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any others living long term in ireland?

any others living long term in ireland?

Old Nov 29th 2005, 3:35 pm
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Default any others living long term in ireland?

Just wondering if any of you out there reading/visiting this sight are long time residents of Ireland.

I have been living here since 1991 (married to an Irishman). We are actually planning to emmigrate to Canada, but I would love to share views with others about the experience of being a "Brit" here (or any other 'non-national' for that matter!)

SQ
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Old Nov 30th 2005, 12:35 am
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Default Re: any others living long term in ireland?

Originally Posted by snowqueen
Just wondering if any of you out there reading/visiting this sight are long time residents of Ireland.

I have been living here since 1991 (married to an Irishman). We are actually planning to emmigrate to Canada, but I would love to share views with others about the experience of being a "Brit" here (or any other 'non-national' for that matter!)

SQ
SQ
As a Brit, I lived in Ireland 1996 - 2004 (my wife is Irish). We left and emigrated to Australia.
Experience as Brit in Ireland? May depend where you live.
We lived in Leixlip, Co. Kildare, then Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow and lastly Gorey, Co. Wexford.
As much as there was some anti-Brit verbal bashing, it was mostly good humoured and torelable. However, my daughter (full Brit accent, age 14) got teased and bullied at School for being a Brit and was one of our key motivators to leave the country.
Personally, loved the country, pubs, socialising and people (mostly), hated the politics, roads, tax, cost of living and weather.
Anything else, just ask?

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Old Nov 30th 2005, 10:40 am
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Default Re: any others living long term in ireland?

Originally Posted by andrew63
SQ
As a Brit, I lived in Ireland 1996 - 2004 (my wife is Irish). We left and emigrated to Australia.
Experience as Brit in Ireland? May depend where you live.
We lived in Leixlip, Co. Kildare, then Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow and lastly Gorey, Co. Wexford.
As much as there was some anti-Brit verbal bashing, it was mostly good humoured and torelable. However, my daughter (full Brit accent, age 14) got teased and bullied at School for being a Brit and was one of our key motivators to leave the country.
Personally, loved the country, pubs, socialising and people (mostly), hated the politics, roads, tax, cost of living and weather.
Anything else, just ask?

Andrew

Glad to hear from you. I wasn't particular worried about the Brit bashing, though it does niggle you. As it happens my kids have lovely little Irish accents! Having said that I wouldn't feel excatly comfortable 'celebrating my culture' here despite the irony that everyone supports british football teams and shops in british shops!

I was more just musing on the differences and the way the country is. Like you I can't stand the weather, just grey all the time, and I envy you in Qld - great part of the world. I also find that people here, while very friendly on the surface can be hard to get close to as they all tend to have grown up round here and still have schoolfriends/sisters etc living round the corner and so don't 'need' others so much. I've been here 14 years and although I obviously have friends, none of them are the same kind of closeness as the friends I made, say in South Africa, where I met others who were away from home and we shared that bond, I suppose.

Another thing is having to deal with coming into a large irish family (complete with domineeering sisters!) when you're from a genteel, quiet english background. Quite a culture shock. fun at first but the novetly soon wears off!

The cost of living is aslo a huge factor in our decision to move away. Despite all the money that seems to be around, we find we are running to stand still and our QOL is not what it could be as a result - we are in Dublin. Fed up with paying over the odds for everything, with no light at the end of the tunnel. Only saving grace is the astronomical value of our house!!

Anyway, just nice to know there are others out there.
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Old Dec 1st 2005, 2:06 am
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Default Re: any others living long term in ireland?

Originally Posted by snowqueen
Glad to hear from you. I wasn't particular worried about the Brit bashing, though it does niggle you. As it happens my kids have lovely little Irish accents! Having said that I wouldn't feel excatly comfortable 'celebrating my culture' here despite the irony that everyone supports british football teams and shops in british shops!

