Imagine waking up to the sound of waves crashing along the shores, surrounded by green meadows, towering cliffs and far from the noise of the city. Imagine a calm place, ideal to fully enjoy nature. And best of all, imagine that you they pay for moving to that place.
The islands of Ireland are famous for their natural beauty. They were the scene of successful series and movies such as Game of Thrones, Star Wars and Harry Potter.
Despite this, they face a great challenge: there are increasingly fewer inhabitants.
In search of solutions to this problem, the Irish government launched the program Our Living Islandsan initiative that seeks to revitalize island communities and provide new opportunities to those seeking a new beginning.
What is Ireland’s plan to move to its islands?
Ireland is offering 80.000 euros with the aim of growing the population of these remote places, which are “off the coast of Ireland isolated daily by the tide. They are not connected to the continent by a bridge or route, they have permanent populations throughout the year,” states the official website of Our Living Islands.
Those who decide to move to any of the 30 islands that are part of the program must settle in a home built before 1993 and that it has been empty for a minimum of two years. e r
The money should be allocated to the remodeling and decoration of this home.
In addition to this amount, those who buy a house will have ten years of aid and will be part of initiatives of all kinds such as education, installation of services, jobs, among others.
“The policy is accompanied by an Action Plan for the period 2023-2026 that includes 80 time-bound actions to be implemented by various stakeholders.”
Some specific actions They are: offering high-speed broadband, promoting remote work from the islands, ensuring that the voices of island communities are heard.
In addition, the government intends to provide the islands with infrastructure transport y communication.
“Good transport services and developed infrastructure are important requirements for maintaining island populations. The department’s objective is to try to meet these requirements through current and capital investments through the department itself and other relevant departments and organizations,” the website says.
An important point that is clarified among the “frequently asked questions”. “This program does not include any proposals or plans to facilitate immigration or resettlement to the coastal islands of Ireland and therefore the residency requirements are the same as in the rest of Ireland. Information on immigration and residency can be found at : www.irishimmigration.ie“
Which island to choose
There are several options for choosing a new home. However, some stand out above the others.
One of the alternatives is Arranmore, which has less than 500 inhabitants and is located in the north of the country, about 300 kilometers from Dublin. It has a total area of 22 square kilometers with Beaches of white sand, caves and cliffs.
Its coasts are usually chosen for activities such as diving, fishing, sailing and kayaking.
There is a service ferry which connects it with the main island of Ireland.
Another option is Clare Islandfamous for having been the home of the legendary pirate Grace O’Malley.
The island has a population of 160 personas and the main economic activities are agriculture, fishing and tourism.
Some of its attractions are: the Blue Flag beach, Granuaile Castle, the 12th century abbey, the lighthouse, the Napoleonic tower and the various Bronze Age sites.