Sunday, June 21, 2009

What is it like to live in Ireland

What is it like to live in Ireland?
I already read a similar question's answers but would like more info, like what a house would cost to buy or would it be cheaper to buy the property then build? How does the healthcare system work? Are tradesmen such as electricians in high demand or are they a dime a dozen? Can a person from the US have dual citizenship in Ireland? What is the cost of living compared to the cost of living in the US west coast (which is one of the costliest areas to live)? What are the proper steps to immigrate there? What areas in Ireland are the least expensive to live?
Immigration - 1 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Hi there, I've lived in Ireland all my life so hopefully can be of some help. 1. Houses in Dublin and other major cities cost on average €400,000 for a 3 or 4 bedroom house, but in the rest of the county, the prices a bit lower, with an average price of €320,000. 2. It's much cheaper to build - a large 4 or 5 bedroom hosue could be built for aprox €200,000 but building regulations are very strict and its difficult to get planning permission to build a house if you're not from the area. I would imagine its extremely difficult for a foreigner. In saying that, I have a number of foreign neighbours, who with assistance from local county councillors (politicians) who made representations on their behalf, were able to build with success. 3. Our healthcare system is public and private, like most other countires. Health insurance is rarely provided through employers, and can cost approx €50 a week. There are a number of insurance providers in the market, with two major players. The public system allows medical cards to lower-income families, children and elderly people. The vast majority of our hospitals & clinics accept both public & private patients. 4. There are many tradesmen in Ireland, but there is still a high deman for them as ther is so much building and infrastructure works ongoing. Some friends of mine are electricians and are never out of work. They make up to €600 a week, take home money. 5. The cost of living in Ireland is reportedly one of the highest in Europe, but then again, we have one of the highest wages. The minimum wage any employee will earn is approx €8. As i said above, tradesmen can earn approx €600 a week. To put the cost of living into context: average rent for a 2 bedroom apartment in the capital €900. Average bus journey fare €1.50. Pint of beer €3. Cinema ticket €8. 6. Sorry, no idea as to the proper immigration steps - but check out the Irish government website. www.gov.ie 7. Dublin, the capital, is by far the most expensive city to live in, followed by Galway, then Cork. Limerick or Kilkenny would be the cheapest cities.





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Sunday, June 14, 2009

What exactly does mary mcaleese do for Ireland?Live off our taxes in her big fancy home

What exactly does mary mcaleese do for Ireland?Live off our taxes in her big fancy home!?
She is always abroad and who do you think pays for that! the people of Ireland! she's not needed!!
Other - Ireland - 4 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
she is abroad as the national representative of ireland, she meets with politicians and leaders around the world and discusses issues which affect Ireland and said countries in order to strengthen international relations.
2 :
She suposidly represents Ireland and signs bills, but I think she costs more than she is worth!
3 :
The contribution she and her husband have made when they tracvel abroad to Northern Ireland is unmeasureable. They have made a huge difference here. I don't know what they do when they in Ireland, but remember she cannot leave the Itrish Republic without the express permission of Parliament, so must think it worth it.
4 :
Not much to be honest. When Pope JP died Bertie, a few of da boyos and Mary and Marti headed off to Rome and her hotel room for one nights stay costs about €3,000 or €4,000 - for 1 night.........Eh, Mary love, €3,000 represents almost 2 months wages for some people. That one night cost the taxpayer about €20,000 in all for accommodation for all the gang. Btw, in 2006 McAleese was getting a salary of almost €23,000 PER MONTH. Some people makes that in a year - nevermind a month. Then she has the cheek to lecture others about efficency, pay restraint etc as she recently did. Take a pay cut, Mary dear......a f'ing big one.






