AIBU by not being convinced about moving to Ireland?

[Shedbuilder]

My partner's grandparents were born in Ireland and so she's been able to obtain an Irish passport. I'm English. We're very pro-EU and horrified by Brexit and we hate the current government and direction the UK is taking. We're wondering about putting our money where our mouths are and moving to Ireland. Our parents are all dead, we don't have children, we're on good terms, but not particularly close, to our siblings and their families. We'd plan to come back and visit friends and family in the UK several times a year and we've factored in the cost of doing that.

It would suit my partner well. She's very gregarious, she has the blarney and she also has some family over there already. I wouldn't know anyone. I also worry about what it would be like to be noticeably English in Ireland. I'm not at all posh but I sound a bit Radio 4.

I'm concerned that my partner has some pretty romantic ideas about Ireland. She expects it to be so much better than England. She's just been ranting at the far righters Nazi-saluting at the cenotaph and saying proudly that it wouldn't happen in Ireland. I made the mistake of replying no, it wouldn't happen in Ireland because Ireland stayed neutral during WW2 and then for years persecuted and scapegoated the Irish men and women who volunteered to fight Hitler. That didn't go down well.

The area we would be looking at is probably somewhere within a five-mile radius of Enniscorthy and within relatively easy reach of Wexford and Dublin. Also close to the Rosslare ferry and the coast. The property in that area seems excellent value for money: currently looking at a spacious 4-year-old four-bedroom house on an acre, well away from neighbours, and with a separate double garage and a barn for under £300,000.

We know we'll have to have private medical insurance. We know that we'll have a lot of learning to do and that the chances are I'll be an outsider for the rest of my life. As a lesbian I'm used to that. I'm also aware that Ireland has its own issues around transgender and women's rights, but they seem no worse than they are here.

So tell me, would you move to Ireland if you could?

OP - we're used to being patronised by some English people but it doesn't mean we like it. If you genuinely think that there are no war monuments in the south of Ireland then you probably need to read a potted history of Ireland and learn somethings about the country you intend to adopt.
Your ignorance, along with your radio 4 accent, may cause some problems for you. Unless your intention is just to go to get your hands on a European passport in a few years so you can feck off to France instead then you should have a proper think about why you want to go.

@RiceBubbless

Just to add to Drbrowns - the current realisation in Britian that Churchill was racist applied to Irish people too. A fact that Irish people were aware of at the time.

Let’s be honest, he wasn’t the only British politician. There would be no statues left up in the UK, if they took the ones down that were racist towards the Irish. Don’t even get me started on the racism towards the Northern Irish.

In terms of Brits, in general, we like them touring, like them if they embrace our culture - but don't fucking dare criticise us.
Bit like when anyone from outside the UK criticises the NHS - Jaysis Christ you'd think we had blasphemed!
Worth mentioning that Ireland was the first country in the world to vote in a large majority for same sex marriage.
Our Taoiseach is gay.

Theres the Famine Statues, you could go visit them. The Dunbrody Famine ship is in Wexford.

I can’t comment on Ireland specifically but one thing I can say is that you should be prepared for a big culture shock when you move to a different English speaking country. I wasn’t prepared and very confused when I moved to Britain, I thought it would be different of course but not in such fundamental ways. It explained an awful lot about some of the British people I knew though.

If you've watched those films and still wish to criticise Ireland's history with England, I suggest you do not move to Ireland. Your unfriendliness will be taken for the genuine fear and hostility and ignorance you have of/towards the Irish people and our history.

Ireland of the 1000 welcomes from a direct translation of the Irish language of how we say hello - Céad míle fáilte duit - Literally that translates to 100 thousand welcomes to you. But of course the Brits beat that language out of us. Hey ho.

Do us a favour and stay where you are if you're so stubborn.

We have family in that area. I’ve been visiting for years. It is lovely, but it is like going back in time when we visit. Attitudes are not as progressive in Dublin and I think you’d likely be isolated there.

