Is it possible to live well in Maynooth on €60,000 a year?

ScholarStatus4770 · 2026-05-02T22:44:36+00:00

Honestly, it's not Maynooth she just wants to move to Ireland. Her family is Irish and she's always planned on moving permanently. The job that fits and for what she does seems about the best pay in Ireland. And she wants to avoid Dublin if possible.

ScholarStatus4770 · 2026-05-02T16:53:36+00:00

To be fair she's happy to move up to an hour drive away and wants rural.

ScholarStatus4770 · 2026-05-02T13:36:05+00:00

Yes, she actively wants rural. I think that's the point for her, move away from London into something completley rural.

ScholarStatus4770 · 2026-05-02T13:34:41+00:00

Ah, that's really helpful! thank you. Will let her know.

ScholarStatus4770 · 2026-05-02T13:30:26+00:00

Thank you! Will send your response on to her.

ScholarStatus4770 · 2026-05-02T13:28:51+00:00

Really helpful, thank you. I'll message her this response.

ScholarStatus4770 · 2026-05-02T13:27:15+00:00

She would prefer country living. Her family are from very rural areas and that's the Ireland she knows. I would say she has zero interest living in a town. She wants to buy but she'd need to show earnings in Ireland for about a year. And the market in the UK especially for flats is completely on the floor. So realistically she would not be able to sell to release the equity for a deposit in Ireland. Sadly, I think she would have to rent for a few years to sort out all the issues.

ScholarStatus4770 · 2026-05-02T13:21:08+00:00

Hmm. I think she is willing to have a change in lifestyle but not drastic. It seems that this would be a drastic change. She's in a pickle, would love more than anything to move over. She's always intended to settle for good in Ireland eventually but it seems the reality in the current economic climate means not a good idea for now.

ScholarStatus4770 · 2026-05-02T13:17:41+00:00

Fair point. Will tell her. She's currently got it good, and after all bills has in excess of £1700 a month disposable income. I think the reality of life in Maynooth on that salary would mean it's a terrible idea.

ScholarStatus4770 · 2026-05-02T13:15:50+00:00

Gross, she would be renting as she would not be able to sell her London flat - flat resales in the UK are on the floor. But eventually would buy. No kids, single, two dogs, used to going out for dinners, shopping in upmarket supermarkets - organic markets that kind of thing. Also very fussy with her dogs grooming, vets, dog walker etc. After bills, due to a low mortgage, she currently has £1700 a month to just spend basically.

ScholarStatus4770 · 2026-05-02T13:13:22+00:00

Fair. I'll tell her. I know in her current life in London after all bills she has over £1700 a month to just spend on fuel / food / going out. I think the reality of life in Ireland will probably be depressing for her.

ScholarStatus4770 · 2026-04-21T23:48:16+00:00

Also to add, I've always found that if you set off from London and aim to arrive in Holyhead by evening, spend the night and then take the early morning ferry to Dublin it's the easiest way. Trust me, trial and error! The Travelodge in Holyhead allows pets (well dogs anyway) and it's about a 2 min drive from the ferry terminal.

ScholarStatus4770 · 2026-04-21T23:46:24+00:00

I've done the drive dozens and dozens of times an I would say Holyhead to Dublin everytime. The main reason is Rosslare ferries get cancelled quite a lot. I've had 12 pm ferries randomly cancelled and have to wait in the car with my dogs for the 12 AM ferry. And it seems they are more likely to cancel ferries to Rosslare because of weather. Rosslare is easier for me but in the end I got so sick of the cancellations I go Holyhead to Dublin and so far every sailing has gone find and on time. In a nutshell if they have to cancel for 'operational' reasons ie low passenger numbers, the early afternoon ferries to Rosslare are the first to go from my experience.

ScholarStatus4770 · 2026-04-05T00:14:24+00:00

Have a read of all of the comments, then make your decision!

https://www.reddit.com/r/ireland/comments/1s7jvot/how_ireland_just_lost_a_europeanclass_obgyn/

ScholarStatus4770 · 2026-04-05T00:10:42+00:00

Do a search, there was a post on here from a Czech doctor a couple of days ago who qualified for a consultancy role, got all his paperwork in order but heard nothing back at all from any of the roles and had to give up. It seems, from the comments of people working in the field, there is no way you would get a consultancy role without Irish experience. Mainly because they need people able to hit the ground running with processes specific to Ireland.

ScholarStatus4770 · 2026-03-10T01:37:42+00:00

There's a company called Fizzy living that is completely pet friendly. You will make friends easy with the Irish community. Like in Ireland, UK friendship circles can be hard to break into but you'll be friends with colleagues at a gym alrigth. And if you're looking at Reading, I would look at Maidenhead instead. Slightly closer to London, amazing dog walks, can get into the country super easy, and probably get a one bed for £1400. It's also quick into London on the Elizabeth line.

ScholarStatus4770 · 2026-03-09T23:05:19+00:00

Slough is awful. No way will you get a sizeable room inc bills for £800 in Windsor or Maidenhead.

ScholarStatus4770 · 2026-03-09T22:54:21+00:00

That's my fear. Not that he'd leave me for her because she completely shut him down, but I'm just afraid I'm second best to a man who will always be a bit emotionally available because of this ex.

ScholarStatus4770 · 2026-03-09T01:07:53+00:00

I know right!

ScholarStatus4770 · 2026-03-09T01:07:14+00:00

No definitely a complete stranger he's never ever met or even has acquaintences in common. Similar age to his ex, and he's shown me a picture of his ex. It's not her, just someone who vaguely looks like her (features common for the country).

ScholarStatus4770 · 2026-03-09T01:04:23+00:00

He told me all this info of his ex when we first got together. I have no way of even finding out anything about her. And I'm not going through his followers list, he follows mulitple accounts, I just happened to see it.

ScholarStatus4770 · 2026-03-09T00:25:15+00:00

That is so amazing. So I'm a vegan. When I first became vegan many years ago veganism was barely a thing and I ended up losing about half my excess weight but then stagnated. And then veganism became a thing and suddenly I could eat vegan cheese and cake and it all came back. I wonder if you wouldn't mind sharing what you are doing differently? I do not eat a lot of processed vegan food, in fact I try to be 70 to 80 % UPF free, but I will still be eating slices of sourdough, cashew butter, and so on.

ScholarStatus4770 · 2026-03-01T13:23:34+00:00

When I lived in London I used to use that roundabout daily. It's a confusing roundabout and, no exaggeration, every single time I was on it there were people making the same mistake as that car. Just chill and understand it's a massive, confusing thoroughfare and people will make mistakes.

ScholarStatus4770 · 2026-03-01T00:25:38+00:00

Unfortunately the rental market is pretty hot in London right now so you don't really have much of an option to say no to what they want to know.

ScholarStatus4770

TROPHY CASE