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Sunday, June 7, 2009

For people that live or have lived in Ireland how

For people that live or have lived in Ireland how?
is it there. i would really like to live in northern ireland and i just wanted to hear some things from people instead of websites and books. please do share.
Other - Ireland - 6 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Lots of nice places to live here. I live in Limavady. Old market town where Danny Boy was written to the tune of the Derry Air (written here too - not Derry!). Armagh, Enniskillen, Newry, Magherafelt etc all good places. Lots of great scenery, decent pubs, plenty of walking too.
2 :
It all depends where are you from. In Ireland there are 2 different communities. The Irish and the non Irish. Even if you are Italian, German, Swedish.... you are still considered as a foreigner and you must be treated as a second class citizens. Plus the Irish avoid to make friends with foreigners cause they wanna keep their culture only for themselves. I know this is a completely different picture comparing to what you see in the web pages and advertisements. Before to come in Ireland I thought the same... oh what a friendly place, nice people... but after a few years I found exactly the opposite. They have a very strong nationalistic attitude which is hard to brake it. Their vision is "Ireland for the Irish without foreigners" A couple of times I see graphiti like this in the train stations.... The most of my friends were Americans, Australians and they all got back or found another country. I actually tried to do everything to be accepted from the Irish, I changed myself in a lot of things but no Irish friend. The weather is bad, it rains all the time. The winters are dark and wet. There are a few sunny days although. The services are bad,(public transports, hospitals) close to 3rd world standards. The west coast of the country is very beautiful and there are nice places to live, but it's not multicultural at all. I am sorry for disheartened you but the Irish don't like us We have to leave...
3 :
Voldemord, we're not all like that. It's a shame you personally have had such bad experiences, but not all Irish people are like that. Even in our small Yahoo! Answers community, a number of us are married to foreigners and live properly intercultural lives. I appreciate that some Irish are insular but not ALL of us are like that. Kari, I live in the Republic, not Northern Ireland so I can't give you a lot of insight. I have friends in Antrim and have visited there lots. It is certainly different to where I live in Tipperary. People are more cautious in a way, but are also very warm and welcoming. The old hurts seem to be healing. It's a beautiful place, on a clear day you can see as far as Scotland.
4 :
no valdermord ireland is far from 3rd world standards dont be so ridiculus ireland is a very beautiful country north or the republic there is excellent transport luas(tram) busses coaches and trains, if it was really that poor why does it have all this and every 2nd car is a taxi on the street im irish and im from dublin i have also lived in belfast co. antrim and the people are warm and friendly, and we do accept forigners as long as the do not take the piss out of the economy. yeah maybe it is a bit dull when it comes to weather wise but live with oit its ireland, im disgusted that you would talk about the place in that prospective. and for you hun if you want lo live in n ireland live in belfast co antrim its absolutly amazing i would go back tomorro.
5 :
voldermod sees a problem with a country .but i live here and its not like he says.may be hes the problem .when you come to a new country you must accept its laws and customs
6 :
I am English and moved to Northern Ireland about 5 years ago. I live in County Down with the river at the front of my home and Slieve Croob mountains at the back and the Mournes just a little further, but can be viewed from my house. Like any place there are good and bad things. The best is the beautiful countryside and the people. The country is like a concentrated England, Scotland and Wales, with the sea 20 mins from my door, mountains 5 mins, Belfast 30 mins away, lots of lovely individual towns and with shops you don't see in the rest of the UK. The people, well the people are just great they are warm and friendly and I have to say nosey, they want to know all your business. I moved in 3 days before Christmas, the electric was cut off and we had snow, the cooker wouldn't work and the central heating didn't either. ( I live out in the countryside so not too many neighbours) Within an hour of arriving my only next door neighbour came round along with fresh coffee and scones ( to welcome us and say hello) within two hours I think every person in a ten mile radius knew who we were and they came thick and fast with hotpots and heaters, flasks of hot water, invitations to dinner, the road was cleared by the farmers of snow and more helping hands than we knew what to do with, an electrician( on his way home from xmas shopping) to sort out the cooker, quickly followed after a phone call from him by a central heating man and an oil tanker to fill up our oil, the local shop loaned us their moving trolley (and didn't know us from Adam, but trusted us to return it) so we could move our furniture easily. I was just overwhelmed but that is just how they are. I believe because of the 'troubles' since the late 60s until the 90s communities stick together and they still do to a certain extent and they are nosey because they have needed to be for their own protection, so you are generally asked three questions every time you meet someone new: 1 What is your name ( so they can tell if you are Catholic or Protestant) 2 What school do/did you attend( so they can tell if you are Catholic or Protestant) 3 What church do you attend( so they can tell if you are Catholic or Protestant) You get used to it and it is getting better with peace here. The weather, it rains, Oh and then it rains and rains! But you don't get lovely green pastures without rain and without them it wouldn't be Ireland...sorry Northern Ireland and its great for the complexion (so they tell me) They speak English, well of a sort, there are so many words that make no sense at all, however I am used to them now and understand them. Everything is done at half pace and that is something you just get used to, there is no rush at all! Great as long as you except it/when you accept it as a way of life and just slowwwwwwwwwwwwwww downnnnnnnnnn. Utilities, well you have no choices, they are more expensive than 'across the water' Gas has not long arrived, but only in Belfast and some larger places, the sewage system leave a lot to be desired and most homes don't have main sewage ( you have a tank which needs emptying) out in the sticks our water is cut off rregularlywithout first being told or can come out of the tap looking like milk or brown - hense why the NI water charges are being fought so hard not to be imposed. Insurance is not too bad now, but most UK companies won't insure you unless they are based here. Adverts for things/goods on TV, always say NOT AVAILABLE IN NORTHERN IRELAND-really pisses me off! UK suppliers ALWAYS add extra postage to things you buy, yet we are Royal Mail and part of the UK.....pisses me off! Too many jobs are funded, temporary positions so there is little cconsistencywith work and lots of community type jobs are given to ex paramilitary persons rather than the best person for the job.(PS I do know about this one-so if any of you say this is not so, you are lying, guessing or just don't know) There are large communities of Portuguese, Chinese and Polish and many do get a hard time, when I arrived I never saw any Blacks or Indians although I see then now and I know there are many foreigners arriving which does bring changes that some people don't like, much as it did in the 70s in England. Although most NI are happy if they contribute to the society rather than scrounge off it. One bug bear I do have- their driving is rubbish, (what a sweeping statement) some don't drive well (thats better) some don't understand how to use traffic islands and you see people getting cut up and accidents at them all the time (never an accident in 20 years then twice within three months someone drove into me on a traffic island and both in the wrong)-maybe because you drive from the city into the country in seconds, from a country road onto the motorway without realsiing and some just shouldn't be on the roads and driving! Very few road speed cameras, although they are arriving quickly now and the police hand helds are everywhere. The police are not as respectful to people as in the rest of the UK and can be a little heavy handed ( something to do with the troubles I would suspect and their job then) i was stopped 17 times in the first month I was here, but now they know the car/me I haven't been stopped since. Schools/Education-the best! More like private UK education and the N Irish are a very well educated people....don't let them fool you as they are also very modest! .......and I could go on, but all in all it is a lovely place to be and I am very proud to live here.





