Retiring to Ireland (Eire)?
Discussion
Hi folks. I'm in the fortunate position of being able to "retire" in my 40s as I have a nice passive income stream from some projects which will continue indefinitely so long as I have access to the internet, so the world is my oyster (as the saying goes) for where I can live.
I have studied (and visited) several potential countries to check out living potential, but for various reasons (typically infrastructure, bureaucracy (visas), property/general taxation, crime/safety, language barrier) I've just not got that warm fuzzy feeling about any of them.
The truth is that for the most part I am quite content here in the UK. The familiarity, the language (obvs), the infrastructure, even the weather, generally. I say "for the most part" as there is one big negative for me : the fact that you need the best part of half a million+ for a rural property in reasonable shape, on a good size plot and no neighbours with screaming kids/yapping dogs within half a mile. And that will have to be in Scotland, unless I'm prepared to double, triple or quadruple my budget for the warmer parts of England. That annoys me.
Now I don't have anything against Scotland; it's a bonnie place in the rural bits. But the rural bits of Scotland never get above 15C on average, and if you're anywhere in the Western half it will feel more like 5C because it's constantly blowing a gale (I used to live near Clydebank). When it's not blowing a gale you get eaten alive by midges. 15C is a bit too chilly for me. I have fair skin, so 20C is perfect for me, otherwise my skin starts peeling off in strips.
Which leads me to... Ireland? The last thread I could find on here about moving to Ireland was from 2009 and there was 5 pages of doom and gloom saying the place was finished due it being bankrupt from the EU, everyone was moving to England and no-one in their right mind would ever move there. But that was 13 years ago.
I realise that the western and southern coastal areas of Ireland are much like western Scotland for being battered by trade winds coming off the Atlantic, but the average temps are more in-line with central and southern England due to being at similar latitude. More importantly, browsing the property sites I see there is an abundance of rural properties on good-sized plots starting from under £100k (GBP) if you don't mind a doer-upper, or £150k bags you a perfectly decent 2 or 3 bed place with land, often long-reaching unobstructed views and no neighbours within earshot. On this side of the Irish Sea, that would be minimum 3x the price.
Any Irish residents on here to comment? How does the Irish equivalent of council tax compare? I was struggling to make sense of it on the government website. How much should I expect to pay per year on a 3 or 4 bed rural bungalow with some land? I'm aware cars are more expensive to own and run over there compared to GB.
Naturally, I would ensure my primary mode of transport is a Ford Transit Tipper with obligatory amber beacon and Highway Maintenance sticker on the back.
I have studied (and visited) several potential countries to check out living potential, but for various reasons (typically infrastructure, bureaucracy (visas), property/general taxation, crime/safety, language barrier) I've just not got that warm fuzzy feeling about any of them.
The truth is that for the most part I am quite content here in the UK. The familiarity, the language (obvs), the infrastructure, even the weather, generally. I say "for the most part" as there is one big negative for me : the fact that you need the best part of half a million+ for a rural property in reasonable shape, on a good size plot and no neighbours with screaming kids/yapping dogs within half a mile. And that will have to be in Scotland, unless I'm prepared to double, triple or quadruple my budget for the warmer parts of England. That annoys me.
Now I don't have anything against Scotland; it's a bonnie place in the rural bits. But the rural bits of Scotland never get above 15C on average, and if you're anywhere in the Western half it will feel more like 5C because it's constantly blowing a gale (I used to live near Clydebank). When it's not blowing a gale you get eaten alive by midges. 15C is a bit too chilly for me. I have fair skin, so 20C is perfect for me, otherwise my skin starts peeling off in strips.
Which leads me to... Ireland? The last thread I could find on here about moving to Ireland was from 2009 and there was 5 pages of doom and gloom saying the place was finished due it being bankrupt from the EU, everyone was moving to England and no-one in their right mind would ever move there. But that was 13 years ago.
I realise that the western and southern coastal areas of Ireland are much like western Scotland for being battered by trade winds coming off the Atlantic, but the average temps are more in-line with central and southern England due to being at similar latitude. More importantly, browsing the property sites I see there is an abundance of rural properties on good-sized plots starting from under £100k (GBP) if you don't mind a doer-upper, or £150k bags you a perfectly decent 2 or 3 bed place with land, often long-reaching unobstructed views and no neighbours within earshot. On this side of the Irish Sea, that would be minimum 3x the price.
Any Irish residents on here to comment? How does the Irish equivalent of council tax compare? I was struggling to make sense of it on the government website. How much should I expect to pay per year on a 3 or 4 bed rural bungalow with some land? I'm aware cars are more expensive to own and run over there compared to GB.
Naturally, I would ensure my primary mode of transport is a Ford Transit Tipper with obligatory amber beacon and Highway Maintenance sticker on the back.
