Marrying and Sponsoring an Irish Citizen
Listen to this articleMarriage to an Irish Citizen
Every country has its own laws that apply to its citizens marrying a person from a different country. Getting married to an Irish citizen with the goal of eventually bringing them to Canada to live is a process with many steps.
If you want to bring your Irish spouse or partner to live in Canada, you must then file a sponsorship application for them to become a permanent resident. If they would like to visit you in Canada while their application is in process, they must also apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). For more information, please see our family sponsorship page and our eTA article.
How We Can Help You Marry Your Irish Fiancé(e)
To discuss the process to marry a citizen of Ireland, contact us for a consultation. We can determine your eligibility to apply for permission to marry an Irish as well as advise you how you can prove you meet the requirements.
Immigroup will assist you throughout the entire application process from start to finish, including:
- Determining your eligibility to apply;
- Determining the likelihood of success for your particular case;
- Ensuring your forms are complete and accurately reflect the details of your case for maximum chance of success;
- Ensuring you have the necessary and appropriate documents to support your application;;u;
- Offering Top Priority service for extremely urgent cases;
- Determining the best way to proceed once the outcome of your case is reached (applying for family sponsorship, applying for an eTA for your Irish partner, re-application if necessary, etc.)
Processing Time
Once the necessary documents are gathered, it usually takes the Irish government up to 3 weeks to authenticate the documents.
If you then file a Canadian sponsorship application for your Irish spouse or partner, this application takes an average of 10-12 months.
An eTA application for your spouse or partner to visit you in Canada while the sponsorship applications are processing will be processed instantaneously if approved.
Please see our pages on family sponsorship and Canadian visitor visa for more information on the processing times of these applications.
Costs of the Process
Government Fees
To learn about the costs of the sponsorship process, click here.
Other Fees – Disbursement Fees
Documents must all be translated into to be included in an application. Documents are also sent to Ireland and Irish embassies by courier to ensure security, confidentiality, and confirmation of delivery. These costs are known as disbursement fees and are unique to each case; however the total is typically less than $500 Canadian dollars.
Irish Marriage Basic Requirements
Religious marriage in Ireland
A religious marriage may only be performed by a person (for example, minister, priest, pastor) who has been registered as an Officiant and authorized by the Registrar General to conduct religious marriages. A couple wishing to have a religious ceremony should consult with the Officiant and agree the date and venue. A religious ceremony may, with the agreement of the Officiant, take place anywhere in Ireland.
Civil marriage in Ireland
A civil marriage may only be conducted by the Registrar or Deputy Registrar for the District in which it is to take place. A civil ceremony may be conducted in the Registrar’s Office or in an approved place.
Marriage notice in Ireland
Notice for all marriages must be given in the twelve month period prior to the date of the marriage. The notices must be submitted early enough to enable the Registrar to be satisfied that both parties are free to marry one another.
Normally, notices should be with the Registrar about eight weeks before the marriage, but if either of the couples has been married before, the notices should be with the Registrar ten weeks before.
The minimum period is fourteen days before the date of the proposed marriage, but if the couples leave things as late as fourteen days they could be faced with the need to postpone their marriage.
Only in exceptional circumstances will the Registrar General authorize a marriage to take place if fourteen days notice has not been given. The notice forms may be submitted in person or by post to the Registrar.
Prior to the date of the marriage, the parties may be requested to attend the Registrar’s Office to finalize the arrangements or to collect the marriage schedule.
Family Members
If your Irish spouse has dependent children, this does not affect the Irish Marriage document application.
If you have dependent children, they have no effect on the application to marry an Irish citizen.
List of Irish Consulates in Canada
Calling Ireland from Canada
To make a direct call to Ireland from Canada, you need to follow the international dialling format given below. The dialling format is the same when calling Ireland mobile or land line from Canada.