I was more just musing on the differences and the way the country is. Like you I can't stand the weather, just grey all the time, and I envy you in Qld - great part of the world. I also find that people here, while very friendly on the surface can be hard to get close to as they all tend to have grown up round here and still have schoolfriends/sisters etc living round the corner and so don't 'need' others so much. I've been here 14 years and although I obviously have friends, none of them are the same kind of closeness as the friends I made, say in South Africa, where I met others who were away from home and we shared that bond, I suppose.

Another thing is having to deal with coming into a large irish family (complete with domineeering sisters!) when you're from a genteel, quiet english background. Quite a culture shock. fun at first but the novetly soon wears off!

The cost of living is aslo a huge factor in our decision to move away. Despite all the money that seems to be around, we find we are running to stand still and our QOL is not what it could be as a result - we are in Dublin. Fed up with paying over the odds for everything, with no light at the end of the tunnel. Only saving grace is the astronomical value of our house!!

Anyway, just nice to know there are others out there.
SQ
SQ
It also amazed me how many Irish were so interested in the UK Royalty etc. Strange bunch really. The brit bashing and love of all things British double standard I found most irritating
I know exactly what you are saying re: friendships etc.
We were lucky that when we moved to Rathdrum to a new housing estate (17 houses!), all the people were from Dublin etc so we were all in the same boat so to speak. Made some fantastic friendships with some of those guys and one of the closest familes we got freindly with are arriving here in QLD next week for a 4 week Xmas holiday.
And yes, you are lucky enough to have owned a house in Dublin I am sure the value has rocketed over the past years.

This forum is principally people moving to Ireland and I wouldn't want them to feel put off. It's a great country, great people. Crap weather and expensive. Well worth a visit and if you have the expense licked, it's just the weather to contend with.

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Old Dec 1st 2005, 11:19 am
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Default Re: any others living long term in ireland?

Originally Posted by andrew63
SQ
.

This forum is principally people moving to Ireland and I wouldn't want them to feel put off. It's a great country, great people.
Andrew

I agree. Wouldn't want to put anyone off moving here. It is beautiful and has a lot going for it. We are just looking for a change really, that's all.

Good luck to all those thinking of moving here and if I can shed light on any queries let me know.

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Old Dec 2nd 2005, 10:18 am
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Default Re: any others living long term in ireland?

I fully agree with you on the "difficult to make friends" and "friendly on the surface" thing! I'm German, I've been here for three years now (on and off), and I still find it hard to get close to the "natives" - and it's certainly not me...(for example, I found it quite easy to make friends in Australia and everywhere else). The Irish stick to their own (naturally, they all have their friends and family here, I would probably be the same if I was stil living in my hometown), and I am certainly not judging that but it makes it difficult for "foreigners" to break into that culture, and you mostly end up being friends with other foreigners...That said, I've managed to make friends with a few Irish people, it just takes a while ;-)

Ireland is a good place to live if you have a job that pays well...The weather still p*sses me off (I used to live in Brisbane and in Sydney - I get really sad and jealous when I hear the weather reports from that part of the world...), politics, traffic and the health system (what health system?) are a disaster, so are the prices for almost everything, and the endless greed of the population. But apart from that, I love it here, and it could be a lot worse ;-)
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Old Dec 11th 2005, 4:36 am
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Default Re: any others living long term in ireland?

Originally Posted by snowqueen
Just wondering if any of you out there reading/visiting this sight are long time residents of Ireland.

I have been living here since 1991 (married to an Irishman). We are actually planning to emmigrate to Canada, but I would love to share views with others about the experience of being a "Brit" here (or any other 'non-national' for that matter!)

SQ
For sure there are many downsides with being an outsider in every country. Canada loves to emphasise they need skilled people but once here a large proportion of skilled people have to take lousy jobs as no-one wants to give foreigners the time of day in their own fields. It's a similar problem worldwide of course where you get fully qualified doctors driving cabs and accountants having to re-do all their exams. I believe that the government are trying to change things slowly but we read weekly in the local and national Canadian papers and often on forums that people just can't find jobs. Getting something good before arriving would definitely help and having a good deal of money as back up in case it takes a while to find work is also a bonus. The vacation time can be lousy too at only 2 weeks in many places.
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Old Feb 27th 2006, 4:29 pm
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Default Re: any others living long term in ireland?

