Are you ever going to go back?

Playboy

Just wondering if people think they will ever move back to Ireland for good? I'm coming up to my 6th year in the UK now and I cant see myself going home anytime soon if ever. Whilst there are things I miss about Ireland (especially my family and friends) I dont think its home anymore. It's quite sad really now that I think about it as a lot of my friends and family have moved away or will move away in the near future... seems like there is less and less to go back to if immigration continues the way its going. I also cant see career prospects improving much in the near future... they werent even that great during the Celtic Tiger. I'll never say never though!

83ste

I hesitate to say a definitive yes or no, but in all likelihood the answer is no - there is simply a lot more here for someone with my professional skills and personal interests (chiefly journalism and cars/motor racing respectively). When you add it to the fact that I can fly home to see friends and family cheaply and regularly, it's pretty much a no-brainer.

Fysh

Like serrity, I'm leery of issuing absolute pronouncements, but I can say that it's quite unlikely I'd move back to Ireland any time soon.

Cork is actually not too bad from an employment perspective at the moment, but having said that I lived there for 5 years before moving here, and I think I'd just get the itch to leave again after a few weeks or months if I were to move back. The only other place I might be inclined to move to would be Galway, and I suspect that has the same problems that I found frustrating in Cork.

tipptopper

Living in the Uk 5 years and really wanted to move back home after about 6 months but stuck it out, now I really like it here and like most posters here can never see myself moving home with the state the country is in.
I would really love to try New York but with 2 young babies now it is probably unlikely, never say never I suppose, really regret not going there when I was younger but there you go.

Playboy

How strange is life lol! I just got a phone call from an agent wanting to put me forward for a role in Dublin that pays a very good salary and that I would be a very strong candidate for. I'm not sure what to do... I told him to have a chat with the company and I'll have a think about it.

Playboy

tipptopper wrote: »

Living in the Uk 5 years and really wanted to move back home after about 6 months but stuck it out, now I really like it here and like most posters here can never see myself moving home with the state the country is in.
I would really love to try New York but with 2 young babies now it is probably unlikely, never say never I suppose, really regret not going there when I was younger but there you go.

I always imagined myself living in New York too... My older brother moved there a year ago and loves it. I have a US Passport and no kids so not sure whats stopping me.. I'm a little wary of the poor work life balance people seem to have in the states

tipptopper

Playboy wrote: »

I always imagined myself living in New York too... My older brother moved there a year ago and loves it. I have a US Passport and no kids so not sure whats stopping me.. I'm a little wary of the poor work life balance people seem to have in the states

I’ve family and friends over there, some of them own bars so if your ever looking to go over, give me a shout and I’ll put a few contacts your way. If it was up to me I’d be gone in the morning, trying to persuade herself is the problem. She not biting at the bait yet!!:D

Playboy

tipptopper wrote: »

I’ve family and friends over there, some of them own bars so if your ever looking to go over, give me a shout and I’ll put a few contacts your way. If it was up to me I’d be gone in the morning, trying to persuade herself is the problem. She not biting at the bait yet!!:D

Cheers for that! Keep at her.. you will wear her done eventually!

AnnaVanilla

I've been here a year this month but it still feels like I'm here temporarily, like on an extended holiday... except I'm working I can see myself moving back to Ireland in a year or so. Unless I meet Mr Right and he turns out to be a Londoner

who the fug

After twenty five years, I don't think so

Weebuns12

Very similar to annavanilla! Just feel as if I'm in another part of the country, but having to get a flight home makes it feel far away
at the moment there are not the career opportunities for me back home, but if I was offered a job right now, I would give it serious consideration.
A lot of people have spent a few years working in London and returned home so maybe the novelty wears off as you get older!

ChRoMe

I'm very happy in London after 4 years and certainly dont plan on ever going back. However when a parent dies/gets ill... thats going to be a very tough call to not return home.

Jack B. Badd

I've no plans to go back to Ireland (although never say never). We've been here 5 years now and I started to notice last year that London (rather than Cork) was home now. it's a good feeling Can't wait for the next adventure but it'll be a step forward, not back.

Bluezar

I'm here 6 months, not sure if I'm settled or not yet to be honest. I like my job but my company I work for is looking to open a new office in Ireland next summer so will be sent there if that happens and I would'nt be too disappointed.
Hard to know where to go in London even at the weekend as it's so big, plus my local here in Leytonstone closed down 3 weeks ago so that's a pain!

Bluezar

Playboy wrote: »

How strange is life lol! I just got a phone call from an agent wanting to put me forward for a role in Dublin that pays a very good salary and that I would be a very strong candidate for. I'm not sure what to do... I told him to have a chat with the company and I'll have a think about it.

