5 Greatest Reasons Why Millennials Should Move to Ireland

Listen up, folks, I’ve got something important to say.

Ireland is the mother freaking bees knees.

I have visited Ireland twice in my 24 years of life for a combined 14 days and let me tell you that 14 days is all it takes to fall head over heels in love with the Emerald Isle. And oh man, can I give you the reasons why you will fall head over heels in love.

It was such a stretch for me to narrow this list down to just five reasons why you should move to Ireland but I did it. Because I love you. And because I want you to stick around to the end of the article and I figured “763 of the Greatest Reasons Millennials Should Move to Ireland,” might scare some of you away.

Without further ado, I present to you five reasons you (yes, YOU! You specifically. No, not her. You. Ok, her too.) should move to Ireland especially if you’re a millennial.

1. The working holiday visa

Without a visa, the longest an American citizen is permitted to stay in Ireland is 90 days. With a working holiday visa, however, recent American college grads can work and live in Ireland (in whichever city you choose!) for up to one year. This working holiday visa is how Tavinia and I are able to just pick up and move to Ireland rather than simply visiting for an extended period of time. And yes, we are moving there. We will be looking for jobs, living in an apartment, paying taxes, etc.

I could go on for an entire post about the ins and outs of the working holiday visa (there are lots of little details) but I’ll save that for a later post. For now, if you’re interested in learning more about working holiday visas check out this article from gooverseas.com.

Ireland is one of just five countries that offers a working holiday visa to US citizens. The others are Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, and South Korea. Having visited the Emerald Isle before and knowing how much I love it, it was a no-brainer for me to choose Ireland. I am so stoked that a country I love so dearly offers such a cool opportunity! As a millennial, you should take advantage of this as well because it truly is made for us!

2. Pub culture

It’s no secret that the Irish love their Guinness but what you might be overlooking is the amazing pub culture in Ireland. On nearly every street there is a pub. Even if you think you’re not a bar kind of person, I can promise you that you will find a pub you will love. Looking for live music, a rowdy crowd, and a crazy night out? You can find it. Wanting to just sit in a corner, nurse a Guinness all night, and have a life talk with your buddy? You can find that, too. There are pubs of all shapes and sizes and the Irish love to grab a pint and hang out.  Plus, even if you’re not a beer fan, nearly every pub has hard cider on tap so you can still enjoy a pint with your buddies!

3. Irish music

On a similar note, Irish music is amazing. Many pubs and restaurants have live music and there is nothing better than sitting around drinking a cider, inhaling eating some Guinness pie, and tapping your foot to a twangy Irish jig.

The first time I visited Ireland in the spring of 2013, my roommate and I listened to an Irish male duo in a bar in Dublin. I skipped out on buying their CD that night, thinking I would track them down online later (10/10 would not recommend). I could never track them down and thought all hope was lost. Two years later when I returned to Ireland for my second visit I was eating in a restaurant with some friends when a male duo that sounded awfully familiar started playing. Serendipity did me right and it was the same guys! Needless to say, I sprung for the CD this time around.

Even if you think you’re not into banjos, I can promise you that Irish music will suck you in!

4. The scenery and the outdoor lifestyle

As millennials, we love to document our every move. Don’t deny it, it’s not bad! There’s nothing better than snapping some spectacular photos to help you remember everything you saw. And let me tell you, Ireland makes it easy for even the worst of photographers. It’s just so stinking photogenic! The rolling green hills, bumbling sheep, and windy narrow roads are so beautiful. You’ll find yourself wanting to constantly snap photos with your camera (or iPhone. No judgment.).

Not surprisingly, Ireland also offers all kinds of outdoors activities for the adventurers out there. Hiking, boating, biking, canoeing….if you can dream it up, Ireland probably offers it. County Clare in the west of Ireland, specifically, rewards outdoors-men (and ladies) with breathtaking views and scenery.

5. Launch pad to Europe

While Ireland itself is wonderful, I would be remiss to not point out that Ireland is the doorway to Europe. While, yes, Ireland is an island, it is extremely easy to travel in and out of. A cheap RyanAir flight will have you landing in Berlin in just a few hours’ time. Ferries also run in and out of Ireland, taking you to places like Scotland or England. And we’re not just talking about your run-of-the-mill ferry with plastic seats and mystery residue on the handrails. We’re talking restaurants on board, first class, Jack-and-Rose (minus the sinking) kind of ferries. Pretty snazzy.

Ireland is an amazing place and definitely deserves our attention. I have quite literally at least 100 more reasons you should move to (or at least visit) Ireland but I’ll save you the time and leave it at these 5. But if these 5 haven’t convinced you, send me a message and I’ll give you a few more!

“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” – Jawaharial Nehru

Resources: gooverseas.com