Hi did you get any nearer to moving over yet?


Originally Posted by snowqueen
Just wondering if any of you out there reading/visiting this sight are long time residents of Ireland.

I have been living here since 1991 (married to an Irishman). We are actually planning to emmigrate to Canada, but I would love to share views with others about the experience of being a "Brit" here (or any other 'non-national' for that matter!)

SQ
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Old Feb 28th 2006, 3:28 pm
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Default Re: any others living long term in ireland?

Originally Posted by tucs
Hi did you get any nearer to moving over yet?

Yes, Tucs, we have our visas!!! Got the passports back yesterday! Happy days. We are hoping to get out for a visit in April to suss out areas etc, meanwhile desperately trying to sort a job out at this end if we can, but if not we still plan to head over for good in the summer. ]

Have had the estate agents in and they say we should go to auction which we will probably do after Easter.....

Things are- a-movin' !!

Thanks for asking

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Old Mar 8th 2006, 8:07 pm
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Default Re: any others living long term in ireland?

[QUOTE=din]I fully agree with you on the "difficult to make friends" and "friendly on the surface" thing! I'm German, I've been here for three years now (on and off), and I still find it hard to get close to the "natives" - and it's certainly not me...(for example, I found it quite easy to make friends in Australia and everywhere else).

Interesting as I have found my experiences at 'making friends' in oz to be similar to your experiences in Ireland. I have found australians to be friendly on a superficial level when it suits them, but without and underlying genuine interest in developing meaningful friendships. But then I am a kiwi LOL And I think kiwis are what aussies love to hate. Maybe they got pissed off that when gwondawnaland (or whatever it was called) broke up, the best and most fertile parts became New Zealand
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Old Mar 9th 2006, 10:53 am
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Default Re: any others living long term in ireland?

[QUOTE=kiwichild]
Originally Posted by din
I fully agree with you on the "difficult to make friends" and "friendly on the surface" thing! I'm German, I've been here for three years now (on and off), and I still find it hard to get close to the "natives" - and it's certainly not me...(for example, I found it quite easy to make friends in Australia and everywhere else).

Interesting as I have found my experiences at 'making friends' in oz to be similar to your experiences in Ireland. I have found australians to be friendly on a superficial level when it suits them, but without and underlying genuine interest in developing meaningful friendships. But then I am a kiwi LOL And I think kiwis are what aussies love to hate. Maybe they got pissed off that when gwondawnaland (or whatever it was called) broke up, the best and most fertile parts became New Zealand
I have sometimes wondered if it's because I'm English (with all that that represents) that people are a little insular but I'm not naturally the paranoid type, so have decided it's just that people are well-stocked with friends from their childhood etc. After all I am married to an irishman, my kids are Irish and my relatives in England think I've 'become very Irish' (LOL) since moving here, whatever that means!

Oddly enough, since announcing our intentions to move to Canada, some of the people I'm friendly with have seems genuinely sad to be losing me, so it's a funny old world!

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Old Mar 9th 2006, 6:59 pm
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Default Re: any others living long term in ireland?

[QUOTE=snowqueen]
Originally Posted by kiwichild

I have sometimes wondered if it's because I'm English (with all that that represents) that people are a little insular but I'm not naturally the paranoid type, so have decided it's just that people are well-stocked with friends from their childhood etc. After all I am married to an irishman, my kids are Irish and my relatives in England think I've 'become very Irish' (LOL) since moving here, whatever that means!

Oddly enough, since announcing our intentions to move to Canada, some of the people I'm friendly with have seems genuinely sad to be losing me, so it's a funny old world!

SQ
I'm curious on why you picked Canada and which part?
I returned to Ireland 3 years ago (native Irish) after spending years in the States longing to come back. And now I want to leave again but undecided on the country.

