http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6529893/
From an annual survey the Economist does. Here’s a quote: "Ireland wins because it successfully combines the most desirable elements of the new (the fourth highest gross domestic product per head in the world in 2005, low unemployment, political liberties) with the preservation of certain cozy elements of the old, such as stable family and community life,” the Economist survey revealed.
hmmm . . . I can see how this can become a political-social thread . . . but I can see how the cultures in these countries, and the fact that the family is more at the center of importance, rather than the pursuit of wealth and fame, like it is here, well, there are some very appealing things about living abroad. But then again, the realities of following those desires is not always possible, as I have seen noted on a few threads here at C&F. I remember one of my favorite old movies, that John Wayne movie where he was an ex-boxer and moved back to Ireland. I always love watching that movie. There’s something about the countryside, the simple way of life, no computers . . . . .
… “and here’s a stick to beat the pretty lady with!” (The Quiet Man)
THAT’S IT! Glauber, I should’ve known to ask you first 
Anyone else think that was a great movie? Or is it just me? 
I think that’s one of the favourite movies of most people (or just Americans?) involved with Irish music, for whatever reason. I enjoyed it.
Maybe we identify with John Wayne’s character of the foreigner trying to make sense of a culture that’s at the same time welcoming and hiding its secrets from strangers.
Or maybe not. Either way, i’m going home!
You really didn’t need to post that link, Lyrick. I could have told you that Ireland is a great place. True, I only lived there for two weeks on vacation last summer, but I still loved everything about it. 
Will O’Ban
I’m not surprised. I lived in Ireland for 4 months a couple of years ago, and it really was a good country to live in. I planned to move back, but then was accepted for nursing school and now I actually got a permanent job and all and I love the place I live in.
I was in County Clare just recently (last week) in holiday and it was GREAT. Visited the trad festival in Ennis, spent one day in Galway and one day touring Clare (Cliffs of Moher, Doolin, Lisdoonvarna, Kilfenora, Milltown malbay, Liscannor, etc, etc), it was a wonderful week, can’t wait to get back!! (hopefully for Willie Clancy’s summer school)
i missed that, but i remember this one:
“there’s no locks or bolds 'round me!!” (mary kate dannaher/in the quiet man, 1952).
I love the quiet man myself. But I identify with Maureen Ohara. We visited the town of Cong 2 years ago where the movie was filmed.. It was fun but also interesting that a town was still exploiting a movie that was filmed nearly 50 years ago. I was surprised to find out how far apart the locales for some of the scenes were. I thought it would be great to live there. I still feel that way except I recognize that it is a great place for a vacation. If I lived there, where would I vacation? I also think that a person is happiest in the area where they were born. I saw a statistic that said that most people live within 50 miles of there birthplace. But I still dream about how nice it would be to live in West Kerry, West Clare or West Galway. It is nice to have dreams.
Ron, within 20 miles of his birthplace
Well, put the word out. Hope they like tacos in Dublin.
Don’t know if I could live in Ireland (barring winning the lottery) before retirement - when I was there a couple of years back my coworkers were complaining about the high-tech jobs drying up.
Within 50 miles of my birthplace? Make that about 250 miles. At least it’s in the same state (even if it does feel like a different country, sometimes).
Hmm. Given the choice between living in Ireland (Cork, say) and where I was born, I’d take Ireland in a heartbeat.
Yeah, obviously that 50 miles thing does not apply to California, especially the Bay Area. I was born about 450 miles away from here, and I must say I know very few Bay Area natives.
And I may end up living in Ireland at some point, which would be fine but I think I like California better than anywhere else. It’s home, after all. I was in Ireland all summer, and I really loved the sessions but the WEATHER! Brrrrr…They say you get used to it, though.
J.
That’s funny. I thought the weather was the best part. I was there late May thru mid June. But then, I don’t like hot weather.
Will O’Ban
I can understand why Ireland is in leading position. I always enjoyed when being there, the countrie’s vibe catches me everytime and it has been a dream to move there for years… oh well… I love Germany, too so I am a happy girl anyways. I think the position Germany ended at does not reflect the reality but knowing my folks, I believe a typical German manner came into their voting “Germans can be perfect moaners and even see a lottery win as a negative thing” 
oh well… 
We got an email from a friend yesterday forwarding us this petition, I thought here might be a good place to put it as you all have at least an emotional connection to Ireland and many probably have been there or have still family there. This is the text:
The Irish fiddler Fionnuala Devlin (ex-WÜ, now in Berlin) has set up following call to save Tara.
