As an Irish person who has lived in America longer than anywhere else, I think you've made the right decision .If it were 50 years ago I'd say "no ,stay in the US", but at this point in history ,and I hate to say this ,America is on a downward trajectory ,socially ,politically,morally and financially. Ireland is a safer place to bring up your children in.And it's only a half a days flight to your parents in the mid west.And they can come to Ireland too ,ya know! The main thing is you and your husband are united in what you are trying to achieve.If you are EVERYTHING ELSE will fall into it's naturally given place.Rural Ireland is a great place for the kids ,they will thrive. All the best to you 👍💚
I genuinely appreciate your comment so much! you said it very well; and we feel the same. I didn’t get into the “why” as much as I wanted to in this video but it’s just along the lines of what you’ve said. I’m really appreciating being here. All the the best to you as well! 💚
@@mcginnsteph Thanks for your warm reply.I've lived in a few other countries besides America and Ireland and I'm 64 and have "been around the block" as they say . This is not the America I came to and I have other places to judge it against. Canada is a very safe country for example.Ireland there is an intimacy with those that live in the same place.(But stay away from Dublin except to go to the Phoenix Park ,Dublin Zoo or see our little Leprechaun of a President! Again all the best ,you are in an upward trajectory I'm pretty sure.
@@joekavanagh8997 yeah I think especially with the experience of having lived elsewhere it helps put things into perspective and shape your view of how things are in America (and elsewhere) sometimes it seems like some of my (American) family are quite sheltered and can’t even see we’re I’m coming from/ understand our choice; but overall I handle that the best I can! Thanks again for that chat ☺️
@@mcginnsteph Thank you Stephanie ,you're a nice unpretentious , sensible Mid Western lady .I wish you and your family only the best in the land of my birth. Go neiri an bothar libh go leir ! (May the road rise with all of ye!)
@@joekavanagh8997 Hi Joe, Hi Steph! This thread is helping me as well so I appreciate it. I have been in touch with Steph...my husband is a Kerryman but we have been in the US for years and our next adventure back to his homeland is now upon us! All the same reasons you and Steph laid out is why we are going back to Jerry's home country. Joe...any words of wisdom on employment there?
Thanks for sharing your experience! My husband and I are starting the process of moving to Dublin from California now so hearing first hand experiences is so helpful!
No prob! …. That’s exciting! Best of luck to you guys, it seems intimidating lol (well I suppose it is a little) but not too bad and feels great once your here and start to settle in!
Stocks extended their year-to-date rally following the CPI report, with the S&P 500 last up 0.8% in afternoon trading. but I don't know if stocks will quickly rebound for a few weeks, .I am under pressure to grow my reserve of $250k.
Concentrate on two main objectives. First, keep yourself safe by knowing when to sell stocks in order to limit losses and maximize gains. Second, get ready to benefit from market changes. I advise consulting a professional for advice.
Glad i bumped into this i just googled her and I'm really impressed with her credentials. I reached out to her since I need all the assistance I can get.
You give me hope! Thank you so much for detailing the steps of your experience and being so vulnerable to share all of the emotions that accompany such a move.
Hi Steph and welcome to Ireland! I am always interested in peoples stories of moving to another country. I am Irish and live in southern Ireland. A change of scene is always good. I have lived in Spain and also Turkey and the experience has enriched my life. I am now retired and considering the option of living abroad again for say 6 months of the year. Please don't be hard on yourself regarding not saying goodbye to your friends and family in person. I feel sure they understood that you had to consider your two children and the extra hassle you would have had to put them through by two more trips which were really not necessary. Houses are very expensive here but I've seen really good deals on properties which need refurbishment. You can add value very quickly and end up with a really good house at maybe half the cost. I wish you, your husband and children every happiness here in Ireland. America is really not that far away and your friends and family will be able to come visit hopefully very soon.
Aw thanks Noreen ☺️ I really appreciate this comment; I feel so blessed to even have this opportunity. Such a beautiful country and I’m very grateful to be here! Stepping outside of our comfort zones can be such a rewarding thing. I have ups and downs about how i feel about the housing market 🤣 I do try to remain positive though. ☺️ My husband used to live in Spain for a few years as well and loved it! I’m looking forward to visiting there again. My in-laws live half the year in Ireland and half in Italy and they love it, that would be great if you get to explore living abroad again too! ☺️ Thanks for the kind words, I really appreciate it :)
My second great-grandad immigrated from Templeboy, Co. Sligo to Wisconsin, USA and I so badly want to move back to Ireland. I've been so heartbroken to see how this country has been going downhill and I would jump at the chance to go back to where our roots started.
I know, us too 💔 we were so disappointed with several aspects and now it’s getting even worse :( …. Have you ever checked into if you can obtain citizenship? I’m pretty sure you can through a grandparent but not sure about great grandparents.
@@mcginnsteph Thank you, yes, I have looked into it. He would have to be my grandfather or my father, so sadly that's not an option for me. But I'm not going to give up! I'm working hard and saving my money so that I can move someday.
we’re happy with our school! (I know I don’t have a large following but still the video is viewable to anyone so for safety/protecting personal info, not much more to add) I don’t know all the ins and outs of the health care system as we haven’t needed to use it much and I’m still pretty new here. My understanding it’s basically free public health care. To put it simply, that seems to have checked out so far for us. (Had a couple hospital visits myself, no bill. Pay an affordable price for a visit to the GP) You can pay for private healthcare as well. I can only speak for the process of an American moving to Ireland as the spouse of an Irish citizen. That of course makes it a lot easier for me. When children have an American parent and and Irish parent (Irish citizen) they automatically qualify to have dual citizenship, just have to apply for them to officially get it. Hope this helps! Just trying to put simply so my comment doesn’t turn into a novel! Lol
The US since Reagan dereg took over has declined to the point that in many regions [inner cities, industrial zones, the midwest, the red states basically] it is practically a 3rd world country. Ireland is less materialistic, its a small country, it doesnt devote any income taxes on military, it spends it on college and health care. No jobs and cost of living is high.
