For thousands of young Irish people, going to Australia on a working holiday visa has become a well-trodden path. Data shows the number of young Australians coming to live in the State is a tiny fraction (3 per cent) of their Irish counterparts. This does not include young Australians who have come through dual citizenship - having EU-born parents or grandparents. But the total numbers of Australians aged 18-35 in Ireland is still low, just 700 according to the 2022 census. So the idea of me, a born and bred Aussie voluntarily moving to Ireland, seemed ludicrous and to many, exotic.

Source: The Irish Times January 01, 2026 18:01 UTC