The millionth 'advice about moving back to Ireland' thread

[SnackyOnassis]

I know there have been countless threads on this already - thanks for indulging another!
I'm hoping to get some thoughts from people who've made the move back to Ireland, or have done the research and ruled it out for whatever reason.

I've been in the UK for 12 years now, married a lovely bloke from NE England and have one child and another on the way, so pretty settled here. It's no news to anyone that England's future is not looking bright right now, and I'm having doubts about whether or not this is the right place to raise our family, and have been considering a move to Ireland before the kids hit school age - my eldest is just 2 now so we've got some time.

I'm from Dublin and my parents are still alive and well in Dublin. However, when I think about moving over, I don't want it to be 'moving back' - everyone and everything has changed so much and I think trying to fit in my old life (I left when I was 23!) wouldn't fit!

Given that I've only ever lived and worked in Dublin (and briefly in Louth which I am ruling out with a big red marker, no offence but not for me!) I wonder if there are any recommendations for places we might like to move to that aren't the capital?

Things on our list would be:

• Decent schools/childcare/nursery
• Close to an airport (we still have my husband's family in NE England to visit)
• Friendly to Dubs/English blokes/returners
• We both work in IT/Digital so that usually means we can work remotely, but if there are hubs we should be looking at that'd be great to know about
• Within about 90mins drive of Dublin (negotiable)
• A safe and friendly community for the children to grow up in and for us to make friends in

Places we've thought about were Wicklow, Galway, Cork, and potentially around Newry - moving to NI would mean we could both keep our existing jobs so that's something to consider, but also would mean we're likely losing the benefit of moving out of the UK!

This is an absolute saga but I'd love to get thoughts from anyone who's been through similar, and would be even more grateful if you could let me know how you found transitioning back to being Irish in Ireland rather than Irish abroad!

Thanks so much!

I wouldn’t rule out Dublin. I moved home after 25 years abroad and now live within two miles of where I grew up (not Dublin) but have no sense of trying to slip ‘back’ to my old life. I wouldn’t say it’s been psychologically straightforward, but it was the right move.

I would definitely not underestimate the adjustment difficulties of a Dub returning from a long time away AND trying to adjust to life in a small town or rural community.

I'd like to give a shout out to Sligo. Beautiful county, stunning coastline with associated activities, a lot of people seem to be working remotely so there's some good hubs...Depending on where in the county, it's a reasonable distance to Knock and Dublin airports. I'm in South Sligo and am 40 mins to Knock and 2hrs 10 mins to Dublin. The coastal villages are expensive but otherwise some really good value. People are a bit reserved perhaps than in some other places but very nice for all that and there are lots of families even where I am from different countries who seem to have integrated well. But if budget is not such a consideration, my friends who live in our near the coastal suburbs in Dublin have a pretty fantastic lifestyle too.

Some of your suggestions are relying on crossing the M50 from the southside which in peak times could extend your commute into Dublin well beyond 90 mins.

I would look more northside m50/N3/M3

So North Dublin/Meath/Cavan( Dublin side)

Reasonable house prices/good mix of towns/villages with good amenities like schools and kids activities with Reasonable commute back to Dublin and Airport access.

Hi everyone , I'm following because I'm thinking moving back to Drogheda with my two kids 4 yrs and 18 months . We are stuck on the renting hamster wheel and can't get saving .

What have you decided in the end. I am two weeks ago from giving my notice at work

Kelly

Hi everyone ,
I am strongly looking to move back to my honeymoon drogheda to live with my parents with my two young kids. We are stuck on the renting hamster wheel in Scotland.

And I'm curious about if returning to ireland is for our family. However my husband self employed business ess is in the fitness industry. He is very well established here . At first it would be me and kids moving and saving for 1- 2 years so we have our hone deposit for Scotland but we noticed the deposit needed for ireland is high. Also only one bank in ireland that will accept my husband on a morgage while working in Scotland and means a greater deposit is required a 30% .

Anyone who has relocated ? How have you found it overall ?

Kelly

I’m assuming this is ‘hometown Drogheda’ rather than Drogheda as honeymoon destination? 😀

Sorry, no up to date advice — we moved back just before Covid, and had a UK house to sell. And it’s been financially (and psychologically) stretching, despite two decent jobs. I’m sure other people will have more detailed advice.

I’d rethink Dublin. It has more to do, more opportunities and has developed a lot over the last 15 years or so. There are also so many different areas to move to.
The other cities have many positive points, but will seem provincial in comparison.

Meath is a good place to live. If you look carefully, you can still buy houses for under 300 thousand here. Nice towns like Dunshaughlin, Ratoath and Dunboyne. Close to the airport.