Doofus said:
What's the internet like in rural Eire?
Much like the UK, impossible to know for sure without being at the physical location, but checking Three's Ireland coverage map, pretty much all of it shows 4G signal except for a patch south of Dublin and the western peninsulas, so seems promising. So long as it's not 56k dial-up speeds I could manage.Even where we live now, in the suburbs of Bradford, I have no coverage indoors, but my dedicated 4G router sat on the window sill somehow manages to pull in a signal and I get 70-100 Mbps quite comfortably, yet no voice signal on my phone on the same network.
Edited by r3g on Monday 25th July 12:55
Bill said:
Do you like rain?
My in laws are Irish and retired back there (originally emigrated to here in their teens). They lasted barely 5 years before they moved back to the UK.
I don't mind rain, and in fact quite like a good wild storm My in laws are Irish and retired back there (originally emigrated to here in their teens). They lasted barely 5 years before they moved back to the UK.
. Get plenty of that in the UK too, so the mix is fine, so long as there's dry, sunny and reasonably warm days as well. Yes lots of rain.
The pubs are good with plenty of live music most nights if you like that sort of thing. I do and miss it terribly and my pals there.
I've threatened to move to somewhere around Killkenny but although my wife likes to visit with me she won't hear of retirement there. Mainly due to the weather as we live in west France. Also she can't understand a word that's being said to her! I spend all my time translating for her! She English!
I find myself comparing Ireland against France now as I've almost forgotten what it's like to live in the uk.
An advantage moving there is if you don't like it you can move back to the uk without dropping to much money on the house sales.
Check out the health service as its not the best. Private insurance would be a must for me.
Good luck.
The pubs are good with plenty of live music most nights if you like that sort of thing. I do and miss it terribly and my pals there.
I've threatened to move to somewhere around Killkenny but although my wife likes to visit with me she won't hear of retirement there. Mainly due to the weather as we live in west France. Also she can't understand a word that's being said to her! I spend all my time translating for her! She English!
I find myself comparing Ireland against France now as I've almost forgotten what it's like to live in the uk.
An advantage moving there is if you don't like it you can move back to the uk without dropping to much money on the house sales.
Check out the health service as its not the best. Private insurance would be a must for me.
Good luck.
The cheap property you are seeing is cheap for a reason. There will be no half decent places with views for £150k.
For that kind of money you will possibly get a run down bungalow on an acre in the midlands somewhere. No fibre internet.
Actual 'nice' places to live on the West Coast probably 4-500k+
It does rain a lot in the West but not so much in the East. Waterford/Wexford area is considered the sunny southeast.
There is no council tax here. You can get a property tax valuation on https://lpt.revenue.ie/lpt-web/valuation-guide/ind...
It isn't very much, I pay a few hundred every couple of Years.
If you move here you'll possibly be paying 52% tax and as mentioned private healthcare is a must. Even with private heathcare, depending on illness/injury, the service can be poor.
Consider access to healthcare if you plan on moving to a rural location.
The cost of living is very high. I'm paying about 1000 a month on groceries for a family of 4. Gas and Electric now very expensive too. Petrol and Diesel currently around 2 euros per litre.
For internet access you can check the below. Very rural unlikely to have fast internet. If you were close to a village you'd probably fine.
https://openeir.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/looku...
For that kind of money you will possibly get a run down bungalow on an acre in the midlands somewhere. No fibre internet.
Actual 'nice' places to live on the West Coast probably 4-500k+
It does rain a lot in the West but not so much in the East. Waterford/Wexford area is considered the sunny southeast.
There is no council tax here. You can get a property tax valuation on https://lpt.revenue.ie/lpt-web/valuation-guide/ind...
It isn't very much, I pay a few hundred every couple of Years.
If you move here you'll possibly be paying 52% tax and as mentioned private healthcare is a must. Even with private heathcare, depending on illness/injury, the service can be poor.
Consider access to healthcare if you plan on moving to a rural location.
The cost of living is very high. I'm paying about 1000 a month on groceries for a family of 4. Gas and Electric now very expensive too. Petrol and Diesel currently around 2 euros per litre.
For internet access you can check the below. Very rural unlikely to have fast internet. If you were close to a village you'd probably fine.
https://openeir.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/looku...
Thanks. 52% are you referring to income tax or property tax? Internet will be over 4G not a fixed landline.
What is crime like/police presence? Is it much like here in the UK where you never see police on the roads except at kicking out time in the big towns, breaking up the fights? Will reporting rural crime receive the same disinterested "meh, we don't have the resources, sir" response? When I was out in the US and Mexico I was shocked by how there's literally a police car or motorbike on every street corner and side road waiting to pounce on you for something.
