BPing Ireland: Tell me everything!?

[redefined_cycles]

Hello you kind folk of the UK and beyond. Recently got an offer to do some work over in Ireland (to help outas they seem a bit short). Seems like an expensive place to get across to but, if I worked enough shifts it'd pay for itself.

I just need to know whatever there is to...

Where's the muslim areas (I get depressed without a masjid similar to how regular brits - not trying to stereotype or compare by the way - might get get sad without a 'public house')?

Why is it that I can't see Ireland and the UK OS maps in my Viewranger/OS simultaneously?

Where's the closest points to ourside of Ireland that would have enough scenic/beauty/biking so I don't need to travel too far in??

How expensive is it living there and,apparently I'd need to open a new Irish bank account... How'd that work, do you end up paying the UK taxes when you transfer your money from the Irish to your UK account (or should I email Amazon of SportsDirect?)..

Why does the Ireland OS maps look different to the UK. I downloaded a few 1 in 50000 tiles and can't see any cycling or bridleways or even footpaths... Is access rights totally rubbish or has my colour gone from my eyes (itall looksvery pale green... like an Amstrad CPC464 I think when it finally got the green screens... or was that Sinclair!?).

Thanks in advance

[ScotRoutes]

Assuming you mean the Republic of Ireland, you do realise it's not part of the United Kingdom so they have their own OS, own access laws etc?

I spent a few days in Cork for work. It's certainly lovely around there.

[Cheeky Monkey]

Shaf luv, the way you've written that makes it sound like a lamb to the slaughter. You sure you want to be going out there / taking this "opportunity"?

Access (off road) is, I have heard over the years, poor to rubbish. But I dont know.

Taxes will all depend on who employs you and how. Scott is (obviously) correct in that the Island of Ireland is two distinct places. Northern Ireland is part of the UK. Whilst the Republic is a separate country and currency (they use the Euro).

I dont know who comprises the "Irish diaspora" on here but I believe Greg May hails from those parts, at least the IoI, so you might ask him.

[redefined_cycles]

Assuming you mean the Republic of Ireland, you do realise it's not part of the United Kingdom so they have their own OS, own access laws etc?

I spent a few days in Cork for work. It's certainly lovely around there.

Yup... That's one of the things I'm trying to figure out Colin. The OS map (digital so don't have the key to hand) doesn't tell me much. Yes ROI Colin, I'd have to register on their countries staff list and its not cheap. Hence gonna think it through good and proper first...

[ScotRoutes]

Come January 1st it's all going to get a lot more complicated too. In fact, at this point, we've no idea just how complicated.

Oh, and they are also likely to have restrictions on travel from areas of high Covid-19 incidence.

[redefined_cycles]

This thread is priceless... As is this

I thought I was getting 'done over' but she did make it sound so 'opportunistic'. Think I'll 'remain'. Covid might not have been too much a problem Colin as that's what I was going to help out with (well, nursing) and the Irish govt seems to be fattracking registration (lets not talk about the almost €500 they want to process the nursing guild applications).

Thanks everyone... won't be investing... so I'm out.

[middleagedmadness]

My family hail from there and my kids got raised over there wife’s Irish I’m classed as a glass arsed paddy , Muslim area , to be honest I can’t remember there being any - Muslims or mosques, to be honest back in 2000 there weren’t many non whites in Dublin so can’t help you with that , once your accepted it’s a great country but a lot of socialising and mixing was done in pubs , if you go have a good look at where your going to live as with any inner city drug use is high and politics and faith isn’t a great talking point still, with the rise of sinn fein in the last elections it’s still a country in a bit of turmoil , which is why we chose to move over here so the kids have a better chance in life without getting dragged into what’s happening over there . That’s just in Dublin though mate . The west coast is a great place to be

[lune ranger]

Come January 1st it's all going to get a lot more complicated too. In fact, at this point, we've no idea just how complicated.

Oh, and they are also likely to have restrictions on travel from areas of high Covid-19 incidence.

No as complicated as all that.
UK and RoI citizens have reciprocal rights of residence, work etc that pre-date and exist outside of the framework of the EU. Living and working there will remain pretty simple when compared to any other country in the world.