@@rd264 I agree, and there’s even more factors that make Ireland better then the US, didn’t get into that as much in the video but there’s a lot I appreciate about here!
@@mcginnsteph So glad I stumbled on your video! My husband was born in Ireland and we talked for years about moving there. And now we are literally doing the same thing you did this summer for the same reasons! It's not easy leaving family but focus on the opportunity this gives your kids. It is a rare and outstanding experience! It's hard, there are ups and downs, but it's so worth it. And just think, you can send them to college without braking the bank! :) We are nervous and excited! Any and all advice welcome! I have so many questions....
@@dr.j9201 oh wow! exactly, you said it well! I’m glad you stumbled upon my video as well! ☺️Yes, just as you said we focus on the opportunity it gives our kids (no active shooter drills in school, etc. too) no where is perfect but I’m really happy here and just incredibly grateful to even have this opportunity. Chatting with the moms at my kids school, there’s several other families that did the same as well (mainly came from the UK though). I met a mom on the first day of school and we ended up becoming good friends but yeah, she had just moved back to Ireland from having lived in England for years and years. She shared with me she felt like the kids grow up too quickly over there and their main reasoning for moving back was giving their child a more desirable childhood (and my husband has always said he would love our kids to grow up and Ireland) I’m excited for you guys! As parents our mental health is important too and yeah, I don’t mean to make it literally all about the kids, I personally am happy here as well! There’s certain conveniences I missed but all pretty trivial in the grand scheme of things lol No pressure but i’ll give you my Instagram handle, if you’re on there, if you ever wanna DM me any questions or anything, not that I’m an expert LOL but happy to help in anyway I may be able to! (mcginnsteph)
Hi! My wife and I are looking seriously into moving to Ireland. She has a cousin who lives there and since we have 2 young children, we are very nervous about them going to school in the US. These mass shootings are completely out of control and we’re so tired of the back and forth hatred in this country. It’s a scary decision and we hate to leave family and friends, but we feel like it’s so dangerous living in the US. We want to get out ASAP. I appreciate you posting this and giving some perspective.
The lack of common sense gun laws is mind blowing to me 🤯 It is a biggggg decision and so hard to leave family and friends 🥺…. Glad to share our perspective and if it can be helpful for anyone! Best wishes !
Hi Steph! I’m from Michigan as well, and I’ve been thinking of moving to Ireland 🇮🇪, I was just wondering what moving company did you use to get your belongings overseas?
Hello! From the sounds of it you are from SE Michigan like us! Small world. We are taking a very serious look at Ireland for raising our two young boys. I imagine we’ll have similar hurt feelings in our family as you have, but our boys are everything to us and it sounds like Ireland is a great option. I subbed and plan to draw inspiration from you. No pressure! Lol. Go Blue
I was totally leaning toward you being northern or maybe into Yooper territory! Lol...southwest here and totally hoping to take the hop soon enough! Blessings!
thank you for this, my fiancé and I have been prepping to try and move to ireland next winter and we're actually from Michigan too! i'm a skilled worker who qualifies for a work visa and will be applying to jobs come next summer in the dublin area
Welcome to Ireland 🇮🇪 Sounds like you have made a good choice for your children and their future💕In time when everything falls into place it will be all worth it, and you will look back and feel very proud of yourselves!! Best wishes ☘
Hi Steph, I just found this video in my feed. Thanks for the content. I’m curious if you could share what was the visa process like for you being married to an Irish citizen. I’m a similar situation myself and we’ve talked about moving there. Thanks
Hello there! I’ve not heard anything like this before, But I’m not sure, maybe it could be true? Interesting, I’m curious to know more about it! I’ll have to ask around lol
It's been my dream to live in Ireland since 2010. I've been there 4 times and I hope one day my dream comes true. I'd love to fall in love and marry someone from Ireland. Thank you for this video!
Irish person here, hope you're enjoying the place, just a few notes since you're new and all (I have relations in Australia or America that have the long distance experience with family). Make it a habit to socialise with friends/family from America relatively often (timezones can be weird but its manageable even for an hour a week/biweekly), helps keeping family close and keeping in contact with life updates. A few good options would be zoom (everyone has zoom), discord (if you're more tech savvy, higher quality audio/more stable generally), or messenger. It can be difficult on the long term so better to make it a habit now (I have relations in Australia with the same issue). Buy a lot of waterproof clothing for the kids or otherwise, weather can be super changeable here (even in the summer) so its always good to have a jacket handy, especially with young children who can get sick frequently. Just enjoy the different environment, there's tons of trails to walk, bars to visit (some even have live music on weekends), general events held around the place, just a case of finding out when and where they are. Regardless goodluck and enjoy!
thanks! I appreciate your comment; technology definitely makes it a bit easier to be so far away from family and friends!…. We have a pretty good start on the clothing for the weather here too lol, will need to buy some new rain boots soon 🌧☂️…. I’m very happy to be here! appreciating the beauty of the country very much!
My husband and I have been talking about the possibility of moving. America is going in a downward spiral I fear.....we have four children and want good futures for them. (We honeymooned in Ireland. Live in mi) I have Irish ancestry thru my father's side. Definitely going to look into how to go about this- Glad I stumbled onto the channel.
