We made the move from UK in May 2020. Mad time to do it as my husband was 82 and beginning the dementia journey, I was 67 but have a disability so it was a far from easy decision or process but we are now in semi rural Co Galway and just picking up the pieces after covid. We were supposed to have moved in the late 90s but that didn't pan out so the next opportunity we grabbed with both hands. We love the big skies, the lack of pollution and the quietness. We don't know what the future holds for either of us but whatever befalls we will face it much better by being in a place we love.

A word of caution to people who are thinking of doing this. It's not all sunshine and roses. There will be tough times and you will probably have more setbacks and failures that successes. I'm not trying to put people off, but you will need to be strong enough to deal with setbacks and move on. I moved from Dublin to the centre of Ireland almost six years ago, buying a rundown cottage on an acre of land. I took early retirement at 60 and moved rural because I just couldn't take living and working in the city anymore. Living in a concrete box and being part of the rat race is not living, it's existing. My daughters have their own lives to live so it was just me (and my dogs). The cottage needed everything done to it and I mean Everything, and six years on it still needs work. Growing food organically is a real challenge, at least where I am, as the weeds and slugs seem to be superhuman. But, and here's the important bit... There hasn't been a single day or hour of those 6 years where I've doubted or regretted the journey. I love it! The peace and tranquility of living in nature is simply magical. One of my favourite films (Jerimiah Johnson) is about a mountain man. The old man who tutored him at the beginning meets up with him again near the end, and asks him, "Well, was it worth all the trouble?" and he replies "Eh, what trouble?" That's the way to approach it. Crops will fail and things will break and problems will arise, but you just deal with it and move on, because you're a free man/woman and that's the life you choose.

You seem nice honest people. Welcome to Ireland 🇮🇪

Living the dream, I have longed for this way of life for a long time, so tired of dirty noisy Dublin, maybe in the next life, very inspirational story for young people who feel trapped in the rat race

To think outside the box and be that little bit fearless are free and can be the most valuable assets you can have. Well done! Showing others the way!

Good on You folks,wishing You both Every Happiness and Restful Peace.

wonderful family landed into a friendly supportive community, this is what a true community is about, neighbours enhancing your life

They seem remarkably chilled. I like them.

We are very lucky. Paid cash for our 33 acres and house. Have worked hard over the 9 months to fully establish our own sustainable food system. We don’t work jobs, but this is doing what we love. Currently about to set up off grid power. Probably our last main bill. We don’t have the flash things, but never been that way inclined. We have a dog. 2 cats ,24 sheep, 5 cattle ( 2 for milking) 3 pigs, 140 chickens, hatched ourselves. 7 guinea fowl, 10 ducks, 2 geese. Planted 200 fruit trees, hundreds of other nutritional trees for mulch etc. Veggies haven’t been successful at all, a lot of grasshoppers, birds and especially wild wood ducks who eat everything. Envious of your vegetables.

You are very welcome here.... it's a lovely life for all the family! Best of luck in the future!

Hi Guys! You are so right to follow your path. I live in a small coastal town in Donegal having previously lived in inner city Glasgow. The positive mental change to my health has been incredible. A green environment and access to wildlife is essential for Humans. You are particularly lucky to live in Clare. My cousin lives in Ennistymon and I very much enjoy a visit there, a wonderful cultural Town with plenty of Green countryside around it and Incredible Traditional music also. Good Luck. Elaine.

Ireland is beautiful. Had a few weeks there. The land the people are wonderful

That was your best move in the protection of your children, home schooling, well done.

Living off the earth was good for our ancestors.

Well Done Both.. I enjoyed how you talked about "head space", "fulfilling" and "courageous".. Good on you

I have to be honest i was nervous about this interview. I was cringing a little at the B roll of me splitting dry wood on the floor 😂

Love you off grid Bruce and the wife :) you're an inspiration

welcome to Ireland 🇮🇪l lads....a great place to live and bring up a family...

I have met this lovely family! great people - I too hope to move to Ireland one day - great place 🇮🇪

Looking on from cork welcome to ireland, l wish you both the best in life,

Such down to earth people with great words of wisdom, love it!

Best of luck 💕 you both seem like very kind and caring people, I wish you much happiness in Ireland 🍀

It's wonderful to see more and more people realising we were not born to work, pay bills and die! We sold in England and relocated to the Highlands of Scotland and are currently renovating a derelict blacksmiths building which don't get me wrong is hard work sometimes but we have now escaped the rat race, don't have a tonne of bills (mortgage free etc) and we get to live! To anyone thinking it's impossible, it's not!!!

