These remote Irish islands will pay you €80,000 to move there, but there’s a catch

If you’ve ever dreamed about dropping everything and reinventing your life on a remote island, now might be your chance.

Ireland has launched a scheme which will pay generous cash incentives to people who choose to move to one of the nation’s offshore communities.

The initiative is part of the country’s “Our Living Islands” policy, through which the Irish government is aiming to boost the population of Ireland’s islands.

“The aim of this policy is to ensure that sustainable, vibrant communities can continue to live - and thrive - on the offshore islands for many years to come,” the government says.

It sounds like the ideal escape, but there are a few stipulations to be aware of.

The “Our Living Islands” scheme aids communities on 30 islands not linked to the mainland by bridges and cut off by the tides.

As part of the project, Ireland’s government will pay over €80,000 to new residents of offshore communities.

It’s not a case of moving into a cosy island cottage and getting a bumper bank deposit the next day, however.

The ample cash grants are being offered as a way of rescuing and restoring the growing number of abandoned and dilapidated properties on the islands.

As such, there are a few caveats to receiving the free money.

Prospective residents need to purchase and own a property on one of the islands. The building must have been constructed before 1993 and been vacant for a minimum of two years.

There are also rules regarding the use of the cash once granted. The money can be used for building work such as installing insulation, structural improvements and redecoration.

If you jump through all the hoops, you could be looking at up to €84,000 to save a property from ruin and transform it into the house of your dreams.

The “Our