Ireland, known as the Emerald Isle, has always been a popular tourist destination in Western Europe. Now, thanks to the new Remote Work Friendly initiative being rolled out by local officials, Ireland is also becoming one of the hottest spots on the globe for remote workers. If you’re thinking about making the move to Ireland to work remotely, here are seven reasons why you should start packing your bags today!
Low cost of living
One of the most attractive aspects of working from Ireland is its relatively low cost of living. That’s thanks in part to favorable exchange rates, and in part to a lower-than-average cost of goods. If you’re used to $10 coffees and $6 sandwiches in your home country, here’s where you can make some serious savings while still enjoying a great quality of life.
Good environment and weather
Ireland boasts a temperate climate with relatively mild winters and warm summers. This makes it an ideal destination for those looking to combine work with travel. If you’re looking for remote work and happen to have some vacation time or personal days coming up, you could do worse than heading over to Dublin or Cork. As far as weather goes, Ireland has something of a reputation (and rightly so) when it comes to its winds and rain—but hey, if you want sunnier climes, head down south!
An English-speaking population
Irish people are fluent in English, which makes it easy to communicate with your team back home. Gaelic TV takes getting used to, but most things are in English. There are some thick accent issues and lots of colloquialisms to get use to but that’s half the fun.
There are still two Irelands which are very different culturally. Northern Ireland is more aligned with Great Britain, where as Ireland is not. There’s also religious differences. Each has it’s own charms. I would say that Ireland may be a better fit for remote workers because of the IT companies in the Dublin and Shannon areas.
Ireland has Fast Internet Speeds
As an American, you might expect Internet speeds to be blazing fast wherever you are in your home country. But when it comes down to it, most American internet users aren’t living with high-speed access. That’s because many ISPs (Internet Service Providers) deliver high-speed data only within city limits. They they charge higher fees for low- or no-speed service in rural areas.
Job opportunities in remote working are increasing
Opportunities are on the rise in many fields, but one of them is telecommunications. Many U.S.-based telecom companies are looking overseas for people who can work remotely. Many expats and tourists find jobs by networking with others in their host country. If you have these skills, it’s possible that an overseas job could be just a plane ride away.
Great coworking options
If you haven’t tried coworking before, it can seem a little intimidating. The good news is that there are coworking spaces in Dublin that welcome remote workers. You can get a taste of what local offices are like without committing. You might just find that it suits your style and needs better than working from home or a cafe! Your remote work in Ireland can be in a castle, a thatched roof house, or a city setting. Lots of different options.
A welcoming remote work community
There are currently more than 12,000 remote workers in Ireland. That number is growing by at least 10% every year, with no sign of slowing down. You’ll find all kinds of remote workers in Ireland from individuals making a full-time living remotely to companies like Buffer and Front who have set up their European headquarters here. There are regular meetups, events and plenty of resources available to get you started on your journey into working remotely from Ireland.
