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Moving To Ireland?

Strawberry-Jam

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Strawberry-Jam Enthusiast
Strawberry-Jam
Posted

I have been researching my international options now that I have graduated from University in the States, and have decided that I want to do BUNAC's 12 month "Work in Ireland" program. I would leave in September/October timeframe and then return 12 months later. I'll be on a tight budget, but I figure I can get by eating a whole foods diet (and lots of rice and things like dried lentils) just fine.

Celiac is extremely prevalent in Ireland, so I hear. So awareness and accessibility to safe food shouldn't be an issue, right?

I'm still in my healing phase, dealing with bad headaches, gas, reflux, and severe fatigue off and on still (I'm only 3 months in). But I worked 40+ hours a week on this same kind of fatigue in the past, so I want to go ahead with the program now, hoping that my symptoms will resolve on the diet over time. I'll still be able to enjoy Ireland as long as I continue to improve and don't go downhill for some reason.

Does anybody have any advice for me? I'll be 22, and also I'll be over 6 months into the diet by the time I leave. And starting over in a new kitchen in Ireland might be better than sharing a kitchen with my conscientious but messy gluten-eating family here. idk.

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MaryJones2 Enthusiast
MaryJones2
Posted

I had absolutely no problems in Ireland. It's the most celiac friendly country I've visited. gluten-free food is everywhere and everyone you meet knows all about it - even in the smallest towns.

cahill Collaborator
cahill
Posted

I just want to say Congratulations and I am jealous ;) . It sound like an awesome opportunity. Enjoy and be well :)

Diane-in-FL Explorer
Diane-in-FL
Posted

What a wonderful opportunity! I've always wanted to go and Janet's comment makes it seem like it might be possible someday. :)

Gemini Experienced
Gemini
Posted

I'll echo what Janet said...Ireland is so easy to be a Celiac in, don't worry one little bit. I just returned from a trip there a month ago and there wasn't one person who didn't know what Celiac is and entails, as far as food prep is concerned. It was easy to eat anywhere and I didn't get sick from anything I ate in the country. Even the smallest shop had a few gluten-free items in it and the people of Ireland bend over backwards to help you out.

I am jealous and hope you have a wonderful time! Don't pass up this great opportunity.

One small warning....some of the tea there can be malted, which is a no-no! Just make sure to check the labels or ask if it's plain tea. Also, some of the bread can contain wheat starch, which is like gluten lite. It's accepted over there but many of the brands do not contain it. I ate bread there and just checked to make sure it was safe. The bread I did have was quite good.

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

The Irish are the most accomodating people on earth. We have been there many times and would live there in a heartbeat if we could.

You're going to be so happy there!! :)

This is an amazing opportunity, have no fear and GO and ENJOY!! Best wishes, hon!!

ElseB Contributor
ElseB
Posted

Watch out for some of the supposed gluten free bread containing "gluten free WHEAT starch". Yup, they allow wheat starch in gluten free bread. They say it has been processed to lower the level of gluten, but I still got sick from it. The brand I had was Kelkin. Also, I had trouble finding gluten free food in small towns. The cities were fine, but the smaller areas didn't have much.

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irish daveyboy Community Regular
irish daveyboy
Posted

Watch out for some of the supposed gluten free bread containing "gluten free WHEAT starch". Yup, they allow wheat starch in gluten free bread. They say it has been processed to lower the level of gluten, but I still got sick from it. The brand I had was Kelkin. Also, I had trouble finding gluten free food in small towns. The cities were fine, but the smaller areas didn't have much.

You'll be fine over here, talk to the Irish Coeliac Society Open Original Shared Link

As for bread the best fresh gluten and wheat free bread is 'Genius'

available in all major supermarkets or available delivered by courier from Open Original Shared Link

Most shops have some gluten free items, all health food shops stock gluten free.

You can get Gluten Free on the go items from

Marks & Spensers (sandwiches)

Coffee shops (Byron Bay cookies)

Starbucks (Sandwiches and cookies/cakes)

Itsa Bagel ( bagels and cakes)

most lunch counters will let you know what's gluten free.

Enjoy your stay, the food, the people and the scenery.

Strawberry-Jam Enthusiast
Strawberry-Jam
Posted
  • Author

thanks! I'm getting more and more excited as the days go by--just gotta get all the paperwork in now...

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

thanks! I'm getting more and more excited as the days go by--just gotta get all the paperwork in now...

Field trip to Ireland to visit Strawberry!

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

Field trip to Ireland to visit Strawberry!

