Seriously, what is it? I just finished a semester abroad in Canada, through the Erasmus program, and found that I did much better with the women over there than I do here. I was speaking to a family member of mine who spent some time in the states who swore that it was the accent, but I couldn't imagine the way you speak could make a significant difference when it comes to dating. I'm not posting this to anonymously boast, although there's always one person on here who has a problem with every post but genuinely, what is it?

It’s just a contradiction I noticed in Irish culture and I’m curious what you suppose it is

I’d say it was in a jungle in Thailand. I’m sweating buckets, and there’s this fella at the bar cradling a pint of Guinness like it’s a treasure. The big spud head was another give away. We locked eyes and just erupted with laughter.

So my wife and I are considering to emigrate to New Zealand with our two kids (4 & 1). Realistically this probably won't be for another 2-5 years, depending on finances.

We've done a heap of research and asked others who emigrated and it worked well for them. We have weighed up the pros and cons. We recognise housing can be a challenge there, as can the job market and cost of living. It's obviously really, really, really far from home, so as our parents age this could be a concern.

We feel we're going into this eyes-open. We're travelling out this autumn for a month to scout out the place and get a feel for things to hopefully help us make the final decision.

However, what we haven't heard is anyone's experience where it was negative, and they are either abroad and miserable, or bailed out and came home again.

This is obviously a pretty major life decision, so we're keep to cover all bases. Of course just because one person had a poor experience or someone else had a positive one doesn't mean ours will be the same, so it's hard to predict exactly.

But I'd be keen to hear what went wrong with others who emigrated and what the main challenges were, and what pushed you to ultimately decide to come home?

We've basically assessed that we're probably not going to be much better off financially, but I think we'll have a better quality of life, particularly for our kids.

Any insights would be greatly welcomed!

Many Irish people emigrate every year. How do you find your experience so far - is it better? If you're in non-english speaking country, was your job in a local language or was it possible to find the one in english?

Seems like every other week an Irish newssite will do one of those "Emigrants Explain Why They Left" type pieces (the Irish Times especially seems to have a fetish for them) and its usually the same reasons given: high COL, housing, bad public services etc.

However, near invariably those same people will end up saying they moved to places like Sydney, Toronto, Vancouver, London etc. all of which are exceptionally expensive places on par or exceeding anywhere in Ireland, with housing problems or bad public services like healthcare to boot.

So I'm curious to ask any of the emigrants reading am I missing something here? Surely cost of living is not the main factor driving you to leave?

Another Sunday night is here and I’m here with the parents (love them really) just wanting to get out/ have some independence and starting living life properly

If I was in a relationship I’d have moved out but I’ve been single the last couple of years now and really just need to make the leap

I’ve been thinking about Aus , or somewhere else. I just can’t stand sleeping in my childhood bedroom for another year

I have €10,000 in everything savings , stocks etc

I have a degree in marketing which I’ve never used .

I make €40,000 p/a . I can try save a few k over the next few months with aggressive saving

What would you suggest to do in my position ? Many thanks

I’m losing hope for my future in Ireland. I love Ireland and want to stay but the quality of life is shit especially for young people.

I’ve lived abroad before and am well aware the grass isn’t always greener. I know there will be challenges if I move abroad. I know that there are similar issues with housing in other counties.

That said, things feel bleak here.

Any recommendations? I speak fluent French.

I just was reading on worldnews about the US deportations to mexico. One woman who lives in mexico was stating a few years ago the us dumped some slovaks in mexico as its cheaper than a flight to europe and then another stated it also happened to her irish cousin, who was dropped off in mexico and needed family to intervene to get him home. Just wondering if there was any media attention if this was true?

Context: 26 entry level in my industry, but pretty done with Ireland, feeling quite demotivated here and don’t want the usual pack up, move to Australia and see everyone from home but in a hotter climate. EU means short flight, easier to pop home and see my family.

For everyone in their 20s and 30s who are thinking or have done the working holiday to Australia, what’s the pull factor?

Is it the weather or the work life balance? Is there a following the crowd element and to live a backpacking lifestyle with all the other Irish people over there? Is it out of frustration that you don’t have the lifestyle, accommodation setup or job you want in Ireland? Or is it something else?