Dial:
011 – 353 – Area Code – local number
011 – Exit code for Canada, and is needed for making any international call from Canada
353 – ISD Code or Country Code of Ireland
Area Codes for Major Centres of Ireland (landlines only)
| Ardee | 41 | Dundalk | 42 | Nenagh | 67 |
| Arklow | 402 | Dungarvan | 58 | Newbridge | 45 |
| Athlone | 90 | Edenderry | 46 | New Ross | 51 |
| Athy | 59 | Ennis | 65 | Passage West | 21 |
| Balbriggan | 1 | Galway | 91 | Shannon | 61 |
| Ballina | 96 | Greystones | 1 | Sligo | 71 |
| Ballinasloe | 90 | Kilkenny | 56 | Spiddal | 91 |
| Birr | 57 | Killarney | 64 | Swords | 1 |
| Bray | 1 | Leixlip | 1 | Tallaght | 1 |
| Carrick-on-Suir | 51 | Letterkenny | 74 | Thurles | 504 |
| Carlow | 59 | Limerick | 61 | Tralee | 66 |
| Castlebar | 94 | Longford | 43 | Tramore | 51 |
| Clonmel | 52 | Loughrea | 91 | Tullamore | 57 |
| Cobh | 21 | Mallow | 22 | Waterford | 51 |
| Cork | 21 | Monaghan | 47 | Westport | 98 |
| Drogheda | 41 | Mullingar | 44 | Wexford | 53 |
| Dublin | 1 | Naas | 45 | Wicklow | 404 |
| Dun Laoghaire | 1 | Navan | 46 | Youghal | 24 |
Cells begin with a code beginning with “8”.
How to Call Canada From Ireland
To make a direct call to Canada from Ireland, you need to follow the international dialling format given below. The dialling format is the same when calling Canada mobile or land line from Ireland.
Dial 00 – 1 – Area Code – local number
- 00 – Exit code for Ireland, it is needed for making any international call from Ireland
- 1 – ISD Code or Country Code of Canada
Area codes
| Province | Code | Province | Code |
| Alberta | 403 / 587 (southern Alberta)
587 / 780 (central and northern Alberta) |
Nunavut | 867 |
| BC | 236 / 250 / 778 (majority of BC)
236 / 604 / 778 (Metro Vancouver) |
Ontario | 226 / 519 (southwestern Ontario)
249 / 705 (northeastern Ontario) 289 / 365 / 905 (Greater Toronto Area) 343 / 613 (eastern Ontario) 416 / 647 (Toronto) 807 (northwestern Ontario) |
| Manitoba | 204 / 431 | PEI | 782 / 902 |
| New Brunswick | 506 | Quebec | 418 / 581 (eastern Quebec)
438 / 514 (Montreal) 450 / 579 (Greater Montreal) 819 / 873 (remainder of Quebec) |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 709 | Saskatchewan | 306 / 639 |
| Northwest Territories | 867 | Yukon | 867 |
| Nova Scotia | 782 / 902 |
Time Difference
Irish Time is officially GMT+1, however Irish Time is only in effect during the summer, when Europe and North America practice Daylight Saving Time, meaning that Ireland is really on UK Time for all practical purposes. Like all countries in Europe, the time change is different from Canada by about a week, so in late October and late March, the time difference is briefly 1 hour greater. Saskatchewan does not participate in DST, so Ireland is a further hour ahead during the summer.
| Canadian Time Zone | # of Hours Ireland is Ahead | # of Hours during DST |
| Pacific (BC, Yukon) | 8 hours | 7 hours |
| Mountain (Alberta, western Nunavut, Lloydminster, Saskatchewan) | 7 hours | 6 hours |
| Central (Manitoba, Northwest Territories, central Nunavut, northwestern Ontario, Saskatchewan*) | 6 hours | 5 hours |
| Eastern (most of Ontario, most of Quebec) | 5 hours | 4 hours |
| Atlantic (Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, eastern Quebec) | 4 hours | 3 hours |
| Newfoundland | 3.5 hours | 2.5 hours |
Emergency Information for Canadians in Ireland
Embassy of Canada in Dublin7-8 Wilton Terrace Telephone: 353 (1) 234-4000 |
View Larger Map |
Main Emergency Services
in the Republic and Northern Ireland
- Police
Dial 112 or 999 and ask the operator to put you through to the Gardai (Republic of Ireland) or the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). - EMS and Ambulance
Dial 112 or 999 and ask the operator to put you through to the ambulance service. - Fire and Rescue
Dial 112 or 999 and ask the operator to put you through to the fire service. - Marine and Coastal Emergencies
Dial 112 or 999 and ask the operator to put you through to the Coast Guard. The Garda Costa (RoI) or Her Majesty’s Coast Guard (NI) will coordinate the response by cliff rescue teams, inshore rescue units, lifeboats and SAR helicopters if necessary. - Mountain Rescue
Dial 112 or 999 and ask the operator to put you through to the mountain rescue service.
