy to re-start at this stage and ... at this age.

Another thing; 6 months is nothing, let's give some chance to the time...

I agree with you 6 months is nothing, but in 6 months I was able to see a lot about life over here, I met young people who think like me, I saw a lot about the mentality. This is a certitude, I'm not gonna stay over here, I hate Dublin !
Since I live here I go through so many bad surprises. I didn't know that I'd be so happy everytime I leave the country.
I think I'm too spoilt by the French way of life. Now I can appreciate more France, that's a positive point. I hope I won't be bitter when I'll leave this country, that's too sad.
Thanks anyway Lulu

Coconath, can you develop what's the matter with irish mentality ? coz you re living in Dublin and I may be go to there soon (at first, I wanted to go to London, but maybe later...). I read in a precedent post from you that you were glad of being there (glad to be here? :x), at the beginning. So what made you change your mind so radically ?

Absolutely right lulu - Dublin SUCKS. I'm an Australian from Sydney and my partner and I came here to make some money to keep traveling (been traveling for 20 months now) - WHAT A MISTAKE. We have been here for 4 months now and we have found Dublin to be the biggest rip-off we have ever known. I don't know why or how people put up with the cost of living in the most unexciting place I have ever been to. The food is absolute rubbish too. We ate at a trendy Asian restaurant in town the other night and before we knew it we had spent 90€ !!!! on a meal that would have cost around A$40 (24€) and it was nothing special. Now I know why there are so many pubs in this town.... there's nothing else to do except drink yourself stupid WOW what fun!!

I think I'm going to have to move back to France or Portugal where the food is good, the people have depth, the sun shines and the culture is not all about drinking, talking about the weather and who died last week.

Jono_dog wrote:

where the food is good, the people have depth, the sun shines and the culture is not all about drinking, talking about the weather and who died last week.

I agree, sadly.

You're so negative, guys   You're missing your country aren't you?

Isn't there something interesting in Dublin?

Pubs...

Speaking of Ireland, I was thinking of relocating to Dublin (from Vancouver) within the next couple of months. I was kinda scared when I read all the info posted above.
What about the job market in Dublin right now? (I work in financial services)
What about the standard of living?   
Anyone who could provide more info on what to expect? (the good sides as well as the bad sides)

[moderated]

no wonder why your complaining lulu your living is cork


IF YOUR LOOKING FOR HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF A LARGE CITY THEN IRELAND WASNT YOUR GREATEST CHOICE...

sorry for been rude but the comments made of my country and city , really pissed me off

Hey, "tallaghtmallet" explains exactly what I was going to say. Which is....  Dublin is a dump of astronomical proportions. The people, the architecture (!) the streets, the dirt, the mindless violence (and the petty 'oh there goes my car window for the fifth time in 2 years, while it's parked outside my door'); It's hard for me to express it.... leaving Vancouver for Dublin would be like handing back a Michelin Star Restaurant in exchange for a microwave dinner scraped off a filthy street. Or similar. So, back to 'tallaghtmallet... the guy, or girl, can't even spell or syntax properly, so if "YOUR" looking for an excuse not to come to Dublin (!!!!) it's all in this page. Hope YOUR having a nice day.... getmeoutofdublin.ie   !

I lived in Dublin for three years, and worked for a major IT company. After those three years I left, not because my work was done, but because I really started to hate that city and it’s people. Even though I lived in Clontarf ( a nice area for Irish standards). I found Dubliners very unfriendly towards foreigners, and always looking for an opportunity to rip you off or to get away with bad service.  I have often had items charged on restaurant bills, that I never ordered, cab drivers trying to drive all over own instead of going straight home, shop assistants not unwilling to get of their rear ends to help you, issues with landlords, etc etc.  But also in the private sphere; trying to join sports clubs or integrating into your local neighbourhood or church community is almost impossible if you are not local. Apart from that Dublin is a very expensive city to live, and even if you have the money; many things are not available. And if you are not into binge drinking, there is not much to do either. Dublin does not have many interesting museums, sports facilities, shopping centres, beautiful architecture.  People that have never lived in Ireland think that the Paddy’s are a friendly slightly gullible bunch, that always in for a laugh (‘good crack’), I learned in the school of hard knocks that this is far from the truth.

I have come to live in Dublin about four months ago, the reason being that my boyfriend is irish. Last year in September we travelled around the country and as I loved the scenery and liked the smaller cities like waterford, cork and galway, we decided to make the move (he wasn't living in ireland at that time). Both my boyfriend and myself feel a great dislike for Dublin city and so we were planning to go and live somewhere else. Yet neither one of us managed to find a job except in Dublin. So here we are. Even though we set up house in a nice place outside the city, I can't get rid of the sadness that comes over me when i travel to work or simply spend time in town. The city is so ugly and there are so many bad neighbourhoods. The first two months of our stay, we lived with my boyfriend's family in the city, and wherever we went outside the house, he warned me: 'bad neighbourhood', 'don't go here on your own', 'don't look at these people if you want to stay out of trouble'. This city is like hell to me. I have lived in the capital of my home country for years, even in bad neighbourhoods, but i never felt this confined.
Time and again do I try to come up with reasons why I should be happy to be here, as my wish to move to an English speaking country dates back to childhood, but I really can't come up with anything except for the beauty of the countryside. This has nothing to do with homesickness, as I have lived abroad before and do not miss my home country. I just never thought I would end up in a place like this.
Like the people mentioned here on this forum before me, it's not just the rough people in the streets and the cost of living, but also the random architecture, the way the city looks. It's the most depressing dump I have ever seen.
To Tallaghtmallet who wonders why we are here if we hate it so much, I say: You're right. I am glad you like it here, but I honestly hope that my boyfriend and I will be able to leave this dump again one day. It unfortunately isn't always that easy.

