Moving West showcases two couples who made move to Mayo

TWO couples who moved to live in Mayo will feature in a new six-part television series showcasing life in the west of Ireland.

Moving West, hosted by Mary Kennedy, will go live on TG4 on September 23 at 9 p.m., with each episode following a family or individual who has moved to the west searching for a better work/life balance and new career opportunities.

In Mayo, Mary meets Louis Freiter from Kent and Caitriona Gray from Dublin who moved to Louisburgh during Covid. Because of the pandemic, Caitriona now works from home full time for Bank of Ireland while Louis has just opened The Seven Wanders Cafe in Louisburgh.

Also featured are Rachael Clarke and David McKeon who moved from Dublin and opened The Pink Door B&B on Westport Quay two years ago. Rachael formerly worked for Astra Zeneca and also has her own Executive Coaching business.

In a motivational and inspiring series produced by Dundara Television & Media, viewers will discover a genuine message, that life, and in particular your career, won't take a step back by moving to the west of Ireland. Each episode explores the many opportunities that this region has to offer across multiple sectors and we find out that the west is populated with major national and global companies, with a thriving start up ecosystem whilst yet retaining its natural charm and beauty.

Tying in with the Western Development Commission's 'More To Life' campaign, the series will show the public the possibilities if they decide the west of Ireland is the right place for their next move.

According to producer and director Enda Grace, the series is very timely. “The Covid-19 pandemic gave people the opportunity to re-assess their lives in many ways. Remote working and the hybrid model of work have suddenly become very real options.

“Covid-19 has propelled the concept of working from home which makes such a move no longer a dream for many people. In the past, people thought moving west wasn’t a viable option due to deficiencies in broadband, infrastructure or lack of career opportunities. We found when filming the show that these barriers are no longer in place, with many choosing to work from a hub, start their own business and ample job opportunities across all sectors from FDI to indigenous.”

The series explores the families, couples and individuals’ motivation to move while shining a light on all the west of Ireland has to offer in terms of lifestyle, outdoor amenities, food culture and quality of life. The show follows the families on their relocation journeys and in each episode the viewer gets to take a peek behind the curtains of the county, the local communities and those driving the region into the future.

WDC CEO Tomás Ó Síocháin commented: “The West of Ireland is seizing the opportunity to renew itself by attracting thousands of young professionals and families to make new lives in the region. This new series reflects the findings of our National Remote Work Survey recently conducted with NUIG highlighting that people are now choosing to find More To Life in the west of Ireland.

“The transition to remote work has allowed people to choose where to live and throughout the series we meet those now working from home, from a hub or finding a new role with one of the many employers across the region.

“Our new platform Westernjobs.ie highlights some of these roles and ConnectedHubs.ie, the National Hubs Network, offers employees the opportunity to find a suitable base for their remote work outside the home. For employers, Connectedhubs.ie offers a connected, sociable work environment and for communities, it’s a driver of economic and social change.

“The series highlights the vibrant towns and villages that can and should benefit from our diaspora returning home and those finding a new life across the region.”

Head of communications at the Western Development Commission, Allan Mulrooney, commented: “The show was a great opportunity to bring to life the stories we know make the west of Ireland what it is today. Over six episodes we hero the vibrant start-up ecosystem, some of the multinationals creating thousands of jobs and the people driving the region forward.

“We'd like to thank all of those who contributed and welcomed us into their homes and businesses over the last few months to make the show a reality.”

Moving West begins on TG4 on Thursday, September 23, at 9 p.m. and is repeated every Monday at 7.30 p.m.