What is crime like/police presence? Is it much like here in the UK where you never see police on the roads except at kicking out time in the big towns, breaking up the fights? Will reporting rural crime receive the same disinterested "meh, we don't have the resources, sir" response? When I was out in the US and Mexico I was shocked by how there's literally a police car or motorbike on every street corner and side road waiting to pounce on you for something.
I spent alot of time in County Louth. Whilst it's a lovely place with some fantastic walks, pubs and people everything is eye wateringly expensive compared to the UK.
Also it rains alot, and I mean alot. You can get nice weather but even in the summer it's few and far between.
Lastly good property is expensive, I don't actually think it's much cheaper than the UK on average
If you are financially comfortable and don't mind the weather you will probably love it.
Also it rains alot, and I mean alot. You can get nice weather but even in the summer it's few and far between.
Lastly good property is expensive, I don't actually think it's much cheaper than the UK on average
If you are financially comfortable and don't mind the weather you will probably love it.
52% is possible income tax including the equivalent of national insurance and another tax called Universal Social Charge.
You only pay the property tax as mentioned which isn't much. There is no council tax in Ireland.
Overall the crime rate is low. You are unlikely to be a victim of violent crime although it does of course happen. There is a strong community spirit where you should get to know neighbours and people will help you out if required.
I neither live in a rural area or have any dealings with An Garda Síochána but overall the police presence in rural areas is pretty much zero. You may have a local guard who drives round occasionally.
The best thing to do is come here and travel round a bit to see which areas you might want to live. You'll see if there's any mobile internet or not. Quite often there is no mobile data coverage once you leave towns.
You only pay the property tax as mentioned which isn't much. There is no council tax in Ireland.
Overall the crime rate is low. You are unlikely to be a victim of violent crime although it does of course happen. There is a strong community spirit where you should get to know neighbours and people will help you out if required.
I neither live in a rural area or have any dealings with An Garda Síochána but overall the police presence in rural areas is pretty much zero. You may have a local guard who drives round occasionally.
The best thing to do is come here and travel round a bit to see which areas you might want to live. You'll see if there's any mobile internet or not. Quite often there is no mobile data coverage once you leave towns.
Flanders. said:
everything is eye wateringly expensive compared to the UK.
Tesco Ireland vs UK website :
Pint of Tesco own brand full fat milk : 0.76 euros (£0.64) vs £0.79
Nescafe Gold Blend 200g : 6.50 euros (£5.51) vs £6.00
Hovis Thick Granary loaf 800g : 2.05 euros (£1.74) vs £1.85
A litre of 95 unleaded is 2.045 euros today on average (according to ie.fuelo.net) = £1.73. £1.875 is the current average pirce today for unleaded in the UK according to https://www.confused.com/petrol-prices (it's currently £1.77 at my local Texaco, £1.75 at Tesco)
Flanders said:
Lastly good property is expensive, I don't actually think it's much cheaper than the UK on average
I'm looking at Rightmove and just in the £200-300k bracket there are hundreds and hundreds of detached bungalows and houses, 3-6 bed, on plots of half acre to an acre on average, walled and gated entrance - many with long sweeping driveways up to the property, no neighbours for half a mile and plenty with far-reaching views of countryside/mountains/sea/lakes and a town for essentials within 10 miles. To tick those boxes in the UK you'll be 3x those numbers, easy.Not saying you're wrong as I'm not there, but the live prices from the companies actually selling the stuff seem to be at odds with the "eye wateringly expensive compared to the UK" claims. What am I missing?
Edited by r3g on Tuesday 26th July 08:48
r3g said:
Flanders. said:
everything is eye wateringly expensive compared to the UK.
Tesco Ireland vs UK website :
Pint of Tesco own brand full fat milk : 0.76 euros (£0.64) vs £0.79
Nescafe Gold Blend 200g : 6.50 euros (£5.51) vs £6.00
Hovis Thick Granary loaf 800g : 2.05 euros (£1.74) vs £1.85
A litre of 95 unleaded is 2.045 euros today on average (according to ie.fuelo.net) = £1.73. £1.875 is the current average pirce today for unleaded in the UK according to https://www.confused.com/petrol-prices (it's currently £1.77 at my local Texaco, £1.75 at Tesco)
Flanders said:
Lastly good property is expensive, I don't actually think it's much cheaper than the UK on average
I'm looking at Rightmove and just in the £200-300k bracket there are hundreds and hundreds of detached bungalows and houses, 3-6 bed, on plots of half acre to an acre on average, walled and gated entrance - many with long sweeping driveways up to the property, no neighbours for half a mile and plenty with far-reaching views of countryside/mountains/sea/lakes and a town for essentials within 10 miles. To tick those boxes in the UK you'll be 3x those numbers, easy.Not saying you're wrong as I'm not there, but the live prices from the companies actually selling the stuff seem to be at odds with the "eye wateringly expensive compared to the UK" claims. What am I missing?
