American woman describes unexpected challenges after moving to Ireland for love

According to Businessinsider, Marci Cornett moved from Kentucky to Ireland after marrying an Irishman she met during an internship in Cork City, but she says life there is less dreamy than many imagine.

Cornett wrote that she initially loved Cork’s village-like community, markets, and cultural life, but settling permanently brought sharper realities: finding a nice, affordable rental was harder than expected, and after weeks of viewings she and her husband took a small place that required giving up a garden and spare bedroom and buying a dehumidifier to cope with frequent dampness.

She says homesickness has been the greatest challenge, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when she faced whether to return to Kentucky but decided to stay because her husband could not board transatlantic flights. Despite that strain, she and her husband run a business from home, pursue creative interests (acting for him, writing for her), live in a walkable city without a car, enjoy local food, and can take inexpensive flights to Europe.

Cornett remains torn between two countries and says homesickness means half her heart is always elsewhere, but she is proud of the life she and her husband have built and has chosen to stay because of the love she found in Ireland.

Key Topics

Culture, Marci Cornett, Cork City, Kentucky, Ireland, Rental Housing