Hi I am irish and found this forum because I wanted to see what other peoples experiences were. Its a shame that other peoples experiences of Ireland are the same as my experiences of settling in England. After 10 years I am finding it difficult to settle in. It is difficult if you live in Ireland in the countryside as I grew up with my friends and people are very close knit which is something I miss. I also understand the point about mentality of irish people - who died last week- it sounds like my weekly phone call home. However to those of you from France, I lived in France when I was 21. I worked for Aluminium Pechiney on a summer placement. I was welcomed into the homes of senior executives who entertained me every weekend, who were interested in what I did and where I came from. They were so hospitable and I felt so welcome. It is a far cry from my experience in England where I get insulted about my accent, my religion, mannerisms, and the country I grew up in. I hope no Irish person treats you like that.

Hi Guys & Gals,
I've been reading all your posts with much interest.  I'm South African and my husband is English.  We've been living in Ireland for almost 10 years and even now I can't say with total conviction that we actually have any Irish friends.  Sure, we know a few people and we have really good neighbours, but we never socialise with any of them.  We live in a small village called Ballinamore in County Leitrim and despite not having any friends, we're happy enough.  I say happy enough because NOT going out, NOT drinking and saving money by living the 'simple' Irish country life, suits us, as we save as much of our money as we can to spend time in South Africa every year.  We managed to buy a lovely traditional Irish cottage overlooking the mountains about 4 years ago, although it was an uphill strugle to secure a mortgage.  We enjoy living in the country and could never adapt to city life.  We avoid going to Dublin, except when we go to the airport. We grow our own veg and whatever else we need, we buy locally.  I've been working for the same grocery wholesaler since I came here and luckily, they've weathered the financial storm and have gone from strength to strength, unlike other local business which are closing one after the other.  My hubby wasn't so lucky though.  He lost his job in November last year and hasn't been able to find anything else since, not for a lack of trying I assure you.  It's the biggest drawback of living in rural Ireland:  jobs are few and far between and in the current economic climate, you stand a better chance of finding a job in Dublin than anywhere around here.  We'd like to move back to SA, but since we can't sell our house, we're kinda stuck here for now so we'll have to think of some way to get Hubby back working.  Lately, we've been thinking about starting our own business importing South African products into Ireland because our nearest shop for our favourite brands are, guess where ... in Dublin!  But we don't know if there are enough South Africans in the West of Ireland to make it worth our while.  (Hint, hint ... anybody who would like to let us know you're here, please do!!!!)  In a nutshell, Ireland is what it is and since we're stuck here, we have to make the best of it.  Oh, and as for the weather, this year has been great so far.  Pity it only happens every 20 years or so!

Hi nicky i put a blog on the net as i was hoping to gain some info about leitrim .im hoping to leave london after 20yrs in order to buy a nice country house as i hear now is a good time but id love to find out were would be a nice friendly village in leitrim .My partner will keep on his job here in london and i will prehaps do some online study to fill up my day as i realise id have no hope of gaining a job .im from Dublin but i left many yrs ago to find work .is leitrim all that you expected ?id love to hear your take on it all please.clare

Hi Clare! Like I said before, we live a very quiet life out here in the Leitrim countryside.  If you don't mind having to travel to go shopping - girly shopping, that is - and can do with having just the basics close by, you'll be fine here.  There are, of course, bigger towns than the one we're nearest to, but even they aren't exactly what you'd call day-out shopping towns.  We're about 5 miles from Ballinamore where we have 2 schools, a bank, a couple of supermarkets (including a Tesco), a few take-away spots, a fruit & veg man, a few butchers, a general drapers, a pharmacy, a few hairdressers, a good hardware cum furniture shop, a shoe shop, a post office, a good few pubs, a petrol station and a couple of general merchants - everything you need from day to day.  The county library is also in Ballinamore and is great. There's also a decent golf course just outside town.  Carrick-on-Shannon, the county town, is 10 minutes in the opposite direction and has everything they have in Ballinamore as well as a few decent clothing stores and a hospital. Although SA is calling me back, I like where we live now.  It's peaceful and quiet, our neigbours are great and the people in town are very welcoming.  On top of that, we have great views of the countryside and its ideal for taking our dog for her walks.  And if you need broadband for your studies, we have that too.  The biggest drawback is, like I said, finding work locally but if you're not worried about that, there isn't any reason why you won't enjoy living here.  It is absolutely a good time to buy property in Ireland at the minute.  Prices are low and you can get a lot for your money.  What type of house do you have in mind?  We own a traditional cottage that we're trying to sell at the moment, so if you're interested in something along those lines, let me know.  Good luck with your're plans and if there's anything I can help you with, let me know!

