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Irish Times
11 hours ago
- Health
- Irish Times
Irish people are talented at many things. But we have our shortcomings too
Ancestrally speaking, and just between us, there are things Irish people are and are not good at. Digesting dairy? We're very talented at it. Our lactose intolerance rate is under 5 per cent, which is way under the 65 per cent global average. That makes us almost superhumanly good at digesting butter, as well as exporting it. We can enjoy it without a roiling gut and an afternoon of debilitating cramps. Our ancestors equipped us to digest the foods around us, which is apparently largely dairy, and whatever the British weren't first having themselves. Knowing the secrets of everyone in the small town where we grew up? Nobody is better at that either. We are like a nation of grizzled but lovable private detectives. We all know Jimmy 'the wagon' (unfortunate and insensitive nickname – classically Irish) is off the wagon again when we see him sitting inside the window of the local Supermac's eating garlic cheese chips without a fork at half 11 in the morning. We are all familiar with the widely circulated rumour that Mary from down the road killed a man in a disagreement over scratch cards in 1984. Crucially, since they never found a body, she's still the school lollipop lady (we are all innocent until proven guilty). There are things Irish people are good at. Emigrating and then remaining very Irish in almost hermetically sealed cabals of their own despite being in Canada, or Australia , the Philippines, or wherever else. Alcohol consumption – unfortunately, we earned that reputation fair and square, and my numerous family members with drinking problems will readily attest to it as, I'm sure, will yours. READ MORE We have many gifts and talents. A penchant for the creative – art, literature and music. A sort of hardiness that comes of being largely cold and wet for hundreds of consecutive generations. (We might be genetically coded for immunity to trench foot.) A fitting and solemn respect for a dinner that is mostly carbohydrates as long as it has gravy on it. But we have shortcomings too. Many of these are not our fault, and I would argue strongly that one example is our poor ability to adapt to other climates. We have pollen in Ireland, of course, and the summer season is an absolute pain in the face (quite literally) for anyone with hay fever in a country richly carpeted in grass Living in Australia, I've seen more than one man red as a beet in a Mayo jersey, his boiled forehead audibly sizzling under the Australian sun as he declares it's 'actually unbelievable to feel the heat' on his face. 'My friend,' I think, 'the heat you are feeling is radiation scrambling your DNA. Get some factor 50 on or you'll be scraping your forehead skin up off the floor.' [ Hay fever and asthma sufferers face more severe symptoms due to agricultural fertilisers - study Opens in new window ] Those of Celtic heritage developed their skin tone, as I did, vaguely in the vicinity of Limerick, where sunlight is a thing we mostly read about in books and consider a rare and special treat, like having pancakes for dinner. It's all well and good for us to be going to California or Sydney or the UAE or wherever, but we would be foolish indeed to think that we don't need to take precautions to protect ourselves against a climate we are ill-equipped to survive in. We need sunscreen, ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) clothing and a decent hat or we will, quite simply, perish. Pollen is no different. We have pollen in Ireland, of course, and the summer season is an absolute pain in the face (quite literally) for anyone with hay fever in a country richly carpeted in grass. We would go to visit my great aunt who lived on Bere Island every summer when I was a child. Each year, just as I was taking in the verdant majesty of my favourite part of the country, my eyes would promptly swell shut. Because it was the 1990s, nobody thought to actually do anything much to assist a temporarily blinded seven-year-old with restricted airways. In fairness, my great aunt did say she'd pray for me, which was good of her. Unfortunately, in the depths of my youth and physical discomfort, this promise served only to convince me that I was dying. So look, I thought I 'knew' pollen. She has been my old nemesis, reeling drunkenly forth each year as spring slurs blowsily into being, and staying long past her welcome once September arrives, still swaying alone on the dance floor as people are stacking chairs in the background. 'The season is over, you relentless slattern,' I would think. 'Go to bed'. And, eventually, she would. My airways would clear and my eyeballs decrust, and there would be room to promptly catch a cold that you couldn't shake till April, like every other respectable Irish person. Still, somewhere out on the vast, mountainous horizon, there are plants desperately trying to have sexual intercourse with one another Then, I moved to Canberra, the hay fever capital of Australia, which does have a primary pollen season during the summer but also enjoys a rolling repertoire of other, less extreme pollen seasons through most of the year. You can actually see the pollen, rolling in mucky clouds, on a windy day. It furs window screens and sills, parked cars and public benches, giving everything it touches the look of something long neglected on Miss Havisham's diningroom table. It gathers in your hair and eyebrows, clinging to your clothes. You can see it running down the drain when you wash your face at night. It plagues people with asthma, who are advised to shower on arrival at home during the worst of the year, lest