Ireland
Over one million people live in the greater Dublin area and some 44 per cent of Ireland's population of 3.6 million is aged under 25. These facts influence the trends in modern culture. Once in Ireland, you will find a large amount of choice when it comes to events in sports, arts, culture and entertainment. A lot of socialising goes on in Ireland's pubs, with conversation an integral part of an evening in most locals.
The range of food in restaurants has benefited from chefs returning from all over the world and a sharp increase in demand for quality cuisine has resulted in multiple markets popping up all over the country providing organic produce, fresh food and a huge range of ethnic products.
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The Craic
The “craic” is a good time, good company, good atmosphere and conversation. If you are enjoying yourself, it is good craic.
Literature
Ireland's writers and poets both through English and Irish are well known. Jonathan Swift, W.B. Yeats, Lady Gregory, Samuel Beckett, John Millington Synge, James Joyce, Patrick Kavanagh, Elizabeth Bowen, George Bernard Shaw, Sean O'Casey, Brendan Behan, Brian Friel, Seamus Heaney, Maeve Binchy, Hugh Leonard, William Trevor and Roddy Doyle are just some of those whose work is known internationally. Beckett, Shaw, Yeats and Heaney were all awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. Novelist Roddy Doyle is a Booker Prize winner.
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Languages
English and Irish are the two official languages in Ireland although English is the language of the majority of the population. Irish is a Celtic language, closely related to Scottish Gaelic, Welsh and Breton. Until the early nineteenth century, Irish was the language of the majority of the population.
Irish is the principal language in areas of Ireland known as Gaeltachts, situated mainly along the western seaboard. Most roadsigns are written in both English and Irish.
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Outdoor Ireland
Imagine a corner of Europe where otters still swim in city rivers. . . where hedgerows and fields are filled with bird-song. . . where orchids thrive in ancient meadows and along the roadsides. Imagine an island where you can walk for hours along beaches, or over moors and mountains, without meeting another human being. This is Ireland an unspoiled refuge for nature and for those who love her beauty and her secret lives. For the bird-watcher and amateur naturalist, one of the great charms of Ireland is its freedom for the wanderer. There are few"Keep Out" notices in the countryside (but do shut the gate!) and even fewer private beaches on the shore. The moorlands and mountains are open to the walker for many miles on end, and there are still corners of the west so little visited as to have all the atmosphere of wilderness. There is much less pressure on the countryside than in many more crowded countries.
Ireland has five internationally recognized National Parks which, apart from their scientific importance, contain some of the most spectacular scenery in the country. The five are Glenveagh, Co. Donegal; Killarney, Co. Kerry; Connemara, Co. Galway; The Burren, Co. Clare and in the Wicklow Mountains.
Birdwatching in Ireland is endlessly fascinating. Partly because of Ireland's low population density, habitat has remained remarkably intact.
There are 71 National Nature Reserves throughout Ireland. The network of reserves covers woodlands, boglands, grasslands, sand dune systems, bird sanctuaries, coastal heathlands and marine areas. The number of nature reserves is increasing annually.
Ireland’s countryside allows for a broad range of outdoor activities and hobbies including: Hill walking, walking, rock climbing, cycle touring and bike hire, horse riding, fishing (salmon and trout. River and lake), golf, canoeing, sailing, and windsurfing, wildlife studies.
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Festivals and Events
Festivals and events are an excellent way of experiencing one of the most precious aspects of Ireland - its people. They provide wonderful opportunities to meet Irish people from all backgrounds, as well as visitors from many overseas countries. Whether your interest is in socialising, or in more specific topics such as music, drama, film or food, you will find a festival to interest you in Ireland. There is also a large variety of sporting and cultural events to choose from. Some of the festivals and events are well established and internationally renowned. These provide a showcase for the best of Irish and international talent, and draw large audiences which create a festive atmosphere in the towns and cities in which they are held. Others are small, local events, full of character and charm.
Housing and Accomodation
In general housing prices have increased considerably over the last few years. However it is still possible to obtain good-value accommodation. In Dublin, you can find anything from a lovely double room in a large 4-bedroom house for €350 to a 3-bedroom, 2 bathroom detached house for €1,600 monthly. It all depends on your personal needs. In Galway, Cork and Limerick, accommodation is considerably cheaper.
- Furnished properties are readily available. Fully furnished and equipped will mean that kitchen equipment and utensils are supplied. In some instances bed linen and towels may also be supplied.
- Unfurnished would usually include built-in kitchen cupboards, large electrical appliances, floor coverings, curtains or window blinds, light fittings, bathroom fittings and built-in wardrobes in some bedrooms.
- Estate agents fees are charged to the landlord and so are not applicable to the tenant.
- Most commonly, the lease term would be 1 year. Shorter terms (3-6 months) can sometimes be negotiated in the case of apartment rentals.
- The security deposit is normaly equivalent to one month’s rent. A payment of the first month’s rent and any stamp duty applicable is due when signing the lease agreement.
For further information please check out the following link: www.daft.ie
Schools
The standard of education in Ireland is very high both in fee-paying and non fee-paying schools. Finding accommodation needs to be very closely linked with finding school places.
There also are a number of schools catering to the interests of families of foreign nationals living and working in Ireland. These schools generally provide the curriculum of studies available in their countries of origin, offering their pupils the opportunity to remain on par with their friends or family back home as a forum to maintain and improve their native languages. The Ecole Franco-Irlandaise (French), the Sundai Ireland International School (Japanese), St. Kilians German School, Elians Spanish School all offer instruction to both foreign nationals and Irish students interested in a multi-cultural perspective.
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Driving Licence:
EU licence holders may drive on their EU licence or exchange their licence for an Irish licence. Non-EU nationals who are resident in Ireland and are applying for a driving licence will need to take a driving test.
If English is not your first language, you may have an interpreter to accompany you for the theoretical part of the test but they cannot accompany you in the car for the practical test.
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Work and Residence Permits:
- EU/EEA nationals do not need permits to work in Ireland.
- If you are a non-EU resident and you wish to work in Ireland, your prospective employer will have to apply for a work permit on your behalf. You will need to prove that you have particular skills or qualifications required by your employer and that no Irish citizen or EU national could do that job in your place. You must have been issued with your work permit before you start work. It is an offence to work without one. At present, it takes approximately ten weeks to process an application. The permit may cover any period between one month and one year.
- EEA nationals who wish to reside in Ireland are entitled to apply for a residence permit, if they can prove that they are in a financial position to support themselves. A residence permit is normally valid for a period of up to one year, at which stage it must be renewed by the holder if they plan to remain in Ireland.
- Non-EEA nationals, who are staying in Ireland for more than three months, must register in person with the Immigration and Registration Office in Dublin, if resident in County Dublin, or for those resident outside the Dublin area, at their local Garda Siochana (Police) station.
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