Ireland Will Pay You $90,000 to Move to a Remote Island—If You’re Already a Resident

Who’s Moving—and Why?

Meet Aoife and Cian, a young couple from Galway in their early 30s. Both work remotely—she as a graphic designer, he in software support. They’ve been dreaming of a simpler life, one where their children can grow up surrounded by nature rather than screens.

Ireland Will Pay You $90,000 to Move to a Remote Island—If You’re Already a Resident

“When we saw the program, it felt like Ireland was finally making room for people like us,” Aoife said. “We don’t want luxury. We want space, community, and the chance to make something our own.”

They’ve just been approved to move to Inis Mór, where they’ll be restoring a 19th-century cottage with wild roses growing through the broken windowpanes.

It won’t be easy—supplies are harder to get, and storms can isolate the island for days. But they say they’ve never felt more excited or aligned with their values.


More Than Just a Grant—It’s a Mission

While the $90,000 grant is generous, the program isn’t just about money. It’s about breathing life into lost corners of a country rich with history and resilience. These are places where the pace slows, where neighbors know each other, and where life is still deeply connected to the land and sea.

The funding must be used for structural repairs, roofing, insulation, and other critical renovations to ensure the home meets modern living standards. And residents are encouraged to become active contributors to the local economy, whether by working remotely or starting small businesses that support island life.


The Bigger Picture: A Global Model?

Ireland’s “Our Living Islands” program has caught the eye of rural planners and community revivalists around the world. From Italy’s €1 home initiatives to depopulated towns in Japan, there’s growing interest in turning fading villages into vibrant hubs again—especially as remote work makes living anywhere more possible than ever.

But few programs have gone as far as Ireland’s in providing real financial support and tying it to cultural preservation.


A Future Anchored in the Past

As these tide-separated islands begin to welcome new footsteps, there’s a poetic beauty to the idea that the future of Ireland may depend on remembering its past.

Stone by stone, families are returning—not just to homes, but to identities, to language, and to a way of life that values community over convenience.

It’s a quiet revolution. And it’s happening where the land meets the sea.


Source:
Our Living Islands – Government of Ireland

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