Yeah that was our fear as well; yeah it’s worth checking out! I wish I could be more helpful but our situation had its advantages that made it easier as far as the immigration process goes. What part of MI are you from? (If you don’t mind sharing)
Grew up in Gaylord and Cheboygan. (Both from cheboygan my parents split so I moved to Cheboygan) and after college we married and moved to Rockford, lived there for 6 yrs then moved to Novi area:)
Hi Steph, have to stop thinking of Fargo when I hear your accent, you mid Western women sound so nice reminds me alot of Canadians. My parents retired back to Ireland in 2004 and were worried about not seeing the Grand kids from UK, no worries though as they came on holidays every summer and winter for 14 years. It's a big adjustment but give it time and bring the kids to see the American relatives as often as you can. Good luck with the house hunt.
hello! thank you ☺️ my voice in particular does probably sound more Canadian like because I lived in the Detroit area which is just a 30 minute drive to Canada basically lol.. you said it well, big adjustment but definitely doable. Happy things worked well for your parents :) I think I was just feeling extra guilty because I was hoping to get back over to America sooner than what it will be, just because of the way in which we left, but variety of things to take into account as to why it was tough to make happen. It will happen though, and people can come to us! I’d love for my family to see Ireland!
@@user-gh8bm8ct5t yeah I don’t necessarily think I sound Canadian lol but if someone thought I did I thought maybe it’s because of my proximity to Canada lol
hmm I don’t know that I can give the best answer as I’m still getting familiar with things! Living outside of the county of Dublin I think tends to be cheaper but for example, for us and my husband’s industry, it would be harder for him to get a job in the role he is fit for, outside of Dublin. The cost of living in Ireland can tend to be a bit higher
Housing is expensive in Ireland, you could look at a town close to the city you want to locate near as a possibility, there is a big shortage of rentals and houses for sale in Ireland,we are building a lot ,but it seems not quick enough to meet demand.
You have to follow your dreams and your family and what’s best for your children. When you settle in and things are all straightened out invite family over
I think the cost of living in general is more expensive lol but so far health care has not been more expensive (actually technically been cheaper so far) but I’ve only been here 8 months and depends per person and what your health needs are so we’ll see! Not too sure about car insurance bc my husband set that up for us (think it’s a bit more but not too crazy)
I'd be willing to bet there are thousands of American families looking to this. Had I a younger family in the days of now? I for certain would immigrate to Ireland or the UK. Great Video. 👍 looks like things fell into place for you. Awesome.
I’m a So. Cal raised woman & been married to my Irish husband for 6 years now and we’re moving to Dublin come this fall with our daughter and dog to be close to his family sometime. Find so many similarities in your share. Would love a Q&A if your channel does that? ❤
Definitely similar to us ☺️🩷 funny you say that about the Q and A bc I was recently thinking of that (and thought it was a good idea) but wasn’t sure if I’d get enough responses of questions 😆😂 I’m gonna go post RUclips status (on the community tab if my YT page) where people can leave there Qs!
@@mcginnsteph ahhh I am excited and eager for this next chapter! Definitely the hardest part is having to be away from family and friends here in California. Appreciate your upcoming Q & A ❤️
Hey Steph! Do you have any tips/ advise/ additional info that you could share with me. I’m kind of in a similar situation as you. I met my bf when he was visiting America from Ireland and we fell in love and dated for a while then I got pregnant. So now we have decided to move to Ireland with his family right after I deliver our baby in 2023. I’m nervous about leaving my home city (and I totally get what you mean by feeling “disrespectful” to your friends/ family by moving). But yea, just wondering if there’s any advise you can give that maybe you wish someone would’ve given you?
Hey there! Sorry for a delayed response! Congrats on your pregnancy 🥺❤️…. For us it really was about ultimately taking a leap of faith bc we felt strongly about the life it could be for our kids. It’s hard for me bc of people important to me that couldn’t understand but I’m a mother and have to ultimately put my kids first (and some things are different then how they were when other generations were bringing up kids). The other thing is that you just might not ever feel 100% ready or that you know the right decision, just have to take a leap of faith. ❤️
@@mcginnsteph Well you and I grew up very similar. I'm from the SS of Chicago, and my wife is from NW IN. I am from Ireland, but came here very young. You can guess how I grew up. I work construction. I think we could retire early (50) I think you would understand how we live being MI. Thanks for any info. Also my father is 74, so I would like to get in the area before his time. Athlone Westmeath. Looking at stuff you seem like the person we could relate to on this the most. Cost, lifestyle change, food, etc. Thank you for any times, and I wish your family well.
@@tubaljohn1 yeah I hear ya, yeah it seems like we have aspects that relate and could be helpful for you guys when getting a feel for how it may be! …. Our kids were such a big part of the reason and final decision to make the move. Cost of living is our main frustration but we are happy to be here ☺️ If you’re moving outside of Dublin County then the cost aspect might be a little improved for you guys! Best wishes to you guys as well! I’m here if you think of anything else!
Yeah, moving from Detroit to Dublin is, certainly, an upgrade!! It is such a shame that Detroit, once, the industrial engine of the United States, and one of the best/most attractive cities in the United States to live in, is, now, a city that everyone seems to avoid/wants to flee ASAP! In hindsight, it is so ironic how Detroit, and Dublin, beginning in the 1970s, have had the exact opposite reversal of fortune, and function, i.e. the dramatic, gradual decline of Detroit, while, at the same time, Dublin has been on the exact opposite trajectory.
@@residentevil8893 yeah, well, that doesn't change the reality that moving from Detroit to Dublin is a guaranteed upgrade (in quality of life/standards of living)!! High quality of life/standards of living (in a city/country) equate to high costs of living (in that city/country); I mean, there is a reason that the costs of living in countries like Denmark, Switzerland, Ireland, or the State of New York range from higher to way/so much higher than the costs of living in States like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Texas, or Arizona (as the saying goes: "you get what you pay for")!!
that’s a great question! But I don’t really have any knowledge on homeschooling, I’ll say I don’t know anyone that does it but I’m not sure the answer!
