To be thinking I might move to rep of Ireland?

[headcandygrl]

Aibu to think of moving to Ireland?
I am fed up of the lack of jobs here in the U.K.!
There seems to be (from the little research I have done) more benefits there (child benefit is WAY more!) , better job opportunities, less of an effect on jobs due to Covid. I have seen on here that they don't pay council tax! No water bills either. As far as I can see they pay slightly more tax! So it kind of evens out! But wages are better...
The education system there doesn't seem to pigeonhole children for a young age! They don't have to pass GCSE equivalents to do the A LEVEL equivalent...
University costs are less!! They have a grant system that is not paid back!!

Am I looking over with rose tinted glasses?? Is this the reality?? Anyone in Ireland who can clarify details for me?

Now I know they don't have an NHS like ours but from what I can see it is somewhat free for those that need it!!?

Probably the suggestion that UK and GB are the same and it is inconsequential to use these interchangebly, which is clearly incorrect and politically very significant.

I always think very carefully when writing 'the UK' to make sure that this is what I mean and not 'Great Britain' or even 'the British Isles' which are all something different. I remember it by thinking it is 'the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland'.

Incidentally the British Isles is also a problematic term (I hate that phrase problematic but needs must). The Irish Government don't recognise it and formally disavowed it not too long ago. Possibly 2005, I can't remember off the top of my head. If you're mindful of not making politically charged statements it's one to avoid.

I thought it might be as I wrote it, I just know it's one that's used on occasion to mean UK and Ireland, plus the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, who of course are also independent nations.

Sadly in the UK, we're very poorly educated regarding our history with Ireland and it's threads like these that remind me that I need to do some reading.

Very true. I have seen Britain and Ireland used but that ignores the Manx etc so a bit of a problem there too.

So in an attempt to educate myself, I googled 'history of the British Isles' and the first result was a link to a kindle book I've bought and not read (thank you Google and your all knowing algorithms) 52 times Britain was a Bellend so I have set myself the task of reading it before the end of the year.

Another result was this useful map from Brittanica.com, which I assume is the modern day equivalent of the Encyclopedia Brittanica.

@Shopgirl1 - Not sure I follow your rationale on this. You might explain how one remark on a thread is the reason for that in a bit more detail.

I would have thought that was obvious. The complete disregard for NI by many in GB, in particular England, meant that voters did not consider (or care about) the impact of voting for brexit on the GFA.

The complete disregard for NI by many in GB, in particular England, meant that voters did not consider (or care about) the impact of voting for brexit on the GFA

I think you overestimate the amount of thought and analysis a significant percentage of the people who voted to leave the EU put into their decision.

When you have British ex pats who live on the Costa Blanca in Spain openly stating on BBC Breakfast that they were voting leave 'because of all the immigrants' then you know they have little understanding of the impact of us leaving the EU or the benefits of us remaining in it.

OP, based on your original post (I've not read the whole thread) there is an element of rose tinted glasses. Like any place, there are pros/cons...and in fact a lot of social issues you'll find are the same.

For example, here today there is a big issue with homeless and affordable accommodation in general. It is super expensive if your kid need to travel to 3rd level education. Binge drinking and associate issues are like in the England. Drugs are everywhere.

Read this thread: ... to be shocked: Irish Times -> Almost 15% of Irish adults have been raped www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4089467--to-be-shocked-Irish-Times-Almost-15-of-Irish-adults-have-been-raped

Have a look at the Irish newspapers (irishtimes, indepenent) and you'll get a day-to-day picture.

I've lived abroad for few years. I love living in Ireland. But take off the rose-tinted glasses :)

[quote OchonAgusOchonO]**@Shopgirl1* - Not sure I follow your rationale on this. You might explain how one remark on a thread is the reason for that in a bit more detail.*

I would have thought that was obvious. The complete disregard for NI by many in GB, in particular England, meant that voters did not consider (or care about) the impact of voting for brexit on the GFA.[/quote]
I suppose they were more focussed on their own needs.
The point you are trying to make is clear. Linking a political issue to an innocent comment on a thread doesn’t really support it though.

I suppose they were more focussed on their own needs.

Except the GFA is very much tied into the needs of everyone in the UK.

Linking a political issue to an innocent comment on a thread doesn’t really support it though.

It's an exemplar of an attitude.

