Is Ireland a good place to live?

Question

I live in Australia, NSW to be exact, and when I'm older I want move to Ireland. I have a few questions so the person who answers them with the most info gets best answer, thanks.

1) Is Ireland very different from Australia? How?

2) I'd like to raise my kids there, are the schools good? Are there many private schools?

3) From what I've read, I like Waterford, maybe Ardmore, so what is it like there: schools, traffic, people, crime, etc?

4) I'd like to build my own home there, a large home, so is there large lands for sale? and could I build big, or would I have to stay simple?

5) Where would you suggest is the best place to live and grow up?

That's about it for now, but if I think of anything else I'll add it, thank you for taking the time to read this.

Answer 1

1. It's extremely different. The Weather is the main one, We have four season and it's nearly always raining. Ireland has a population of about 4 million and it's a small country. It's in Europe.

2. The School are good here, There are private schools but they're just as good as public schools.

3. Waterford is a nice place. Ardmore is a small village with a lack of facilities though. There's a few schools there, not many. Not much traffic, It's a small quite area but overall it's lovely.

4. There is land there especially in the country. You can build as big as you want once you've got the money.

5. I think Donegal or anywhere in the country.

Good Luck. = )

Answer 2

I was born in Dublin, have lived in Sydney and currently live in Florida.  Ireland is worlds apart from Australia.  I would love to be back in Ireland, but can't do it right now, but do plan to go back in the next few years. I spent six months there which included the "summer" just gone.  I think it would be difficult for an Aussie to contend with the Irish climate, although I find it romantic and somewhat mystical, it does your head in when it's raining day in and day out.  You are very much restricted as to what you can do, I like to run, and was blinded and soaked by the rain constantly back home not to mention the muddy fields etc. lol.  It's incredibly expensive and you do not get any value for your money.  It pained me to pay so much for things when I was back there, even groceries are a rip off, as soon as I got back to the states a had a huge steak and loads of shrimp(prawns).  But everyone is such a laugh and theres a great vibe in town and the food tastes great, not full of preservitives and God knows what else like here.  You have the close proximity to Europe and in a few hours you're in a different country.  Try it for 6 months now while you are young or a year.  7 years ago I never thought I would move back to Ireland and now I can't wait to!  Do it now, who knows what your circumstances will be later in life, you might marry someone from a different country or culture and go live where they are from or whatever! You constantly grow and change as a person. Best of luck though! p.s My brother lived in Sydney for 13 years and now lives back in Dublin and has no regrets...

Answer 3

Ireland is different from Australia as far as the weather goes. I have a friend from Ireland and he says he likes the schools there. There is a lot of land out in Ireland so you would be able to build a house there.

Answer 4

Your questions are all good but you say you want to live here when you're older - how many years would that be? I'd say all of them will have changed a lot by the time you're ready to move. Ireland has changed a lot even drastically in the last few years.

Best advice I can give is if you can come here before you move and travel a bit to get a feel for the place and where you would like to live - facilities differ a lot from place to place - are you willing to travel for work or schools from where you live etc or do you want everything in the one place?

Maybe get to know people here before you go through forums online so you can learn things from as they experience them. Check out government websites for details on planning regulations, schools, crime statistics etc.

Personally I grew up and still live in Dublin City and love it but you would be hard pressed to find somewhere to live here now unless you had piles of money but the housing market seems to have slowed down so maybe by the time you get here you'll find things more affordable - who knows!

All the best anyway :o)

Answer 5

Ireland is very different from Australia, we have weather. Four seasons in one day, honey. You will discover rainwear.

Schools are excellent, if underfunded. There are private schools, but most schools are still run under the auspices of religious orders.

I know Waterford, and the village of Ardmore - it's very small. I doubt there are more than 2 secondary schools there, if at all. I imagine most kids go to nearby Dungarvan for school.  It's a seaside village so life is pretty much confined to the summer.

You can buy sites to build on, but then you have to deal with County Councils and applications for planning permission, which is a long and costly process. It could take years to get the house you want. It is not advised to build first and ask questions later.

County Waterford is a reasonable place, as good a place as any, really, for raising a family.

Answer 6

I have no details, since I am not from Ireland, but I have been there and it is a very nice place to live. Of course, a place is nice to live in if you have a good job there or a good income source in general, so you must check that before moving. As for crime, I think there is not much, people arefriendly, but there is quite a lot of drinking.

Answer 7

I think Dublin or Cork are very very good places to live, except for the climate (too windy, rainy...)

Answer 8

Norhern Ireland is.

Answer 9

I live in Waterford...Im living in the city centre...Ardmore is very rural.I have never been to Australia so i cant tell if there is much difference, but im sure there is

The schools here are good! There are two good private schools that i know of in Waterford city centre - one called Newtown the other is Yeats ... You wont find any private schools near Ardmore, It is too rural.

Crime is not major in Waterford...Traffic is only ok- but it really depends on where you live and what time you are travelling, but you wont be stuck in traffic for hours!

You have to buy a plot of land first - then you would have to apply for planning permission for your house from the county council - and trust me they are difficult to deal with and it can be a lenghty ordeal - obviously if it does not fit in will the scenery you wont get approval for it.

have you ever even visited ? if not you really shouldnt just move here - i definatly suggest a few weeks on getting to know the place first!!

here are some local websites you will get some help from

http://www.waterfordcity.ie

Newtown school http://www.iol.ie/~newtownw/nsw/index.ht...

Yeats http://www.yeatscollege.ie/about.htm

http://www.upthedeise.com

http://www.munster-express.ie/

Answer 10

well ireland is very different from australia,there's a very high cost of living and the health service is atrocious unlike in australia where there is a great health service.

bit of advice stay in australia its a lot better than ireland