I heard a lady being interviewed on the radio recently who was selling her home in Cyprus and moving to Ireland permanently because of the weather. I was surprised to hear that because while Ireland might have a lot going for it, I never thought of the Irish weather as being particularly attractive.
I spend a lot of time in Cyprus and have often considered moving there permanently for the same reason, the weather, and there’s no shortage of like-minded people harbouring a secret desire to spend as much time as possible in the sun, but it seems the glorious Mediterranean heat isn’t for everyone.
Andrea Busfield said she was looking at buying a property in Tipperary or Cork because she was fed up with the changing climate in Cyprus. She said the weather has become too extreme for her and her three horses, five dogs and four cats but particularly for her horses.
She wants them to live like regular horses, grazing in open fields and enjoying the kind of freedom they simply don’t get in Cyprus anymore. She’s also worried about fires which she feels are getting more intense. She reckons the weather is noticeably changing for the worst and she finds the humidity difficult to cope with and worries that her animals are uncomfortable with it too.
She previously lived in Afghanistan, which I would imagine is quite hot, and also lived in Austria. She left there because she was tired of their long winters which makes me wonder how much she knows about the climate she is headed for in the Emerald Isle. She might be better off having a trial run before making a final decision.
I’m very familiar the climate in Cyprus and I’m not convinced it’s changing to that extent. Some winters are colder than others and some summers are hotter. Temperatures hit forty degrees in Nicosia in the height of the summer this year and ten years ago it was just as hot up there. There have been years when I was roasted during the Easter period and other years when I’ve been frozen – it changes.
There is something else she should consider before making her move too apart from the weather. According to the Irish Examiner, new data confirms Ireland to be the most expensive country in Europe for household goods. European Commission’s figures show Switzerland and Iceland are the only European countries with higher consumer prices.
Ireland was the most expensive country in the EU for household expenditure on goods and services last year with prices 46% above the EU average. The high prices in Ireland are largely driven by expensive alcohol and tobacco, energy, transport, and communications prices.
Ireland also has the second highest energy prices in the EU after Denmark. The cost of electricity and gas in the Republic is 38% above the EU average and prices for communication services are 56% above the EU average.
The cost of restaurants and hotels is 28.5% above EU average prices for eating out and tourist accommodation making Ireland the fourth most expensive after Denmark, Finland, and Luxembourg. Motoring costs in Ireland are the third highest, while public transport prices here are the fourth most expensive together with Denmark after Sweden, Finland, and the Netherlands.
Sophie Steinebach, of The Broke Backpacker, has written a blog offering some advice for anyone considering making the move to Ireland. She says, “Ireland is a fantastic option known for its ancient traditions and gorgeous scenery. It oozes charm and offers a unique perspective on contemporary life but cautions that there are a few things to be considered beforehand – not least how much it actually costs to live there.”
She says, “It’s famously dreary when it comes to the weather. The cost of living in Ireland is among the highest in the EU, and the public transport infrastructure is nothing short of nightmarish. Like everywhere else in the world, it comes with good and bad aspects that need to be weighed up.”
She also warns, “Public transport is notoriously terrible in Ireland. Irish Rail offers an extremely limited service across the island, with all routes running via Dublin. The bus service, operated by Bus Éireann, is a little bit better with an extensive network throughout the country.”
Transport within the major cities isn’t much better she says, but smaller cities like Cork and Galway are pretty walkable so it’s less of a concern there, but within Dublin the bus company is universally loathed by the population.
She has some good things to say about Cork, “As the second-largest city in the Republic of Ireland staying in Cork should not be overlooked. It’s near the sunniest part of the island and is surrounded by some truly stunning scenery. The city maintains an independent spirit – and many locals believe Cork is the nation’s rightful capital. Cork simply oozes creativity and has an alternative vibe.”
“Cork is full of that traditional Irish charm. The inhabitants are very proud of their city, and for good reasons. From its natural surroundings to its vivacious live music scene, Cork has so much to offer expats. Gorgeous scenery, luscious forests, cascading cliffs and understated mountains make Ireland one of the most beautiful destinations in the world. Irish people are friendly and welcoming.”
On the negative side, she says, ‘The weather is terrible – I can’t say for certain whether Ireland has the worst weather in Europe, but I’m pretty confident that it probably does. Whilst the east coast isn’t quite as bad as the west, it can still get pretty bleak.”
I’m sure Ms. Busfield will get a great welcome wherever she decides to settle in Ireland and her horses will definitely have a better quality of life. I hope she’ll be able to say the same for herself.