‘To have a house with land would be impossible in Ireland’

I left Ireland in 2010. It was on a bit of a whim really. I had been working for a large company that eventually closed its Dublin office, making all the staff redundant. Looking back now, the redundancy was the best thing that happened - some time off to think and some money to make a go at a fresh start.

I had been to Estonia, my wife's homeland, on many occasions but never really thought it would be a good idea to live there. The wages are a fraction compared to what I would earn in Ireland. The weather is cold. The people are cold!

It was my suggestion to go. “Just for a year,” I said. We packed the car full and took the ferry. I was very nervous.

In those first few days I had the most vivid dreams, about driving across the Wicklow mountains on a sunny day, or being together with my family at Christmas. Dreams that really made me question what I was doing.

We arrived in November. It was snowing and cold. But it was different and exciting. Within the first week I was offered two jobs. I had done a TEFL before I left, which I soon found out was a very wise move.

It’s been four years now in Estonia, and I love it here. Of course I miss Ireland, especially the people, the friendliness, the craic. But really, I have no real longing to go back home. The weather really is cold here. But it’s so cold it doesn’t rain. It could be -20 outside, but the sky is blue, the ground is white, the air is fresh and it’s dry.

The people are cold, but only at first glance. Take some time to get to know them and they are very warm. And they’re straight. If they don’t like you or have a problem with you, they’ll tell you straight out. There’s a lot to say for that.

I live in a house that my wife inherited. It’s old and needs renovation, but as a teacher I have my summers free to work on that. We have lots of land. We grow our own fruit and veg. To have a house with land like this would be almost impossible in Ireland.

I am very proud of my Irish roots. I tell my kids the same stories I learnt in school about Brian Boru and Finn MacCool. I think that’s very important. I would like to teach them Irish, but unfortunately I can’t speak it myself.

I even bring some Irishness to my classroom here. In fact, there’s a certain town in Estonia where you can ask most of the 16- to 19-year-olds “What’s the craic?” and they’ll know exactly what you’re talking about.

[ click here ]