Moving to Ireland
from Australia
Ireland is a country known for its beautiful landscapes and historical sites, as well as a lively atmosphere. Often referred to as the Emerald Isle, Ireland is filled with vibrant cities tucked behind cozy bays and sheer cliffs.

Ireland may geographically be small, but it has an enormous amount to offer, including an incredibly rich culture, diverse artistic talent, lively people and gorgeous, lush landscapes.
Moving and Living in Ireland
Ireland’s pervasive grasslands create a green-hued landscape, renowned for its wealth of folklore, rugged natural beauty as well as world-class beer and whiskey. A dynamic cultural and music scene, great schooling system and jobs industry are a handful of reasons why people choose to move and live in Ireland.
Ireland may geographically be small, but it has an enormous amount to offer, including an incredibly rich culture, diverse artistic talent, lively people and gorgeous, lush landscapes. Well known for its economic and political history, Ireland went from one of the European Union’s poorer countries to one of the wealthiest from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s, with an additional economic boom experienced in the past few years in light of Brexit regulations seeing big corporations move their European headquarters to Dublin. Thanks to Ireland’s central geographic location, the country is a perfect launching pad for travelling. Barcelona is two hours away, Rome is three hours, and for a short trip, the United Kingdom is barely 45 minutes away.
Ireland’s cities and towns are bursting with life and activity, from the fascinating medieval living history along the streets of Dublin to Adare’s thatched cottages and historic buildings, which helps earn it the title as one of Ireland’s prettiest towns. The quaint and quirky seaport town of Cobh is an important port for transatlantic ships, with it being the last stopping point in Europe before the Titanic began its fateful maiden voyage. There is so much more to Ireland than the traditional tourist destinations, with towns such as Kilkenny showcasing the Kilkenny Arts Festival which displays Irish and international creativity every August.


Explore the glorious Irish countryside and its landmarks with dramatic scenery and over 954 developed hiking trails all over the country, with vastly differing landscapes, such as ocean views on the Ballycotton Cliff Walk in Cork, to the Black Mountain ridge trail overlooking Belfast all the way across to Scotland on a clear day. With over 3,000km of coastline, Ireland is home to some of the most stunning beaches. From secluded bathers’ coves to stretches of exposed shoreline, locations such as Banna Strand in County Kerry and Dog’s Bay in County Galway are idyllic locations for holiday destinations and for partaking in recreational water sports.
Popular tourist destinations in Ireland include kissing The Blarney Stone, which is told to give a person the gift of eloquence and persuasiveness, visiting the creativity and culture of Galway city’s charming craft shops and old-style pubs, as well as sampling Michelin starred restaurants and traditional meals of venison liver, creamy mash and crispy onions. The Guinness Storehouse is a must-see attraction in the heart of Dublin City where visitors are able to discover the story of the iconic stout, experience the history and culture of the famous pint, all accompanied by a creamy pint in the Gravity Bar overlooking panoramic views of Dublin at the end of the tour.
How can I move my personal goods to Ireland?
Ireland’s cities and towns are bursting with life and activity, from the fascinating medieval living history along the streets of Dublin to Adare’s thatched cottages and historic buildings, which helps earn it the title as one of Ireland’s prettiest towns.
Moving your household goods to Ireland
Visa and Immigration Information
When travelling or moving to Ireland, make sure your passport and visas are correct and valid. Check these links to find out some of the latest requirements.
