Moving to Ireland

[Rands]

Hello!

I'm thinking about living in Ireland for a year, but I don't want to live in Dublin as I know it is tremendously expensive. Just wanted to know if there are any Canadians on here living in other parts of Ireland and what your experiences have been and if you would recommend living there!

Thanks!
Randi

[Jigglypuff]

Good luck Rands - I think in most other areas of Ireland you'd have to be prepared to shell out for a car - but I've only lived in Dublin so I haven't much personal advice to offer.

[Flaxman]

Hi Randi,

Living in Ireland, let alone Dublin is a complex issue.

I've lived here almost six years and if you have lots of money and can put up with tons of BS and greed, wonderful.

Don't get me wrong, geographically speaking, it is a beautiful country but the Celtic Tiger has turned the Irish into a bunch of children trapped in a sweet shop, and they can't handle it.

It's just become a big game of the 'haves' and the 'have-nots' and every day is a fight just to survive in the rip-off economy.

Sorry to be negative. My father is from here, I have my Irish passport but over the next few months to a year from now, I'm moving back to Canada where life is normal. Believe it or not, and to think I used to believe the opposite.

If you're coming for a year and you're single, that's great. Come and experience the place. There are lovely people in any country, but it's a 'dog eat dog' country now, more so in Dublin.

You will need a car and expect to get the road tax on it every 3 months at least, plus insurance. Canadian licenses are not recognized here so you will need to apply for a provisional unless you can sort out an international driver's permit.

Everything costs an absolute fortune. If you like the sun and warm weather, forget about it here.

If you're coming here to go backpacking and just a general hike through the place, that way you can think of the place as being a kind of quaint existence, but once you get to know most of the people, you'll realize that there's never really a leprachaun too far away from yourself.

If you need any more info. let me know.

Slán.

Flaxman

[motormatic]

I'm just starting the process of relocating from Toronto to Galway. I have dual Canadian and British citizenship, and the above poster is right, Ireland is a huge hassle. On the flip side, my family is there and I absolutely love it. I've never lived in Dublin, I've only lived in Co. Mayo, in the middle of nowhere!

I'm wondering if anyone has advice on the process of getting into an Irish university. It seems awfully complicated.

[Flaxman]

Hi Motor,

Are you looking at the University of Galway or some other one?

When you say complicated, what are the challenges you are faced with at the present?

If you have dual citizenship (ie. Irish) then you are entitled to a free third level education. There are certain exceptions such as speciality colleges however all the major universities in Ireland will accept you. All you have to do is spring for the books.

Let me know if this helps.

Flaxman