Regarding Brits in Ireland; there's a fair share of them here and I think that they get on grand. I actually make it a point to be friendly to them (even though I come from a republican background) because I find that we have a lot in common and we understand each other's humour.
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Old Mar 9th 2006, 9:46 pm
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Default Re: any others living long term in ireland?

Originally Posted by boardy

Regarding Brits in Ireland; there's a fair share of them here and I think that they get on grand. I actually make it a point to be friendly to them (even though I come from a republican background) because I find that we have a lot in common and we understand each other's humour.

My irish friends/aquaintances are a bit of a mixed bag...some are definatly keeping a distance but others treat me like I've been around for years. I think I just feel it more because I'm "new" when the truth is, you'd have a mixed bag of relationships where ever you lived.

If I show any signs of doubt though I'm firmly reminded that as a scot...we're all celts together!

I definatly agree with the sentiment that if the irish take you to their hearts, you're warmly recieved and held close.

We get on great here but what I do miss is having a support network...and I miss bumping into someone I know when I'm in Tescos or walking down the street.

(andrew63) Our daughter (14) has an english public school accent but doesn't recieve any flack at school...but then I'm guess your daughter went to the local community school where the kids have recently been ordered to stay in groups of less than 4...so as not to intimidate the teachers!!..we put our children to single sex schools in the next town and *fingers crossed*...with no boys to impress, they seem to be getting on grand....that said, she's losing the accent in favour of something more....neutral!
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Old Mar 11th 2006, 12:36 am
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Default Re: any others living long term in ireland?

Originally Posted by snowqueen
Just wondering if any of you out there reading/visiting this sight are long time residents of Ireland.

I have been living here since 1991 (married to an Irishman). We are actually planning to emmigrate to Canada, but I would love to share views with others about the experience of being a "Brit" here (or any other 'non-national' for that matter!)

SQ
I think lots of people have different experiences. For instance I ran a Brit meetup group in Winnipeg (now looking for a new organiser now that we're leaving!) and had some members who have been here 6 years who said they would never go back to Britain as they really love it here, someone else say they never felt like they 'belonged' and found the people here to be not too welcoming and some others say that while they love it they would be happy to move on again some time in the future! I guess different people come in with different perceptions and gain different experiences so no one answer is completely right. I guess it's a case of finding what's right for you as a family. Life is an uncertainty and we all strive for that extra bit of happiness as that is a natural thing to do. Anyone looking to move is doing a brave thing and if we can come out of it smiling despite all the heartaches and stresses along the way then we're all the better for it! Good luck in yer travels!!
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Old Mar 14th 2006, 12:57 pm
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Default Re: any others living long term in ireland?

[QUOTE=boardy]
Originally Posted by snowqueen

I'm curious on why you picked Canada and which part?
I returned to Ireland 3 years ago (native Irish) after spending years in the States longing to come back. And now I want to leave again but undecided on the country.

Regarding Brits in Ireland; there's a fair share of them here and I think that they get on grand. I actually make it a point to be friendly to them (even though I come from a republican background) because I find that we have a lot in common and we understand each other's humour.

Hi Boardy

We are heading for Toronto, probably as we have great friends there. We picked Canada because of the outdoor life (we love winter sports, fishing etc)all the stuff for the kids, friends as above and because we have been there a lot, liked it and could see ourselves there. We did consider Oz and NZ (been there and loved both) but decded they were just too far away from family. We have been in ireland 15 years and have built up quite a bit of equity in the house too so plan to use that creatively in Canada!

I would agree that the Brits and the Irish have more in common than they do things separating them and thank you for being nice to us!!! To be fair most people are very nice, and I tend to forget that I'm English half the time, (it's just the crap you hear on the radio etc can be quite nasty and certainly wouldn't be allowed if we were any other race!!)

On balance I've enjoyed living here and it is a grand little country (or will be when it's finished, as the saying goes..) but both my Irish husband and I have itchy feet. Time for a change. Like you, he wanted to come back to Ireland (we'd been in South africa and UK before) but the novelty has now worn off for him! I sometimes think that once you start travelling you are doomed to a life of perpetual motion!

What makes you want to leave again?

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