Fair play to u 2 welcome to Ireland. I’m from Derry

How lovely to connect with nature and live a more simpler life, still hard work but more rewarding. Wishing you all the best in life.

We will all be off grid by December. Obesity, diabetes is going to be a thing of the past.

Fabulous, so so happy for you, I almost lived in Clare with the rural resettlement program years ago, unfortunately my children were too old, they wouldn't leave Dublin then, now? They'd be gone in a heartbeat!!

good wishes to bruce and annie good for them i hope they make it

Myself and partner have just done similar (although qe have a mortgage still) we kicked the city and headed to clare. This couples story and KZfaq channel is always a source of inspiration and information. So far Clare is treating us well, now to find ways to live more independently.

Well done for getting out of the rat race.

Good report, well done, Fr Damian.

Inspiring and uplifting, thank you.

I live in Clare myself, it's beautiful here.

Lovely couple! Good Luck!

Off grid channel is fantastic... My 2 fav channels combining.. fantastic episode..I'm currently working for the HSE I have 5 years left on a big mortgage...once we get over the line we can go off grid

To live as our ancestors did on the land may be a necessity in the future, who knows! It's certainly a healthy way of life and one wouldn't be able to sit on one's backside for sure. I imagine that this would mean the family working closely together and equally sharing the workload to be successful. No room for dreamers I expect as the realities of hard work, planning, frugality and the need to gain knowledge of the land would be essential. Great video 🌿💚🌿

Happiness to you and your family ☘🌻☘

I find it very inspirational the fact that when she asked him if he had any advice for people that wanted to pursue a similar path he began to speak on privileges and people that are less fortunate than they are and may not be able to do something like this. Much love to you guys. Keep fighting the good fight!

Well done Annie & Bruce. I've followed your channel since last year and love it! We did the same. Sold up in Dublin and landed in Leitrim. Lots of plans and ideas, working on making the house liveable and next year we'll start on the land. You guys are ahead, love seeing each step you take,.makes it all the more doable for us. Thank you 🙏

What a lovely and inspiring couple.

They seem like such nice people! Hope they and their animals have a long, happy life.

I love the dog..

Great video . Hope they do well . God bless them .

Great stuff keep the great work up Brill, love what you do.

Great story. I love how Ireland calls out to people especially . People who enjoyed this might also enjoy “Mossy Bottom”….a man named Daniel, from Yorkshire originally, who did something similar in the West Of Ireland about 6 years ago..still going strong. He has created a sort of Paradise(but the kind you work your socks off in but paradise all the same) He has made and uploaded a sort of diary…..a bit inspirational I would say. On YT.

Love this... Came just at the right time, I'm thinking of an Irish trip. Love the life youve created, especially the wood fired life, the wise dog so cute

followed bruce and family for thhe last 9 months, really nice people, and they dont know it, but inspiring i want this so much!

Dude, get a wide block of wood and use it as a base for chopping all the other wood with an axe , otherwise you are doing double the work. 👍

I live in Canada and also feel the cost of living and home ownership is grinding us down. Ironically my family all immigrated here from both England and Ireland in search of prosperity and a better life. I wonder if our children will also head elsewhere in search of a life they can afford both monetarily and spiritually.

I remember I met you both down at the Algarve at a Christmas kids forest day. I am happy that you guys have made it work for you over in Ireland.

Understand completely, I was only feeding bills in England. I now have a hard-working life but I have control. Spring water tastes good and the veg comes to the table in minutes. My stove does heat water and provide cooked food. This couple have fallen into the trap of getting animals that they are not eating. Birdy

Great couple

My family comes from Sligo originally (grandads side) and when we used to visit i always felt like i was at home and my heart was at peace.. many years later now i wish i could do this and leave everything behind. Me and my partner are stuck in a one bedroom flat and working just to pay the bills.. i wish we could do this and have the courage .. maybe in the next life ..

Ireland is lucky to have you love your story

Good luck. Stunning looking countryside. Love and success from South Africa. We have huge problems to overcome. I'm on 2ha. 4 tunnels and growing organic vegetables. Been off grid for 5 years. All the Irish Luck in the world to you.

I wish there were more self sustaining communities like this, that those who don't want to be stuck in the system can be part of. Annie and Bruce just ooze happiness and this all comes from the fact that they know that they are free.