I’ve been looking at it in some detail recently - I’m very keen to leave the sinking ship that is England before it capsizes

[The Cumbrian]

I'm half Irish Shaf, and I lived there as a kid and spent most of my family holidays there. I've taken my bike over there in the past and didn't find much off road cycling where I was staying (Meath and Tipperary), but if you like cycling along quiet country lanes, they have that in abundance.
Two of my cousins are nurses over there, so if you have any questions let me know and I'll pass them on.
As an aside, I was staying at the campsite next to Inch beach in County Kerry years ago, and the café was owned by a guy called Sammi Hussein. The first time I met him he was on the phone and speaking Urdu. He finished the call and then addressed me in one of the broadest Kerry accents I've ever heard.

[redefined_cycles]

Come January 1st it's all going to get a lot more complicated too. In fact, at this point, we've no idea just how complicated.

Oh, and they are also likely to have restrictions on travel from areas of high Covid-19 incidence.

No as complicated as all that.
UK and RoI citizens have reciprocal rights of residence, work etc that pre-date and exist outside of the framework of the EU. Living and working there will remain pretty simple when compared to any other country in the world.

I’ve been looking at it in some detail recently - I’m very keen to leave the sinking ship that is England before it capsizes

Luke.. You know that they're desperately in need of nurses at the moment. So (aside from the mega-spectacular costs of registration) they've agreed to allow fast tracking of nurses to the NMBI register. I think I might be able to offer you more good news aswell if you wished to take it, PM me...

Might not be for me afterall. From the sounds of it, it's the cold 'all seasons' wet weather of the UK, squared. Plus, from that article I linked above of the 'what you need to know bour cycle touring in Ireland', sounds really expensive for living costs and with me only doing agency work/moving about, I imagine the costs of accomodation will mostly negate the actual pay!

Really very imformative discussion and thanks MaM/Cumbrian for the local info. No muslim community, probably means no masjids which would probably be the 'horse that broke the camels back' in terms of (not) starting thw registration process. Besides I just about managed to save up (only cos of bad money management - it's a life skill - on my part) and have almost £500 in one of my accounts for the first time's in history. Spending all that on registration might just leave back at square one

[Charliecres]

I asked about riding in Ireland a while back: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=15515

[middleagedmadness]

Shaf there may be one now mate I’ve not been back for 15 years, as I left there were a lot of Africans arriving in Dublin so things may have changed , when I left England for Spain in the early 90’s there was only a small Muslim community in Wolverhampton , when we came back to live here it’s grown to a size of equal proportions to every other faith and creed around here so things may have changed over there mate , failing that you could always convert to catholic as long as we pop in and see the pead.....sorry I mean priest once a week and apologise those pearly gates are open for us

[lune ranger]

Summary of my research on nursing in Ireland is this:
There are more Irish nurses working in the other English speaking countries than Ireland

Pay at grades 6 and lower is better on paper but cost of living is higher. You need to pay for health insurance which is not cheap

Don’t expect your role to be as esteemed as it is in the UK. You will have less decision making, less autonomy and less status

[Scud]

Whereabouts in ROI? Around half the muslim population is the Dublin area and there are three mosques from memory there?

Outside of Dublin, i think there may be one in Cork.

In terms of great places to cycle, i have only toured the West Coast, from Cork out to the Ring of Kerry, very rugged, but very beautiful. i had the Cicerone guide to West Atlantic Way which showed some great routes.

It could be lucrative for you, you'll be paid in Euros i guess, and they are strong against the pound at present and likely to get stronger not sure what the tax situation is.

[middleagedmadness]

Summary of my research on nursing in Ireland is this:
There are more Irish nurses working in the other English speaking countries than Ireland

Pay at grades 6 and lower is better on paper but cost of living is higher. You need to pay for health insurance which is not cheap

Don’t expect your role to be as esteemed as it is in the UK. You will have less decision making, less autonomy and less status

Cost of living is extortionate even after the Celtic tiger only house prices dropped , I was on 25 euro p/h back in 2004 but it was still a struggle to have a decent standard of living , rent now in Dublin is starting around 1400 p/m privately, my house over there is a little 2 bed terrace where we had to bring the toilet in from the top of the garden but we get 1600 on a long term let as it’s right on the luas line or a 10 min walk into town , the cheapest pint was 3.50 in McKee barracks mess , in town you’ll be looking at 5-6 euro for Guinness and a double short was 12 euro , as I said Shaf things change as scud has said above

[redefined_cycles]

Scud... I use my agency working to try and bring down the cost of seeing the world (riding up Mcynleth cost me nothing cos I went and put in a shift then went and saw the newts/toads post ride). So answer to your 'where' question would be 'anywhere nice and easily accessible with nice folk/staff'.

