What digital nomads value most about life in Ireland

bunq Global Living Index scaled 1

What digital nomads value most about life in Ireland

More people than ever are opting for a borderless lifestyle, and this shift shows no signs of slowing down. There are now 40 million digital nomads worldwide, with the number expected to rise to 60 million by 2030. bunq, Europe’s second-largest neobank, surveyed 5,000 digital nomads across Europe, including those from Ireland, to examine the benefits and obstacles of living abroad.

 

Laughter outshines lunch

 

Living abroad can be an exciting adventure, but it also brings a sense of nostalgia. Among those 96% of Irish digital nomads who miss life in Ireland, 22% claim they miss family and friends the most. Irish humour (13%) and food (11%) also make them feel connected to home. This sense of nostalgia for Ireland is the second-highest in Europe, trailing only Spain.

 

The ranked aspects of Irish life missed the most by digital nomads:

 

Friends & family (22%)
Irish humour (13%)
Irish food (11%)
The friendliness of people (11%)
Scenic countryside (8%)
Guinness (7%)
Social events 6%)
The cosy weather (5%)
GAA (5%)
The nightlife (4%)

 

Managing mental health but missing milestones

 

Over a third (37%) of Irish expats secured stronger connections from their international lifestyle, with 41% reporting positive mental health outcomes when overseas. However, almost a third (30%) of Irish digital nomads struggle with their mental health and being homesick. Isolation is a challenge when living abroad, with nearly two-thirds (65%) missing personal milestones such as birthdays, weddings, or funerals. The blurred boundaries of remote work pose difficulties for maintaining a healthy work-life balance, claim 16% of expats.

 

Navigating finances

 

One in five (21%) Irish digital nomads feel more financially secure when living abroad. Despite this, one in eight expats (14%) face difficulties opening local bank accounts when settling into new countries. Irish digital nomads also report facing unforeseen costs abroad, with healthcare (21%), banking fees (16%) and data roaming charges (15%) topping the list.

 

“At bunq, we’ve seen firsthand the changes in the way people approach work, travel, and life,” says Bianca Zwart, Chief Strategy Officer at bunq. “It’s not just about freedom – it’s about the richness of experience. Digital nomads aren’t leaving things behind; they’re building something new.”

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Viktoriia Hurska

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Vika joined Harris PR following her selection as the recipient of the 2025/26 Harris PR Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Bursary, developed in partnership with the Public Relations Institute of Ireland (PRII) and the Open Doors Initiative. Originally from Ukraine and displaced by war, Vika came to Ireland in 2022 and brings over eight years of experience in communications including a wealth of strategic insight, creativity, and international perspective.

 

As part of the Bursary, Viktoriia is completing the PRII Diploma in Public Relations, combining academic study with hands-on agency experience at Harris PR, where she supports clients in the retail, health & wellness, festivals and NFP sectors.

Eve McSweeney

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Eve is a skilled communications specialist who joined Harris PR in 2026 bringing extensive experience in strategic PR across the business, technology, and consumer sectors.

 

Eve previously spent over four years at tech-focused communications agency Beachhut PR, where she delivered strategic positioning, executive profiling, and global media relations for high-growth companies and multinational brands, often translating jargon heavy language into clear messaging. Her experience spans fintech, automotive, e-commerce, Web3, med-tech, supply chain, and enviro-tech industries.

 

She plays a key role in shaping and delivering integrated communications strategies, working closely with clients to build strong narratives, deliver insight-led storytelling, and drive meaningful media engagement.

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Emma started her career in Internal Communications before undertaking a Masters in Public Relations and Strategic Communications. She moved on to become a Public Relations Manager in a fast-paced retail environment for over two years before joining Harris PR in 2025.

 

Experienced in delivering and executing PR campaigns across corporate, consumer and sustainability communications, whilst nurturing brand reputation, Emma manages clients in the health & wellness, retail, festivals and NFP sectors. A true media relations pro, her passion lies in storytelling and identifying news angles that will generate positive coverage while landing key messages.

Niamh McCarrick

DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR

With over 20 years’ experience, both agency and in-house, Niamh is a versatile and passionate PR expert who joined the Harris PR team in 2020.

 

During the course of her career she has worked with a broad range of corporate entities and consumer brands from industries spanning retail, telecoms, and FMCG, and has been the recipient of a number of PRCA awards in recognition of her work. She later served on the judging panel for the annual industry awards for several years.

Niamh specialises in strategy, planning, media relations and influencer management at Harris PR, and is the account lead for a number of brands in the retail, food & beverage, health & wellness and travel & tourism sectors.

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Sonia established Harris PR in 2009, following a decade in agency PR and three years as a journalist with the Sunday Independent.  Her vision is to provide a truly people centric service, delivering standout creative work that moves the dial, while acting as an extension of client teams

 

While taking an active role in client work, alongside running the business, Sonia is responsible for strategic counsel, creative oversight and KPI delivery.  She has advised multinationals, start-ups, NFPs, and more over the course of her career and is deeply committed to advancing the PR industry by investing in talent and building an agency culture rooted in fairness and inclusivity.

 

Sonia is committed to advancing DEI in the PR Industry, and recently commissioned research and prepared the first benchmark report and toolkit for employers on the state of DEI in PR Ireland.  An active member of the PRII, and co-founder of the DEI PR Bursary now in its third year, Sonia has recently joined the board of the PRCA, and is committed to driving more inclusive hiring and workplace practices throughout the industry.