While driving on the left side of the road takes some mental gymnastics, I was able to virtually practice by pretending to drive while sitting in the back seat of the Uber. Another RUclips video suggested saying the word "left" in your head as you turn to remind you. This worked perfectly and I was able to navigate a 9-passenger van (!) through the Ring of Kerry unscathed! I still would have preferred a smaller car to drive. ;)
Yes! It actually didn’t end up being as bad as I thought. Actually the other day, it was funny, I was trying to picture myself driving on the other side of the road, like I did in America and I just couldn’t picture it, like I felt like I had always driven on the left side; even picturing the roads in America, i pictured myself on the left 🤣
Healthcare is better here for low or middle-income people, public healthcare is very good here if you have a serious illness, maybe not so great for less serious conditions you will have waiting lists, so most people will get private healthcare , but it's not necessary , in my opinion , so that a big saving . The public education system here is great, so that's another saving, and it's safer here . But, I think job opportunities are better in the USA although that is changing, Housing is cheaper in most places in the USA, and car insurance is cheaper in the USA . It's a good opportunity for you you try it for a few years and see how it goes, you can always go back if it doesn't work out, maybe you will do really well here and you can spend long vacations back home every year and have the best of both places.
Yeah especially the job industry my husband is in I think, is generally more opportunities/salary in states but I think you’re right in saying things are changing; he is happy with his position and salary (just better then we anticipated) but his experience working in the states could have been helpful for his qualifications as well. As you said, having the opportunity to try it for a few years is great and so appreciated! Thanks for your comment !
Sorry for the delayed response! I didn’t answer right away because I’m not sure 🤔 but I wanted to ask my husband, and I keep forgetting to ask him once he’s home lol; I haven’t had a job since moving here, and just staying home with the kids. This is a great question though!
ah thanks ☺️ I know I definitely feel a little discouraged lol (and even silly saying I hope it happens this year) bc I think it’ll be tough! But one day we’ll get there!
Hey there! I actually made a specific video on this if you feel like checking it out! But we paid around $4,000-$4,500 to ship our stuff over but that was for only our smaller personal belongings we didn’t bring anything large like furniture or even larger toys like doll houses
Just stumbled upon this video and subscribed. You have a lovely family! My husband and I plan to move to Ireland from NC in the next 3-5 years. Our kids are grown; so we don't have the school logistics; which I am sure, adds another dimension of stress!
thank you 🥺…. It definitely is another dimension of the stress but I have to say luckily it went pretty darn smoothly for us!.. That’s exciting for you guys!; have you thought about what area you’d like to be in? 💕
@@mcginnsteph The one time we visited we really liked W. Cork; but would consider Clare. Limerick, Kerry, and Galway. I would like to be fairly close to SNN; and both my husband and my Irish heritage is from that general area. I would love a community where I am in no rush to get my license/drive :)
@@owensfolx very cool! (We just visited west cork, wish we spent more time there though lol, but beautiful) I love your plan for not needing to be in a rush for your license! It’s a process having to do all the lessons and tests again 😑lol; all the best to you!
I personally think they are rock stars 🌟 hmmm, I don’t know what like a general consensus would be ?? I don’t like to align myself with anyone that would think less of someone/negatively because they are single mother if that’s what you mean. I will say, I would imagine it would be quite tough with the cost of living; which I just have even more extra respect for.
It's quite easy when you marry a Irish citizen. I think most folk are interested in the difficulties of NOT being Irish citizens through boneing. No offense.
Yup that’s true! I never claimed to be giving guidance or teaching people how to move over though, just been sharing my own story/journey and if I can happen to help anyone along the way, that’s great. I am happy to try to help if I’m able to but not claiming to be able to help everyone. (Wish I could!) take care ☺️
Also moved to Ireland from the Detroit area.No going back for me.The US has changed so much with so many fears about gun control,political divides but most of all healthcare.
those are our concerns as well 😕….. I would say no going back for us too but who knows bc of the housing crisis and how difficult it is to get a home here 😑
Which point? The how? Or the when? Or the why? I moved my whole entire life and family to another continent, kind a hard to sum up within five minutes, maybe TikTok is the app for you!☺️
As an Irish person who has lived in America longer than anywhere else, I think you've made the right decision .If it were 50 years ago I'd say "no ,stay in the US", but at this point in history ,and I hate to say this ,America is on a downward trajectory ,socially ,politically,morally and financially.
Ireland is a safer place to bring up your children in.And it's only a half a days flight to your parents in the mid west.And they can come to Ireland too ,ya know!
The main thing is you and your husband are united in what you are trying to achieve.If you are EVERYTHING ELSE will fall into it's naturally given place.Rural Ireland is a great place for the kids ,they will thrive.
All the best to you 👍💚
I genuinely appreciate your comment so much! you said it very well; and we feel the same. I didn’t get into the “why” as much as I wanted to in this video but it’s just along the lines of what you’ve said. I’m really appreciating being here.
All the the best to you as well! 💚
@@mcginnsteph Thanks for your warm reply.I've lived in a few other countries besides America and Ireland and I'm 64 and have "been around the block" as they say .
This is not the America I came to and I have other places to judge it against. Canada is a very safe country for example.Ireland there is an intimacy with those that live in the same place.(But stay away from Dublin except to go to the Phoenix Park ,Dublin Zoo or see our little Leprechaun of a President!
Again all the best ,you are in an upward trajectory I'm pretty sure.
@@joekavanagh8997 yeah I think especially with the experience of having lived elsewhere it helps put things into perspective and shape your view of how things are in America (and elsewhere) sometimes it seems like some of my (American) family are quite sheltered and can’t even see we’re I’m coming from/ understand our choice; but overall I handle that the best I can! Thanks again for that chat ☺️
@@mcginnsteph Thank you Stephanie ,you're a nice unpretentious , sensible Mid Western lady .I wish you and your family only the best in the land of my birth.
Go neiri an bothar libh go leir !
(May the road rise with all of ye!)
