... - is there anything else we should be aware of? Your post on drivers licenses WAs helpful - looks like we will need to go through the whole process... We will begin looking into health insurance options once we arrive - is it typical for employers to offer insurance as a benefit in Ireland as they often do in the US? Any resources on employment with organisations that promote local agriculture? Any advice is much appreciated!

... If you WAnt to commute 2 hrs each WAy to work you can find much cheaper. On top of federal income tax (roughly 25-28%), CA has 13.3% state tax, highest in the country. As Liam mentioned, 1% property tax and the additional add on; homeowners insurance, homeowners association (pays for community pools,parks) which could be $150-$400/month, earthquake insurance (still WAiting the the "big" one to happen, ect). I commute depending which office I work at anywhere from 20-55 miles each WAy. Current petrol prices $2.65/gallon. I do find in Ireland they tend not to ...

This is an incredibly random question, but as I notice all the newish baby gear my son is about to outgrow, and the furniture we've accumulated already, how does one unload secondhand goods in Ireland? As we moved from Tucson, we sold most of our possessions via Craigslist, and I know when we move from Ireland we will be unloading most everything we own again. When we moved into this Apartment it would appear the previous tenants just outright abandoned everything (including vhs tapes, broken small appliances, knick knacks... basically enough to fill the backyard shed, we didn't know what to do).

... in Ireland. We are hoping to make our move in 2024. I've dug through the old forums here and learned some useful things. Although we are retiring, my wife and I are writers and thus bringing our craft with us, so we don't have the employment aspect to worry about. I'm going to Ireland for two months this fall to see the rest of country I've not already seen and to scope out potential places to live. If I can help in any WAy please stay in touch. I am interested to see how your move turns out. Good luck, Robert Scally

How did it all work out? We are driving to the east coast from the West just so the pups only have to be on one (shorter) flight.

Hi all! I'll be arriving in Ireland next Tuesday(11/2) as a Stamp 0 "approvee". I can't WAit! I fly into Dublin via Aer Lingus and I'll be bringing my dog (blk lab). Due to the airline's pet travel requirements, I'm using an extra large dog kennel. It's huge (48"L x 32"W x 35"H) and is intended for dogs who weigh 90-120lbs. Mine is 55lbs. In any case, I doubt the kennel will fit into the rental car along with my luggage and dog for our trek to the West coast. Is there anyone in the group (or maybe you know of someone or an organization) who could use an XL k ...

@countydonegal good luck! This is an annoying step for sure, the theory test. But the app actually makes it very doable I would also find a driving instructor - as according to mine - 1/3 left the work force due to covid. Maybe someone can give you recommendations. May not be as big an issue on the West side. At least six lessons will be needed. Good to have some names. We have a local expat group that I asked. People with kids getting their lessons are a good resource as well. Also - get a manual test and not an automatic - gives more options later. Good luck. hope no sheep questions trip you up. 🙂

The lease I am on does include insurance, which is part of the reason I went with this option to start. I am having a terrible time finding a company that will sell me insurance on a small, older car. All of this is made more difficult by the fact that I’m not sure how long i’m staying. I’m going to visit my sister in the UK for a month, then hopefully coming back to West Cork for another 3 months. After that, who knows? Probably back to the States.

Thanks for sharing that @kevincallaghan Let's hope they figure out something beneficial for both sets of citizens. On a side note...WOW! their comment section is like the wild West over there at IC. Lot's of nasty, petty, name-calling!

My name is Susan, and I am from Miami. I am slowly renovating a place in West Cork and, thus, do not have a definitive move date. I am looking forward to learning from others' experience here, and I am sure I will have lots of questions as I plan my move.