Consulate / Embassy in Australia
Contact the Irish Embassy by visiting 20 Arkana Street, Yarralumla, ACT 2600 Canberra, Australia. Phone +612 6214 0000 or follow this link to the embassy website: https://www.dfa.ie/
Visa Information
Visa information can be found here: https://www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/australia/our-services/visas/visas-for-ireland/
Passport Information
Passport information can be found here: https://www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/australia/passports/how-to-apply-for-a-passport/
Immigration Information
Immigration information can be found here: http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/pages/Immigratioon%20information
Citizenship Information
Citizenship information can be found here: https://www.dfa.ie/passports-citizenship/citizenship/
General Information
General information can be found here: https//www.dfa.ie/news-and-media/publications/publicationarchive/2013/may/ireland/ireland-in-brief
Social Media Links
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/SydneyIrishConsulate
Twitter Page: https://twitter.com/irlembaustralia
All about Ireland – Moving to a new lifestyle
Capital (and largest city): Dublin ( Republic of Ireland) & Belfast (Northern Ireland)
Official Language (and national language): English (40% claimed the ability to speak some Irish in 2016 census)
Demonym(s): Irish
Area: 84,421 km squared
Population (2016): 6,572,728
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Time Zone: Greenwich Mean Time (UTC)
The geography of Ireland
The island of Ireland consists politically of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Located west of the island of Great Britain, it is located at approximately 53° N 8° W. It has a total area of 84,079 km² (32,477 mile²). Ireland is separated from Britain by the Irish Sea and from mainland Europe by the Celtic Sea.
Ireland’s climate is temperate, though significantly warmer than almost all other locations at similar latitude, such as Poland (on the continent) or Newfoundland (on the opposite edge of the Atlantic), due to the warming influence of the North Atlantic drift. The prevailing wind blows from the south-west to the north-east, breaking on the high mountains of the west coast. Rainfall is therefore a particularly prominent part of western Irish life, with Valentia Island, off the west coast of County Kerry, getting almost twice as much annual rainfall as Dublin on the east (1400 mm vs. 762 mm). Across the country, about 60% of the annual rainfall occurs between August and January.
January and February are the coldest months of the year, and mean daily air temperatures fall between 4 and 7 °C during these months. July and August are the warmest, with a range of 14 to 16 °C. The sunniest months are May and June, with an average of five to seven hours sunshine per day.
Though extreme weather events in Ireland are comparatively rare when compared with other countries in the European Continent, they do occur. Explosive Atlantic depressions, occurring mainly in the months of December, January and February, can occasionally bring winds of up to 160 km/ph (100 mph) to Western coastal counties; while the summer months, and particularly around late July/early August, sudden and violent thunderstorms can develop, more especially, but not exclusively, across midland and western areas of the country.
Ireland boasts a characterful culture, full of unique traditions, customs, and origins so synonymous with the Emerald Isle. From Irish dancing to a love for potatoes, here are the most celebrated quirks of Irish culture.
What is considered disrespectful in Irish culture? There aren’t too many things considered disrespectful in Ireland, as the Irish are a pretty laidback bunch. However, it is best to avoid conversations about politics. Overall, just polite and friendly, and you’re more than likely to get on with most Irish people.
What is important in Irish culture? In the past, religion was an important aspect of Irish culture. However, this has declined in recent years. Now, some of the most important aspects of Irish culture surround having good ‘craic’, national festivities, and delving into Irish cultural activities, such as music.
What are the Irish famous for? The Irish are famous for many things, including our friendly locals, traditional music, great food and drinks, and historic traditions and customs.
Ireland has 2 official languages being Gaeilge and English. The Gaelic language in Ireland – Gaeilge, or Irish as it’s known locally – is a Celtic language and one of “the oldest and most historic written languages in the world” according to Foras na Gaeilge. Its poetic flow can be heard in schools across the country and throughout the shops, pubs, streets, fairs and festivals of the Gaeltacht (Irish speaking) regions.
There are 9 public holidays in Ireland each year. Public holidays may commemorate a special day or another event, for example, Saint Patrick’s Day (17 March) or Christmas Day (25 December). On a public holiday, sometimes called a bank holiday, most businesses and schools close. Other services (for example, public transport) still operate but often have restricted schedules.
- New Year’s Day (1 January)
- Saint Patrick’s Day (17 March)
- Easter Monday
- First Monday in May
- First Monday in June
- First Monday in August
- Last Monday in October
- Christmas Day (25 December)
- Saint Stephen’s Day (26 December)