Hello! 

I am Lindsay McCabe. My husband Kevin is an Irish citizen (via foreign births registry) and we have two children: Anna (11) and Aidan (9). 

We plan to move to Ireland mid-2021 or sooner from Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Kevin has been looking for employment in Ireland and we are hoping that it will be an easier process since he won't need a work visa. (He's been working for UPS for 18 years...industrial engineering/logistics/project management, if anyone know of opportunities!)

We've never even visited Ireland, and we plan to move without ever having visited...a leap of faith...an adventure! The kids are excited, as are we! We've learned so much on this site and are looking forward to learning even more and getting involved with the forums. 

The question I have for those of you who have already done this: what is one thing you wish you'd known before you made the move? 

Hello McCabe family. Great to have you here. 

Wow - that is quite the adventure! Moving to a place you've never been to. I hope it works out for you, but please do as much research as possible first. Lots of people have a very fond association with Ireland, and often the reality of living there is not quite what they expected. In fact, I remember reading statistics of how many people from Ireland who emigrated and returned, leave again, some time after. It just wasn't the Ireland they remembered. 

I'm not trying to deter you. I just hope you research it, and make the move with an open mind. Best wishes!

As another parent of similar aged kids, I will give you a practical 'one thing' that I hope helps, or at least informs. Your kids will most likely have to learn the Irish language in school. This is not a bad thing by any means, however they will be 5 & 7 years behind their peers. Irish kids start to learn it in school around age 4. Exemptions are granted for those age 12 or over in some cases. Details here if you want to research. 

There are resources (books, TV, websites etc) out there that you could start looking in to now, to give them a jump start. Just an idea if you're interested. 

Hello,

I am Liz and I am interested in learning more about remote working in Ireland. I have a particular skill set that allows me to consult and do Skilled contract work. Interestingly, the fields/roles that I work in are also referenced 4 times in the “skilled workers” list. Has anyone on the forum moved to Ireland under similar circumstances? Did you go through the skilled worker interview process or were you able to show gainful self employment?

thank you in advance!

Hi Liz @ullasteprua, and welcome 🙂 

Off hand I can't remember someone on here who moved to Ireland with this type of visa. Have you tried connecting via larger social networks with people in a similar situation. Many of the big tech companies (Facebook, Google, Apple, Twitter, Qualcomm etc) hire people this way. I'm imagining there are online groups where these people connect and share experiences etc. I understand there are plenty of non-tech type occupations on the list, but using those just as an example. 

For the benefit of all, sharing a link to the Critical Skills occupation list here. 

@ullasteprua Hi Liz!  I currently work remotely in Colorado and would hope to continue to do so in Ireland upon moving - date not at all in place yet but probably in a year if all goes well!  Did you find any more resources that were helpful? I am very interested but not sure how I fit.  I work as a desl desk manager which is primarily a focal point in sales contracts and managing contracts for software companies, etc.  I would think it is relevant anywhere but does that tie in with what you do?  Would love to chat more! 🙂

Hi Sarah @kinofcoolamber

From what I can tell, yourself and Liz may be in two different situations? I read on your other post that you may be getting Irish citizenship. Liz, from what I understand, is hoping to emigrate on the critical skills visa. With citizenship, you should be able to find work just like any other citizen. I've read on other sites that remote work is on the uptick. Obviously Covid is in play at the moment, making that more of a necessity, but that was the case anyway beforehand. A lot of the big tech companies are in Ireland (FB, Apple, Google etc). They often advertise work from home opportunities. Or are you hoping to continue doing the same job you have now, but just from Ireland?

Nice to meet you 🙂 

Dave S.

Cliff John here. Moving to IRE in 2021 with wife Susan... ireland native

We have already looked  at all electronics without a transformer brick and decided to replace them all with units that will work with the local electric requirements. My question is regarding shipping of owned gear. Furniture and a ch, that we will have to store for a year before we actually buy a house in 2022 (waiting for tax free distribution from I pension). I am feeling like BBQ grills, smokers, sofas, garden furniture and gazebos... can all be purchased here is ISS for less and shipped, but in the end I feel I should just sell I all here and buy stuff there in another year. Are the prices that much more expensive on that type of stuff to warrant shipping everything we have?

Oh yeah, we are retiring to IRE. Not looking for work or job related Visa’s

My husband, Bob, and I are looking at Ireland as a possible home base to look around northern Europe for semi long term (6 mo. to 1 year) places to live. We retired at the beginning of 2020 with a buyer for the house and most everything packed or gotten rid of. Fortunately, when COVID-19 hit we were still in our home and stayed here. We won't be doing anything but planning until it is safe to travel (and any country will let Americans in.)

We aren't really interested in seeing the sites. This will be our 6th or 7th trip over which includes Marseille for 16 months (and having our 1st child), Firenze for a year (the most expensive of our life) with our two kids who were 9 & 4 at the time, and a 6 month move to Exeter. Only a short move as our then 13 yr. old son had to get back to his U.S. school to play on the basketball team.  

We would love to hear thoughts about smallish towns with good transit access to get to trains, buses, and airports. I have driven in France, Italy, the U.K., Denmark, and Holland. While we don't want to own a car, I am not concerned about getting around by car when needed. 

That is my introduction to you all. Oh, and my husband wants to be able to enjoy a season of Hurling. He spent many hours watching and talking about it while we were in Birr a couple years ago.