Moving from America to Ireland?

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xalynn

I don't think Irish people see themselves as Celts, and as pointed out by Orla, Celtic tribes were pretty much everywhere in Europe. For more information on the Celts, Wikipedia has a pretty good page on it. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celts )

Re moving to Ireland. The Citizens Informationship website is a very good point to start looking in for information (http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories ).

1) College
In a nutshell, unless you've live here for at least 3 years prior to admission and have Irish/EU nationality, you'll be required to obtain a student visa (renewable annually) and you'll have to pay an exhorbitant international student fees. For more information, check out this page (http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/education/third-level-education/coming-to-ireland-to-study )

2) Residency
Unless you have Irish/EU citizenship, you can legally reside in the country only if you have a student visa or a work permit. (http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/moving-country/moving-to-ireland/rights-of-residence-in-ireland/residence-rights-of-non-eea-nationals-in-ireland )

Residency based on student visa (Stamp 2 or Stamp 2A) is assessed on a yearly basis, and upon graduation you're given 6 months extension visa to look for a job (therefore obtaining work permit). Otherwise you will need to leave the country once your visa expires.

Residency based on work permit (Stamp 1) is assessed differently, depending on the level of skill and income. In general, after 5 years, you may start to apply for a further 5 years extension (Stamp 4). If you've reside in the country for at least 8 years then you can apply for permanent residency (Stamp 5). There is also a new Green Card scheme for particular occupation groups only. (http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/employment/migrant-workers/employment-permits/green_card_permits )

Student years DOES NOT count for application of long term visas.

You may also seek for citizenship by naturalisation after 5 years residing in Ireland, or by Irish descent, or by marriage. For more information on citizenship check this link (http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/moving-country/irish-citizenship )

3) Living expenses
The cost of living in Ireland is very expensive and is among the highest in Europe and in the world. Dublin is crippling to anyone's pocket, while smaller towns, they're not as bad but things are not cheap either by any means. For Dublin, you'd easily look at â‚¬800-â‚¬1000 for a studio apartment per month in the city centre, â‚¬200-â‚¬300 for bills every 2 months (electricity, gas, internet, phone), and as for grocery/food, it's really up to your budgeting skill - if you shop mainly at Aldi and Lidl, it'll be much cheaper than if you shop in Marks & Spencer and Superquinn.

Eating out would be rather pricey, where 3 course meal (plus a glass of wine) on average runs about â‚¬50-â‚¬60 per person. On the positive side, there are plenty of cuisine options, from European to Asian food and everything in between.

Most of the clothing shops seem to be UK-based hence the prices can be horrendous. Other European-based chains such as Zara and H&M would be more reasonable but not necessarily all that cheap either. You can also look into shopping at Dunnes or Penny's for cheaper buys.

4) Faces of the country
Ireland is a very cosmopolitan country, with about over 400,000 of its just over 4 million population being non-Irish. That's just over 11%, but this figure is based on the census in 2006. (http://www.cso.ie/statistics/popnclassbyreligionandnationality2006.htm )

You can see the evidents of such changes even in small towns, where ethnic food stores are cropping up everywhere. Additionally, supermarkets are stocking special aisles e.g. you can find Polish food aisle in Dunnes Stores in Dublin, in order to cater to the demand.

5) Weather
People says it rains a lot in Ireland. It's true. But it's not just that. The weather often feels like 4 seasons in a day. Always be prepared to wrap up well (I carry a scarf with me all year round), armed with an umbrella/raincoat/waterproof jackets (sometimes it's so windy it's pointless having an umbrella), and just take it as it goes.

In general, temperature wise, it's quite mild but the humidity may make it seems warmer/colder.

On final note, re publishing of your book. You can continue to work with your agent in US although you'll be required to register for taxation here since your main domicile will be in Ireland. I'm not sure about US taxation requirement.

Alternatively you may check with your publisher if they have a branch in UK/Ireland that you can deal directly with. They'll be in better position to advise you of the documentations that you may need.

Orla C

It's not a big deal to be Celtic - almost everyone of European descent is Celtic, as the various Celtic tribes spread the Iron Age throughout Europe. The population of continental Europe has about 70% Celtic DNA.

Ireland, by contrast, remained in the Bronze Age until the Celts arrived around 1000 BC - far later than the rest of Europe. This is why Ireland is in fact only Celtic in name - less than 7% of Irish have Celtic DNA. Most of us are actually descended from an older race that pre-dates the Celts.

So be careful about bandying that word about, until you understand its implications.

If you have Irish or EU citizenship, moving to Ireland is no problem; if you don't, you will have to get a residency/work permit, and you won't be able to get this until you have completed your studies. Eventually you will be able to apply for Irish citizenship, for most non-Irish residents, this is after 6 years of residency. In order to get your residency/work permit, you must have a written job offer for a full-time job, part-time while you're in college won't do it.

Ireland has seen many changes in recent years, especially in the influx of workers from Eastern Europe - it's very common to hear Polish in the streets, and there are now special section in shops and supermarket for Polish and Eastern European foodstuffs. There are also different colours of people here - Asians and Africans, and this is great, it's really broadened the spectrum of society in so many ways - food, music, dance, art, events, sports, politics. Your father probably wouldn't recognise most of the places he knew as a young man.

A downside of the economic is that people had more money than good taste, some horrifically ostentatious South Park jobs in terms of housing have gone up, people got greedy, and are now paying for it.

I think a lot of tourists have regretted coming to Ireland without the right type of clothing - you need to cover up in order to be WARM AND COMFORTABLE. I've seen people from Florida find it very hard to get used to the cold and damp climate here, you need layers, scarves, hats, warm socks, good shoes. Many of the tourist attractions involve going outside, so this is a must. If you're not dressed properly, any tourist attraction can be a wash-out, literally as well as figuratively.

Trax

Here's my advice.

Don't use the word 'Celtic.' It's not accurate and it's unnecessary.

Ireland will be very different to America, you should visit there a couple of times first, see if you can stay for a couple of weeks in non-Touristy areas, get a feel for the real Ireland.

Katy C

Yeah I agree with a lot of the above answers, don't use the word Celtic. The Celts were also in France, Wales, Scotland and parts of England. Nothing wrong with being part Celtic by the way, most of us have some breed of it in us! But we are called Irish.

Food and shopping shouldn't be that different to the States, maybe a little less choice, but all good and fresh. Things are expensive though, as was already said.

The weather is changeable; sun, rain and gale force winds all in the space of an hour! Don't expect a summer, you won't get one. Any dry fine day is like a gift from heaven!

Cannot think what the tourist thing is that disgusted your friends; any more info on that one?

Anyway, hope your plans work out well and that you settle in okay. Be yourself, relax, and you will be fine. Good luck! :)

Mr. Self Destruct

i have to ask what are the:

"disgusting things the tourists just wished they knew before they did a certain tourist attraction. . .:

and which tourist attraction incase ive ever been :S

tucky

hm...

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