Ooopsy yes not honeymoon destination. I'm from drogheda and I moved to Scotland in my early 20s. We would have free childcare and see this as a huge savings opportunity to get our home. It seems unreachable to buy in Ireland right now. I'm not sure I would settle back . I think this would be a time to save and sew if it would be a place we want. For me it's about being closer to my parents and support network. I was wondering how you have got on since moving ? Family support ? Where you ended up m I'm thinking if we did buy definitely be outside the town

Kelly

Thank you I will definitely give these places a visit.

We have decided to move. I will move with the kids work full time and we can finally save for our home. I'll be living with my very supportive family. But I also see this as an opportunity to go see places nearby thar I can see our future

Kelly

I commute between Scotland and Cork a fair bit. I'm amazed anyone would see it as doing better than the UK - it's had a hard pandemic and when GB sneezes Ireland catches a cold. People ARE a lot friendlier in Cork but it's exortionate and rundown and the housing situation is worse than UK.

Maybe I'm just bitter cos I don't have an EU passport any more.

For us it's the savings we can make. We be rent free and I'd be able to work more to allow a second car and flights for my husband back and forth. I will.hopefully make mind up about moving permantly..

What concerns me is that when my parents get older and need my help how would I make it work living in Scotland. Right now we have a 4 year old and a 18 month old .

Worry about how theyll.cope getting moved about , schools ect. I'm ready to have a home we own and a school theyll.go to

There are families who commute like you . How do you find that aspect. ? My husband business is doing well and hard to restart That all over again. Be a huge risk .

Kelly

I find it absolutely fine (I miss when Aer Lingus offered a route but to be fair to Ryanair they are efficient and offer a lot of flights!).

It really annoys me how Cork checks your passport on arrival. Common travel area guys! But they're always very nice about it.

Basically you could commute every week if you had to, it's easier than some routes people do in the uk. Cork airport is a lot more chill than Dublin airport.

I moved to Dublin from Sunderland 20 years ago and now live in a coastal village in North County Dublin. I wouldn't rule it out and there are nice villages further up around Bettystown to Blackrock. I hardly go into the city now but it's there if I need. Also only 20 minutes to the airport.

Cheers for sharing that with me ..I do remember one epic flight that wasn't allowed to land into dublin.we had to land in cork..and there was a few very happy people about that .

There are Logan air and aer lingus flying ..it's getting easier since covid.

And I know I'll find work as nurse. My Job will make sure to cover my husband commute. Otherwise it would be so hard. But where we live lots folk off shore with oil ect for months .

Just putting together the final pieces. We sometimes need a push . Moving is hard

I'm hoping to explore and see how I feel during this time. I have a few friends who moved to Laytown. And bettystown .

I'm definitely keen to stay closer to airport incase hubby doesn't move and set up business abs also buy close to my parents ..selfishly for childcare but also so when and I'd time comes I can look after them .

Kelly

I'm amazed anyone would see it as doing better than the UK

Well, it is! Certainly in certain sectors. Ireland has many issues too, some we share with the UK.

Like the UK, our public sector struggles. Our healthcare system is in crisis - and yet, not quite the crisis of the UK, in terms of eg medical appointments, dental treatment. That's partly because we have to pay (largely) so that's a significant adjustment from living in the UK.

Schools & education - challenges but vastly better. I don't know how anyone teaches in the UK or copes with the massive bureaucratic burden.

I work in 3rd level education & the impact of Brexit on the UK research landscape is truly shocking.

Agreed @EarringsandLipstick . A Scottish friend returned to his home in Renfrewshire after many years in Ireland , for a visit. He was shocked at the state of the place which he assumed would have improved in his long absence.
And its not as if Ireland is Scandinavian paradise material.

Like anywhere what we see is better in some areas than others

I do wonder about healthcare. I trained as nurse in Scotland and leaving my nhs post..

I'll need to figure out about private healthcare system

Kelly

Agreed. (University lecturer in the UK and Ireland.) I’ve lost count of the number of UK academics who’ve moved here since Brexit. We’ve had record numbers of UK applicants for every job we’ve had for years.

I’ve had far better healthcare since returning to Ireland in early 2020, despite Covid. Something that had been an unsolved problem for years under the NHS got sorted with a series of surgeries within a year of being back.

I’d go further and say that I think Ireland, with all its current problems, and reckoning with past church and state abuses, is a fundamentally healthier society at the moment. I’m sad for the UK, where I lived mostly happily for over 25 years, but have no regrets about returning, and bringing up my child in Ireland.