I'm seriously considering moving to Ireland from the USA...?

Question

Before anyone harps on me for leaving the US, its not because I don't love my country because I do, I just feel a strong pull and call to go to Ireland. Now to my ???...I want to live somewhere I will see all four seasons. Not to big of a city but not a small town with dirt roads either...good scenery and last but not least, I need a Ford dealership near by!!! I currently work for Ford and its where all my education is invested in so I want to stay with the company. Any ideas? What's it like to live in such a beautiful place? Any feedback would be wonderful!

Answer 1

I lived in Ireland for 12 years, in Sligo a 40,000 pop. town/city in the West. It was amazing living there but after 12 years I packed up and now I'm in central London...

I think that about explains it... If you're between 35-50+ are looking for a quiter life, one not obsessed with money, one where you know your neighbours names (but have the freedom to not have to), live close to a fresh Atlantic breeze, then move to Sligo. (There's a Ford dealership in Sligo as far as I remember). Obtaining an Irish residency permit/ work permit is not that difficult and I would advise you go for it because life's too short for "if's" and "I wonder what would have happened".

However, a warning, if like me, you're not really looking for the above, you will eventually get bored even if you live in Dublin. There's little happening in Ireland in terms of LARGE scale culture, art, music, development, luxury etc. all the things you find in New York, London, Paris. There are these things in small scale, don't get me wrong, but nothing huge.

Nothing beats Rosses Point beach though, GO TO SLIGO! (but don't stay too long or you'll bore yourself half to death!) I guess it all depends on which of the two categories are you because I'm more of the second...

Answer 2

The biggest problem you are facing is that as a US-citizen you would need first a residency permit and second a work permit to work in the EU.

This work permit is very hard to get, as millions of illegal and legal immigrants seek work in Western Europe every year. Ireland is very popular because lots of people speak English as a second language.

Your best bet is to either get Ford to sent you over (you would need to be highly qualified for this) or to enroll at a university in Ireland.

Graduates from European universities usually have special privileges regarding work permits, so it should be easier getting one in Ireland when you hold an Irish degree. If you already got a Bachelor of Business Administration or a similar degree, you could sign up for master's (MBA).

Ford might be US-based, but in truth they are a multi-national company.

Quote from Ford.com: "Vehicle brands include not only Ford but Mazda, Mercury, Lincoln and the Premier Automotive Group: Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo."

Aston Martin, Jaguar and Land Rover are British brands, IIRC.

Another quote from Ford.com: "As a global company, we manufacture and sell vehicles all over the world, and we have career opportunities in many countries. If you would like to join our team and are authorized to work in a country other than the U.S., we invite you to visit our international websites for more information, or contact us at one of the email addresses below.

Belgium: [e-mail]

France: [e-mail]

Germany: [e-mail]

Spain: [e-mail]

European National Sales Companies:

...

Ireland: [e-mail]

...

In Europe it is nothing unusual that an employee in a multi-national firm is sent abroad to another branch in the company to complete hir training. Maybe you can try to do a job change - switch jobs with a European employee of Ford in a similar position to yours - for 3 months. (3 months is usually the limit for vocational training without the need for a work permit.) After this is might be easier to get deployed to Europe permanently. Make some contacts and get to work on it!

As for the short-term temporary work permit to Ireland you will need for the job exchange, contact the Irish embassy in the US. (Sorry, I only know how to do this the other way, from the EU to the US.)

Good luck!

Answer 3

You're living in a dreamworld lady.

Before you up and move to another country that you clearly know nothing about I would strongly suggest that you take a visit there.

Spend 2-3 weeks on holiday and have a look around the country. It's quite safe so the moron who said there were bombs going off has clearly never been there either.

Have a holiday (vacation) and if you like what you see then try to emigrate.

Answer 4

Sorry, but you seem to be getting an awful lot of bad advise and inaccurate 'facts' about Ireland.  I moved the opposite way from you, born and raised in Belfast, and I still go home at least once a year, so take it from me when I tell you that Kate M is a complete idiot when she questions your knowledge about the IRA and goes on to tell you that bombs go off in  Belfast every day.  Belfast / Northern Ireland  and Ireland as a whole is a very safe country to visit.  Your more likely to be run over by an american tour bus than be blown up by the IRA ( who by the way have had a ceasefire for the past 10 years, have completely disarmed and renounced violence as a means to ones goals, for good).  

Besides that, pd & Jelly shares his/her ignorance of the Ford motor company by thinking that because its an American company, it only markets cars in America.  Do Nissan only sell/build cars in Japan? In fact, Ford is one of the more common cars driven in Ireland since they have a huge factory just across the water in England that produce vehicles specially for the European market.  There are plenty of Ford dealerships in the bigger towns around Ireland.  

My suggestion to you would be to consider Galway.  Big town, not too big, beautiful scenery, somewhat 'touristy'.  

Remember... don't let the NaySayers kill your dream.

Answer 5

do you know that ireland is not that safe ? the bombs go off every other day in belfast . Are you familiar with the IRA - Irish republican army ? they are very prevalent there . I think you should reconsider your plans. Freedom is not part of the plan in Ireland. You have to show papers every where you go .

Answer 6

Ford is an american company.  I've never seen anyone driving one in Ireland.  

For the most part, the weather in Ireland is pretty mild. The summers are not to warm, and their winters are not very cold.  It doesn't really snow there because of this.  However, it RAINS there all the time.  It's.  Always. Raining.  That's why it's so "beautiful", as you say.  Irealnd is associated with green and rainbows because it NEVER STOPS RAINING.

That being said, check out Galway (Galway city in Co. Galway).  It's beautiful, it's 'city' enough to be able to shop, go out, etc..., but it's out of the way enough to find some peace.

Answer 7

i highly consider Skokie, Chicago, Evanston, or any other Chicago suburbs because you still can see all the beautiful weather!!!! GO TO CHICAGO MOSTLY BECAUSE I LIVE BY A FORD!!!! THAT'S WHERE I GOT MY CAR!