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I first became obsessed with the idea of moving abroad five years ago, after spending a semester in the UK.
I met amazing people, tried new things, and focused on what I wanted most in life while temporarily letting go of all the things that were causing me stress at home. However, when I returned to the US, the stress returned and I realized I would do anything to make my dream of living abroad come true.
A few years later, a rather impulsive move to Ireland presented many challenges, but it’s something I’d do all over again in a heartbeat.
Here are some of the things that surprised me when I first came to Ireland.
It took me a minute to adjust to the sounds of Irish.
From Irish names that I would never be able to pronounce outside of Ireland to the various accents that require subtitles to understand, learning the Irish language to get to where I am today has been a truly personal journey for me.
I expected many of the Irish phrases to be similar to those I’d heard in the UK, but Ireland has its own national language, which tends to blend into everyday conversational English.
For example, the national police force is called “An Garda Síochána”, which translates as “Guardians of the Peace”, and officers are called Gardaí.
To help illustrate the complexities of Irish slang, here’s a real conversation I had in a group chat when I first moved:
Person 1: “Are you going out with me tonight?”
Person 2: “Okay, just put me down, I’m going in a bit. Also, I need to make sure I don’t take anybody’s video. Scoop! And shut up, Person 1, you damn tick.”
The first sentence had me hooked, after which I frantically searched the Irish page of Urban Dictionary but couldn’t find it.
But it was when I found myself uttering “thanks a million” (or “thanks a mil”) and “bye bye bye … bye bye bye bye” after each phone call that I finally realized I had adapted to the language.
Day trips and weekend excursions are plentiful and encouraged here.
The whole country is really beautiful.
Alexis McSparren
Ireland is home to Ryanair, making cheap flights to almost any European destination easy to come by, so the urge to spend a weekend abroad as often as possible is strong.
Ireland itself is full of stunning natural scenery.
The Republic of Ireland is a small country – a little smaller than Indiana – but each of its 26 counties is vastly different and there’s plenty to explore.
Trek the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher in County Clare, explore the Neolithic site of Newgrange in County Meath, and drive around the spectacular Dingle Peninsula while you spend a week (or your whole life) in my favourite place in the country, County Kerry.
The slow pace of life in Ireland means nothing ever happens on time.
The Irish pride themselves on being “great fun” but unfortunately, this lifestyle can lead to losing track of time.
If you’re someone who’s always late for everything, Ireland is the place for you. If not, prepare to spend long hours staring at your phone while waiting for friends.
Adjustments are necessary, but the unpredictability of the situation means that in Ireland things still feel like they are run by humans, not algorithms or progress.
That’s what makes a huge difference in my overall work-life balance here compared to the US, where my life has always revolved around work schedules, promotions, and very little time off.
Alcohol is a big part of the culture
Each town has plenty of shops, cafes and pubs.
Alexis McSparren
In Ireland, pubs are more than just places to drink Guinness – they’re community centres where people meet up with old friends, catch up, enjoy a hearty meal and sing. Live traditional music,and Irish Jig.
At the pub, friends will often take turns buying each other snacks rather than each paying individually – in Ireland, sharing is caring.
I don’t consider myself a heavy drinker – in the US I’d go out maybe once or twice a month – but since living in Ireland my alcohol consumption has definitely increased as my only social interactions are often in pubs.
Dublin may be a capital city, but it feels like a small town.
Dublin is the capital of Ireland and despite being home to most of the country’s population, has the feel of a small town.
I’ll never forget the first day I moved into my house. I was waiting outside in the rain with my luggage for my landlord, and my next-door neighbor let me in and helped me with my bags. After offering me a few cups of tea (which I naively declined), we chatted in their living room until my landlord arrived.
It has a charming country town atmosphere but with the harsh reality that the shops don’t stay open very late.
Most businesses close at 6pm and some, such as the post office, often close at lunchtime as well. On Sundays, most businesses close even earlier (if they are even open at all).
Coming from the US, where one-stop supermarkets are open 24 hours a day, this was a big change for me, but now when I go back home I feel a bit overwhelmed by the sheer size of the stores and the variety of products.
I finally understood that tea is the elixir of life.
Everyone here will offer you tea or coffee.
Alexis McSparren
I’ll never forget how during my first few weeks in Ireland, my coworkers and roommates would constantly offer me tea. As I’m not much of a tea drinker, when I politely declined, they would be surprised and ask, “But what do you drink?”
I soon realized they were right about how amazing the tea was.
Drinking coffee in Ireland raises a more important question: “Barry’s or Lions?”
Everyone has their own opinion on which of the two major brands is better.
I’ve never felt safer than I did living in Dublin.
Crime doesn’t usually make the evening news here.
Ireland Very strict gun lawsAs a result, rates of gun violence and violent crime in general are low.
My Irish friends are always shocked when I tell them about the crime and violence I experienced in America in the past because that is all they have ever seen in Hollywood movies.
If you visit or move here Always ready to talk about the weather
It rains a lot in Ireland.
Alexis McSparren
Small talk with strangers is common in Ireland and some of people’s favourite topics include the traffic, how they are doing, how their siblings are doing and, most favourite of all, the weather.
The country is notoriously windy, gloomy and rainy for most of the year. Summers are much milder but often cloudy, and rain can pour out of a bright blue sky at any time.
The unpredictable weather gave rise to the old Irish proverb “All the seasons in one day.”
Housing and other living costs are high, but affordable health care is a plus.
Dublin is One of the most expensive cities in EuropeToday, most one-bedroom apartments cost nearly $2,000 a month, and there’s a nationwide housing shortage that’s sending rents soaring.
With high living costs and low wages, the cultural norm for many young people is to live with their families into their 30s.
Moving outside Dublin will make housing cheaper, but the public transport system in the country is also One of the most expensive In Europe.
But I am grateful for the affordable cost of health care. Since moving, I’ve prioritized my health in ways I never could have done in the U.S. Whereas I previously would go years without an appointment, now I can easily and inexpensively see a doctor, dentist, therapist, masseuse, and chiropractor, even without health insurance.
A lot Discover a unique tradition Ireland
There are many superstitions rooted in the culture.
Alexis McSparren
Leprechauns may not exist, but Irish superstitions do.
Whatever you do, don’t cut down a single tree standing in the middle of a field, especially if it has ribbons tied to its branches or rocks piled up around its base. In Celtic folklore, they Fairy Treeacts as a gateway between our world and the world of our little friends.
Sadly, these Irish creatures are more like the spiteful fairies from “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” than Tinkerbell, and damaging the tree is said to bring a lifetime of bad luck.
The Irish still highly value this cultural tradition today, and at one time highways were even built around existing roads. County Clare fairy trees.
Some unique rituals are also celebrated in Ireland.
For example, in Killorglin, County Kerry, local people have been Pac Fair A wild goat captured in the mountains is brought back to the town square and crowned King of the Puck by a local schoolgirl (who is chosen as Queen of the Puck).
King Pak’s subjects celebrate this coronation with a three-day festival before King Pak is returned to the mountain.
Glad to be living in Ireland during the pandemic lockdown
During the pandemic, I’ve been able to escape to the beach and explore different parts of the country.
Alexis McSparren
Ireland takes public health very seriously and has had strict lockdown restrictions in place for almost two years during the coronavirus pandemic.
One of these restrictions meant that people could not travel more than 2, 5 or even 20 kilometres from their homes for a period of time.
But with Dublin nestled between the sea and the mountains, there’s no shortage of beautiful scenery to explore, and Ireland is a country steeped in ancient history, so there’s something to discover around every corner.
This story was originally published in February 2022 and last updated on July 3, 2024.