Other Helplines in the Republic of Ireland
- Alcoholics Anonymous (Dublin) – 01 453 8998
- AWARE Depression Support – 01 676 6166
- Irish Tourist Assistance Service – 01 478 5295
- Rape Crisis Centre – 1800 778 888 or 1800 212 122
- Samaritans – 1850 609 090
The Government of Canada’s Travel Alerts for Ireland
Irish Money
The Irish pound was the currency of Ireland until 2002. The Irish pound was superseded by the euro on 1 January 1999. Euro currency did not begin circulation until the beginning of 2002. The currency in the Republic of Ireland today is the Euro (ISO currency code EUR).
Notes
There are 7 euro notes which are of different colors and sizes. They come in a denomination of 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 euros. The notes are uniform throughout the euro area; unlike coins, they have no national side. The designs are symbolic for Europe’s architectural heritage. They do not represent any existing monuments.
Coins
There are 8 euro coins which come in denominations of 2, 1, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cent. Every euro coin carries a common European face. On the reverse, each Member State has their own motif. In the case of Irish coins they have a harp, the date and the word “�ire” – i.e. word for Ireland in the Irish language.
You can use Euro notes and coins (irrespective of design) in any Euro member country. This includes Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Finland, France (including overseas departments and territories), Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Portugal, San Marino, Spain and Vatican City.
The names and relative values of the coins depicted above are, from left to right:
- One Cent – 1/100 of a Euro
- Two Cents – 2/100 of a Euro
- Five Cents – 5/100 of a Euro
- Ten Cents – 10/100 of a Euro
- Twenty Cents – 20/100 of a Euro
- Fifty Cents – 50/100 of a Euro
- One Euro – 100/100, 1 full Euro
- Two Euros – 200/100, 2 full Euros
Irish Wedding Customs
The Irish traditional wedding is one of the most amazing ceremonies in the world, from the stunning traditional attire of the bride and groom, cultures, traditions, superstitions and the manner of tying the knot. The bride would as is done to-day be dressed in a white dress to symbolize her purity. But Irish weddings have a lot of superstitions, cultures and traditions that have to be observed and carried out lest the couple suffer the consequences.
Proposal
The Irish men would use the following words when asking a hand of a won in marriage, “would you like to be buried with my people?” ‘Would you like to hang your washing next to mine?’ It was not very romantic way to ask a woman for marriage but every Irish girl would know what was being asked by a man. Friends and family when enquiring about the ‘big’ day would ask: ‘When are you giving us a day out?’ or ‘Should I buy a hat?’
Before the introduction of Christianity in Ireland, couples who wished to show commitment to each other practised what was known as hand fasting. This ritual was most probably carried over from Pagan times and is the Celtic ceremony of unity. It was usual for couples to celebrate this ceremony around the harvest festival, Lughnasa, which occurs on 1st August. They could choose the length of the union either “‘till death do the couple a part” or to be together in the afterlife or even while their love still burned strong and true in which case if they still wished to remain married they would renew their vows every year.
When it comes to planning of the marriage ceremony, usually the poor groom use to go underground and takes cover and leaves all the marriage planning to the bride and her family as traditionally it is the bride’s father who foots the bill although nowadays a lot of the expenses are being shared. The days when a marriage depended on the size of the bride’s dowry are now gone. The Irish marriages wasn’t based on love, they were based on what the bride could bring to the marriage either cattle, a farm or piece of land. The Irish use to marry close relatives by then as it was law that only a male heir could inherit the wealth of deceased parents and this made sure that land and property stayed within the family circle.
Wedding Day
An old Irish tradition calls for the wedding couple to walk to the church together before exchanging their wedding vows. As they walk down the main street to the chapel, onlookers would not only throw rice to bless the marriage, but larger items as well, such as pots and pans.
The traditional Irish bride often wears a blue wedding dress, rather than a white dress. This is because blue symbolized purity in ancient times. It wasn’t until the year 1499 that a white wedding dress began to symbolize virginity and purity.
English lavender, an ancient symbol of love, loyalty, devotion and even luck is often mixed with the bride’s wedding flowers to help insure a happy and long-lasting union
Another tradition is for the bride to braid her hair for her wedding day. Braided hair is an ancient symbol of feminine power and luck. Another symbol of luck is to be married on St. Patrick’s Day, considered the luckiest wedding anniversary date in Ireland.
During the marriage ritual the couple holds hands, right hand with right hand, and left hand with left hand with their wrists crossed. Ribbon or cord is then wrapped around the wrists in a figure symbolizing eight to represent infinity. This is most probably is where the idea or belief of “‘tying the knot” originated from. In a church, two candles burn separately during the ceremony which are then used to light one taller candle known as the Unity candle which signifies that the couple have become one.
