How difficult is it to make friends in Ireland as a foreigner?
Hi everyone. I've been thinking about this a lot and wanted to ask based on real experience, because I feel like it's one of those things you don't really understand until you experience it.
I'm Mexican, a professional, and I'm moving to Dublin, Ireland to study and work in December 2026. I'm really excited about the opportunity, but I'm also a little scared of starting from scratch in another country. I consider myself a shy, quiet, and emotional person, and I find it hard to start conversations at first, so one of my biggest concerns is how difficult it might be to make real friends there as a foreigner.
I'm not just talking about "meeting people," but about feeling like you're gradually building a real relationship with someone, having someone to talk to, go out with, confide in, and not feel so alone. I know everyone's experience is different, but it would really help me to read honest stories from people who have been through this.
Is it difficult to integrate in Ireland? Are people open to foreigners? Or does it take a long time to make closer friends?
Thanks for reading.