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Possible move to Ireland

TheBrewMeister

Wasn't really sure what forum to put this in, as there was no "General Topics" forum. So, sorry if this is inappropriate...

I've been approached about a potential job offer in Ireland.

It's always been my dream to live there, maybe not forever, but I'd like to stay for a few years at least. I'm of Irish decent - not typical "American Irish" decent where everyone says "I'm like .25% irish" - I mean, I'm 100% Irish decent; family was from Castlebar, and this job would be about 30 mins from there. No one in my family has been back since the 80's and I was too young to go then, so this is an exciting opportunity for me.

So, I'm here trying to learn as much as I can about the Country, culture, etc before I come visit. This is a pretty big undertaking so I want to be as informed as possible.

The first bit of advice I got was to come here to Boards and read...

Any other advice for me?

Cheers!

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chrismon

Come over and enjoy your self.
Don't talk about your roots to people unless they ask, is generally the first thing an American tourist says to us when we meet them

Hope it all works out for you and keep us updated.

TheBrewMeister

chrismon wrote: »

...is generally the first thing an American tourist says to us when we meet them

Hope it all works out for you and keep us updated.

Thanks, and I could see how that would get old.

clairefontaine

TheBrewMeister wrote: »

Thanks, and I could see how that would get old.

It goes the other way too. Be prepared for the WHERE ARE YOU FROM interrogation. You could be there for 15 years and you'll still get it.

TheBrewMeister

clairefontaine wrote: »

It goes the other way too. Be prepared for the WHERE ARE YOU FROM interrogation. You could be there for 15 years and you'll still get it.

Guess I better learn how to sound Irish.

chrismon

TheBrewMeister wrote: »

Guess I better learn how to sound Irish.

Don't do that either.

clairefontaine

TheBrewMeister wrote: »

Guess I better learn how to sound Irish.

It's easier to pretend you're deaf.

uncle_sam_ie

TheBrewMeister wrote: »

I've been looking at house/apartment prices,

Choose where you live carefully because, unless you you're living in one of the major cities, internet access can be sketchy at best. I'm on 2Mb DSL and thats the best I can get. My neighbors down the road can't even get DSL.

I'm from California and been living here since 1996, best advice I can give is watch out for the cowboys, People or businesses that claim to know what they're doing but don't have a clue.

Mr. CooL ICE

TheBrewMeister wrote: »

I was told they had to jump threw a bunch of hoops in order to "import" an American Brewer though.

An american brewer? Don't go making any of that pisswater bud sh1te and you'll be fine

Canis Lupus

It's a big move to leave anywhere and move to 30 mins outside of Castlebar imo. It'd be easier for me to recommend if you didn't have a family.

rsole1

TheBrewMeister wrote: »

hmmn. no "razzing?" how about "bustin yer ballz?" "slagging?"

Go to britishexpats.com Republic of Ireland forum for advice.

wow sierra

People will consider you American - not Irish. Doesn't mean they won't like you.

"Democrats good/Republicans bad" would be the simplistic view of US politics here - expect some slagging if you are Republican. A lot more sympathy for Palestine than Israel here too. (Gross generalisations I know but something you might not be aware of)

We have got over hating Brits years ago - but we still like singing Republican songs for fun (and beating them if possible in Sport).

You will still be able to find lots of Irish culture, music, Gaelic games etc and people speaking Irish here as their first language in Connemara which will be near you in Mayo and the Aran Islands are amazing. But you will also find that lots of Irish people have zero interest in Irish culture. A lot of social life revolves around pubs - I remember being on Holiday in Ohio and almost no pubs.

Lots of Government restrictions here - restricted smoking, parking laws, Health and Safety regulations etc

charlietheminxx

Yeah you need to move to a town, somewhere close to schools, shops etc. If it was just you, living out a bit would be fine but your children are going to need a chance to integrate and make friends.

Good luck with the move!

TommiesTank

anto9 wrote: »

In real life most Irish will lick your ass ,just because you are American ( and not English ) .Thats one thing that sickens me about my old Country of residence .The fawning attitude about anything and anyone American .

Main reason I'm pleased you are no longer around.

Rasheed

Will you be in Castlebar for the All Ireland?

OP you'll be sound as a bell. Come with an open mind, chat plenty and you'll get on grand with people. Castlebar is a nice bustling town without being too urbanised. You'll only be a stones throw away from magnificent scenery too. It'll take time to settle in, like any move really, but hopefully you and your family will love it. As some posters have already mentioned, posting in the Mayo forum would probably be a massive help. They will be able to help you with the more practical side of things, good schools etc!

Best of luck OP, I hope it all works out for you.

SuperGrover

TheBrewMeister wrote: »

It's a shame that the Irish feel that way about us "Yanks."

This collection of shut-ins is hardly representative of the attitude of the general populace.

Enjoy your trip and your stay. Sounds like an excellent adventure for the family and a change of scenery is always a good thing.

Also, if you need and help sampling beer...

hansfrei

Move to Kilarney OP. Google it for yourself there.