The Claddagh Ring
An Irish bride’s wedding ring is called a Claddagh ring. It is named after Claddagh, a fishing village in Galway (in Western Ireland), the Claddagh ring is handed down from mother to daughter and is used both as the betrothal and wedding ring. It is a heart held by two hands with the heart topped by a crown. The hands represent faith, the crown symbolizes honour, and the heart signifies love. The ring’s motto is: “Let love and friendship reign.” If a woman wears a Claddagh Ring on her right hand with the heart facing outward toward the end of her finger she is signifying that she is a single woman, free to see whomever she desires. If the ring is worn on the right hand with the heart facing inward, toward the woman’s knuckle, then she is signifying that she is engaged. If a Claddagh Ring is worn on the left hand it means that the woman is married. Today, it is still used as a wedding ring and it is considered improper for a person to buy one for him or herself; it must be given as a gift.
Irish Wedding Superstitions
During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Irish believed that if the sun shone on the bride, it would bring good luck to the couple. It was also lucky to hear a cuckoo on the wedding morning or to see three magpies. After the wedding ceremony, it was important that a man and not a woman be the first to wish joy to the new bride.
Locking the Door
Since Irish men were known for getting cold feet on their wedding days, once the bride and groom were in the church, the guests would lock the door to keep the groom inside to make sure he went through with the marriage ceremony.
Irish Wedding Toast
The wedding party gathers around the bride and groom. All fill their glasses with mead and the newly wedded couple recites an Irish toast
Irish Lace
While bridal fashions in Ireland resemble the rest of the Western world, one distinctly Irish touch is Irish lace. The Irish people usually try to incorporate this beautiful fabric into a gown or veil. Some people normally carry a lace handkerchief in their bridal bag or usually hand them out as attendant gifts. You must ensure that you follow the Irish heritage by going for green, white or gold.
Bagpipes and Kilts
The couples are usually entertained by big pipe bands. Popular tunes are the “Highland Fling” and the “Stack of Barley,” as well as jigs, reels, and hornpipes. Not only do they sound good, they look good too. Most pipers wear Celtic kilts plaid skirts that their ancestors wore in medieval times. The Irish weren’t allowed to wear them during British rule and therefore they slip them on for practically every special occasion, maybe in an effort to make up for lost time and to reclaim their stake in what is often regarded as a Scottish fashion statement.
Lord of the Dance
Show off on the dance floor with a ceilidh, a traditional Irish set dance. Some ceilidh dances are named for locations in Ireland such as the Kerry Set, the Seige of Ennis, while some waltz tunes include names such as “Galway Shawl”, or “Home to Mayo”. The couple usually chooses songs and dances that reflect their family’s heritage or ancestral home for that matter. The couple normally shares the special significance of their songs and dances with their guests.
An Irish Feast
The traditional Irish wedding menu included Irish soda bread, corned beef, and cabbage. This is usually served up at a big wedding fete. There is also the traditional Irish wedding cake, a fruitcake filled with almonds, raisins, cherries, and spice and laced with brandy or bourbon.
Irish soda bread
Corned beef and Cabbage
The Month of Honey
The word for honey is “meala” in Irish. “Mi na meala,” the month of honey, refers to the month after the wedding when the newlyweds celebrated by drinking mead, a brew made of fermented honey. Following the wedding, a sufficient amount of mead was given to the bride and groom, along with special goblets, so they could share the unique brew for one full moon after their wedding — and thus the term honeymoon was coined. It was believed that this delicate yet potent drink was the best way to ensure a good beginning for a new marriage, and it was also believed to endow powers of virility and fertility.
An Irish Honeymoon
It was an Irish custom for the newlyweds to spend a month together drinking honeyed wine, secluded, in case their families tried to separate them. This was especially true if the couple had eloped. The belief was that after a month had passed the bride would become pregnant and her family would then want her to remain with her new husband.
Even today many couples mix ancient beliefs with modern customs to create wedding traditions which pay homage to the past while at the same time keeping pace with the present.
Wedding gifts
If you got married in Ireland within three months before coming to Canada or if you plan to marry no later than three months after arriving in the country, you can bring in your wedding gifts free of duty and taxes. However, you must have owned and possessed the gifts while in Ireland and before you arrived in Canada. At this instance, the requirement to have used the goods does not apply. These same conditions apply to household goods you bring in as part of a bride’s trousseau from Ireland.