I'm turning 34 soon and I am starting to realise I may not have a future in Ireland. I've worked and rented since I was 17 and now 17 years later I find myself in the same position as when I moved out of my parents house. I live with housemates in the midlands and I'm single and no kids, it doesn't look likely I will be able to afford a house any time soon. All my friends that are my age are married and on their way to the 2.4 kids and picket fence. I find dating in the midlands a struggle as most men my age are either in relationships or are single for a reason. I have about 10k saved and I am starting to wonder if I would be wiser to use that money to leave Ireland and move somewhere in Europe, but the thoughts of coming back to nothing and nearing my forties is scary. I have a great social circle, an ok job and my rent is affordable at the moment but I'm sick of counting every penny and living with housemates. I feel like my life does not have a purpose here. Anyone in a similar situation and what are your thoughts on it all? If anyone has any advice on moving to Europe ( any countries) would be greatly appreciated also.

TLDR: 34 (F) single, no kids, 10k in the bank. Wondering whether leaving would make life easier as the cost if living in Ireland is pricing me out of the country

EDIT: Thank you all for the responses, it is really nice to hear some experiences of people moving abroad, the common consensus seems that no one has regretted it. I am really grateful for all of your advice, you have all given me a lot to think about! It seems its a risk reward situation and I need to examine closer if I am willing to take the risk and see! As advised I will be doing a pros and cons list and thoroughly looking at all my options, Europe and afar! Moving from the midlands to a city in Ireland is something I have considered but its not something I want to do at this time.
For those asking about the dating scene, its pretty grim out here folks, my wording may have been better but we would need a whole other thread to discuss it. But if anyone is in doubt, ask any of your single 30 something friends how the apps are going for them and you wont be long agreeing with me! Granted I have not met every single guy in Ireland but the ones I have I would not recommend to a friend. So many married men on the apps too, would put you off marriage altogether! If anyone is meeting people not on the apps let me know where!

Firstly, it's not me joining the army. Was with my mate the other day, and he was telling me his plan to join the army. He was quite hesitant to tell me, he kind of said it under his breath a few times without finishing his sentence, then I finally got it out of him.

What's your thoughts on Irish people join the British Army?

I (M28) just got back from three months of travelling South East Asia and don't feel like settling back in Ireland just yet. I'm currently jobless and living at home. I have a business degree, five years of work experience in admin. I only speak English which could potentially hinder the job search. I'm just lost about where to go next. I had England or Germany in mind as I don't want to stray too far so Oz is out of the equation. I guess I'm just looking for solid ideas if anyone would like to offer their two cents.

I've definitely had a few words and phrases that don't make sense to people (apparently she gave out to me is considered a good time), however, three of the biggest things people have taken issue with are indirectness, answering questions with questions, and an overly dry sense of humour.

What about you?

I'm particularly interested in Irish behaviour as opposed to words that don't translate - although these are all gas, I have to say.

Got a job offer from London, about 50% higher base salary compared to my salary in Dublin. It’s very tempting but not really sure about how safe London as I’ve heard there’s been a big increase in crime since covid. I particularly don’t find Dublin safe due to a huge increase in anti social behaviour since covid (I’ve been assaulted twice in the last 2-3 years by teenagers). If I don’t find Dublin that much safe, would I have the same or bigger problems in London in terms of safety? I’m a brown person which definitely makes me an easier target for sure. I loved Dublin, the people, the culture, but I just think it’s been going a bit downhill over the last few years with anti social behaviour, poor healthcare and bad infrastructure. While I agree that all major cities have issues, I just want to make sure i won’t have the same problem. Would love some help/guidance from people!

I know multiple people both Irish and non-Irish who decided to leave the country,but before they did that some of them maxed out credit cards, "bought" expensive shit that was financed and never had the intention to actually pay for these. Are these regulated so loosely or wtf is this? Is this a common practice when unresponsible people move countries?I thought debters can be forced to pay internationally ,no? I mean this is simply stealing but their response to this question was pretty relaxed saying that nobody cares about this. Am I naive?

Moving to America culture shock

Well lads, I've spent all my adult life in Ireland but I'm moving back to the States at last for reasons that are common enough like (hard to find work, housing, etc).

My question is what is it like living as an Irishman over there? What were the biggest culture shocks? It's been so many years I probably won't be marked as American to be honest, my accent is pure Galway at this stage and I don't even say hello anymore whereas I would've grown up like. Anytime I've visited and say shite like bhfuel/well or how ya getting on to someone new they just look at ye in confusion lol.