Crooked Jack

uncle_sam_ie wrote: »

Choose where you live carefully because, unless you you're living in one of the major cities, internet access can be sketchy at best. I'm on 2Mb DSL and thats the best I can get. My neighbors down the road can't even get DSL.

I'm from California and been living here since 1996, best advice I can give is watch out for the cowboys, People or businesses that claim to know what they're doing but don't have a clue.

Fuck that's most of us. A nation of people just winging it.

JustAThought

hansfrei wrote: »

Move to Kilarney OP. Google it for yourself there.

I'd DEFINATELY try & take a 3 month lease before committing to anywhere -thou that might be hard. Castlebar is hardly a metropolis -does the " cinema" still open?

Half an hour outside castlebar has me reaching for my smelling salts -where is that -Louisberg?????

Can you not live in a proper town like Galway " city " & commute??? I say this in ALL seriousness. Seriously -look at this as an option.

Very excited for you - delighted your wife is so thrilled : ) tell her to make no strong comments & to join the ICA -she'll be in the thick of it then & get to know & meet everyone!!! How are the kids for GAA!!? If you don't let them join that and pick a sport that suites you might as well stay put!!! : )

Welcome! ( nearly!)

Look in the GALWAY forum.
Only cheerleaders for Mayo live in the Mayo forum -they're as bad as the Sligo lot .

-a Jackeen.

Crooked Jack

anto9 wrote: »

In real life most Irish will lick your ass ,just because you are American ( and not English ) .Thats one thing that sickens me about my old Country of residence .The fawning attitude about anything and anyone American .

One poster saying we hate all yanks.
One saying we lick their asses.

Truth is OP, people are just people and you will largely be judged on your own personality. And how generous you are with this beer you make.

Crooked Jack

JustAThought wrote: »

I'd DEFINATELY try & take a 3 month lease before committing to anywhere -thou that might be hard. Castle bar is hardly a metropolis -does the " cinema" still open?

Half an hour outside castle bar has me reaching for my smelling salts -where is that -Louisberg?????

Can you not live in a proper town like Galway " city " & commute??? I say this in ALL seriousness.

If it's city livin' you're after, get yourself a helicopter and commute from Dublin or Belfast.

JustAThought

Crooked Jack wrote: »

If it's city livin' you're after, get yourself a helicopter and commute from Dublin or Belfast.

Dublin. A proper city. Only 3 1/2 hours or so from Galway town .

Belfast is great too.

Does Mr Beer do flying or magic carpet rides too ?

everdead.ie

I would go for the specific Mayo/Galway forums depending on where exactly you are looking at working.

The west is actually a lovely spot although it can lack amenities at times due to the sparse population, If you know where you want to live we could probably give better advice.

Really though there isn't much advice we can give other than here there is a zero tolerance for drink driving these days(1 puts you over the limit).

Seaneh

Hey, OP, where in the name of Christ is there a brewery half an hour from castle bar? The closest would be Galway.

amber69

As you are American my advice to you would be to speak less and listen more, go for it and best of luck.

Meangadh

Jesus the way some of ye are going on about the West of Ireland and the smaller towns and cities you'd swear we were living in a grossly underdeveloped country. Sure, it might not have the array of facilities that Dublin or a large city in the States might have, but most places in Ireland have the main facilities people need. Rural places in most other countries are far more isolated than here given that Ireland is so small. And the sense of community in a lot of the smaller places here more than makes up for any lacking there may be.

One thing I would say OP is get yourself a decent car and get used to driving over here- the roads can take practice for those perhaps used to driving on bigger roads. Whilst I said already that most places have the facilities you'd need, for anything you don't have at your immediate disposal, public transport isn't great here and a car really is essential.

Good luck with the move if you decide to come- like anywhere we have our fair share of idiots but for the most part Irish people are great.

K.Flyer

Seaneh wrote: »

Hey, OP, where in the name of Christ is there a brewery half an hour from castle bar? The closest would be Galway.

Sure its a "country" half an hour, its a bit like the "country mile".

MadsL

LordChessington wrote: »

An american brewer? Don't go making any of that pisswater bud sh1te and you'll be fine

American beer is now regarded as some of the best in the world, it's Ireland that ends up drinking crapweiser more than the US.

John Mason

Do not tell people you are irish unless you were born here. I frikken hate mercians who do this. idiots

Legs.Eleven

The Aussie wrote: »

-Grow thicker skin*

-Get used to poor service that costs a fortune

-Believe half of what your told, self promotion is a way of life.

-As a Immigrant you will be treated with disdain, while being told how "culturally aware" and welcoming they are.

I could go on, but I don't want to ruin your surprise for you....

*You will need it when dealing with the locals

Also be vigilant of foreigners from wealthy first world countries who have the choice to leave and work elsewhere but choose to stay and make it out like they hate the place when they mustn't really as they're still here.

Marcusm

MadsL wrote: »

American beer is now regarded as some of the best in the world, it's Ireland that ends up drinking crapweiser more than the US.

It might be true of the breadth of US craft brewery but it's mightily undermined by the depth of the crap which predominates.