@@joekavanagh8997 Hi Joe, Hi Steph! This thread is helping me as well so I appreciate it. I have been in touch with Steph...my husband is a Kerryman but we have been in the US for years and our next adventure back to his homeland is now upon us! All the same reasons you and Steph laid out is why we are going back to Jerry's home country. Joe...any words of wisdom on employment there?
Thanks for sharing your experience! My husband and I are starting the process of moving to Dublin from California now so hearing first hand experiences is so helpful!
No prob! …. That’s exciting! Best of luck to you guys, it seems intimidating lol (well I suppose it is a little) but not too bad and feels great once your here and start to settle in!
That’s awesome! Happy for you! Did you get a job in Dublin? How can one move for longer that 90 days? Thank you
@@innamerrell4428 same situation, my husband is Irish so we’re fortunate that it’s easy enough.
Stocks extended their year-to-date rally following the CPI report, with the S&P 500 last up 0.8% in afternoon trading. but I don't know if stocks will quickly rebound for a few weeks, .I am under pressure to grow my reserve of $250k.
Concentrate on two main objectives. First, keep yourself safe by knowing when to sell stocks in order to limit losses and maximize gains. Second, get ready to benefit from market changes. I advise consulting a professional for advice.
I’ve been looking to switch to an advisor for a while now. Any help pointing me to who your advisor is?
Glad i bumped into this i just googled her and I'm really impressed with her credentials. I reached out to her since I need all the assistance I can get.
You give me hope! Thank you so much for detailing the steps of your experience and being so vulnerable to share all of the emotions that accompany such a move.
Thanks Paula; I appreciate the comment 🥺💕…. Best wishes to you!
Hi Steph and welcome to Ireland! I am always interested in peoples stories of moving to another country. I am Irish and live in southern Ireland. A change of scene is always good. I have lived in Spain and also Turkey and the experience has enriched my life. I am now retired and considering the option of living abroad again for say 6 months of the year.
Please don't be hard on yourself regarding not saying goodbye to your friends and family in person. I feel sure they understood that you had to consider your two children and the extra hassle you would have had to put them through by two more trips which were really not necessary. Houses are very expensive here but I've seen really good deals on properties which need refurbishment. You can add value very quickly and end up with a really good house at maybe half the cost. I wish you, your husband and children every happiness here in Ireland. America is really not that far away and your friends and family will be able to come visit hopefully very soon.
Aw thanks Noreen ☺️ I really appreciate this comment; I feel so blessed to even have this opportunity. Such a beautiful country and I’m very grateful to be here! Stepping outside of our comfort zones can be such a rewarding thing. I have ups and downs about how i feel about the housing market 🤣 I do try to remain positive though. ☺️ My husband used to live in Spain for a few years as well and loved it! I’m looking forward to visiting there again.
My in-laws live half the year in Ireland and half in Italy and they love it, that would be great if you get to explore living abroad again too! ☺️
Thanks for the kind words, I really appreciate it :)
My second great-grandad immigrated from Templeboy, Co. Sligo to Wisconsin, USA and I so badly want to move back to Ireland. I've been so heartbroken to see how this country has been going downhill and I would jump at the chance to go back to where our roots started.
I know, us too 💔 we were so disappointed with several aspects and now it’s getting even worse :( …. Have you ever checked into if you can obtain citizenship? I’m pretty sure you can through a grandparent but not sure about great grandparents.
@@mcginnsteph Thank you, yes, I have looked into it. He would have to be my grandfather or my father, so sadly that's not an option for me. But I'm not going to give up! I'm working hard and saving my money so that I can move someday.
@@sparkymularkey6970 ah that’s what I was guessing 😑…. Well wishing you the best of luck with everything! 💕
How are the schools in Ireland? And health care? Or the process of Americans moving from us to Ireland or how to get dual citizenship
we’re happy with our school! (I know I don’t have a large following but still the video is viewable to anyone so for safety/protecting personal info, not much more to add) I don’t know all the ins and outs of the health care system as we haven’t needed to use it much and I’m still pretty new here. My understanding it’s basically free public health care. To put it simply, that seems to have checked out so far for us. (Had a couple hospital visits myself, no bill. Pay an affordable price for a visit to the GP) You can pay for private healthcare as well. I can only speak for the process of an American moving to Ireland as the spouse of an Irish citizen. That of course makes it a lot easier for me. When children have an American parent and and Irish parent (Irish citizen) they automatically qualify to have dual citizenship, just have to apply for them to officially get it. Hope this helps! Just trying to put simply so my comment doesn’t turn into a novel! Lol
The US since Reagan dereg took over has declined to the point that in many regions [inner cities, industrial zones, the midwest, the red states basically] it is practically a 3rd world country. Ireland is less materialistic, its a small country, it doesnt devote any income taxes on military, it spends it on college and health care. No jobs and cost of living is high.
@@rd264 I agree, and there’s even more factors that make Ireland better then the US, didn’t get into that as much in the video but there’s a lot I appreciate about here!
@@mcginnsteph So glad I stumbled on your video! My husband was born in Ireland and we talked for years about moving there. And now we are literally doing the same thing you did this summer for the same reasons! It's not easy leaving family but focus on the opportunity this gives your kids. It is a rare and outstanding experience! It's hard, there are ups and downs, but it's so worth it. And just think, you can send them to college without braking the bank! :) We are nervous and excited! Any and all advice welcome! I have so many questions....
