'I moved from Dublin to Portugal and found the secret to a better family life'
For many Irish people, Portugal is a favourite holiday destination. With its golden beaches, long sunshine hours and laid-back lifestyle, it's no wonder thousands of us head to the Algarve every year to unwind. While most return home, one Irish woman decided to make that dream her everyday reality.
Fifteen years ago, Dublin native Kelly Murtagh packed up her life and made the move to Portugal with her young daughter. Now settled in the Algarve with her husband and three children, Kelly says the decision to leave behind the grey skies and fast pace of Dublin was life-changing.
"The Algarve has so much to offer when it comes to family life", Kelly explains. "The fact that it's sunny almost year-round means you can enjoy an active outdoor lifestyle with a really good lifestyle balance. You can swap sitting indoors with the central heating on or sitting in traffic in the rain for spending time at the beach and playing sports in the fresh air. The quality of life is just superb. There are so many beautiful places to discover. We love catching the boat to the island of Armona, where there are no cars. The children can be so carefree there. That's lovely to see."
Her journey from Ireland to the Iberian Peninsula will be one of the Irish success stories shared at the Moving to Portugal Show and Seminars at the Herbert Park Hotel in Dublin on May 22, 2025. Kelly will join a panel of Irish movers sharing their personal experiences, tips and encouragement.
Now fully integrated in the local community, Kelly speaks candidly about the challenges of adjusting to a new way of life - and the unexpected benefits. She said: "Probably the thing that took me most by surprise was slowing down to the pace of life. In Dublin I was always on the go - I felt like I was in a constant state of flight or fight. That's not the case here, and it took me a good 12 months to properly integrate in terms of slowing down my pace. Doing so has reduced my stress levels dramatically. I didn't realise what a big impact that would make. The Algarve frees you from that cycle of a rigid routine.
"The other thing I hadn't anticipated was how long the days feel here. You can switch off your computer after work and still have hours to enjoy the sunshine. In the summer, you can go to the beach at 6pm and still enjoy a good few hours of relaxing and swimming with the kids."
Offering advice to others, she said to embrace the challenge but to come prepared. Kelly added: "Finding a lawyer and an accountant will make everything so much easier in terms of navigating the Portuguese fiscal system."
Kelly's children, one who moved with her at age six and two born in Portugal, are thriving and she praises the range of education options in the Algarve, saying: "The Algarve has a good mix of state schools and international schools", providing a range of education options that cater to non-Portuguese speakers.
The family's days are filled with outdoor activities, good food and a more relaxed rhythm. She said: "The relaxed pace of life is wonderful. You're not rushing home to get dinner and then herd the children into bed. There's so much less stress. And the food is so healthy - it's all very fresh and seasonal. The range of sports is another plus - here we can sail, swim, kayaking, go paddle boarding. Cycling and paddle tennis have really become popular over the past number of years."
Kelly has described a lifestyle far removed from her days in Dublin traffic. She said: "I love how many travel options there are for holidays and work. From the Algarve, you can drive to Seville in two hours, to Lisbon in two and a half and to the south of Spain in five. In a little over six hours, you can be skiing in the Sierra Nevada. There's plenty to discover by car or campervan in both Portugal and Spain. I visited Porto recently, which is such an amazing city. Faro is also great for flight connections. You can get back to Ireland easily, as well as travelling all over Europe and further afield."
She is encouraging anyone curious to take the leap, saying: "It's hard to keep something good to yourself! I want to show people that it's not scary to move to Portugal and that it can have so many life-affirming benefits."
Anyone interested in exploring the idea of relocating to Portugal is invited to the Moving to Portugal Show and Seminars. Registration is free and available at here via this link. Or for more details, visit the Moving to Portugal website here.
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