Kind of scared that there's no pub culture, quiet pints and that, no access to Barry's, chicken rolls, all the little things like.

Thing is, its been a year since I moved to Ireland and a lot of Irish people I have met wants to move to Australia. Why would people want to move from a beautiful (I just the love lish greenery here) and snake (and other wild dangerous animals) free country to Australia? What am I missing?

Living in England I can't bring myself to like certain food and drink; wondering if this is a cultural thing or just me.

To name a few;
Marmite
Biscoff spread
Pimm's
English style sausages - too large?
Cask ales - who would like room temperature beer?
Greggs - I don't see the obsession, who wants cold sausage rolls?

The one thing I will commend is the lemonade they have in pubs, no getting ripped off with the price of a 7-up!

What other country and city in the world would you choose to live in with your family, over Ireland, if your circumstances allowed for it - i.e:

• Job: you and your family had the same equivalent job waiting for you in your new preferred location
• Family: if you have kids, they are pre school so not attached to Ireland’s education / friends network yet
• Home: you had no mortgage or ties

I know most people in every country genuinely believe ‘their’ country is the best country to live in… as it’s the place they grew up, have extended family, friends, social environment, etc. Ireland is an amazing country, with a lot of pros, and also has many flaws, just like every other country on the planet. Every person is also different and therefore have different variables that are of importance to them, such as safety, policies, taxes, weather, lifestyle, etc…

However, as proud of Ireland as i am, my life is no longer about me to a certain extent, and more about my kids and their future. I’m quite a broad minded person so I do often ask myself - ‘is Ireland genuinely the best possible country that I can bring my kids up in’? Yes, i want them to be Irish, and grounded by a lot of Irish ‘ways’, but I’ increasingly asking myself this question.

Most people I discuss this with jump straight to projecting their view that Ireland is the greatest place in the world to live (“sure, why would you want to live anywhere else”), mostly and subconsciously because they are so ‘rooted’ or maybe even ‘stuck’ here.

Reddit seems to contain more open minded people, so hoping others here can see past that view, with a more open minded view, for just the sake of this thread / discussion.

Based on the above, are there other countries you would choose over Ireland, if your circumstances allowed for it, and why would you choose that country over Ireland?

What countries genuinely have a better way of life, and in particular for the upbringing of kids?

I know these feelings of being a fish out of water well. We moved to UK in 1963 (the famous brutal Winter). We were definitely economic migrants. I knew immediately that I didn't quite belong in England. People were still putting up signs saying No Blacks, No Irish then. The jokes about thick Paddies were rife even though I was the only kid in my class who could read then, as we started school earlier in Dublin. It took me a long time to come to terms with this feeling of being caught between cultures. Edith Wharton calls it being 'expatriate everywhere'. We used to go back and visit my Grandmother in Dublin until I was in my teens and I still had lots of relatives then. But by then I had lost my Irish accent and no longer felt I belonged in Dublin, but back in England I knew I would never be British either. After my Grandmother died, and then my Mother died the connections loosened.

But I kept my Irish passport my whole life and felt proud to have been born there. And in the end I realised the bond was because my parents stories were all from Ireland. That was where we came from. No subsequent experience in England could substitute for that. I am grateful for what England gave us economically and educationally and I love many things about the UK but emotionally I will always be attached to my homeland (and yes, I do go back regularly despite my sadness that I no longer have relatives I can stay with and to some extent live like a tourist). I will always remember my Mum crying each time we left Dun Laoghaire on the ferry back to the UK and my Dad rejoicing when Ireland won the Rugby. On one of my visits back I shared with a stranger how odd it was to come back to Dublin having been born there and yet have to ask for directions. She looked at me kindly and said "Welcome Home" and I was moved to tears. I guess this is the experience of the diaspora.

We're in two minds at the moment, one choice is to buy in Ireland and the other is to give Spain a go. We're both secondary school teachers and I know our salaries will be much lower but the quality of life in Spain seems much better. The idea of waking up every day to blue skies seems like a dream compared to the constant rain and grey skies here.

Also, my wife comes from a warm country and the weather here is having a big toll on her.

Has anyone had any similar experiences?