@@dr.j9201 oh wow! exactly, you said it well! I’m glad you stumbled upon my video as well! ☺️Yes, just as you said we focus on the opportunity it gives our kids (no active shooter drills in school, etc. too) no where is perfect but I’m really happy here and just incredibly grateful to even have this opportunity. Chatting with the moms at my kids school, there’s several other families that did the same as well (mainly came from the UK though). I met a mom on the first day of school and we ended up becoming good friends but yeah, she had just moved back to Ireland from having lived in England for years and years. She shared with me she felt like the kids grow up too quickly over there and their main reasoning for moving back was giving their child a more desirable childhood (and my husband has always said he would love our kids to grow up and Ireland) I’m excited for you guys! As parents our mental health is important too and yeah, I don’t mean to make it literally all about the kids, I personally am happy here as well! There’s certain conveniences I missed but all pretty trivial in the grand scheme of things lol No pressure but i’ll give you my Instagram handle, if you’re on there, if you ever wanna DM me any questions or anything, not that I’m an expert LOL but happy to help in anyway I may be able to! (mcginnsteph)
Hi! My wife and I are looking seriously into moving to Ireland. She has a cousin who lives there and since we have 2 young children, we are very nervous about them going to school in the US. These mass shootings are completely out of control and we’re so tired of the back and forth hatred in this country. It’s a scary decision and we hate to leave family and friends, but we feel like it’s so dangerous living in the US. We want to get out ASAP. I appreciate you posting this and giving some perspective.
The lack of common sense gun laws is mind blowing to me 🤯 It is a biggggg decision and so hard to leave family and friends 🥺…. Glad to share our perspective and if it can be helpful for anyone! Best wishes !
Hi Steph! I’m from Michigan as well, and I’ve been thinking of moving to Ireland 🇮🇪, I was just wondering what moving company did you use to get your belongings overseas?
Hello there! This is the company we used: upakweship.com ☺️
Thank you, I really appreciate it!
Really appreciate this video and you sharing all that you did, I’ve been thinking about moving to Ireland and becoming an actor there.
Hello! From the sounds of it you are from SE Michigan like us! Small world. We are taking a very serious look at Ireland for raising our two young boys. I imagine we’ll have similar hurt feelings in our family as you have, but our boys are everything to us and it sounds like Ireland is a great option. I subbed and plan to draw inspiration from you. No pressure! Lol. Go Blue
Yes! How cool you are as well! I love meeting people through these videos and glad if i can be any little bit helpful 💕
I was totally leaning toward you being northern or maybe into Yooper territory! Lol...southwest here and totally hoping to take the hop soon enough! Blessings!
thank you for this, my fiancé and I have been prepping to try and move to ireland next winter and we're actually from Michigan too! i'm a skilled worker who qualifies for a work visa and will be applying to jobs come next summer in the dublin area
That’s cool you guys are from MI as well! Best of luck on your journey!
Welcome to Ireland 🇮🇪
Sounds like you have made a good choice for your children and their future💕In time when everything falls into place it will be all worth it, and you will look back and feel very proud of yourselves!! Best wishes ☘
Aww thanks Carol! 🥺💕 appreciate this comment; we’re just so appreciative of the opportunity and embracing being here ☘️ best wishes to you as well!
Hi Steph, I just found this video in my feed. Thanks for the content.
I’m curious if you could share what was the visa process like for you being married to an Irish citizen.
I’m a similar situation myself and we’ve talked about moving there.
Thanks
I read somewhere that Ireland welcomes American retirees it makes it easier for them to live there. Is that true?
*AND not it
Hello there! I’ve not heard anything like this before, But I’m not sure, maybe it could be true? Interesting, I’m curious to know more about it! I’ll have to ask around lol
It's been my dream to live in Ireland since 2010. I've been there 4 times and I hope one day my dream comes true. I'd love to fall in love and marry someone from Ireland. Thank you for this video!
Irish person here, hope you're enjoying the place, just a few notes since you're new and all (I have relations in Australia or America that have the long distance experience with family).
Make it a habit to socialise with friends/family from America relatively often (timezones can be weird but its manageable even for an hour a week/biweekly), helps keeping family close and keeping in contact with life updates. A few good options would be zoom (everyone has zoom), discord (if you're more tech savvy, higher quality audio/more stable generally), or messenger. It can be difficult on the long term so better to make it a habit now (I have relations in Australia with the same issue).
Buy a lot of waterproof clothing for the kids or otherwise, weather can be super changeable here (even in the summer) so its always good to have a jacket handy, especially with young children who can get sick frequently.
Just enjoy the different environment, there's tons of trails to walk, bars to visit (some even have live music on weekends), general events held around the place, just a case of finding out when and where they are. Regardless goodluck and enjoy!
thanks! I appreciate your comment; technology definitely makes it a bit easier to be so far away from family and friends!…. We have a pretty good start on the clothing for the weather here too lol, will need to buy some new rain boots soon 🌧☂️…. I’m very happy to be here! appreciating the beauty of the country very much!
My husband and I have been talking about the possibility of moving. America is going in a downward spiral I fear.....we have four children and want good futures for them. (We honeymooned in Ireland. Live in mi) I have Irish ancestry thru my father's side. Definitely going to look into how to go about this- Glad I stumbled onto the channel.
Yeah that was our fear as well; yeah it’s worth checking out! I wish I could be more helpful but our situation had its advantages that made it easier as far as the immigration process goes. What part of MI are you from? (If you don’t mind sharing)
Grew up in Gaylord and Cheboygan. (Both from cheboygan my parents split so I moved to Cheboygan) and after college we married and moved to Rockford, lived there for 6 yrs then moved to Novi area:)
@@SharpPear ah very cool 😎 we weren’t too far from Novi ourselves!
Neat! Ironic 😉
Hi Steph, have to stop thinking of Fargo when I hear your accent, you mid Western women sound so nice reminds me alot of Canadians. My parents retired back to Ireland in 2004 and were worried about not seeing the Grand kids from UK, no worries though as they came on holidays every summer and winter for 14 years. It's a big adjustment but give it time and bring the kids to see the American relatives as often as you can. Good luck with the house hunt.
hello! thank you ☺️ my voice in particular does probably sound more Canadian like because I lived in the Detroit area which is just a 30 minute drive to Canada basically lol.. you said it well, big adjustment but definitely doable. Happy things worked well for your parents :) I think I was just feeling extra guilty because I was hoping to get back over to America sooner than what it will be, just because of the way in which we left, but variety of things to take into account as to why it was tough to make happen. It will happen though, and people can come to us! I’d love for my family to see Ireland!
