After visiting our daughter and son in law in Bandon, Co Cork, for a month end 2018, we were sold. Belinda and I made a vow flying back to SA that we would never say good bye to Ireland again. Next time would be permanent!
And so our journey began. At first a bit of procrastinating in fact quite a bit. The wakeup call, sadly came when my best friend and partner were home invaded by 4 panga wielding thugs while living on a small holding outside PE. Fortunately, the two of them were not harmed however traumatised they were. The thugs had a bit of sadistic fun. The less said the better.
It was then that the realisation came and the “what if" played on my mind. How would I, at the age of 55 then, be able to protect Belinda against 3,4 or more home invaders or anywhere else for that matter. This all happened around August/September 2019.
Things moved quite quickly then, house sold quicker than expected, date was set for me to fly out ahead of Belinda, 16 Feb 2020, who would follow shortly after Easter as this would be when our Furries would be able to make the move.
It was also around this time that by chance I became involved with the SA2EIRE group on Facebook which also led to me becoming a full member on the Website. To say this was not a Godsend would be a total lie. A huge amount of time, stress and confusion was saved by reading and researching on these forums. Most if not all avenues were covered, with an Admin team always willing to advise or point us in the right direction.
Things started falling into place. Before I flew out we secured Pet Friendly accommodation on a Farm outside Macroom. Friends of our daughter lived there and would be moving out before we arrived.
I landed at Dublin Airport on the 17th of February 2020 in the late afternoon from a 38° JHB the day before to a wet 5°!!! Much preferred nonetheless. I spent the first few days in beautiful Greystones with my sister before moving on to Rebel Country, Bandon, Co Cork. I sorted out a sim card, bought a car and after lots of Stress insurance to go with it. I eventually settled with Kennco, in my opinion the most SAFFA friendly insurance company of the lot. Sorted out my PPS card, registered with MyGov and opened an Irish bank account with AIB. I also opened a Revolut bank account which has certainly had it’s advantages sending monies back to SA. The 21st of February I received the keys for our furnished, pet friendly home.
By then the rumblings of this strange virus started picking up momentum. I was applying for work opportunities all over Co Cork, went to one interview and so it carried on. But in true Irish form my opportunity came about whilst sitting in what has become my local Pub, may the Lockdown down come to an end soon, when safe of course, because I’m needing that Guinness with the lads again. Anyway whilst sitting there the owner of the local Pallet factory popped in briefly and was there and then told by the locals that I was a South African Electrician recently arrived and looking for a job. A few days later I received a message, the Publican drove all the way to our home to hand me the message, to contact the Factory Maintenance Manager, I had an interview on my Birthday to crown it all, and I started in the maintenance department the following Monday. The day before St Patrick’s day.
Now if there was one day I was looking forward to that was St Patrick’s day. Damnit I wanted to celebrate with the Locals but that was not to be and it certainly looks like a not to be this year too.
Rumours of Lockdowns in both Ireland and SA were strong. With the backing of my new Employers I decided to fly to SA to fetch Belinda, so from taking off from Dublin on the 22nd of March 2020 flying Emirates I spent 72 hours in either an airplane or an airport. Lots can happen in 72 hours believe you me! Like all flights from Dubai to Dublin were cancelled until further notice meaning I would not be able to fly back using Emirates. Like Pres Cyril announcing that Midnight 26th March all borders would be closed including Airports meaning I would most likely have to sit out a Hard Lockdown in SA. My heart, my Stress levels and sense of humour all took a pounding – to be sure, to be sure!
All I can say is thank goodness for modern technology, Belinda was booked on a flight from PE to JHB using WIFI on Emirates. She was unaware of this. So imagine waking up 04:30 in the morning and reading a WhatsApp telling you to be at the airport to fly to JHB at 09:30. This to meet me there so we could try and secure a flight back to Ireland, yep that was not a certainty either.
Eventually flying over Somalia, with the help of my daughter in Bandon, we managed to secure two seats on KLM the last flight out on the 23rd of March. It was an emotional reunion at OR Tambo when eventually I was allowed off the Emirates flight.
The flight back to Ireland via Amsterdam was great and crossing the Border at Dublin Airport was an anti climax to say the least because the Immigration Officer did not even look at my very well prepared file of documents for Belinda, it was just a stamp in her passport and a “make sure you report to Immigration within 90 days, welcome to Ireland!” However it was very emotional with a tear being shed when we walked through arrivals met our daughter and son in law. To add, arriving on our 30th wedding anniversary! Our Irish journey had now truly begun.
Since then we have settled quite nicely at home, endured the various forms of Lockdown, Belinda‘s passport has been stamped but waiting for the final stamp, she is working as a Carer in Cork and enjoying the experience immensely, has her PPS number but still waiting for her card, still has to exchange her Driver’s licence which can only be done once she has her PPS card. The Furries arrived in July and have also settled perfectly. We have added an Irish cat to the team, What a character!
Do we miss SA, our friends, our family still there, the good times - of course we do, however we are yet to be Homesick. The security, the welcoming nature of the Irish people and Ireland herself far outweighs all that. We certainly have no regrets what so ever.
Thank you SA2EIRE for all your input and help. Thank you in advance for your assistance to come.
Most importantly Thank You Ireland!
So from Rebel Country, Co Cork all the best.............Slàinte!!!!
See you at the Local!
Important links:
#MapMyMove- Our coaching Services - Confused or lost and need some direction, book a session with us to help untangle the confusion and work out your route of immigration
Banking: Proofs of Address, Non-resident accounts, Retail banks and Credit Score
If you have a story to share please email us a blog at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
