The Land of The Wicklow Mountains, Hill of Tara,

Drombeg Stone Circle & Croagh Patrick

Information on Relocating to Ireland

• The capital city of Ireland is Dublin with about 1.2 million people. Dublin is also the political centre. Ireland is a Republic.

• Language: Irish (Gaelic) and English are the two official languages of Ireland. Irish is also an official language of the European Union. While it is the native language of Ireland and widely taught in schools, English is spoken by everyone. The TV programs are in English. There are about 3 public channels, however cable and Satellite are available.

• Population: The population is about 4.1 million people - mainly Irish nationals but also minorities of Celtic and English people.

• Expat areas: Popular areas for the Expat community are Dublin, Cork and Galway.

• Housing: The availability of houses in Dublin City Centre is tight; in the rest of the country and particularly in the Expat areas it varies. We'll give Dublin as an example. The city Centre of Dublin is defined widely indeed, and includes just about everyplace you can reach within 30 to 40 minutes drive but during rush hour you can add another 60 to 80 minutes to your journey if traveling from the outskirts to the city centre in the morning and the opposite in the evening. The Southside, particularly Dublin 4, is somewhat more expensive than the North side. If you're close to the commercial heart of the city, you're likely to have to pay for a parking space as well as the apartment itself. It is safe to assume to add at least another Euro 100 - Euro 125 a month to your bill if parking is not included in your rental.

• Cost of housing: Varies from area to area and the size of the apartment or house. You'll pay anything from Euro 1000 - Euro 2500 an up for an apartment and for a house you would be looking at anything from Euro 1525 - Euro 3200 and up in the Dublin area. The local currency is the Euro.

• Schools: There are the American school, the International school, the International House school, the French, Japanese, German and Spanish Schools, and all the regular local schools. Depending on the age we can tell you about waiting lists, etc.

• Transportation: There is a good public transportation system in place: Plains, trains, busses and taxi's.

• Banking: Monday-Friday 9.30 am - 4.30 pm. In Dublin, banks stay open on Thurs until 5.00 pm; there are also late opening nights in other parts of the country, but the day will vary.

• Shopping: Mon-Sat 9.00am – 5.30pm/6.00pm. Many towns have a late night opening on Thursday or Friday until 8.00pm/9.00pm and smaller towns may have one early closing day a week. On Sunday, main shopping centers and some of the larger department stores open 12.00 noon-5.00pm/600pm. Many smaller supermarkets in towns and villages also open.

• Climate: Ireland has a temperate, humid climate. The dominant influence on Ireland's climate is the Atlantic Ocean. Consequently, Ireland does not suffer from the extremes of temperature experienced by many other countries at similar latitude. Winters in Ireland are mild and summers temperate due to the prevailing southwesterly winds and the influence of the warm waters of the North Atlantic Drift. Ireland has a mild climate all year with temperatures averaging from 1°C - 7°C (35°F - 45°F) in winter and 18°C - 24°C (65°F - 75°F) in summer. May and June are the sunniest months with an average of over 7 hours of sunshine per day.

• Culture: In many ways, the pub is the glue that holds Irish social life together. 'Going for a pint' is something of a national pastime. A local only needs to nod at the barman coming through the door to order a drink and a finger in the air is shorthand language for a pint of Guinness. It offers the chance to meet up with friends, share stories, and get away from the pressures of work and the opportunity for the unexpected to happen. No two nights are the same and it is primarily a social affair, an institution in which all can share. Traditional music often provides a backdrop to the murmur of conversation and friendly encounters. Ireland also produced great poets like Yeats, Bernard Shaw and Oscar Wilde to name a few. The cultural scene is very varied. You will find galleries, quaint little shops, beautiful castles, theatre, cinema and not to forget the adventure of a trip with a horse drawn caravan through the Southern part.

• Public holidays: January 1st-New Year's Day; March 17th-St. Patrick's Day; Good Friday and Easter Monday-(dates vary); 1st Monday in May-Bank Holiday; 1st Monday in June- Bank  holiday; 1st Monday in August-Bank Holiday; Last Monday in October-October Holiday; December 25th-Christmas Day; December 26th-St Stephen's Day.