What you do bud? I'm an agent myself who specialises in placing guys into the Irish IT Market.

S.M.B.

Always thought I'd go home after 3/4 years. I'm here 3 now and felt like I was another 2 years way from going anywhere.

Stumbled across a nice job available in Galway at the moment that I'm tempted to look at though.

djpbarry

London is my missus’ home town, so I guess it’s my adopted home at this stage. Although, she lived in Dublin for 8 years, so she’s kind of an honorary Dub – sometimes I think she misses it more than I do!

We both like living in London, but we both had a very good life in Dublin too. We like our jobs here, but it’s unlikely either of us would have too much difficulty getting jobs in Dublin at present and they’d probably pay better too! But, I’ll probably be in London for another 2-3 years at least. After that, I could end up absolutely anywhere really. I’d like to live elsewhere in Europe for a while (I really don't like the fact that I can't speak another language properly), but long-term, I’d have absolutely no qualms about moving back to Dublin – it’s a great town to live in. Granted, it certainly ain’t London, but it’s got a lot going for it.

I was back last weekend for the first time in a while and I think it’s only when I’m leaving that I realise how much I miss the place. I love just wandering about, checking out anything new that’s sprung up since my last visit – and I love that Dublin is compact enough to let me do that!

Playboy wrote: »

How strange is life lol! I just got a phone call from an agent wanting to put me forward for a role in Dublin that pays a very good salary and that I would be a very strong candidate for. I'm not sure what to do... I told him to have a chat with the company and I'll have a think about it.

You might as well go for it – you can decide what to do after you’ve been offered the job!

AnnaVanilla wrote: »

I've been here a year this month but it still feels like I'm here temporarily, like on an extended holiday...

I’ve encountered a number of Irish people here in London who seem to be of that mindset – many seem to be planning on returning home as soon as is practical to do so. That could just be my experience though.

Feathers

Only originally came over for study & to get some experience for a year or so. Here three years at this stage & no plans of going home anytime soon — met a girl over here & there's not much work going in either of our line of work at home, so hard sell to say the least

I do like London, but miss being so close to friends at home — Dublin is definitely a much nicer size for meeting people, even if they live on the other side of it. Went back at the weekend & on returning on the Tube felt at home when coming up the stairs at my stop. Kind of a bittersweet feeling, nice to know I'm settling in but at the same time making the decision more concrete.

It's like being in Dublin & people asking 'when are you going home?' meaning back to London — sounds strange on the ear, but then I'll catch myself saying it which sounds even weirder!

jonnyfingers

My girlfriend and I got engaged this summer and we've had a few chats about "the future". We're here 2 years now and can't see us moving home anytime soon. It helps that we have some family over here but there isn't enough back home to make us even consider returning in the near future.

The things we miss are...

1. Family
2. Friends
3. Handy commute (if you have a job!!!)
4. Those Irish ways and things you just don't get in England.

But over here we have a good life, good jobs, family, friends, lots to do and see and what more do you want really?

The only reason I could see myself returning would be if we have kids and would like to be closer to their grandparents, or for them to grow up in Ireland. But even that's not enough to make us definitely move back home.

Alessandra

I'm here three years and currently experiencing a rocky page in terms of work.
Once I get back on my feet I'm sure things will improve.

I love London, it's brilliant and so much to do if you have money. I'm finding the work/life balance a struggle as well as finding the money to enjoy the city.
Despite this, I can't see myself returning to Ireland in any hurry. There aren't many jobs in my field (teaching) and I have many friendships here now.

What I mostly miss is the friendliness of people. The security of popping into a local or even exploring a new pub in a new place is less intimidating at home.

I don't miss the Irish weather, London is definitely drier.
Anyway I'm staying put for now. I do intend to make it to one of the boardsie meetups when I'm settled in the new year.

Fysh

One thing that very much works against any likelihood of me moving back to Ireland is the damn near medieval view on women's reproductive rights. It's hard to want to move back to a country where, despite availability of all relevant medical expertise and technology, this still happens.

djpbarry

Alessandra wrote: »

...London is definitely drier.

I guess it depends on whereabouts you're comparing to, but I don't find London all that much drier compared to Dublin. I do, however, find it's far less windy!

djpbarry

Fysh wrote: »

One thing that very much works against any likelihood of me moving back to Ireland is the damn near medieval view on women's reproductive rights. It's hard to want to move back to a country where, despite availability of all relevant medical expertise and technology, this still happens.

