After having our first child in 2023, we eventually left our Greenwich flat and moved back to Ireland after eight years in London, and here are three things I miss most
We now live by some scenic lakes in rural Ireland(Image: Liam McInerney/Reach PLC)
The year was 2017, my university exams in Dublin were finished and I had two goals — travel to London and put my degree to work by earning a living as a journalist.
The first objective was simple, given my girlfriend had already taken the leap several months earlier, and the second was accomplished after securing a position at a local newspaper shortly after arriving at Gatwick.
As for why residing in London ranked so highly on my agenda, I had been making trips across the Irish Sea since childhood, mainly to watch my boyhood idols like Robbie Keane find the net at the old White Hart Lane before dashing back to catch a flight to Dublin Airport hours after the final whistle.
So, the ambition had been realised and over the years I acquired a season ticket which brought me to Wembley and the luxurious new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. When I wasn’t watching Mauricio Pochettino’s side take us tantalisingly close to silverware, I had progressed to become a national reporter.
However, by 2023, the dream had begun to lose its lustre.
Believe it or not, this picture was not taken in Ireland, where a clear blue sky is rare(Image: Liam McInerney/Reach PLC)
My partner and I had welcomed our first child — and we were residing in a cramped one-bedroom flat in Greenwich, south east London.
We adored the apartment, it was compact, but we had been there for several years. However, introduce a baby girl into the equation, and circumstances became considerably more difficult. With both our families based in Ireland, we faced a stark choice – either stretch our budget to rent a larger property while simultaneously haemorrhaging money on London childcare, or head back home to Ireland.
After a wonderful few years in London, filled with cherished memories – including raising our daughter there for a year – we made the decision to return home, as so many Irish people ultimately do after spreading their wings abroad in their younger years.
Having now been back for a couple of years, here are three things I find myself missing about the UK.
Raising a family in Ireland is still great, despite the challenges(Image: Liam McInerney/Reach PLC)
1) Public Transport
My parents are in County Meath, my partner’s in County Cavan, and we’ve settled somewhere between both our childhood homes.
While having family childcare on our doorstep has been an absolute game-changer – we’ve since welcomed a second child – what we miss most about London is undoubtedly the public transport network.
Getting around London was never a problem, with a wealth of options at your disposal – the Underground, the DLR, buses, overground trains, or simply heading somewhere on foot.
In Ireland, however, particularly outside Dublin, a car is an absolute necessity.
I miss getting out and about in London using the underground(Image: Liam McInerney/Reach PLC)
With no nearby train station, my only alternative to sitting in gridlocked traffic heading into Dublin City Centre is Bus Éireann.
Having used the service three times since returning, I’ve encountered delays of over 30 minutes on every single occasion, and twice faced overcrowding so severe that passengers were left standing – hardly a safe or comfortable experience.
Even upon arriving in Dublin, the public transport system simply cannot hold a candle to London’s. Frankly, any Londoners who find themselves grumbling about delays or strikes should count their blessings.
2) Sporting Events
Attending live sporting events is another thing I sorely miss, and I’m now resigned to watching Spurs on the telly – though given we struggle to even draw games now let alone with them, perhaps that’s not the worst outcome.
Watching Spurs live is now not the norm (although I did get to Madrid last month to see us get hammered)(Image: Liam McInerney/Reach PLC)
Yet it wasn’t solely about the football – it was the characterful pubs along Tottenham High Road and meeting up with mates before and after matches.
Beyond football, there was Wimbledon, where you could simply turn up and soak up the sunshine and tennis on Henman Hill.
Martial arts events were another highlight. I recall watching George Groves at Wembley Arena and attending UFC London events at The O2, which was a short walk from my flat. For years, professional boxing in Ireland was virtually non-existent, and my experience at the Regency Hotel shooting goes some way to explaining why.
There’s certainly no shortage of sport to enjoy in Ireland, and while I’m a casual GAA and rugby follower, nothing quite compares to having Premier League football on your doorstep. Some of my most memorable experiences were away days, whether at Arsenal, Fulham or Manchester United.
Up the Spurs(Image: Liam McInerney/Reach PLC)
3) Weather
This is something entirely beyond anyone’s control, so there’s little use dwelling on it, but London’s climate is markedly different from back home. London was typically milder with less rainfall, and whenever a rare glimpse of sunshine appears in Ireland, you’ll hear people rushing to start their lawnmowers, as everyone recognises that opportunities to trim the grass are few and far between.
No regrets
With all that said, you might assume I’m harbouring regrets about relocating home, still longing for my former London existence.
Life is good in Ireland(Image: Liam McInerney/Reach PLC)
Yet, this couldn’t be further from the truth, and the move has afforded my family an improved standard of living.
My daughter turns three next month and she is thriving — and is close to all of her grandparents who get to see her and her baby brother often. This also gives us a chance to get a break, something that wasn’t possible without family support in London.
We’ve also managed to purchase our first property, something that would have been unattainable for us in London, where climbing onto the housing ladder wasn’t even worth contemplating. That said, Ireland is also grappling with a severe housing shortage, and we were amongst the fortunate ones.
And while I don’t have White Hart Lane on my doorstep, bringing up a family in Ireland is difficult to surpass for various reasons which I can explore another time. Had we remained, we wouldn’t have been in a position to welcome a second child, who is already being indoctrinated into supporting a particular London club like his sister.
Being in Ireland has made having a family much more feasible(Image: Liam McInerney/Reach PLC)
Despite my reservations about public transport and attending live sporting events, life has become more peaceful. I now attend Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu sessions three times weekly, which has proved far more beneficial for my mental and physical wellbeing than watching the club I support, which appears headed for the Championship.
And there’s one area where England will never surpass Ireland — enjoying a pint of Guinness at the local pub.
So with all that said — Sláinte!