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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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    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens.  I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium.  I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells.  When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly.  This is safe and nontoxic.  Vitamin D level should be above 70 nmol/L.  Lifeguards and indigenous Pacific Islanders typically have levels between 80-100 nmol/L.   Levels lower than this are based on amount needed to prevent disease like rickets and osteomalacia. We need more thiamine when we're physically ill, emotionally and mentally stressed, and if we exercise like an athlete or laborer.  We need more thiamine if we eat a diet high in simple carbohydrates.  For every 500 kcal of carbohydrates, we need 500-1000 mg more of thiamine to process the carbs into energy.  If there's insufficient thiamine the carbs get stored as fat.  Again, recommended levels set for thiamine are based on minimum amounts needed to prevent disease.  This is often not adequate for optimum health, nor sufficient for people with absorption problems such as Celiac disease.  Gluten free processed foods are not enriched with vitamins like their gluten containing counterparts.  Adding a B Complex and additional thiamine improves health for Celiacs.  Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses.  Thiamine helps the mitochondria in cells to function.  Thiamine interacts with each of the other B vitamins.  They are all water soluble and easily excreted if not needed. Interesting Reading: Clinical trial: B vitamins improve health in patients with coeliac disease living on a gluten-free diet https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19154566/ Safety and effectiveness of vitamin D mega-dose: A systematic review https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34857184/ High dose dietary vitamin D allocates surplus calories to muscle and growth instead of fat via modulation of myostatin and leptin signaling https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38766160/ Safety of High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31746327/ Vitamins and Celiac Disease: Beyond Vitamin D https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11857425/ Investigating the therapeutic potential of tryptophan and vitamin A in modulating immune responses in celiac disease: an experimental study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40178602/ Investigating the Impact of Vitamin A and Amino Acids on Immune Responses in Celiac Disease Patients https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10814138/
    • Jane02
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Jane02 · Posted

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency.  I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently meet from my diet is vitamin D. Calcium is a hit and miss as I rely on vegetables, dark leafy greens as a major source, for my calcium intake. I'm able to meet it when I either eat or juice a bundle of kale or collard greens daily haha. My thiamine intake is roughly 120% of my needs, although I do recognize that I may not be absorbing all of these nutrients consistently with intermittent unintentional exposures to gluten.  My vitamin A intake is roughly 900% (~6400 mcg/d) of my needs as I eat a lot of sweet potato, although since it's plant-derived vitamin A (beta-carotene) apparently it's not likely to cause toxicity.  Thanks again! 
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      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

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    • Scott Adams
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product. 
    • trents
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By trents · Posted

      Contact them.
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