Irish living in England, want to visit Mum back home.

[YouKnowWhoo]

I’m trying to straighten this up in my head - what may be safe, and the rules in both countries, what’s possible. Not planning for this right away obviously but it will give me a bit of hope and my mum also, she’s getting a bit lonely back in Dublin.

I was thinking of getting the ferry to Dublin when the 5k rule is extended in Ireland? Bringing my own car. Staying possibly at my mums, but keeping apart. Using a separate bathroom. We have both been isolating very carefully.

Common area travel permissions remaining, I think this is allowed?

But - allowed or otherwise - how to minimise the actual risk? getting on a plane is a huge no I think. How are others thinking this one out? I can’t be the only one wondering how to visit home. Help appreciated figuring it out! (And I am not sold on the idea - it’s not a done deal, I’d just like to talk it out).

My partner works in England and me and our daughter live in Ireland. Normally we would see eachother every second or third weekend but at the moment obviously we’ve not seen him since the end of Feb.

Our plan is that he will fly over at the end of July for a long weekend, we will he allowed travel the country (Ireland) freely at that point so I can get him from the airport and take him to ours to isolate. When he leaves myself and daughter will isolate for 14 days (or whatever is recommended at that point) here and he will return to England to work as there is currently no restrictions on that end.

Not sure if that helps or is clear but that’s what our intention is.

Will you fall foul of the 14 day quarantine requirement? Not sure if further details of that have been announced yet?

@Spam88 no there’s no quarantine between Britain and the island of Ireland common travel area at the moment... It sounds like (from what I’ve read) both Govs are reaffirming there won’t be a quarantine period.

If that changed that’s definitely another variable to consider.

@Herculesfan aww that’s rough not seeing your partner that long. My partner is also in Ireland! But it’s my mum I’m really concerned about seeing, and I don’t want to do a big ‘visit’ round the houses and inadvertently cause harm. Limiting the trip to only mum.

I’m wondering now if I’ve read something wrong, I saw an RTE post about not needing to quarantine if you arrive in IE from GB. Will check that again!

The flight makes me nervous.... if they make changes to it I’d have more confidence but it’s not a big deal for me to get the ferry.

Thanks for your reply!

I live in Belfast but my Mum is in England. I don’t have any plans to visit but have been planning how I would get to her if needed. I’m also thinking that the ferry would be a better option than flying. Dublin - Holyhead is my preferred option but if that’s not allowed then I think I’d have to do overnight to Liverpool. I can take enough supplies to mean that I don’t need to get out of the car but my main concern would be needing the toilet!

I’m not going to go just yet I’m too worried about bringing the virus into her home as she is quite high risk.

It’s so hard not knowing when I’ll get to see her again.

Ah we’ve been coping ok but my daughter is starting to struggle a lot recently. I’m sure there’s loads of people in the same situation though 🤷‍♀️

We’ve gone with flights purely because he can get a direct flight to Kerry where we are based whereas to get the ferry would involve a 6 hr drive on his end (if he can even get into Wales by then 🤷‍♀️) and then nearly 6 hrs this end as well.

For us the isolation is more because I do a lot of caring for my elderly granny so I’ve arranged that my aunt and sister take over for the two week immediately after he departs just in case. But I do think there will be quarantine on this end even from the UK, I may be wrong though.

there’s no quarantine between Britain and the island of Ireland common travel area at the moment...

No, that's not right. Ireland is asking everyone coming into the state to self-isolate for 14 days unless the person is entering from NI. As in if you're coming from the island of Britain, you have to self isolate. www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice/coronavirus/

The UK is taking a different approach and allowing people to enter the UK from Ireland without quarantine. They're the only ones taking about the common travel area in terms of quarantine, at the moment.

@MarDhea you’re right! Ahh. It’s only at the uk end there’s no quarantine (for now!).

@Itsmemaggie I’m the same, it’s not knowing, and it’d give my mum something to look forward to, she’s hiding it but she’s getting a bit down.

I was having the same thoughts about the ferry also!

@Herculesfan ah yea to Kerry definitely a flight is a better fit! And they will keep making changes to safety on flights. It’s such a watch and wait situation...