Housing crises in Ireland

You only have to be in Ireland/Eire for a few days to realize the housing crisis is the HOT topic. There has been no social housing built since the 2008 financial crash. There are still a few unfinished self build housing projects to be seen, a few years ago there were far more when we visited Galway area.  You don't see big estates being built just small developments of less than 30 houses around the small villages and towns.

We were chatting to someone in the very, very north of Ireland (next stop Greenland!) and asked a few questions about all the lovely detached houses on big plots scattered around the countryside.  He explained people thought they wanted that  country life style but now found the travelling to work could rack up hundreds of miles in a week.  Another lady we chatted to explained she moved to rural Donegal from Coventry in 1979 when land was cheap and she built a 5 bed house expecting her daughter to stay and raise a family. Daughter had no such intention and now she was stuck with a large house alone.  Add to the problems is the still recovering economy and horrendous public and private debt since the crash hit here so hard.

Still there is that Irish humour. Down this riverside walk in Donegal Town.....

There are dozens and dozens of fairy houses hidden in the trees.

No housing shortage for fairies then.......