Joey and Lauren are an American couple who visited Galway and said they would consider moving here permanently – but there was one city they would rule out
08:00, 04 Dec 2025Updated 13:12, 04 Dec 2025
Joey and Lauren on their trip to Ireland (Image: youtube/@joeyandlauren)
An American duo, who recently embarked on a tour of Ireland and Northern Ireland including Galway City, delved into why more of their fellow countrymen are trading the States for the Emerald Isle.
Joey and Lauren, the pair behind a popular YouTube channel, have even contemplated making Ireland their home. They’ve pinpointed the city that most appeals to them, as well as one they’d steer clear of.
Data from the Central Statistics Office shows a 96% surge in US citizens relocating to Ireland between April 2024 and April 2025. This equates to 9,600 individuals, a significant leap from the previous year’s figure of 4,900.
Reflecting on this trend, Arizona-based Joey suggested that while gun violence might be a concern for many, feelings of isolation and a lack of community spirit could be even more influential factors.
He told us: “It is a little surprising since it is such a far move, but we can see why at the same time since it’s an English-speaking country and it has a really nice landscape and nice people.
Joey and Lauren pictured in Galway (Image: Joey and Lauren/YouTube)
“I’m sure some of it is because of political reasons, some because of lack of social cohesion in America and some because they have the money to and thought Ireland was a beautiful country prior to moving.
“We would definitely consider moving here, but we don’t know if we could do it long term. Although the US has its fair share of problems, it is hard to permanently leave your home country.”
During their recent trip, Joey and Lauren ventured across various regions of Ireland, taking in Dublin, Cork and Galway alongside Northern Ireland’s capital – Belfast.
They revealed that the primary obstacle preventing them from relocating entirely would be the challenge of integrating into Irish society.
The duo explained how their American background brought distinct customs, traditions and sense of humour that might hinder their ability to genuinely settle in a foreign nation.
The pair loved their time in Ireland (Image: Joey and Lauren)
Nevertheless, they acknowledged: “One thing that would make us want to move is the walkability. It was really nice to be active everyday and get to places by walking as opposed to driving long distances all the time.
“Another big reason would be how together Irish society felt compared to here. Here it can feel very isolated at times and there is not really one American identity that everyone can relate to.”
Joey and Lauren reside in a property requiring a 20-minute trek to reach the closest convenience store, so they relished exploring Irish cities on foot.
When pinpointing their preferred destination for potential relocation, they highlighted Galway as the finest spot they encountered.
Lauren remarked: “We really enjoyed Galway. It had a great city centre and quite a few things to do but didn’t feel too big. We really liked it because of the friendliness of the locals. Also, Eyre Square and the pubs were very nice. It was a good balance of lively but not so crowded.”
They shared videos on their YouTube channel of their time here (Image: Joey and Lauren/YouTube)
Yet when discussing locations they’d steer clear of, both indicated the capital. Joey elaborated: “We don’t think there was any city that was really absolutely horrible, but we may not want to live in Dublin due to the size and increasing problems that we have heard about.”
The couple were left shaken during their Dublin visit when chaos erupted on the red Luas line merely 30 minutes into their journey.
Following disturbances on the tram, a brawl then kicked off at Connolly station, as reported by Dublin Live, with the pair capturing footage of the distressing incident.
Detailing their reservations about residing there, Joey continued: “Dublin just seemed to have the problems that all major cities do which is crime, anti-social behaviour from some people, and just overcrowding in some areas.
“Also, driving in Dublin seemed very stressful due to the tight congestion and tight roadways.”
