Moving from London to Galway with no jobs/no clue!

[Salsabum]

Hi everyone,

I am looking for some advice/encouragement really!

My Italian husband and I always said we'd move to Ireland 'when we had the kids' and when our second baby was born last June we decided to start thinking about the move. First baby turns 3 soon and I want to be settled before he starts school. My parents have a second property next door to their house that we were supposed to use until we find our feet but my sister and her husband back from Oz ( since last year) have decided they need it for longer so we are now in a different situation I work as a secondary school teacher in London and my husband is self employed. I am still on mat leave but have resigned. I have been applying to schools in Galway city where we would like to live but from all accounts it will take a miracle for me to actually get a job there. My husband is also 'starting from scratch' looking for roles anywhere around Galway too (he works in logisitics) and it's proving tough. Property-wise, I don't think we will be eligible for a mortgage for at least 6 months. (My salary may not even be taken into account as a teacher because it takes 2 years to be 'perminant' right?!). My husband is now suggesting that if we don't find jobs in the mext 3/4 weeks we should hold off until next year. Part of me agrees as I can easily find a well-paid job here, he can continue doing what he does and we know where we're at here. The other part of me thinks we are post-poning the inevitable. We should just plough on now. I guess the idea of staying at my parents house in the midlands while we don't have work and try to continue some sort of normal life for the boys whilst cooped up together seems so grim :-( We could give it a few months more here and save like crazy to apply for an overseas (35% deposit) mortgage and just buy a property in our ideal location (knocknacarra/salthill) and then just hope to find work closeby??

And breathe. Major apologies for my ramble. I would so so appreciate from anyone who's been in/is in a similar boat and what they decided to do.

I hope everyone is keeping safe xx

Personally I would leave it for another year. It is really difficult to see how things will develop with the pandemic and I think employers will be cautious about taking on extra employees for a period until there is more certainty. You would be taking a huge risk by moving now.

I understand the feeling about wanting to be settled before your child starts school but please don’t let this dictate a life decision like this. I’ve seen many children move countries and schools and they are almost always fine, they’re very adaptable.

Also remember that kids don't start school here til 4 or 5 (one of mine was 5 years 6 months when she started JI and is not the eldest in the class), we also moved and DD1 had missed the entire first year of school but started straight into senior infants. She never had a problem and doesn't even remember friends from our previous town.

I can't imagine anyone is hiring at the moment so I would hold fire for now too.

Also bear in mind (pre pandemic at least) that traffic in Galway is awful. Especially getting in in the mornings. Queues can be very long on the N59 and on the motorway. Apparently working hours are staggered in the industrial estates to help ease this but it is still exceptionally bad.

@barbeDeMaman and @Blogdog Thank you both so much for your advice. I really appreciate it and you've made me realise that postponing things for a few months isn't the end of the world. I just hope our landlord will allow us to extend our contract and hasn't made other plans as we were supposed to be out at the end of July Then to start looking for another job here and organise childcare! We'll get there! Thanks again for your advice xx

Full time secondary school contracts are like hens teeth. Lots of secondary teachers get a few hours contracts and no holiday pay. It really depends on the subjects you will be teaching for demand . Like irish teachers are thin on the ground. I think you are totally insane to move to Galway with no jobs/ house just for your children's schooling. I'm sorry. Galway has a small jobs market and less so with a recession looming. Leaving London where you have work plus The possibility of opportunity in the future / the possibility of not being poverty stricken is where I would stay. Age of your children irrelevant if you arrive home to NOTHING !! I live in Leinster and am from the west and someone said to me once when I was reminiscing about moving west said you cant live on scenery ! Research the job market for you as its near impossible to get a full time secondary position anywhere . Sorry to be so gloomy Far away hills can be very green.

To add ( sorry ) my friend is a secondary teacher in Dublin
.they had a fabulous young teacher on temp. Contract. Went above and beyond with extra curricular things for the students. Just so good. Permanent job comes up. The principal offered him half hours and split the job between two teachers!!. Guess where he is now - Dubai. They were all so sorry to see him go. Such a loss to staff and school. You need to hear these stories. Like maybe with social. Distancing loads more jobs will come up- sure no one knows . Best of luck with it all .

I have a friend who does Irish CPD for secondary school teachers. He told me of you ever wanted a job in a different part of the country, take a post on a Gaelcolaiste. Major difficulties recruiting staff. They’ll pretty much train up anyone into the job Irish language wise. So might be an option if you were feeling brave