Canadians do not sound like this, lol. 😂
@@user-gh8bm8ct5t yeah I don’t necessarily think I sound Canadian lol but if someone thought I did I thought maybe it’s because of my proximity to Canada lol
Was it McDonalds?
I am a Spanish citizen I want to move to Ireland, where do you think is the best and cheap place to live work as a family with children
hmm I don’t know that I can give the best answer as I’m still getting familiar with things! Living outside of the county of Dublin I think tends to be cheaper but for example, for us and my husband’s industry, it would be harder for him to get a job in the role he is fit for, outside of Dublin. The cost of living in Ireland can tend to be a bit higher
@@mcginnsteph thanks for your response
Housing is expensive in Ireland, you could look at a town close to the city you want to locate near as a possibility, there is a big shortage of rentals and houses for sale in Ireland,we are building a lot ,but it seems not quick enough to meet demand.
You have to follow your dreams and your family and what’s best for your children. When you settle in and things are all straightened out invite family over
Thank you! I appreciate it; would love for family to visit ☺️
Hello there Steph. Do you think car insurance and healthcare bills are expensive in Ireland? That's what i hear.
I think the cost of living in general is more expensive lol but so far health care has not been more expensive (actually technically been cheaper so far) but I’ve only been here 8 months and depends per person and what your health needs are so we’ll see! Not too sure about car insurance bc my husband set that up for us (think it’s a bit more but not too crazy)
Healthcare is free, car insurance is dear
I'd be willing to bet there are thousands of American families looking to this. Had I a younger family in the days of now? I for certain would immigrate to Ireland or the UK. Great Video. 👍 looks like things fell into place for you. Awesome.
What town are you in?
I try to avoid saying what town I’m in specifically, just for safety reasons ☺️
Hope you are enjoying Ireland I’m Irish welcome 🇮🇪
I am ☺️ thanks so much! 🇮🇪
Where did you live in Maryland?
I’m a So. Cal raised woman & been married to my Irish husband for 6 years now and we’re moving to Dublin come this fall with our daughter and dog to be close to his family sometime. Find so many similarities in your share. Would love a Q&A if your channel does that? ❤
Definitely similar to us ☺️🩷 funny you say that about the Q and A bc I was recently thinking of that (and thought it was a good idea) but wasn’t sure if I’d get enough responses of questions 😆😂 I’m gonna go post RUclips status (on the community tab if my YT page) where people can leave there Qs!
@@mcginnsteph ahhh I am excited and eager for this next chapter! Definitely the hardest part is having to be away from family and friends here in California. Appreciate your upcoming Q & A ❤️
Hey Steph! Do you have any tips/ advise/ additional info that you could share with me. I’m kind of in a similar situation as you. I met my bf when he was visiting America from Ireland and we fell in love and dated for a while then I got pregnant. So now we have decided to move to Ireland with his family right after I deliver our baby in 2023. I’m nervous about leaving my home city (and I totally get what you mean by feeling “disrespectful” to your friends/ family by moving). But yea, just wondering if there’s any advise you can give that maybe you wish someone would’ve given you?
Hey there! Sorry for a delayed response! Congrats on your pregnancy 🥺❤️…. For us it really was about ultimately taking a leap of faith bc we felt strongly about the life it could be for our kids. It’s hard for me bc of people important to me that couldn’t understand but I’m a mother and have to ultimately put my kids first (and some things are different then how they were when other generations were bringing up kids). The other thing is that you just might not ever feel 100% ready or that you know the right decision, just have to take a leap of faith. ❤️
Thank you Chicago guy that would like to ask you some questions if you don't mind.
Ask away; I don’t mind!
@@mcginnsteph Well you and I grew up very similar. I'm from the SS of Chicago, and my wife is from NW IN. I am from Ireland, but came here very young. You can guess how I grew up. I work construction. I think we could retire early (50)
I think you would understand how we live being MI. Thanks for any info. Also my father is 74, so I would like to get in the area before his time. Athlone Westmeath. Looking at stuff you seem like the person we could relate to on this the most. Cost, lifestyle change, food, etc. Thank you for any times, and I wish your family well.
@@tubaljohn1 yeah I hear ya, yeah it seems like we have aspects that relate and could be helpful for you guys when getting a feel for how it may be! …. Our kids were such a big part of the reason and final decision to make the move. Cost of living is our main frustration but we are happy to be here ☺️ If you’re moving outside of Dublin County then the cost aspect might be a little improved for you guys! Best wishes to you guys as well! I’m here if you think of anything else!
Yeah, moving from Detroit to Dublin is, certainly, an upgrade!! It is such a shame that Detroit, once, the industrial engine of the United States, and one of the best/most attractive cities in the United States to live in, is, now, a city that everyone seems to avoid/wants to flee ASAP! In hindsight, it is so ironic how Detroit, and Dublin, beginning in the 1970s, have had the exact opposite reversal of fortune, and function, i.e. the dramatic, gradual decline of Detroit, while, at the same time, Dublin has been on the exact opposite trajectory.
Untill u realise how expensive ireland is to live in
@@residentevil8893 yeah, well, that doesn't change the reality that moving from Detroit to Dublin is a guaranteed upgrade (in quality of life/standards of living)!! High quality of life/standards of living (in a city/country) equate to high costs of living (in that city/country); I mean, there is a reason that the costs of living in countries like Denmark, Switzerland, Ireland, or the State of New York range from higher to way/so much higher than the costs of living in States like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Texas, or Arizona (as the saying goes: "you get what you pay for")!!
@@residentevil8893No that's just Dublin.
