15 years ago, Kelly Murtagh said goodbye to Dublin and moved to the Algarve for a better quality if family life. While Kelly, her husband and their children maintain strong links with Ireland, travelling back regularly from Portugal thanks to the outstanding connectivity between the two countries, the family has put down roots in the sunshine.

“The Algarve has so much to offer when it comes to family life,” explains Kelly. “The fact that it's sunny almost year-round means you can enjoy an active outdoor lifestyle with a really good lifestyle balance. You can swap sitting indoors with the central heating on or sitting in traffic in the rain for spending time at the beach and playing sports in the fresh air. The quality of life is just superb.  There are so many beautiful places to discover. We love catching the boat to the island of Armona, where there are no cars. The children can be so carefree there. That's lovely to see.”

Kelly is now sharing her experiences at the Moving to Portugal Show and Seminars in central Dublin on 22nd May 2025. Taking place from 10:30 am to 7:30 pm at the Herbert Park Hotel, the free-to-attend event serves as a one-stop-shop for anyone looking for information on moving to and living in Portugal. Kelly will be part of an Irish success stories panel, where those who have made the move share insights into what to expect and how to get the most out of the process.

For Kelly, making the move to Portugal meant embracing all elements of the experience. Her advice to others ranges from practical tips (“Finding a lawyer and an accountant will make everything so much easier in terms of navigating the Portuguese fiscal system”) to a reminder of what you stand to gain. She comments:

“Probably the thing that took me most by surprise was slowing down to the pace of life. In Dublin I was always on the go – I felt like I was in a constant state of flight or fight. That's not the case here, and it took me a good 12 months to properly integrate in terms of slowing down my pace. Doing so has reduced my stress levels dramatically. I didn't realise what a big impact that would make. The Algarve frees you from that cycle of a rigid routine.

“The other thing I hadn't anticipated was how long the days feel here. You can switch off your computer after work and still have hours to enjoy the sunshine. In the summer, you can go to the beach at 6 pm and still enjoy a good few hours of relaxing and swimming with the kids.”

Kelly moved to Portugal with her six-year-old daughter and has since had two sons there. She observes that “the Algarve has a good mix of state schools and international schools,” providing a range of education options that cater to non-Portuguese speakers.

The family enjoy reaping the rewards of life in the sunshine. Kelly comments:

“The relaxed pace of life is wonderful. You're not rushing home to get dinner and then herd the children into bed. There's so much less stress. And the food is so healthy – it's all very fresh and seasonal. The range of sports is another plus – here we can sail, swim, kayaking, go paddle boarding.  Cycling and paddle tennis have really become popular over the past number of years.”

The Algarve also serves as an excellent base for exploring more of Portugal and Spain.

“I love how many travel options there are for holidays and work,” explains Kelly. “From the Algarve, you can drive to Seville in two hours, to Lisbon in two and a half and to the south of Spain in five. In a little over six hours, you can be skiing in the Sierra Nevada. There's plenty to discover by car or campervan in both Portugal and Spain. I visited Porto recently, which is such an amazing city. Faro is also great for flight connections. You can get back to Ireland easily, as well as travelling all over Europe and further afield.”

Now, with 15 years' experience of life in the Algarve, Kelly is keen to share her story with others who are considering making the move. As she puts it:

“It's hard to keep something good to yourself! I want to show people that it's not scary to move to Portugal and that it can have so many life-affirming benefits.”

Anyone considering following in Kelly footsteps can find out more at the Moving to Portugal Show in Dublin on 22nd May. The event is free to attend, with registration required online in advance at https://Dublin-MTP.eventbrite.co.uk.

For more information, please visit www.movingtoportugal.org.uk or call 00 44 7463 689666.

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About the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce

The Chamber runs regular online and live Moving to Portugal events all year round to advise those who want to move to Portugal or buy a second home there on how they can sort out their tax, property, insurance and lifestyle issues. The Moving to Portugal Show and Seminars is the premier event in Ireland focused exclusively on moving to Portugal and/or investing there.