To think that life seems better in rep of ireland?

[PunnyOliveTurtle]

ok...hear me out...My DM is Irish and she has not been home in a good few years, I haven't been over since I was 15, I'm early 40's now. So i decided to bring her over to visit her sisters as they are all getting older...late 60s/early 70's.

I had a wonderful time. I caught up with all of my cousins...and here is where I noticed the divide...they all have gorgeous homes and I mean stunning! Some in the country, some in the town, all fab new builds or gutted and updated old houses. A couple in new housing estates which were FAB!!
One of my cousins has just bought a new home...her DH is driving a 2025 car, they are off on hols next week. I asked her if she won the lotto and she laughed saying she wished, savings are now depleted and she was "broke". I know she has no credit cards because she metioned that she didn't have one when we wer talking about booking dinner somewhere and they wanted to take a deposit.

They all have great jobs...a lot of them are teachers...like i was. But they are no where near as stressed as I was. They are on holidays already and have been with a few weeks.Some are nurses but work part time in private hospitals, others work in big pharma companies, banking etc.Their dh's also have great jobs, engineers, managers in tech/pharma, one owns a construction company, one is a farmer.
All and I mean ALL of their DC who are of uni age are in university...no student loans. They have a grant scheme apparently. None of my cousins themselves have student loans...they are in 30's to mid 50's. (Can you tell we had an in depth discussion on uni and fees etc!)
Their DC aged 15+ all have summer jobs...in a local chippy, local cafe, one on a farm etc. My 18 yr old cant get a job at all!!

Everything just seemed so positive there...and im sure its not but I cant put my finger on it...it really got me.
I'm struggling most months...this trip was part on credit card. DD looking to start uni and i dont know how I'm going to help her... I know they say dont compare and I know there must be those struggling in Ireland too but there seemed to be A LOT more money being thrown around.

I think you have summed it up very well here. I am half Irish and go back several times a year, All my family and everyone I encounter are positive in fact I am like that too despite growing up in the UK. Everyone in England is doom and gloom because it is quite shit here, But even people in Ireland who have problems they approach it differently they let nothing worry them I’m very envious and I love my trips there!!

well, nobody lives forever anywhere, so not something to worry about....

Well its easier to be happy when the country is wealthy now.

I remember when ireland was in a recession 10-15 years ago, and everyone was miserable and wanted to leave.

Money definitely makes people happier.

I am glad that Ireland is happier now. The EU helped Ireland a huge amount.

I lived in Ireland for a long time, fairly small town in the south east. They hate the English and we were treated horrifically, even as children. The standard of education in the local schools was so poor that the vast majority failed at least one subject in the leaving cert - just 3% of my cohort went off to university immediately after finishing school. The school holidays are very long but there is little to do so it is mind numbing. The suicide rates are higher than average, particularly amongst young people, and I sadly lost 4 of my friends to suicide before I finished school. House prices and rent are excessively high in most places.

I visit often, it is beautiful on the surface and my family are there, but I would never move back.

I know lots of people who have never left their city in ireland.

I have also met a lot of people here in the Ul who have never lived outside of the Uk.

Then i know more adventurous types, who have lived in different countries.

I’m sure that is expensive to you, but in London £1 million in some cases buys you are one bedroom flat!

The road in Dublin are busy but believe me far easier to navigate than driving into central London if I was you I would live just outside Dublin and commute in

How big is the house if it has 9 people living in it???

Oh im so sorry that happened to you.

Its true that anti - english sentiment is something thay english people need to be aware of when moving to ireland.

I know some english people in ireland and they have told me that they got abuse for being english...

Teachers don't earn more but they work A LOT less.

I too have cousins in Ireland and agree with you OP . The house are much bigger because for years land in certain areas were cheap . Lots of self build on family owned plots . Salaries are higher. Years of no property tax , bin collection free , still no water rates , childcare was usually family members . Celtic tigers years people benefitted greatly .

Things are getting harder now especially for young families trying to buy property . Demand outweighs supply so prices are high . Job security is no longer . Many young people are emigrating now especially to Australia. But usually it's to make money and return.

Ireland is still small enough to retain that sense if community that can be so important to a feeling of well being . Extended family is very much a support .It was reported recently that there are now 7 million which is the first time since the Famine that population has recovered .
The welfare system is quite generous and most can support a decent standard.
But like most countries it has problems too with it's overburdened health care system. Crime and drugs are on the rise. Immigration is becoming an issue as it is in most European countries .
It is the most educated country in Europe as 3 level education is accessible and expected . Loans , grants are available for this and lower income have schemes to help.