Ownership, possession and use requirements
To import goods duty- and tax-free, settlers must have owned, possessed and used the goods prior to their arrival in Canada and Former Residents must have owned, possessed and used the goods for at least six months before returning to resume residency from Ireland.
It is important that you meet these three requirements. For example, if you owned and possessed the goods without using them, the goods will be subjected to duty and taxes. Please note that leased goods are subject to duty and taxes because the Canada Border Services Agency does not consider that you own them. If you have bills of sale and registration documents, they can help you prove that you meet these requirements.
Declaring your goods
You must give your list of goods to the border services officer when you arrive at your first point of entry in Canada from Indonesia even if you have no goods with you at the time. The officer will complete a Form B4 , Personal Effects Accounting Document, assign a file number to it and give you a copy of the completed form as a receipt based on the list of goods you submit. To claim free importation of your unaccompanied goods when they arrive, you will need to present your copy of this form. Goods to follow may be subject to import restrictions before you can import them.
To facilitate the clearance process, you can complete Form B4, before your arrival at the first port of entry in Canada.
Religion in Ireland
The constitution of Ireland provides that the state may not endorse any particular religion and guarantees freedom of religion and worship. The predominant religion in Ireland is Christianity, with the largest church being the Roman Catholic Church. According to the census carried out in 2011 by Georgetown University 84.2% of the population identified themselves as Roman Catholic, 2.6% less than 5 years earlier, although the number of Catholics increased by 179,889.
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland, followed by the Methodist Church in Ireland are the other significant Protestant denominations in the country. The second largest Christian denomination, the Church of Ireland (Anglican), declined in membership for most of the twentieth century, but has more recently experienced an increase, as have other small Christian denominations. The country’s Hindu and Muslim populations have experienced significant growth in recent years, mainly due to immigration. According to the same census of 2011, 269,811 people (5.9%) had no religion, with 3,905 and 3,521 people describing themselves as “atheist” and “agnostic” respectively. Those who did not identify themselves with any religion numbered 72,914.
Christianity
Christianity is the largest religion in the Republic of Ireland based on baptisms. Irish Christianity is dominated by the Roman Catholic Church which has 84.2% of the population as followers. Most churches are organized on an all-Ireland basis which includes both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
The Presbyterian Church
The Presbyterian Church is a Protestant Church of the Reformed tradition with a strong emphasis on the Scriptures. The Presbyterian Church in Ireland has ordained women to the ministry since the 1950’s. There are approximately 312,000 Presbyterians in Ireland, more than 95% of who live in Northern Ireland.
The Methodist Church
Although closely linked to British Methodism, the Irish Methodist Church is an autonomous body. The Methodist Church has approximately 130 ministers. The total membership is around 60,000 people, about 90% of whom live in Northern Ireland. The church has developed a wide range of social work activities, through its missions in the larger cities. These provide facilities for the elderly and the needy. The Church is also involved in educational activities.
The Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is a Protestant Episcopal Church. The Church of Ireland is actively involved in education and social services. The total membership of the Church of Ireland is around 380,000, 75% of whom live in Northern Ireland.
Churches in Ireland
Church of Ireland
Christ Church – Dublin
Saint Alphonsus’s Church – Barntown, Co Wexford
Church of Ireland – Innishannon
St. Luran’s Church of Ireland – Derryloran Parish
Bunratty Church – Bunratty, County Clare
The patron saints of Ireland for Catholics and Anglicans are Saint Patrick, Saint Bridget and Saint Columba. Saint Patrick is the only one of the three who is commonly recognized as the patron saint. Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated in Ireland and abroad on 17 March.
Other religions
Islam
There are 49,204 adherents (1.07%) of Islam in Ireland as of 2011. Irish Islam has a long and complex organizational history. Islamic new religious movements such as Fethullah Gulen are also represented in Ireland.
Buddhism
The population of Buddhists in Ireland is 8,703 (0.19%). Irish Buddhists such as U Dhammaloka are recorded from the late nineteenth century on, with numbers growing particularly in the 21st century. Beyond formal membership in Western Buddhist groups, Vajrayana, Mahayana, and Theravada, there is increasing syncretism, with self-identified Christians and others using Buddhist meditation techniques, Buddha images, texts by figures such as the 14th Dalai Lama and so on. Reputed links between Buddhism and Celtic religion have long played a role in Irish literature.