they keep repollinating themselves each time they move. [ The challenging art of pollen forecasting Opens in new window ] Now, it's autumn in Canberra, as the Irish climate warms up, and I somehow still have hay fever. The leaves are falling, limp and yellow, and my thermals are on and my feet are cold, and still, I am sneezing. Still, somewhere out on the vast, mountainous horizon, there are plants desperately trying to have sexual intercourse with one another. Possibly, there's some sort of lesson in all this, but I'm too congested to glean what it is. It does make me miss Limerick a bit, though, and its chaste plant-life that has the decency to die – or to play dead – once autumn shuffles in. Sign up to The Irish Times Abroad newsletter for Irish-connected people around the world. Here you'll find readers' stories of their lives overseas, plus news, business, sports, opinion, culture and lifestyle journalism relevant to Irish people around the world If you live overseas and would like to share your experience with Irish Times Abroad, you can use the form below, or email abroad@ with a little information about you and what you do. Thank you
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
A mum who moved her family to Spain says she would never return to Ireland or the UK - after finding she could save thousands of pounds on childcare and other costs abroad
A mother who emigrated to Spain with her family has revealed she will never return to Ireland or the UK because it is cheaper living abroad. Sandra Laurie packed her bags along with her husband Warner and their two children, Oliver, 12 and nine-year-old Abi, in 2017, and relocated to Costa del Sol. Prior to the move, the family had been forking out nearly £1,700 a month on childcare costs alone while living in their native County Tipperary, Ireland. But the ongoing financial strain, along with a low quality of life, eventually proved too much, prompting the family to up sticks and head for a sunnier and cheaper way of life. Having left their jobs and small housing estate behind, the family now live in a large Spanish villa they purchased in 2022. Just minutes from the beach, the luxurious property even features its own swimming pool and picturesque sea views. Ms Laurie, 38, said that the idea of emigrating to the Spanish coast first occurred when the family visited the area to celebrate her 30th birthday. Describing how she instantly fell in love with the 'relaxed outdoor lifestyle', the expat said: 'We had met other families already living in the Costa del Sol, and their relaxed, outdoor lifestyle with the kids made us realise what we were missing. Having left their jobs and small housing estate behind, the family (pictured) now live in a large Spanish villa they purchased in 2022. Just minutes from the beach, the luxurious property even features its own swimming pool and picturesque sea views 'We were on the plane home when we said, "It's now or never". The Costa del Sol offered sunshine, family life, and a healthier way of living. 'We had been there many times over the years on holidays and visiting, but something changed on the trip in 2016 - we really started to assess and evaluate that there had to be a better way of life.' At the time, Ms Laurie and her husband were spending triple their monthly mortgage costs on childcare alone. That, coupled with the increasing cost of living across Ireland, was making 'life extremely difficult' for the couple. Adding that childcare costs were 'consuming the majority of our disposable income', she said: 'Despite good salaries, the cost of living in Ireland made life extremely difficult. 'Our mortgage was only €600 (£500) a month, but childcare was a staggering €1,857 (£1,568) per month. 'It consumed the majority of our disposable income. We were essentially working to pay for someone else to raise our children.' As their son suffers from severe asthma, the family were also dealing with significant medical expenses, paying for regular, costly GP visits, alongside high prescription costs. Ms Laurie said that the 'exhausted' couple were often 'forced' to choose between the cost of medication for their sons and bills, living day-to-day in a 'constant cycle of stress'. The mother-of-two also confessed that the meticulous budgeting required was adding great strain to their relationship. Recognising that something desperately 'had to change', Ms Laurie quit her position as a contact centre director while her husband Warner, working as a sales leader, chose to make a vast career change and pursue a real estate business in Spain. At the time, the pair had just €50,000 (£42,000) to their name, made from from the sale of their home in Ireland, which they used to secure rent for their first year abroad. But, it was entirely worth the short-term financial struggle. Ms Laurie said: 'The difference in our lifestyle was immediate and drastic. 'Nursery fees can be heavily subsidised or free, primary school is free, and it starts at three years of age, and after-school care is heavily subsidised for working parents. Ms Laurie and Warner established their real estate business in 2018 before investing in property-buying, renovating and selling homes, which eventually allowed them to buy their 'dream' home 'Our childcare costs dropped to around €200 (£170) per month.' The family also noted a remarkable difference in their daily expenses, citing cheaper eating out costs, while the warm and sunny weather facilitated free, outdoor activities for the children. No longer living pay cheque to pay cheque, Ms Laurie said the family relished in the 'family-centric' culture of Spain, as their children, now bilingual, were able to stay up later for meals and socialise with their parents. Insisting that the move has had an 'incredible' impact on her young children, Ms Laurie remarked: 'They spend more time outdoors, participate in sports, and have adjusted beautifully. 