She makes it easy for you to show civil courage and to take part:
just one click on > Petition Online - Petition Online has been retired
and insert your name and country.Please pass this information on.
1000 Dank!
I’ve started an International Campaign to protect the Hill of Tara.
The Irish Government are planning to build a 4 lane motorway through
its ancient grounds. I’ve set up a website in English and German
www.protect-tara.org
and also a petition
www.petitiononline.com/Temair/petition.html
I need to get people, if they want to, to sign the petition as soon as
possible.
The minister in Ireland is deciding now about maybe changing the plans
for the motorway, and I would like to go to the Irish newspapers with the
information about my campaign, it would increase the public pressure on
the minister.
My question to you then is, you’ve guessed it, can you look at the website,
and if it’s ok for you, to sign the petition, and then also to pass the
website information on to as many people as you can. I believe if we can act
now we have a real chance of getting the motorway completely stopped.
There’s already a lot of opposition to it in Ireland, and the campaign here
will just add to the pressure.
And as you know economically Germany is a big tourist resource for Ireland,
so that it is important to the government.
I know you are really a lover of Irish culture, and without exaggeration
Tara has always been at the centre of it.
I would really appreciate if you can do what you can to help, and to pass
the information to as many people as you can, asking them to sign the
petition
as soon as possible.
With many thanks,
slán,
Fionnuala
Peter, maybe you know more about this and could tell us, if you think it could make a difference? I have signed, too.
Have a nice weekend
Brigitte
Ah the new Ireland, all new big houses and motorways and a health care system you don’t want to think about. And the weather only seems to be getting worse.
This](http://www.iol.ie/~robinh/map.html%22%3EThis) map may shed a bit more light on the issue.
There’s a considerable uproar against the Tara motorway, a petition with 10.000 signatures has already been presented t othe minister. More opposition voiced is always good. Although some of the opinions voiced by the on-line undersigners are somewhat naive: ‘you don’t need a motorway’ is easily said if you don’t live in a town up there and have 30.000 cars and lorries roaring by a few meters from your house every day. When you live like that or are stuck in traffic a few hours every day you need better infrastructure. Sign the petition to make the National Roads Authority decide on a different route, it may help.
My parents grew up in Dublin and left at the age of 26 with me at 2yrs old and a younger sister to Toronto. I remember asking my dad a while back if he’d ever consider living back in Ireland again. He was emphatic that he wouldn’t. He always referred to Ireland as ‘back home,’ though. “You just don’t understand the rain there” was his biggest complaint. In California, he liked to visit places, so I can see how the rain had an impact on his enjoyment of the land. He and my mom went back every other year after his retirement for 2 or 3 weeks, and he would say that was enough time. They was mainly visiting family.
My wife has asked me the same question about moving there. I used to think I would, but I have come to realize I feel pretty connected to where I live now, which is where I’ve lived most of my life. If I want to visit scenic places, there’s no shortage in Northern California. My job situation is pretty ideal as a registered nurse. I know there’s a nursing shortage in Ireland, but part of that is because Irish nurses are recruited to come to the US for better paying positions. I hear nurses are given less respect in Ireland than in the US. Just what I’ve read.
I’ve still toyed with the idea of retirement in Ireland, but, realistically, the weather is changing for the worse. If global warming continues (sounds likely), the weather is predicted to turn much nastier for Northern Europe. Not sure I want to deal with that.
I wouldn’t argue that social conditions must be much better in Ireland than here. However, you will make good friends wherever you are if that’s important to you.
Tony
You’re parents went to Toronto to escape Dublin weather???
The weather must not have been an important point in this best-place-to-live-contest. Norway is 3rd - don’t they have those endless long and dark polar winters, same as Iceland (No 7)? I would rather have rain than a neverending night that lasts several months.
From BBC:
‘TOP TEN COUNTRIES’
1 Ireland
2 Switzerland
3 Norway
4 Luxembourg
5 Sweden
6 Australia
7 Iceland
8 Italy
9 Denmark
10 Spain