Hinduism
The spread of Hinduism in Ireland is increasing. The 2011 Irish Census reports 10,688 Hindus resident in Ireland, almost double the number in 2000 which was 3,099.
Neo-paganism
Various Neo-pagan movements are active in Ireland, especially Wicca, Neo-druidry and Celtic Polytheism. Ireland is also a significant point of reference for various kinds of Celtic and other neo-pagan spirituality and religious practice around the world, such as the Fellowship of Isis.
New Age
The New Age is increasingly significant in Ireland, often as a form of syncretism for members of established religions. Participation is strongly gendered, with a high proportion of women. A typical example is “A course in miracles”.
Religious Affiliation in Ireland (2011)
| Religion | Number | Percent |
| Christianity | 4,150,944 | 90.47 |
| Roman Catholic | 3,861,335 | 84.16 |
| Church of Ireland | 129,039 | 2.81 |
| Orthodox | 45,223 | 0.99 |
| Presbyterian | 24,600 | 0.54 |
| Apostolic/Pentecostal | 14,043 | 0.31 |
| Methodist | 6,842 | 0.15 |
| Jehovah’s Witness | 6,149 | 0.13 |
| Lutheran | 5,683 | 0.12 |
| Protestant | 5,326 | 0.12 |
| Evangelical | 4,188 | 0.09 |
| Baptist | 3,531 | 0.08 |
| Latter Day Saints (Mormon) | 1,284 | 0.03 |
| Lapsed Roman Catholic | 1,279 | 0.03 |
| Quaker(Society of Friends) | 925 | 0.02 |
| Plymouth Brethren | 336 | 0.01 |
| Other Christian religions | 41,161 | 0.9 |
| Non-Christian religions | 87,157 | 1.9 |
| Islam | 49,204 | 1.07 |
| Hindu | 10,688 | 0.23 |
| Buddhist | 8,703 | 0.19 |
| Jewish | 1,984 | 0.04 |
| Pantheist | 1,940 | 0.04 |
| Bahá’í | 520 | 0.01 |
| Other religions | 14,118 | 0.31 |
| Non-religious | 350,151 | 7.63 |
| No Religion | 269,811 | 5.88 |
| Atheist | 3,905 | 0.09 |
| Agnostic | 3,521 | 0.08 |
| Not answered | 72,914 | 1.59 |
| Total | 4,588,252 | 100 |
Romantic, Scenic and Historic Places in Ireland
Hotels
Perryville House – Kinsale, Co. Cork
Perryville House is a stylish boutique hotel set in picturesque Kinsale in lovely West County Cork. Perryville House stands in the heart of Kinsale overlooking the marina in this medieval fishing port. This luxury guest-house has many grand and elegant touches making a stay a very pleasant one.
Abbeyglen Castle Hotel – Sky Road, Clifden, Co. Galway
Abbeyglen Castle is a family run 4* Hotel found in Connemara. It is nestled in the romantic setting of the Twelve Bens with beautiful views overlooking Clifden. Only 3 hours from Dublin, Abbeyglen Castle Hotel is in a perfect location for touring Connemara or a romantic break with breathtaking scenery.
Ballynahinch Castle Hotel – Recess, Connemara, Co. Galway
Ballynahinch Castle in Connemara, a luxury castle hotel set in one of the most perfect scenic locations in County Galway, offers hundreds of acres of exceptionally beautiful wooded grounds and walks. The manor castle dates from the 18th century and offers all the attractions of a large private estate.
Lough Inagh Lodge Hotel – Recess, Connemara, Co. Galway
Lough Inagh Lodge is a charming, romantic country house hotel set snugly in the aptly named Recess of Connemara. By no means is a small house, Lough Inagh Lodge yet dwarfed by the magnificant scale of the stunning Connemara landscape surrounding it.
With such a peaceful setting in a quiet valley with a lake in front and a mountain behind, Lough Inagh Lodge is ideal for a romantic break in Galway. It is the perfect hideaway in the country, and offers fishing, hill walking, cycling and golf nearby.
Ross Lake House Hotel – Rosscahill, Oughterard, Co Galway
Ross Lake House Hotel is an elegant 19th Century Georgian house nestling amidst 7 acres of rambling woods and rolling lawns. It is at the gateway to Connemara, which is famous for its rugged landscape, mountains and lakes. Peace and tranquillity are the hallmarks of this country house which has remained unspoilt by the passage of time.