My neighbour is from michigan hes been here 25 years its his favourite place in the world. (Mayo)
Is homeschooling an option in Ireland for Americans who want to live in Ireland?
that’s a great question! But I don’t really have any knowledge on homeschooling, I’ll say I don’t know anyone that does it but I’m not sure the answer!
How much it cost you to moved ? I’m thinking to move with my 2 kids too
While driving on the left side of the road takes some mental gymnastics, I was able to virtually practice by pretending to drive while sitting in the back seat of the Uber. Another RUclips video suggested saying the word "left" in your head as you turn to remind you. This worked perfectly and I was able to navigate a 9-passenger van (!) through the Ring of Kerry unscathed! I still would have preferred a smaller car to drive. ;)
Yes! It actually didn’t end up being as bad as I thought. Actually the other day, it was funny, I was trying to picture myself driving on the other side of the road, like I did in America and I just couldn’t picture it, like I felt like I had always driven on the left side; even picturing the roads in America, i pictured myself on the left 🤣
Healthcare is better here for low or middle-income people, public healthcare is very good here if you have a serious illness, maybe not so great for less serious conditions you will have waiting lists, so most people will get private healthcare , but it's not necessary , in my opinion , so that a big saving . The public education system here is great, so that's another saving, and it's safer here .
But, I think job opportunities are better in the USA although that is changing, Housing is cheaper in most places in the USA, and car insurance is cheaper in the USA .
It's a good opportunity for you you try it for a few years and see how it goes, you can always go back if it doesn't work out, maybe you will do really well here and you can spend long vacations back home every year and have the best of both places.
Yeah especially the job industry my husband is in I think, is generally more opportunities/salary in states but I think you’re right in saying things are changing; he is happy with his position and salary (just better then we anticipated) but his experience working in the states could have been helpful for his qualifications as well. As you said, having the opportunity to try it for a few years is great and so appreciated! Thanks for your comment !
Being American living abroad do you need to pay taxes to America irs from your pay there?
Sorry for the delayed response! I didn’t answer right away because I’m not sure 🤔 but I wanted to ask my husband, and I keep forgetting to ask him once he’s home lol; I haven’t had a job since moving here, and just staying home with the kids. This is a great question though!
good luck with your house! It is very tough in ireland but not impossible :) it took us around 1 1/2 years to finally find something!
ah thanks ☺️ I know I definitely feel a little discouraged lol (and even silly saying I hope it happens this year) bc I think it’ll be tough! But one day we’ll get there!
Be better to ask what county you live in now 😂
How much does it cost to move all your stuff over? I always wondered this!
Hey there! I actually made a specific video on this if you feel like checking it out! But we paid around $4,000-$4,500 to ship our stuff over but that was for only our smaller personal belongings we didn’t bring anything large like furniture or even larger toys like doll houses
@@mcginnsteph I'll check it out! That's much cheaper than I expected!
@@ni-feidir-eitilt upakweship.com - that’s the company we used
Just stumbled upon this video and subscribed. You have a lovely family! My husband and I plan to move to Ireland from NC in the next 3-5 years. Our kids are grown; so we don't have the school logistics; which I am sure, adds another dimension of stress!
thank you 🥺…. It definitely is another dimension of the stress but I have to say luckily it went pretty darn smoothly for us!.. That’s exciting for you guys!; have you thought about what area you’d like to be in? 💕
@@mcginnsteph The one time we visited we really liked W. Cork; but would consider Clare. Limerick, Kerry, and Galway. I would like to be fairly close to SNN; and both my husband and my Irish heritage is from that general area. I would love a community where I am in no rush to get my license/drive :)
@@owensfolx very cool! (We just visited west cork, wish we spent more time there though lol, but beautiful) I love your plan for not needing to be in a rush for your license! It’s a process having to do all the lessons and tests again 😑lol; all the best to you!
Fair play not many people would do what you are doing hope it works out for you and your family enjoy our beautiful country.
thank you ☺️
Is life better
How are single mothers viewed in Ireland?
I personally think they are rock stars 🌟 hmmm, I don’t know what like a general consensus would be ?? I don’t like to align myself with anyone that would think less of someone/negatively because they are single mother if that’s what you mean. I will say, I would imagine it would be quite tough with the cost of living; which I just have even more extra respect for.
it’s pretty common, nobody really thinks much about it and there’s no real traditional type family
It's quite easy when you marry a Irish citizen. I think most folk are interested in the difficulties of NOT being Irish citizens through boneing. No offense.
Yup that’s true! I never claimed to be giving guidance or teaching people how to move over though, just been sharing my own story/journey and if I can happen to help anyone along the way, that’s great. I am happy to try to help if I’m able to but not claiming to be able to help everyone. (Wish I could!) take care ☺️
@@mcginnsteph Thanks for the info, it's been a dream of mine to visit the Isle.
Welcome to Ireland
If I were to raise kids I'd want to move to ireland (my grandparents are from ireland) here in the US the school system is a mess
yeah we felt similarly and are so grateful for the opportunity to move here
BTW, I'm older than you, but my wife and I probable relate to your Mich life. She is from IN.
It’s amusing seeing Americans moving to Ireland expecting it to be nice and peaceful
Why would you leave the pleasant state of Michigan?
Hi , new sub is here🌹🌹
thank you!
Got that Midwest mama accent lol
Also moved to Ireland from the Detroit area.No going back for me.The US has changed so much with so many fears about gun control,political divides but most of all healthcare.
those are our concerns as well 😕….. I would say no going back for us too but who knows bc of the housing crisis and how difficult it is to get a home here 😑
OMG Woman. Get to the point!
Jesus bob you’re a miserable auld fella aren’t you. Patience is a virtue.
get to the point..
Which point? The how? Or the when? Or the why? I moved my whole entire life and family to another continent, kind a hard to sum up within five minutes, maybe TikTok is the app for you!☺️