Emily Barker details three months on remote Irish island
The 28-year-old revealed she was making the move back to Ireland at the start of the year, having spent six years here during her time on Dancing with the Stars.
The British dancer spent six seasons on the RTÉ dancing competition, winning alongside broadcaster Carl Mullan in her sixth and final season on the show. Former Dancing with the Stars professional dancer Emily Barker has moved back to the UK after spending three months on a remote island off the coast of Ireland. Pic: Emily Barker/ Instagram
Having returned to Ireland at the start of the year with her partner Olly, Emily has now provided a social media update admitting that the move 'didn't quite go to plan.'
'Or maybe it was everything it was meant to be AND SO MUCH MORE!' she reasoned.
The former dancer explained that she had been quite online for much of 2025 and was now ready to share her experience of living on an island. View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Emily Barker (@emilybarker123)
Emily explained that moving back to Ireland had been their plans for the whole of 2024, due to their love for the country as well as Emily's company and clients being mostly based there.
'We put plans in place, found a gorgeous little cottage in Wexford and put down a deposit, secured tenants for our home here in the UK and began to pack our whole lives into my little fiat 500 (Ollys car broke 2 weeks before the move and had to have a full new gear box… just the start of the twists in this eventful story),' Emily shared.
Two weeks ahead of their before, Emily explained that they got an offer 'we just couldn't refuse.' Having returned to Ireland at the start of the year with her partner Olly, Emily has now provided a social media update admitting that the move 'didn't quite go to plan.' Pic: Emily Barker/ Instagram
The pair were approached about living and working on a remote island off the Irish coast, and initially ignored the message, but later decided to reply and see what it was all about.
'As we both run remote businesses we thought… What could go wrong!? Just us… 19 wild horses, 2 border collies and Nancy and Ralphy of course,' Emily said.
Emily and Olly made the move on January 4, bringing three weeks worth of food shopping to the remote island they were set to call home. Emily and Olly made the move on January 4, bringing three weeks worth of food shopping to the remote island they were set to call home. Pic: Emily Barker/ Instagram
Following on with her recollection of the experience, Emily said the first few weeks were 'like no other' with sunsets and sunrises, a private beach and 'all the freedom in the world.'
Noting that food shopping was ordered via click and collect every three weeks by boat, Emily joked that 'if you didn't buy your Prosecco in advance… Friday night is going to be pretty boring.'
The pair resided on the island during Storm Eowyn, which Emily branded 'mad.'
Likening the experience to lockdown, Emily explained that she refrained from sharing her journey online as she wanted to take time away to re-evaluate her journey in life and the next steps. Following on with her recollection of the experience, Emily said the first few weeks were 'like no other' with sunsets and sunrises, a private beach and 'all the freedom in the world.' Pic: Emily Barker/ Instagram
Following three 'AMAZING months,' Emily and Olly decided to re-emerge back into society.
She said: 'We have since moved back to the UK for some time to debrief and collect our thoughts after the most crazy adventure of our lives.
'Who knows if we will ever move back to Ireland but for now I have the most incredible memories from a three month trip of a lifetime!!'
Friends and followers took to the comments, obsessed with Emily's life update, with one person writing: 'Now that's a life changing experience!!'
Another added: 'Wow! That sounds like the best experience ever! Fair play to you. Best of luck with the next plan. X.'
A third commented: 'The dream!!'
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