Hi nicky thank you for the feed back it sounds like ballinamore and carraigonshannon have just about everything .I lived in cavan town for a year but i didnt think the town had alot to offer .I like the sound of drumshambo would that be a nice spot ?As for jobs my partner will keep on job in london and commute once a wk ,i realise there wouldnt be a hope in hell of me gaining a job all as i worry about is how on earth would i manage to make friends having no job to engage me in with people ,i just worry as il be on my own a fair bit alone with my two boys of course.id just hate to feel isolated .But it sounds like there a friendly bunch so maybe id be worring about nothing .if there anything you can tell me on drumshambo that would be fab.also as far as house buying goes i love the big old farm houses.is your house advertised on daft.ie if so il check it out ,and thank you again clare

Hi all,

I am a South African living in Laois. Before moving to Laois I was living in Offaly and I can safely say I will NEVER move back to Offaly. The people are unfriendly, almost suspicious because you are foreign. I struggled to open a business and get any guidance as everybody was interested in themselves.
I have been in Laois for over 2 years now and I find the people friendlier but I am still struggling to make friends. I have recently separated from my Irish partner and now find myself a single mother of 2 young children, the oldest one being 2.
Any advice or tips on how to make friends here????
Moving away from Laois at the moment is just not an option for me because I have a job that allows me to bring my children with me which is handy as child care is a rip off in this country!!!!!!!!!!

Re Oliebol
Your post could have been written verbatim by myself. I moved here 4 years ago with my 3 year old son and Irish husband.  We've been in Dublin for 3 years. It was my choice and my suggestion to relocate here based on my lovely circle of Irish friends and family I met in Oz. Boy do I regret it. The list of daily frustrations is exhaustive, if I could leave tomorrow I would.  Living here I'm left in a permanent knackered and angry state!
    People that have never lived in Ireland think that the Paddy’s are a friendly slightly gullible bunch, that always in for a laugh (‘good crack’), I learned in the school of hard knocks that this is far from the truth.
Sorry Ireland but this comment is bang on.  I am absolutely delighted when I come across anyone who proves otherwise, but do expect offers that don't materialise, declarations of friendship and connections that are superficial and to be told you are very welcome but you get the distinct impression you aren't really. My family think I exagerate when I tell them our experiences, they came for a holiday and loved it, and what's not to love on a temporary, scratching the surface holiday experience!  I did warn them as they set off on a bus trip to Dublin city one day, (all wide-eyed and eager to meet some friendly paddies) that they might experience her hum bad service, poor food and to bloody well hold on for dear life on the buses in transit.  Sure enough my lovely sweet mum endured a few rants from a couple of obnoxious bus drivers because they didn't get off the bus quick enough.  For God's sake, they are OAP's and recovering from OAP related ailments, bad knees, backs and shoulders/cancer you get the picture.  If nothing else it made them take stock of any further advice or shared Irish experiences we imparted.  Look it's probably better to not shatter the illusion for those holidaying, great place to visit. We wish ours were still intact :-(. I know my Irish husband has had a rude and unpleasant awakening.  I haven't even touched on the worst of our experiences, believe me.  If I can give anyone out there a little warning so you can arm yourselves (or even reconsider a permanent move) it may make your experience a little less traumatic.  Make sure you have plenty of money, buy a sat nav ;-) and be prepared to have your patience, palate, resiliance and relationships tested! Good luck folks......  ahhhhh....I feel slightly lighter now, my first share on a forum.

Welcome on the forum kybosh

Am glad you are feeling lighter... Are you still in Dublin?

Thanks

Yes I am still here - 4 years later, and although I wish I could move tomorrow, we have to do it right and we have a beautiful happy child to consider. If  we won lotto I'd be gone as soon as practical.

I Feel the same very difficult to really get to meet people here and get into the click. Where are you in Ireland, i am in galway

Hi George

We live in Dublin, how long have you been here?  Where are you from originally?

Have not been to Galway yet.

Hi, i am a south african living in wicklowtown, the garden county of ireland. I am married to an italian I met here within the first 6 months of arriving here. I too have learnt over the last 9 yrs of living in ireland that there are good things and bad things about ireland just as there are bad things and good things about any other country on this planet. If there is a perfect country with perfect people and perfect weather with perfect job opportunities, housing etc etc etc and I can go on then feel free to move there. If not just grin and bare or leave< thats my phillosophy. i have not heard of a country where foreigners are never frowned apon, suspicious about or looked up and down. Yeah right, if you move to any other country they have a welcoming party singing and dancing every time a foreigner flies into there country and takes up jobs and buy houses and the next day gets invited to a meal. Mars, move to mars thats where nobody asks questions.