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Monday, June 1, 2009

Where are the best places to live in Ireland

Where are the best places to live in Ireland?
I am interested in moving to Ireland for at least a few months and was wondering what cities I should check out and where I could find a somewhat cheap apartment. I also wanted to know if anyone had advice about the best way to find a job. Any advice will help Thanks!
Other - Ireland - 5 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
I fell in love with Dingle in the south-western part of Ireland when on a recent visit. (County Kerry) It is very touristy and I'm sure you would find work in a restaurant or pub there. Good Luck.
2 :
I lived in cork for five months. It is the second largest city in Ireland, besides Dublin, and I absolutely adored it. Its the perfect mix of Irish culture and city living, so you still feel comfortable but you are immersed in the culture!
3 :
hello there i v live in ireland and i have notting good to say about the place i think u would want to think it over before you decide to come live her
4 :
You will not find cheap anything in Ireland at the moment, and the jobs front is currently a bit jittery, so I would wait a bit and see first. If you're not an EU national, it will take that bit longer to sort out your residency and work permit, so you can't really come here until you have a letter from an employer offering you a job. How to get a job? The usual way - sign up on the various websites: www.recruitireland.ie, www.fas.ie, etc., and see how you go.
5 :
Letterkenny, Co. Donegal is a super spot. 1. largest growing town in europe. FACT! 2. great nightlife 3. Plenty of Jobs 4. Fairly cheap rent 5. Close to Northern Ireland 6. Good wages.






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