LIMERICK, IRELAND – The trend of Americans relocating to Ireland is on a sharp rise, with a reported 96% increase in people moving from the US. Among those making the leap are Nick Howley (41) and his husband Brendan Roddy (45), who moved from southern Maine to Limerick in late 2024, initially for Roddy’s Master of Fine Arts program at Limerick School of Art and Design.
What began as a one-year plan quickly turned permanent when Howley was offered a full-time role in Ireland by his American employer. The couple, who had frequently holidayed in Ireland since their 2017 honeymoon—fueled in part by Roddy’s Irish ancestry—cite a multifaceted decision to stay.
Politics, Finances, and the ‘Scary’ US Climate
Howley described their motivation as a mix of factors: the potential for a “better financial choice,” a growing feeling that the US “is getting a little bit scary,” and a love for life in Ireland.
A significant concern for the couple is the political climate in the United States. Howley highlighted the “palpable shift” felt after the 2016 election and, crucially, the looming threat to their marriage equality.
“We’re watching a case get worked up to the US supreme court that would reverse our marriage at the federal level, which is really scary,” Howley stated. He also pointed to broader political events, including the reversal of Roe v. Wade, as reasons that “should scare people.”
Battling the Housing Market to Secure a Home
Despite initially facing a “rental situation” that saw them paying €3,000 a month for a two-bedroom apartment, the couple pivoted to buying. With the proceeds from their house sale in Maine and Howley securing a critical skills visa and mortgage approval, they found that a mortgage payment would be “less than half” their current rent.
Their home-buying experience involved entering several “Irish bidding wars,” which Howley, who documents their journey on TikTok (@wayfaringwhiskey), described as fast-paced and unfamiliar, particularly the concept of “gazumping.” However, just twenty days after getting approval-in-principle, they went “sale agreed” on a three-bed semi-detached home in Corbally, Limerick, hoping to close the sale this month.
While Howley sees the house prices in both the US and Ireland as “the same [level of] crazy,” the move allows them to plant permanent roots and make their new home their own.