COUNT me in !!! Whoohooo!! :)

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

thanks! I'm getting more and more excited as the days go by--just gotta get all the paperwork in now...

That's awesome, kiddo---best wishes!!! :)

  • 4 weeks later...
james-12 Newbie
james-12
Posted

what part are you going to

Harpgirl Explorer
Harpgirl
Posted

Aww, I wanna go!! I was there 6 years ago and loved every bit of it!! (even when I got lost ;) )

I may be over there in the next few years anyway, because my grandmother's health is declining. :(

cahill Collaborator
cahill
Posted

Field trip to Ireland to visit Strawberry!

Count me in too :D

GlutenFreeManna Rising Star
GlutenFreeManna
Posted

Field trip to Ireland to visit Strawberry!

Do they have boats to travel to Ireland? I'm jealous! I would love to go but still too afraid to fly again. So if Karen books the cruise with gluten-free food I'm there. :D

ETA: Have fun Strawberry and give us an update on how it goes!

bigbird16 Apprentice
bigbird16
Posted

Count me in too :D

Me three!

Strawberry, have a wonderful time! It is truly a delightful country. I lived in Belfast for a year and loved how easy it was to travel by train and bus all over.

Strawberry-Jam Enthusiast
Strawberry-Jam
Posted
  • Author

current plan is to leave in September. I'm waiting on the Visa but got all the proper paperwork in. Will buy plane tickets this week!

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    • trents
      Small Bowel Resection 12 inches

      By trents · Posted

      Losing 12" of your small bowel is going to present challenges for you in nutritional uptake because you are losing a significant amount of nutritional absorption surface area. You will need to focus on consuming foods that are nutritionally dense and also probably look at some good supplements. If indeed you are having issues with gluten you will need to educate yourself as to how gluten is hidden in the food supply. There's more to it than just avoiding the major sources of gluten like bread and pasta. It is hidden in so many things you would never expect to find it in like canned tomato soup and soy sauce just to name a few. It can be in pills and medications.  Also, your "yellow diarrhea, constipation and bloating" though these are classic signs of a gluten disorder, could also be related to the post surgical shorter length of your small bowel causing incomplete processing/digestion of food.
    • Ello
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      By Ello · Posted

      Yes this information helps. I will continue to be pro active with this issues I am having. More testing to be done. Thank you so much for your response. 
    • trents
      Small Bowel Resection 12 inches

      By trents · Posted

      There are two gluten-related disorders that share many of the same symptoms but differ in nature from each other. One is known as celiac disease or "gluten intolerance". By nature, it is an autoimmune disorder, meaning the ingestion of gluten triggers the body to attack it's own tissues, specifically the lining of the small bowel. This attack causes inflammation and produces antibodies that can be detected in the blood by specific tests like the TTG-IGA test you had. Over time, if gluten is not withheld, this inflammation can cause severe damage to the lining of the small bowel and even result in nutrient deficiency related health issues since the small bowel lining is organ where all the nutrition found in our food is absorbed.  The other is NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity or just "gluten sensitivity") which we know less about and are unsure of the exact mechanism of action. It is not an autoimmune disorder and unlike celiac disease it does not damage the lining of the small bowel, though, like celiac disease, it can cause GI distress and it can also do other kinds of damage to the body. It is thought to be more common than celiac disease. Currently, we cannot test for NCGS. Celiac disease must first be ruled out to arrive at a diagnosis of NCGS. Both disorders require elimination of gluten from the diet.  Either of these disorders can find their onset at any stage of life. We know that celiac disease has a genetic component but the genes are inactive until awakened by some stress event. About 40% of the general population has the genetic potential to develop celiac disease but only about 1% develop active celiac disease. The incidence of NCGS is thought to be considerably higher. I hope this helps.
    • Ello
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      By Ello · Posted

      I have always eaten gluten and never stopped until my recent episode. I started more wheat products as my Dr. requested for the Tissue Transglutaminase Iga Antibody. mye result Value <1.0 Value interpretation: <15.0 Antibody not detected > or =15.0 Antibody detected I do not understand any of it. After eating all that wheat product my body exploded with all sorts of symptoms. I stop gluten ASAP. I am still in the healing process. I started having issues after my surgery. 
    • trents
      Small Bowel Resection 12 inches

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the celic.com community @Ello! You say you had a blood test for celiac disease after eating gluten for 2 weeks. Were you gluten free before that? Had you ever been officially diagnosed with celiac disease previously? You say the result of the blood test was 1.5. Can you provide the name of the test and the reference range for negative vs. positive for the test? I ask because different labs used different reference ranges so scores without a reference range aren't very helpful.
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