@BarbaraofSeville
The map is helpful but just to point out that the name of the country is Ireland, not the Republic of Ireland, as indicated on the map. To be fair, many Irish people are confused about this too, or use the terms interchangeably, and it certainly can be useful to use ROI for clarity in some situations. However, the Republic of Ireland is a description of the State, not its name. It's also the name of our football(soccer) team.
The issue is somewhat political as, for many years, the UK government refused to use the name Ireland (because of our constitutional claim on NI) and instead used the term Eire and later on Republic of Ireland. This situation was officially resolved following the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. The British Isles are usually referred to as"these Islands" in politics now.

I live in Co. Waterford, my nearest neighbours are English on both sides of me and perfectly integrated members of the community! I would imagine that both you and your husband could get work in the international Pharma and Insurance industries here eg: West Pharma/Sanofi and Sun Life. If you get well paying work in Waterford, most people would say that the work/life balance down here is excellent. But like everywhere there are pluses and minuses. Whether you'd like it depends on what you want out of life. One person's dream is another's nightmare! Tramore is a seaside town as someone else described it so summer time is busy around the prom/seafront/amusements but it is also a commuter town for the city, with a good community, some nice independent shops and restaurants, Tesco, Aldi, Lidl. It is not obligatory to play GAA - there are loads of other sports/activities/clubs just like anywhere else. Surfing is popular in Tramore! The Greenway is fantastic for cycling etc. I love living in this county's please PM me if you have any questions. Happy to help!

@OchonAgusOchonO

I suppose they were more focussed on their own needs.

Except the GFA is very much tied into the needs of everyone in the UK.

Linking a political issue to an innocent comment on a thread doesn’t really support it though.

It's an exemplar of an attitude.

There is another exemplar or an attitude in your posts. And one that would make me think twice about moving to Ireland if I was the OP.

There is another exemplar or an attitude in your posts. And one that would make me think twice about moving to Ireland if I was the OP.

Just as well you're nit considering it then

@OchonAgusOchonO
You seem massively over invested in this.

[quote GoldfishParade]@OchonAgusOchonO
You seem massively over invested in this.[/quote]
Merely responding to posts addressed to me.

The issue is somewhat political as, for many years, the UK government refused to use the name Ireland (because of our constitutional claim on NI) and instead used the term Eire and later on Republic of Ireland
Very true I refer to NI as the North of Ireland. I stayed with an aunt in the North of Ireland not within the 6 counties to me 9 counties are within the North of Ireland.
Most people here would rather bite their tounge than say Londonderry it is Co.Derry.

CoisFarraige. What a beautiful description of encouragement and warmth on Waterford. Very balanced and pleasant to read.

@OchonAgusOchonO

There is another exemplar or an attitude in your posts. And one that would make me think twice about moving to Ireland if I was the OP.

Just as well you're nit considering it then

Not something I need to consider seeing as I am Irish and live in Ireland.

Another vote for County Waterford here - if you can get work there it’s a brilliant place, lovely mountain walks, great coast and beaches and nice beach towns - Dunmore, Tramore etc. Also Ardmore is commuting distance for Cork..just about.

@CoisFarraige and @Shopgirl1 due to links by marriage 😉 another thumbs up for Co Waterford. Dungarvan is great. Ardmore is adorable-the little cottages 😍 beautiful beaches, mountains and the greenway is great. Not a long distance to cork which I also really enjoy visiting.

I will miss Ireland at Christmas this year due to Covid, but it has a great feel in December in ‘normal life’ 😊

A family on my rd is English as well and they are well in too, invited to the covid socially distanced bingo and quizzes my other neighbour arranged 🤣 god love them. I gave them a skip. Bet they felt they had to go.

If you sell an unbelievably expensive house in london and buy a house outright in ireland then life is going to easier.

Another vote for Dungarvan. Absolutely gorgeous spot. Has the Deise walking/cycling Greenway also. A 40 or so km trek to Waterford, but worth it I'd say. Plenty of stops. We did it when lockdown eased during the Summer.

Best of luck. Sometimes we talk about places we know well, and where family originates. But that is normal!

I move to Waterford myself.
My insecurity on moving is a short term lease I've a secure as long as I need lease here I've got use to been a long term renter yearly leasehold is hard on DC when you need to keep moving.
Hopefully I'll win a small piece of the euro millions.

*I would