More people need to consider this option, even if on a much smaller scale. Make do with the space available and contribute to the production of food. It may not seem necessary right now, but who knows what the future holds?

How wonderful. Congratulations.

I think brits going to ireland is the least of their worries considering what is coming

It's sad that young Irish people always have to emigrate from rural areas to cities for work, while affluent people from places like Dublin can buy second homes even in Gaeltacht areas and help kill the Irish language with their Anglocism. I wish more young local people could have afforded to buy their own places like these folk have done.

Good on them. Ireland need more people like this :)

Humans don’t need much to be happy! And Ireland looks so green! One day, I will wear my hubby down, and get my wish to sample the beauty myself! On my bucket list before I pop my clogs 😂 bucket

This video really spoke to me. Loved it. Thank you.

English people are cool - they don't take crap from anyone and have a "worldly" view of people and take people as they come - Welcome to Ireland !

Fair Play to Bruce and Annie - I follow their channel "Off Grid Bruce" and take my hat off to them

Well done, good luck God bless

Just found this! So much has changed from this video x you guys are amazing x

Well done! Those with the courage to jump in get to enjoy the pay-off. We're also a Suffolk family who moved off-grid in Catalonia in 2015. Absolutely loving it! Thoroughly recommend laying hens BTW, pretty easy to care for and fresh eggs are the best!

Such a lovely couple, so courageous. Fascinating documentary. We are home educators too and I have always read books about being self sustaining but we haven't got further than that. Our teens would have loved an outdoor life like they have. Still dreaming, about to do a building course...

Their story is satisfying to watch

Love their off grid channel, following it since few months. Keep the good work...

It does not surprise me that these English people feel at home in Ireland the Irish the English the Scots and the Welsh are four very distinct tribes but we are one people and that scares those who wish to rule us that is why governments cause unrest between us because they know individually we can be controlled but when the four tribes stand as one nothing on this earth Can Stop Us may God bless all reading this

Fair play to both of you, welcome back to your grandparents parish..... you just came home 👍👍👍

Sendind love and compassion to all the wonderful and beautiful Irish people ♥️♥️♥️

I'd love to live this life and I think l most people would. The problem is having the money to pay your way out of the trap in the first place

Bought our place up in the wilder west of Ireland back in 2021.

Well done,love your style of life .Wendy uk❤

I'd love to see more of this gript. Planning on doing something similar to these guys

❤❤you are living the good life,fresh air,clean water with no chemicals ,lots of greenery thats stress relieving,since farming is hard work you are fit and healthy and you eat healthy organic food, good life it is, congratulations.

Good for yous. Well done lads!

Have watched a heap of Bruce's vids. Himself and his family seem like such lovely earthy people. I'm envious of his life and would love a life like this. Hoping to buy land in the next few years and start building it up slowly.

Thank your

You two have my best wishes for the venture you are working towards. Wether you live in the UK or Ireland we are all controlled by the monthly bills.aka the rat race.🌞

Let 5 or 6 ewes out onto that grass and ull get 10 or 11 lambs every year , potentially 200- 250 kg of prime lamb meat

Every good luck to this couple. And welcome.☘️

Big fans of Bruce and Annie. Love their 'off grid' channel on youtube. They have inspired many of us to take a similar path. We ourselves will be taking a similar journey in a couple if weeks to Leitrim. I was born and raised right in the heart of dublin, however it never felt like home.

God bless them

I’d love to live in co. Clare it’s just beautiful

Lovely story. Hope everything is working out for you guys.

Wonderful inspirational

Wow I clicked on this video .... Because me and my husband want this type life style . We worked hard and saved up with the plan to move to Portugal... Went there and realized it was quite home and now we're back where we began wondering what to do... Then I came to me ... Irland sound lovely... You guys seem just like us it's odd haha. I home school the kids also and it warms my heart and gives me hope that we can make it work. I don't want to be stuck grinding everyday and missing the kids childhood.. being retired in a miserable town house

Well done guys

Lived in rural ireland 5 years now. Hate the rain. Hope to leave the place.

Welcome to ireland 🇮🇪

Have you got chickens did not hear you say you had what a lovely place you have a far better life out of the rat race wishing you all the luck in the world to you and your family

self-reliance is becoming precious and rare nowadays

Good stuff! 👍👍

This makes such common sense...the right way forward.

Fantastic.

Nice job well done