Yeah, shocking stuff. I sent that story around to my work colleagues this morning and it seems most were completely unaware that legal restrictions on terminations are so incredibly outdated in Ireland. Whatever the overall public view on abortion, I find it incredibly hard to believe that the overwhelming majority of people in Ireland would not have supported termination in this particular instance.

Fysh

djpbarry wrote: »

Yeah, shocking stuff. I sent that story around to my work colleagues this morning and it seems most were completely unaware that legal restrictions on terminations are so incredibly outdated in Ireland. Whatever the overall public view on abortion, I find it incredibly hard to believe that the overwhelming majority of people in Ireland would not have supported termination in this particular instance.

As a Corkonian I find it particularly infuriating that it was technically One Of Ours who insisted that Ireland had to rush through a badly-written cack-handed Statutory Instrument to bring the state into line with recent EU legislation, despite the fact that Ireland has been out of line with EU legislation since the X case 20 years ago. But of course, sorting out the country's medieval views on termination isn't a sexy political cause that might help a TD make some friends with deep pockets...

*grumble*

I should stop derailing the thread, I suspect...setting bad precedents

ballsymchugh

jonnyfingers wrote: »

My girlfriend and I got engaged this summer and we've had a few chats about "the future". We're here 2 years now and can't see us moving home anytime soon. It helps that we have some family over here but there isn't enough back home to make us even consider returning in the near future.

that sounds like an open invitation to all of us to me!
cheers for that, and congratulations!

LadyMayBelle

@jonnyfingers I'll put an order on the hat so! Congrats!

Agh Im here almost 2.5 years by now, and until last Christmas I always saw it as a 'temporary' thing; a bit like a 'gap' in the grand scheme of things, like spending a few years in Oz or whatever. But increasingly, due to the job situation (my OH would not get work in Ireland; he tried and was on the dole for a year before we left), and if I did get work, it would likely be contract short term work and could be based anywhere from Leitrim to Sligo to Waterford; no base.

I miss my family, my friends who are still in Galway, the convienience and going out. I thought of having a grand little house, my car (loved my car), family, working 4 days a week..happy out like. But that's all gone now, despite hating the school system here, and that if I have kids they are likely to grow up in a flat over a *nice little house in a cul de sac!*. Having to shift my mindset to living here permanantly, it took a while, but I think it's happened. It upset my neighbour when I said 'Im going home tomorrow' (referring to London as home) but that's how it is now.

Sorry about the cheesy rant there, but I hope to go back at some stage, however far away in the future.

*Not for this bloody Gathering lark either, especially not since the events of recent days in Ireland*

jonnyfingers

ballsymchugh wrote: »

that sounds like an open invitation to all of us to me!
cheers for that, and congratulations!

LadyMayBelle wrote: »

@jonnyfingers I'll put an order on the hat so! Congrats!

And you just missed the engagement party last weekend. The sparkling wine was flowing I can tell you!

I'm actually auditioning for friends so if you can bring your resume and a headshot............:D

On a serious note, and potentially off-topic, friends is the one thing I'm struggling with at the moment. The problem is my job I think. When I moved over first I was working in Southampton while the other half was in London and that's why we live in Woking, as it's sort of half way commuting wise. So my work friends were 60 miles away in the evening and weekends and Woking friends were non-existent as after a long commute the last thing I wanted to do was socialise. And it was never easy to pop into London after work for a drink with our friends there.

I'm now working at Heathrow and Gatwick, splitting my time between both but it still difficult. I'm looking at jobs much closer to London now, which hopefully I'll get one of them (potentially in Richmond) and possibly we'll move closer to London then so meeting people might be a bit easier?

How did you all manage friends-wise when you moved over and how long did it take to make good friends?

It's probably the main thing I miss about Ireland as I think you take your childhood friends for granted. Making new friends in a new country ain't easy.

NeoSlicerZ

Nope, not at all. Probably not even going to go back for Christmas.

x43r0

I always say I will at some stage provided I can get a job I like and don't have to take a pay cut. At the moment that's not really possible from what I can tell of the Irish job market. I don't mind it here at the moment, getting great experience which will hopefully stand to me when I start looking for work with a view to moving back

Playboy

Bluezar wrote: »

What you do bud? I'm an agent myself who specialises in placing guys into the Irish IT Market.

Hey... I work in IT Sourcing.. mainly on large outsourcing/offshoring deals or transformation projects!

regob

Hi folks, just flicked through this thread. your comments are making me feel alot better bout the move im making on the 27th of this month. Just out of college and got my first job. Im moving to london. I went to college in belfast so im use to living away from home. ive just got the fear of not knwing. all my friends are in dublin so dont no anybody over there. anyways random rant but looking forward to it.