'The lifestyle is slower, safer, and more focused on family. 'They are open-minded and are used to interacting with multiple cultures because the Costa Del Sol is a cultural melting pot.' Ms Laurie and Warner established their real estate business in 2018 before investing in property-buying, renovating and selling homes, which eventually allowed them to buy their 'dream' home. Believing that their incredible success would not have been possible in Ireland, given 'the higher operating costs and lack of flexibility for working parents', Ms Laurie now coaches other people interested in relocating to Spain in search of a 'better life'. And, given the vast amount of perks she cites as a result of the move, Ms Laurie insists they have zero plans to return home. Citing the slower pace of life, family-friendly culture, cheaper cost of living and better climate as just some of the reasons for staying, Ms Laurie added: 'We don't plan on ever moving back. Spain has adopted us, and it truly feels like home. 'Rising home costs in the UK and Ireland would be a concern, making us really question whether we could afford what we have in Spain in another country - our pool, a very large garden, space for guests, and being within walking distance to the beach. 'Living abroad, particularly in Spain, has given us something we never had in Ireland: time. Time to enjoy life, raise our kids, build a business, and thrive, not just survive. 'Ireland will always be in our hearts, but we have found our future here.' Spain continues to be one of the most popular destinations for British expats. However, in a bid to tackle a growing housing crisis, the Spanish government are currently pushing ahead with a controversial plan to slam Brits with a 100 per cent tax on holiday homes Spain continues to be one of the most popular destinations for Brits looking for a place in the sun, with some 350,000 UK nationals officially registered as living in the country, while more than 12,000 settle permanently with their own property each year. Despite UK government pledges to levy holiday homes and prioritise nationals, Brits are continually drawn to the allure of sunshine, good food and a cheaper cost of living. However, in a bid to tackle a growing housing crisis, the Spanish government are currently pushing ahead with a controversial plan to slam Brits with a 100 per cent tax on holiday homes. In May, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's Socialist party presented the plan to the country's Parliament. Under such plan, first announced in January, non-EU residents would have to pay double for properties in the country. The bill aims to promote 'measures that enable access to housing, since we are facing one of the largest problems our society is currently confronted with', according to a copy of the draft legislation seen by Bloomberg. Brits are the biggest buyers of Spanish properties outside of native Spaniards, making up 8.2 per cent of deals. In 2023 alone, non-EU residents bought 27,000 properties in Spain.
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
‘Our son pocketed a £30k loan and cut us off from our grandchildren'
When James* and Alice's* first grandchild was born, they stepped in without hesitation to help with childcare. For the next decade, they would see their two grandchildren three or four times a week for trips to the beach or to the park and to babysit. Three years later, in 2005, his son decided to fulfil his dream of emigrating to Australia with his young family. 'We knew we would only have limited contact with the grandchildren when they were growing up and would miss them terribly, but their happiness and welfare was paramount,' says James. To help support their son, they agreed to loan him £30,000 for a house deposit. 'It was virtually all our life's cash savings,' he adds. A few months later, James fell seriously ill. While he was in hospital, their son informed them he had found a house and needed the money that day. Alice felt she had no choice but to leave her husband's bedside to transfer the funds. 'I could have died a few hours later. I was self-employed. We might not have got a full pension, might not have been able to sell the business, and poor Alice would have had no savings left as a widow,' James says. His son's marriage ended before they emigrated. After renting out the house he had purchased in Australia for six years he sold it for a profit. But he asked if he could hold on to the money to purchase a house in the UK with his new partner, with whom he had welcomed James and Alice's third grandchild. James and Alice agreed. When they asked for the money back, their son claimed it had been a gift all along. 'We know we never declared it as a gift,' they say. But with nothing in writing, the money was gone. 'We never saw the £30,000 again.' James and Alice felt used. 'The betrayal is beyond words.' Their already strained relationship with their son quickly deteriorated further. James and Alice's new daughter-in-law informed them that they had been substituted as grandparents by her parents. 'It was just all about her family,' they say. 'She just didn't want to integrate with our side of the family at all.' James and Alice's access to their grandchildren became increasingly restricted, until suddenly they were cut off altogether. 