A U.S. girl chasing the Irish dream

Good Luck Mary Katherine - I hope everything works out for you.

Very inspiring! You're living the dream I want, and am working on getting. People tell me I'm foolish because of the high employment, but that won't stop me. I mainly just want to take advantage of my dual citizenship and not needing a work permit.

Great article Mary Catherine! I too wish I had ventured (as you have) when I was younger. I now only dream of a 1 bedroom, thatched-roof, stone cottage by the sea there. I first went in 2005 and have been back 8 times since...I guess, like yourself, it's a combination of my heritage, the mystical lands of Ireland always tugging at me. But, I do believe...most of all....it's the people of that land that keep me going back!!! Best of wishes to you.....

Miss Brouder, I didn't think there were many well-written articles on this site. You are to be congratulated. Your article is excellently written and I really enjoyed it. Kudos to you for having the courage to follow your dream. I wish I had been as courageous and goal-oriented at your age. I wish you the best in your pursuits. Your writing skills should certainly take you far! Enjoy your time in Ireland. I'm still dreaming of going there someday! Though, I hear it is the most expensive country to visit in Europe!!

I fell in love with Ireland when I first went in 2008. I have been there a few times since then, and still love it. I would love to live there but the reality is that I would need to work, and if there is no work, I would be struggling like everyone else.

MC, thanks for sharing your story. It's better I keep my personal travails to myself, haha. Times are tough (for all of us), but you'll never look back thinking these were lost years. Maybe a year ago moving to Ireland seemed quixotic, but I think given the circumstances you made the right choice. Now's the time to try to live your dreams when you have the freedom to do so. Along the way you've strengthened your relationships with loved ones. Maybe if I'm lucky, I'll be moving back to the east coast in a few weeks, at least for a little while. But I better not hold my breath. Not to diminish the hardship people in Ireland are facing now, but I can't think of a nicer place to be stuck underemployed. Hope you've perfected your brogue. Randy M.

You go girl!! Follow your dreams. You don't want to wake up 30 years from now and say "Gosh, I wish I had done that!". Give it a go! Same goes for "phearne" who wants to write in Ireland.

I can't begin to tell you how many Americans(Lads and Lassies) who after spending a fortnight in Ireland and fell madly in love with the place. Maybe it was at the races, Galway or Listowel. Maybe it was at a Flead or the Rose or Puck. Perhaps at an All Ireland final in Dublin or the like. They found the "Craic was mighty". They upped and came back to the oul sod to join in. Soon they learn the reality from the dream. Living accomodations are not up to snuff and everything pertaining to the cost of living is high and every week is not "A bit of craic" as they were led to believe. Very soon, they are on to Mom or dad back in the States."Please send me some cash" I want to come HOME!!!! And so it goes.

so well written -- keep following your dream girl

I too suffer from "The Irish Dream". I am a writer,not published, but still writing as I search for an agent and the elusive publishing contract. A small town in Louisiana is not where I want to be. My dream is to rent a small cottage in Ireland,preferable on the west coast and write my romance novels,children's books and paranormal fantasy books.Why? Maybe because my ancestors are pulling me home or maybe my muses want to be there. Whatever the reasons,they are strong and constantly tug at my heart. My head tells me I can write anywhere. My heart answers,then why not Ireland?My bank account asks can we do this on 907.00 a month?

Well said. I really enjoyed this article.

Everything said in this article is spot on.The use of heroin was always a problem associated with Dublin,it is now a problem in Cork.I've seen these half dead people myself,like shades of humanity stumbling from one fix to another.I had never seen them before here in Cork on the city streets.Using one public phone box in particular,beside a bus stop to phone who ever it is that deals them death.Crime has soared too.Its very sad to see the youth slip down this path to oblivion.