I think there’s a good few people on here returning to Ireland from the UK which although I can see how they would view returning home as a positive move for them, this is not the question the op is posing. Irish returning to Ireland are not going to experience any problems that the op is worried about. I think your concerns are very valid op, and while I’ve made a life here (can’t return to Uk yet at least) I do wish I’d stayed at home. I arrived delighted to be here, was considerate of the history and thought it would be a lovely life but it’s just too difficult and has been quite hostile at times. (You’ve a taste of it with some of the posts here) I have friends but they’re all other ‘outsiders’ and some have gone back to where they came from. I didn’t think it would be like this at all. I thought I’d feel at home here myself after all this time. Maybe that’s what a lot of immigrants experience- I don’t know - it’s just my experience and a good few people I know.

OP, I moved from London after 20 years there. Grew up in Irekand and am Irish. Being an English lesbian will not be a problem. I think having lived equally in both countries Ireland has a better quality of life. Though I was in Lindon so the shift from urban to rural is more relevant. Property is cheaper, politically you dont get the same extremes, even so called right wing parties are still in UK terms left of centre. Do you have children? I'm a teacher and my experience in both countries lead me to conclude that Irush education is better, no fighting for a good school, possibly because teachers here are generally well respected.

It is more laid back and food etc costs more but it's more even keeled than UK living, in my experience.

Lots of non Irish everywhere and the school I work in is as multi cultural as the London schools I worked in.
It's a good choice for lifestyle reasons.

@ShiveringCoyote It's years since I watched it - going to watch it again now.

You don't need private health insurance there is a public service. No one cares if you are in a gay relationship, they do care if you arrive without employment lined up.
Best not to discuss the negative issues in your OP without research at least but like everywhere political views and stereotypes are not welcome.

Black '47 is good if you don't mind subtitles. A but bleak so don't watch if feeling a bit down.

There is a distrust of outsiders - but that is not because we're bigoted wee leprachauns - it's because we have good cause.

I'm surprised by the poster upthread saying that property is reasonably priced. Obviously if you're selling up in London and moving to a rural town in Ireland then yes, it's a bargain, but that would be true of moving elsewhere in the UK too. I think property is often very expensive in Ireland, certainly anywhere that's within commuting distance of Dublin anyway.

@montyliesandmontycries

OP - we're used to being patronised by some English people but it doesn't mean we like it. If you genuinely think that there are no war monuments in the south of Ireland then you probably need to read a potted history of Ireland and learn somethings about the country you intend to adopt. Your ignorance, along with your radio 4 accent, may cause some problems for you. Unless your intention is just to go to get your hands on a European passport in a few years so you can feck off to France instead then you should have a proper think about why you want to go.

Where did I say there were no war monuments in the south of Ireland?

There are people here who could start a fight in an empty room!

Good God why would you even consider moving OP? You sound like you hate it already.

Unless this is just goady trolly bollocks of course, which is more than possible.

I wouldn't move to a village or you risk being the only gay in the village lol. (British comedy I believe?)
Enniscorthy itself would be fairly multicultural for Ireland.
In terms of schools, if you choose to have children, there are multi denominational schools in most towns rather than just Catholic or the smaller proportion of Protestant ones.
Healthcare for pregnancy is free.
What sector do you work in? Have you both looked at job opps? Would you commute to Dublin or could you find employment in Wexford?

Good God why would you even consider moving OP? You sound like you hate it already.

I don’t think op is considering it at all. This thread is clearly so OP can say “see, I told you so” to her partner.

I'd add The Wind that Shakes the Barley to that list.

Given your personality - I think a city like London might suit you better. You don't seem terribly friendly, come across as hostile and no, you probably would not be liked in Ireland. Your vivacious girlfriend might, but you probably wouldn't. That's just the truth. We dislike people with 'notions'. Look it up

It doesn't sound like you actually want to move to Ireland, so I'd hesitate to say that you should. There are challenges in moving to a new country even when you're quite excited about it; maybe it's just not coming across, but your original post doesn't sound like you are excited by the prospect.

I wouldn't do it just because your partner wants to. I'd do a bit more soul-searching, personally. And maybe ask some English people who've moved to Ireland for their insights.

www.irishwarmemorials.ie/Memorials?warId=2

Here you go OP, granted some of the WW2 monuments are in the North, but you will also find them across the border in the South.

Why does your partner want to move to Ireland in particular rather than a more rural part of England for e.g.? Up North of England they're quite friendly?

Why should she move? I would hate to move to where dp is from.