'Our grandchildren were used as a weapon' Money can tear families apart – from family loans to disputed inheritance – leaving grandparents locked out and grandchildren caught in the crossfire. Research by the social network Gransnet found that one in seven grandparents in the UK are estranged from their grandchildren, with an estimated two million grandparents denied contact. Over a third, 37pc, haven't seen their grandchildren in more than five years. The reasons vary from emotional abuse and personality clashes to mental health issues and family disputes. In the survey, 64pc blamed their child's partner for the problems. But time and again, money plays a part. In 2018, Nigel Huddleston, a Conservative MP, said in Parliament that 'when access to grandchildren is blocked, some grandparents call it a kind of living bereavement'. After two serious allegations of verbal abuse, James' and Alice's offers to pay for third-party mediation were rejected. For more than a year, they were denied all contact. 'The grandchildren were always used as a weapon,' they say. Left with no other option, they went to court. Grandparents have no automatic right to see their grandchildren. But Ministry of Justice figures show a 25pc rise in applications to court by grandparents since 2017. James and Alice were among the few success stories – if it can be called that. A contact order granted them access once every four weeks for 60 minutes. The process cost them around £5,000. 'I don't want the money. I just want to see my grandchildren' Rose has a similar story. When her son-in-law got into debt, she loaned him £60,000 without question. At the time, it didn't cross her mind to get anything in writing and, not wanting to worry her daughter with whom she had a turbulent relationship at the time, she decided not to tell her. Years later, her daughter rang her in tears with bailiffs at the door. Her husband hadn't paid any bills for six months. Rose paid off the debts and confessed to her daughter about the previous loan. When her son-in-law found out she had confessed about the loan, Rose was instantly cut off from seeing her grandchildren. Rose took the matter to court, spending £12,000 on legal fees. But she withdrew her case after learning she was distressing her granddaughter, which she now regrets. 'Somehow I signed away rights to see my grandchildren until they're 18,' she says. Rose is now 87. 'Whether I'll live that long, I don't know,' she says. 'But I just keep thinking I've got to live long enough to see my granddaughter.' She has also never seen the £60,000 loan again. 'I've said I don't want it now. I don't want the money. I just want to see my grandchildren.'
Russia Today
23-05-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
Most Germans would like to leave country
More than half of Germans would consider moving abroad, Die Welt has reported, citing a new survey by YouGov. Respondents pointed to migration and economic challenges as the main reasons for wanting to leave the country. According to the poll, 31% of those surveyed said they would 'definitely' move abroad if they were entirely free to choose, without constraints related to work, personal life, or finances. Another 27% said they would 'probably' leave. In contrast, 22% responded 'probably not,' and 15% said they would 'definitely not' consider relocating. Among those who said they could generally or potentially imagine moving abroad, 36% noted that the thought of leaving Germany had crossed their minds more frequently in recent months. Within this group, 61% identified the country's immigrant situation as a major factor. In addition, 41% cited Germany's ongoing recession as a reason to consider emigration. Political concerns were also reflected in the responses, with 29% pointing to the rise of the right-wing AfD party and 22% mentioning the perceived military threat from Russia. Twelve percent of respondents expressed concern over a possible decline in US protection of Europe due to Donald Trump's presidency, while 36% cited 'other reasons' for wanting to leave. According to the survey, respondents who would consider emigration most frequently named other German-speaking countries as preferred destinations. Switzerland topped the list with 30%, followed by Austria at 23%. Spain (22%) and Canada (17%) were also among the most popular choices. Germany remains the only G7 country to record no economic growth over the past two years, making economic recovery a key focus for the new government under Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The International Monetary Fund projects that Germany will continue to lag behind its G7 peers in 2025, with expected growth of just 0.1%. Despite its economic slowdown, Germany remains the EU's leading destination for asylum seekers. In 2024, the country received over 237,000 applications – more than a quarter of all claims filed across the bloc's 27 member states. Earlier this month, Berlin implemented stricter border controls to curb the number of asylum seekers entering the country, reversing the open-border policy adopted by Chancellor Angela Merkel in 2015.
Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Times
Young Italians shun Meloni's plan to boost economy and head abroad
As Italy fights to reverse its dipping birth rate and deal with a rapidly ageing population, a report has found that a record number of young people are emigrating to escape the country's moribund job market. About 21,000 Italians aged 25-34 moved abroad in 2023, an increase of 21 per cent on the previous year and a new record for departures, Italy's national statistics agency Istat reported. Among the exodus, more than half had university degrees — creating a brain drain that could weaken Italy's drive to turn around its economy. According to figures from Istat, more than a million Italians emigrated in the decade from 2014 to 2023, including 367,000 young people, of whom 146,000 were graduates. 'Everyone I know is abroad because it