Cahernane House Hotel – Muckross Road, Killarney, Co. Kerry
Cahernane House Hotel is beautifully situated on luxury parkland on the edge of Killarney’s National Park in County Kerry. This stunning Manor House gives a unique experience of old Irish history with modern hotel luxury.
Butler Arms Hotel – Waterville, Co. Kerry
The Butler Arms Hotel is a luxury hotel in Waterville on the famous Ring of Kerry. One of Ireland’s best known family-run luxury hotels, the Butler Arms offers a welcome and homely Ring of Kerry atmosphere with all the luxury of a 4-star country house hotel.
Lough Rynn Castle – Mohill, Co. Leitrim
Lough Rynn Castle is one of Ireland’s most luxurious castle hotels. Set on the shores of Lough Rynn in Leitrim, this historic Irish Castle is surrounded by over 350 acres of breathtaking scenery, lush green pastures, ancient forests and historical points of interest.
Dunraven Arms Hotel – Adare, Co. Limerick
Dunraven Arms Hotel is a stylish luxury country house situated in the village of Adare in County Limerick. This ivy clad Manor House Hotel is surrounded by mellow thatch cottages and is an oasis of luxury and tranquility in the lively Adare village.
Mount Falcon Estate – Ballina, Co. Mayo
Mount Falcon Estate is a luxury country hotel lying between Foxford and Ballina in County Mayo. It is comprised of the Mount Falcon Country House Hotel, Fisheries, Spa, Lodges, & Leisure Centre, set on a 100 acre Estate.
Bellinter House – Navan, Co. Meath
Bellinter House is one of the most unique contemporary styled country hotels in Ireland. Only an hour from Dublin City and Dublin Airport, this country house hotel stands majestically on the banks of the River Boyne in the rolling landscape of County Meath, and is a delight for fishing, hiking, and relaxing.
Beaches
Donabate Beach – Dublin
Donabate is fabulous blue flag beach located in north County Dublin, close to Dublin City. The good news is it’s within easy access of the M50 and M1 motorways so you can avoid the city centre!
The beach is nearly 4km long and is really sandy! There are loads of sand dunes to get lost in when you come here too!
Killiney Beach – Dublin
Killiney is one of the blue flag beaches. It is a stony beach about 800m in length. The beach is sheltered and suitable for bathing and swimming.
Garrylucas Beach – Garretstown, Ballinspittle, Cork
Garrylucas Beach is one of the Blue Flag beaches at Garretstown. It is considered as a legendary beach. It is a favourite among surfers. Garretstown lies near the Old Head of Kinsale, a short drive from both Kinsale town and Ballinspittle village.
Garryvoe Beach – Shanagarry, Cork
This is one of the Ireland’s finest beaches. Stretching for miles, it is ideal for kite- and wind-surfing and is a favourite among anglers. It is located in the village of Garryvoe, on the R632 from Castlemartyr.
Inchydoney Beach – Clonakilty, Cork
It is one of the Blue Flag beach found at Inchydoney Island, just a few miles from Clonakilty, is one of West Cork’s most stunning and family-friendly beaches. Its wide expanses of white sand, extensive dunes and excellent surfing conditions make it a truly multi-purpose seaside destination.
Owenahincha Beach – Rosscarbery, Cork
Owenahincha is a wide sandy beach loved by holidaymakers and surfers alike. It can be accessed by taking the N71 from Clonakilty and turning off at Burgatia Cross onto the R598.
Warren Beach – Rosscarbery, Cork
The Warren beach is a beautifully sheltered family beach with safe bathing and abundant rock pools. It is located in a small village of Rosscarbery in West Corkboasts. It can be accessed by turning off the N71 at Warren Cross.
Scenic Places
Cliff of Moher – Clare
Cliff of Moher is sheer wonder of nature. It is beside a magnificent stretch of coastline. The cliffs rise 394 feet above the Atlantic Ocean and the view is spectacular. It is a must if you’re visiting Ireland’s west coast
Lakes of Killarney – Kerry
The Lakes of Killarney are a renowned scenic attraction located near Killarney, County Kerry. It is full of Lakes, green landscapes and mountains. It’s undoubtedly a perfect lover heaven.
Historic Places
Kinsale – Cork
Kinsale is one of the most picturesque villages in Ireland with beautiful buildings, a golf course. Fantastic restaurants and intimate pubs snugly tucked away on its narrow streets. It’s a fantastic place to spend a few romantic nights.