Edited by r3g on Tuesday 26th July 08:48
Most of my shopping is at Centra as its the most local and 12 cans of Guinness was 20 Euro a couple of weeks ago. In the UK I paid £10 for 12. Petrol in Dundalk was 2.85 euro (again a few weeks ago) which is apparently £2.38.
I go over often as my partners family is from Ireland and every time I get home I feel like we have spent a fortune, but perhaps I'm biased being an Englishman
Looking on propertypal the costs look very similar to the costs here in East Anglia, but in all fairness the costs don't take into account the exchange rate so maybe are slightly cheaper.
Feel free to disregard the above though, Ireland is a great place and I just wanted to share my opinion. It could be because I'm tight.
Good luck with your retirement. I'm not much younger than you and couldn't afford to stop at the moment!
Note the budget creep to €300k range. Absolutely agree many houses available for that kind of money in less desirable areas such as the Midlands.
Here is one with a decent BER rating.
https://www.daft.ie/for-sale/detached-house-lauren...
If you really want to live in the middle of nowhere with no mains services (well water) then go for it.
Make sure you get any potential house tested for mica and pyrite before buying. This is a major concern with rural property in Ireland.
Here is one with a decent BER rating.
https://www.daft.ie/for-sale/detached-house-lauren...
If you really want to live in the middle of nowhere with no mains services (well water) then go for it.
Make sure you get any potential house tested for mica and pyrite before buying. This is a major concern with rural property in Ireland.
Bezerk said:
Note the budget creep to €300k range. Absolutely agree many houses available for that kind of money in less desirable areas such as the Midlands.
Here is one with a decent BER rating.
https://www.daft.ie/for-sale/detached-house-lauren...
If you really want to live in the middle of nowhere with no mains services (well water) then go for it.
Make sure you get any potential house tested for mica and pyrite before buying. This is a major concern with rural property in Ireland.
Yeah- your link is a good example of what you can get for £279k over there. A modern 5 bed house with 4 acres of land, long-reaching views and no neighbours. How much would that be in the UK for an equivalent location and vista? At least a mil to 2 in the south, maybe half a mil in Scotland?Here is one with a decent BER rating.
https://www.daft.ie/for-sale/detached-house-lauren...
If you really want to live in the middle of nowhere with no mains services (well water) then go for it.
Make sure you get any potential house tested for mica and pyrite before buying. This is a major concern with rural property in Ireland.
I think it's pretty common also in the UK for places out in the sticks to not have sewerage and quite a lot don't have mains water either (hence the well).
These are perfectly liveable rural properties in the £150k range on roughly an acre plot :
£127k https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/85765314?cu...
£148k https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/124006844?c...
£156k https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/123081752?c...
£161k https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/124957298?c...
Other than car insurance being about 3x more than the UK and the healthcare considerations, I'm not (yet) seeing the "Ireland is biblically expensive compared to the UK" argument. Living costs and day-to-day stuff have also risen in price considerably here too, possibly more so.
Ignoring the physical property price, the overall living costs don't seem to be too far out of line with the UK. But the vast difference in property prices coupled with a sparse population and more laid-back lifestyle gives one a lot more options for peace and tranquil living when the mood takes you (so long as you're cool with rain and wind, obvs
).I'll be retiring to Ireland when the time comes (within next few years); specifically somewhere around the East Cork / South West Waterford area (southeast corner of the fair isle).
Honestly can't wait for when the time comes, whenever that may be. Of course there's pros and cons in terms of costs, etc; but overall, it's an absolute no-brainer for me
Honestly can't wait for when the time comes, whenever that may be. Of course there's pros and cons in terms of costs, etc; but overall, it's an absolute no-brainer for me
My sister used to live in Donegal and I visited quite frequently.
On the one hand there was some stunning scenery when the weather was kind, but most of the time it was dull, cold, wet & dreary with very little to do. So much so that all the locals cared about was everybody else’s business and they didn’t seem to be very welcoming towards ‘outsiders’.
On the one hand there was some stunning scenery when the weather was kind, but most of the time it was dull, cold, wet & dreary with very little to do. So much so that all the locals cared about was everybody else’s business and they didn’t seem to be very welcoming towards ‘outsiders’.
If you find southern Ireland expensive have a look around the border areas on the Northern side of things.
Depending where you decide you can often have the 'best' of both worlds.
Ireland's also pretty small and everythings easily reachable within half a days driving.
In around my own area near Newry I'm noticing a hell of a lot more southern registered cars parked outside residential property than ever before, mainly due to much lower rents than the Dundalk area.
Depending where you decide you can often have the 'best' of both worlds.
Ireland's also pretty small and everythings easily reachable within half a days driving.
In around my own area near Newry I'm noticing a hell of a lot more southern registered cars parked outside residential property than ever before, mainly due to much lower rents than the Dundalk area.
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