Comments on: Living in Ireland

By: Mike O'Connor

Mike O'Connor — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:06:55 +0000

Hi Mike,
I just came across your site while googling some keywords about the Irish language. This article gives an interesting perspective, as I’m from Cork and have recently moved to Vancouver. I had considered moving north to work for the winter months, since I heard there’s plenty of work and good money to be made, but I don’t know if I could handle the cold just yet so I’m gonna stay put in Vancouver for this winter at least. The rain makes me feel right at home!
For those thinking of moving to Ireland to work, be aware that the country has been hit harder by the global recession than most. Unemployment has tripled in the past few years and competition in all jobs markets is pretty tight right now. Salaries in Ireland are good compared to the rest of Europe and Canada, but the cost of living can be pretty steep too, so be sure to do your research before you make any major decisions!

By: John

John — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 22:25:39 +0000

Cheers Mike an excellent piece well worth it for any visitor come stop over.

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:59:08 +0000

Yup it was pretty stressful living in a hostel looking for work, watching the money run out. But it’s a good story to tell the kids! You might be able to find an agency that specializes in finding positions for people overseas. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were Irish agencies with offices in the US actually, although maybe not with the economy being bad the last few years.

As for Canada, Vancouver and Montréal are the nicest cities. Vancouver’s super expensive though, and it really helps to speak French in Montréal. Halifax is nice too.

Good luck wherever you choose!

By: Kymm Brogan

Kymm Brogan — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:37:28 +0000

Thanks, My husband is from Michigan and I have spent time in Bemidji MN, the cold winter is no problem. What part of Canada is best? Back to Ireland I was even thinking of teaching English while looking for a medical job. Maybe calling over there and talking with someone in the hospitals or emply agencies will help. I am afraid to go that far without a job, because we don’t know anyone over there. I really want to move, but it seems really dificult unless we can support ourselves for 6 months while looking for jobs ect….

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 16:31:30 +0000

Look at the “Finding a job” section above to see what I thought of that. It may be tougher if you’re on a work visa though; when I was leaving and we were looking for my replacement, we didn’t give the work visa applicants as much of a chance. They’re more transient, and there’s extra paperwork to do. (On the other hand, they do love Americans, so that may be to your advantage.) And of course there’s those “tough economic times” going on now.

I’d say if you don’t know somebody over there you’ve got a pretty slim chance of having a job before you arrive. From my experience, your character is just as (if not more) important to Irish employers as what’s on your resume, and they’d want to meet you before making any sort of offer.

Canada’s wonderful, but you might want to spend a winter in upstate New York before making the move to see if you can take the cold!

By: Kymm Brogan

Kymm Brogan — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 13:07:43 +0000

We are from California but we live in Tennessee now, and were looking for a change like yourselves. We only speak english so it has to be a english speaking country we move to. Ireland is where we thought to move. I am an Ultrasound Tech and my husband does alarm’s. From someone who has been there where is the best place to look for jobs. I was hoping to have a jobs before we went there, is that possible. My husband also thought of Canada, whats it like there. Is it easy to find jobs if you are not from there?

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 04:07:19 +0000

We did a bit of research before going, but it’s hard to know what to expect when you are somewhere else trying to figure things out on the internet. I think just go there and see what happens!
Taxes go down once you have got all your paperwork in order, it’s only that high at first, so do the paperwork quickly.
We came back to Canada, it was too expensive to live there. Probably not so much for someone coming from Europe though. I hope to get back one day, maybe my kids will move there when they get old enough.

By: Alexandra Goossens

Alexandra Goossens — Fri, 22 May 2009 13:30:48 +0000

Hi Mike,

How are you doing? Are you and your wife still living in Ireland?
I am Dutch and thinking of moving there. As I speak Dutch and
the Netherlands are in a resession as every European country, I
started to look abroad. Ireland has always attacted me.
How long did you plan before moving? Did you look at lots of
websites to find out how, what was the way to get around/settled?
I only don’t understand the tax thing..first month 20%, next month 40%?
So if you make 1833 euro a month 40% will be cut off for the goverment?
Is that all the tax you have to pay?nIn the Netherlands it is 30% taken off
of your salary and beside that you have to pay towntaxes, and health
insurance (120 euro a month and the first 155 euro you have to pay yourself)
Groceries are just a little cheaper than in Ireland….but I think going out
to eat and going to the pub are a like.
Do you still like living there? Or can’t you wait to go back to Canada?
Does your childeren like living in Ireland?
I do hope to hear from you.
Kind regards,