Inistiogue – Kilkenny
Inistiogue is a great place to go with your nearest and dearest, set in amongst rolling green countryside and beautiful woodlands. It’s a favorite romantic haven for many Irish people and an ideal place to declare your love.
Ross Castle – Lough Sheelin, Meath
Spend a night in the haunted Ross Castle on the banks of Lough Sheelin. The ghost of Sabina Nugent is said to roam the flagstones of the castle. Sabina died of a broken heart and to this day she haunts the castle, searching of for her lover. How about spending a romantic evening snuggled away in such a palace of romance.
Waterford Castle – Waterford
A 15th century castle, it sits on an island in the River Suir, and the castle can only be reached by its own private ferry. If you are planning a honeymoon, or you’re just a hopeless romantic, Waterford Castle is the place for you.
Salaries in Ireland
The average household income was €22,168 in 2010. This represented a decline of 5 per cent on 2009 and was a slightly larger decline than between 2008 and 2009.
The fall in average incomes over the period was considerably less than the decline in the widest measure of economic activity, gross domestic product of the country.
While nominal incomes fell by 9 per cent between their boom-era peak and 2010, nominal GDP declined by twice as much.
The difference is accounted for by social-welfare payments, which have mitigated the effects of the recession on household incomes.
Average household incomes, excluding all social transfers, fell by 19 per cent between 2007 and 2010, an almost identical decline to that of nominal GDP.
Despite the mitigating effects of the welfare system, the percentage of the population experiencing two or more kinds of deprivation rose from 17.1 per cent in 2009 to 22.5 per cent in 2010. Before the recession took hold in 2007, the deprivation rate stood at half its 2010 level. The income inequality rose sharply last year. The inequality measured on a scale of zero to 100, with zero indicating identical incomes among all households, jumped to 33.9 in 2010.
Average annual income in Ireland in 2011/2012 is around 37,422 EUR (46,200 USD). Average salary in Ireland is 47,515 EUR. The most frequent education is generally Bachelor’s degree, followed by Masters Degree and Some College degree
Average salary for Software Engineer/Developer in Ireland is from around €35,000 to €60,000 per annual. Project Manager earn from around €50,000 to €70,000. Office administrator earns around €26,000 on average per year.
Bigger companies in Ireland usually pay better than smaller ones. For some similar job you can expect to earn 30 per cent more if the company has over 500 employees.
The best paid managers are in production and manufacturing, followed by those in IT. Also good paid are administration, marketing, finance, accounting, and finally HR.
Average Salary by Careers
| Career |
Entries |
Gross (USD) | Average Gross Salary | Average Net Salary |
| Manager | 7 | $118,165 | €95,714 | €67,057 |
| Sales Manager | 5 | $96,296 | €78,000 | €45,112 |
| Operations Manager | 5 | $95,309 | €77,200 | €49,000 |
| Human Resource | 5 | $84,691 | €68,600 | €53,216 |
| IT Project Manager | 11 | $80,179 | €64,945 | €44,954 |
| Other Engineer Career | 5 | $75,062 | €60,800 | €38,000 |
| Chartered Accountant | 5 | $68,580 | €55,550 | €38,983 |
| Software Engineer | 13 | $66,477 | €53,846 | €39,538 |
| Project Manager | 5 | $63,951 | €51,800 | €33,200 |
| Lecturer | 5 | $60,741 | €49,200 | €36,400 |
| Other IT Career | 6 | $59,060 | €47,839 | €31,980 |
| .NET Developer | 6 | $57,407 | €46,500 | €36,622 |
| Software Developer | 13 | $54,962 | €44,519 | €32,529 |
| C-Sharp Developer | 5 | $52,963 | €42,900 | €33,134 |
| Salesmen/Saleswomen | 10 | $51,988 | €42,110 | €30,020 |
| Accountant | 5 | $51,605 | €41,800 | €31,760 |
| Customer Service Manager | 5 | $48,765 | €39,500 | €32,720 |
| Engineer | 6 | $48,148 | €39,000 | €31,033 |
| IT Coordinator | 5 | $46,914 | €38,000 | €31,200 |
| Other Finance Career | 8 | $44,830 | €36,312 | €27,637 |
| Bar Manager | 5 | $41,728 | €33,800 | €27,680 |
| Sales | 5 | $41,111 | €33,300 | €26,598 |
| Office Administrator | 8 | $32,036 | €25,949 | €20,650 |
Sponsoring Your Irish Spouse to Come to Canada
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