Well, back from the Ennis festival, I decided to move to Ireland for some time, hopefully from february…
I went to Galway and liked the place, but I know many musicians from Belfast even if I’ve never been there, so I was thinking of moving in one of the two cities. The idea is to go there, find a place to stay (anybody? 
), (try to) find a little job to keep me going, and then sessions every day…
Have you been there? What do you think of the two cities (life and music)? As far as I know, it’s hard to find a job in either. I think there aren’t as many great flute players in Galway. In case anybody’s wondering, I’m turning 22 in january…
Thanks!
Lorenzo
Good luck! I don’t know either place, so can’t advise at all on that, but I do know that in economic terms now isn’t a good time - but then, I guess it may not be any worse than Italy - so you’d just be trading to worse weather but more ITM…
I actually prefer cold weather…
I’d tell you to move here to Pittsburgh then. The only problem is that it seems to be the one city in the US where nobody is interested in Irish playing music. 
Good luck with the move, it sounds like a great adventure. You’re following in the footsteps of that other young’n P.J. “Tinwhistler”. I think he moved from Mallorca to Galway.
Cheers,
Kirk
Maybe… but you’re not used to the long, dismal, grey, dampness of the Atlantic NW of Europe! It gets in your bones and SAD is not just a feeble excuse! Temperatures won’t mostly be all that low - higher than Italian mountain averages in winter, probably, but it isn’t the absolute temperature which matters. Dampness and dull light at +2 degrees feels far chillier and more miserable than -5, dry and bright! The Romans hated Britain (in all the best historical novels, anyway)!
It’s not really a time where the ‘find a little job’ part of your idea will be very easy. And you need that part as it’s still a very expensive place to live.
The weather, well, it’s not really the cold that gets you, it’s the l grey light, the wet and drizzle for days, weeks on end that will eat at you and require the mental adjustments to cope with it all once the honeymoon phase is over. The good days are brilliant though. But understand the place you visit occasionally on your holliers is not the same place you’ll find yourself living in.
the weather is just like that on the east side of the Pacific 
funny, innit
Weather is not going to stop me 
I should have the money to survive up to a couple of months without a job (if I sell that damn flute), perhaps I could try some busking if fingers don’t become a piece of ice and rain don’t start falling horizontally.
Somehow I feel optimistic though.
Weather is not going to stop me
You don’t know the half of it. Believe me.
But don’t let it stop you. If it gets bad you can always get efexor on your medical card.
Very good advising given here. I’d like to also offer an “idealistic” viewpoint if I may, from someone who has never lived in Ireland. If you are in a place in your life that this move makes sense for you, I’d say go for it without hesitation. I would absolutely love to do what you are contemplating but with three kids in college, 18 years left on the mortgage, and many more dollars to put into my retirement account first, it ain’t gonna happen for me anytime soon. So with the benefit of the shared wisdom of those who have lived there, you are better prepared for whatever greets you in your new place of residence, challenging or convenient, including many tunes and pints (not necessarily in that order). Best wishes and if you were to post a blog about your experiences in moving to Ireland, that would be an interesting read. Cheers!
On a practical level read this : Moving to Ireland
If you land on your feet, find a place to live, work to sustain you, the first year is always going to be brilliant, just prepare to last beyond the honeymoon period.
I moved 3,000 miles cross-country to Portland, Oregon in 1992 for no other reason than that was where I wanted to live. No, job, no contacts, rented an apartment sight unseen and I had no real idea what “It rains from September to June” really meant. I lived there for 13 years, loved every minute of it and never looked back. You can do it. The word “fail” just cannot be in your vocabulary.
Cheers,
Kirk
ah, yes…
I moved here @ 22 (from Ohio, near the east border)
stayed fer 39 so far
I am not planning on leaving Clare either, I recognise the challenges though. Have seen a lot of people arrive brimming with enthusiasm who couldn’t cope after a while.
Well the plan is not to stay there forever. I’m going for a full immersion in music, in the hope of becoming a good enough musician, and after that I may move somewere else (definitely not back in Italy). If I don’t change my mind while I’m there, it should be anywere from 4 months to 2 years.
I understand and agree! I know natives that do not cope well with the challenges…
yeah, I was definitely not moving back to Ohio.
You are at an age to take advantage of the ability to do something like that.
It may never come again, enjoy!
I left a tropical home when I was 17 and moved to coastal Alaska.
Youth is the time for adventure, lose or win.
Go for it and good luck.
Do it Lorenzo. Some people naturally say “yes” to an idea and some people say “no.” I say “Go for it!” The worst that could happen is that you’d not like it and would move back to Italy. My good friend Paolo moved here from Italy and shows no sign of leaving.
Those people whose first response to a young man’s hopes is to complain about the deadly mist don’t have much sunshine in their souls. You have the rest of your life to be cautious and negative. Now’s the time to be optimistic and fearless.
Belfast has its charms but I much prefer the looseness and vitality of Galway. Galway is a young person’s city. And if you want a relaxed local session you can hitch-hike down to us in County Clare and we’ll give you a hot meal and a warm bed for the night.
Good luck!
You’re only young once so go out into the world and good luck 
. I’d choose Galway also. My girlfriend’s daughter & her boyfriend moved to Galway in early 2010, but left after 5 months as they couldn’t find a job. The few job opportunities that came up went to Irish job seekers. They busked on the walking street, but it wasn’t enough to live on, that is buy food & pay for their room.
Hopefully you will get lucky, and find a job, find a girl, get immersed in the music. I moved to Sweden with just my guitar (a Gibson J160E for the guitar nerds amongst us) when I was 21.
Another idea is move to London, lots of Irish traditional music there, and although accomodation is expensive there are jobs to be had. All the best
Thanks guys.
Well at least I don’t drink alcohol and can cook my own food, it should make me save some money.
I’m still not completely sure about music’s scene in Galway though…