Cost of living and the standard of nursing (as Luke explained) probably rules me out though. Its a long drive to just go and be stressed. Especially if I couldn't take the mtb to see the hills (that they show us in the ads) up close/personal...

[Scud]

Shame that accommodation isn't chucked into the deal, it is a beautiful part of the world, especially that west coast.

[psling]

On the accommodation thing Shaf, are there likely to be any lines of communication between your home Mosque / community and similar in ROI whereby a room with a local Muslim family may be available at reasonable cost?

[Gummikuh]

Ireland is different. There are no rights of way as such anywhere, and although you will probably be fine bivvy'ing in any of the wide open expanses, don't take it for granted.
That said there are cycle routes opening all the time, but they are the disused railway line type and certainly not off-road. There are areas of breath-taking scenery, and Wicklow and Kerry spring to mind, so I suppose it depends on what sort of bike-packing you are wanting to do, it leans more to the, dare I say it. touring side of things.
There are around three mountain bike parks, but I've never been. and the Coillte are trying to work with cyclists, but it is going to be a long haul that one!
As far as Mosque's, Ireland has really come on in the past decade and the Catholic church has less of a grip like they used to and most large cities do have a mosque as far as I am aware.
Once out of crazy Dublin (unless you like the usual tourist traps) , Ireland is a great place, I have a house south of Cavan and go over whenever I can.
Be careful on the local R roads as a lot of the young lads do think they are rally drivers.

[redefined_cycles]

On the accommodation thing Shaf, are there likely to be any lines of communication between your home Mosque / community and similar in ROI whereby a room with a local Muslim family may be available at reasonable cost?

Petr... Even if there was I'd probably not take it. Like most on here, don't like to be an inconvenience to anyone. Hence it'd (and most likely I've changed my mind already and unlikely to explore this further) be a B&B or maybe a room connected to whichever hospital needed/put-up with me at the time. Agency nursing, it's brilliant...

[Bearbonesnorm]

There are around three mountain bike parks

I stumbled across a trail centre somewhere near Wicklow a few years ago. It was early in the morning so I thought I'd have a quick dabble but just before setting off, I noticed a big sign that said "THIS TRAIL IS ONLY SUITABLE FOR BIKES WITH 26 INCH WHEELS' ... so I didn't bother

[Gummikuh]

Unfortunately there is simply nothing for "off road" cycling in Ireland, regardless of wheel size, outside of these few bike parks.

I remember a good few years back taking my brand new BMW GS over with my wife and thinking we should do the sights. We managed to get to the top of the Gap of Dunloe from Kate Kearney's cottage and sitting on the top commenting on our off road skills, on what was a very loose and rock strewn path, and being two up, and then around 5 minutes later a black Ford escort 1.3l came screaming past on bald tyres, one arm out of the window.

As I say, cycling in Ireland is more the touring side of things, which may be OK? The people are generally really friendly and will let you sleep in corners of fields and old farmsteads, of which there are plenty. There is a strong road cycle scene, and they have produced some great cyclists. Most of the Irish cycle explorers are exploring elsewhere in the world! Usually somewhere warm.

[summittoppler]

I lived/worked mainly in county Waterford some years ago for a couple of years. Had a bank account but as it was so long ago I doubt my input would be relevant today.
As for any routes, some of the back roads were like riding off road!! Talk about pot holes!
I do like it over there though, the pubs, the breakfast rolls from Centra shops and on the whole they seem to be a friendly bunch.

[Cheddar Man]

Who is the job with? A quick Google and you will find that you can get generous relocation packages, accommodation provided and help with Irish registration. If you pick well you could probably get funded travel too.

The key thing really is where is it? Ireland could be the busy city of Dublin, the rainy but very green West coast of Southern Ireland or potentially Northern Ireland which could be the interesting city of Belfast or the lovely Port Rush! I have mostly enjoyed Ireland wherever I have been, my visit to Belfast in the 80s was certainly interesting

I wouldn't discount it entirely at this point, I know a nurse who works in my neck of the woods, she works pretty much solidly for 6 weeks, then goes home to Lichtenstein (!) for 2 months, and repeats that cycle ad infinitum. It has been working for her for at least 10 years. Her husband works for NATO and does a similar thing, talk about best of both worlds!