So yes I agree with the OP .

This is madness

Not a common experience I must say

OP, Your family sound rich. Not everyone in ireland is living quite such a high life.

I think ireland is wealthier than the UK, but our healthcare and public transport are worse (but improving), the weather is also crappy.

I think in general people are friendly and happy. The German s, Latvians and Dutch living here all comment on that.

Sport and community engagement are encouraged, but there is excessive enmeshment in rural Irish societies and there can be keeping up with the johnses. As a single, dating, middle aged mother, I can testify to the snipey, gossiping that goes on.

My 2 sons will be going to Uni soon, it's true almost everyone does, it's just expected, all their friends will go to. It's a normal part of life, along with the expectation to work, and have a laugh.

We are really only 30 ish years into becoming a multi cultural society. I think we will face more integration challenges as this continues. The numbers of migrants have really increased in the last 5 years. What had been orderly migration is now becoming quite pressurised. There is also a HUGE drug problem in Ireland.

You possible did not see some of the harsher realities during your trip.

In the thirty years or so that I've been visiting the RoI the investment (from the EU) has made a staggering difference. It's a positive vibe across much of the country with a well educated, well paid young workforce. Sure, there are problems too, many of which are around immigration, but on balance the low population density and the generosity of the Irish people make it a great place.

One downside for me is that much of the retail shopping has become anglicised. Visit any shopping centre and its Tesco, Boots, H&M, M&S. You could be in Cork or Reading and I think the Irish have really lost some identity by letting that happen.

All my personal opinion, of course!

I totally understand the London point, we lived there for ten years.

Its not even so much the money, its the time and effort it's going to take. House sales can take crazy amounts of time here.

For many reasons, a commuting lifestyle is not for us. I don't even know how it would work with two kids in school.

But another point to consider is that public transport and particularly rail is terrible in Ireland. I know loads of people living in commuter belt towns and travelling into London every day, but that just isn't really feasible in Dublin, save a couple of routes.

It has def gone downhill in fairness

How many tourists have been targeted there recently ?!!

Yes they need to be aware of it. Also a good idea to have a handle on history between the two countries and not assume we will be honoured by your presence. If you ask stupid questions like "but aren't you formally part of the UK?" expect a hostile response.

That is dreadful about the English children being brought up in rural Ireland and treated abysmally though. That makes me feel ashamed.

Why so offended?

Dublin private schools are full of the children of English/Irish couples. That’s a pretty clear indication that many families who have experience of both countries have decided that Ireland is a better option.

when my DC were in a London prep school there was a constant stream of children with one Irish parent leaving to start senior school in Ireland because Dublin’s provided a better standard of living than London. Having visited them over the years I’d be hard pushed to disagree.

Butt he infrastructure spending has achieved its goal of making Ireland well placed for economic growth. As compared to the UK….

Ugh public transport is a JOKE here.

Yes sadly it has become a right kip since COVID. It's like city planners can't agree on what they want from it. I haven't seen it that rough since the 90s but it kind of suited the 90s vine then. It's grim now.

Rents are pricey here in Dublin. My daughter lucky in college but lives at home. Wages average here. Re cars we have loan on ours. Def not cheap to live here

You've seen everything in Ireland ...wow. forgive my skepticism

Aran Islands?
West Cork?
North Donegal?
Connemara?

I'm a Brit in Ireland on a temp contract which is likely to be extended for a couple of years. It's so hard to find a rental property that I'm seriously considering selling my property in the UK and buying in Ireland, even though I might be here for a fixed term. I wouldn't consider coming here unless you are in a position to buy. There are stories on the grapevine of potential tenants being asked to pay two years' rent in advance.

The population is increasing rapidly and I can see that this may be a problem down the line. 20% of the current population weren't born in Ireland. I do wonder if the Irish government are falling into the same trap that British politicians did from Blair onwards where more economic migrants coming in = more GDP therefore immigration = good. The effects of that approach are playing out in Britain at the moment, not very prettily.

So many middle class London dwellers are leaving to live in Dublin? That's the extend of your perspective? All that means is that there people leaving are heading for Dublin, it doesn't mean proportionally they are the majority in prvate Irish schools.

Private schools in Dublin are not full of the children of Brits, that is utter horseshit.

I've just left Enniskillen and the car parks were full of Southern registered cars.They seem to do massive shops when they come North so that tells you something.
Salaries are so much better and I know the border councils now have a lot of experienced NI council workers who have chosen to cross the border for better salaries.
They're also much better to their older people with telecare equipment being provided for free.