The calling of the west.
Today is my last day as an associate director in Slattery Communications. 
After 11 years working on a variety of communications projects for large and small companies from product launches, profile building to event management and of course the odd crisis or two, I am also heading to the west of Ireland to set up home in Mayo.
Leaving a extremely good job in a recession to face considerable uncertainty may seem like an odd thing to do but the reasons lie only partially in new challenges and owe more to establishing a better work life balance.
10 years of my wife commuting from Dublin to Galway where she works was always going to be a challenge but add in two fantastic babies and it changes the complexity a huge amount.
The idea of county living has always appealed to me but the sacrifices were too great. I enjoy isolation but also enjoy being in the thick of things. Technology, collaboration and a more positive appreciation of remote working are now starting to breathe life in to the once fabled notion of teleworking and the assumption that it meant being cut off. Now with a decent internet connection location is pretty irrelevant for the vast majority of the work I will be doing.
Starting from next week I will be focusing a lot of my efforts on a new social advertising model start up that I am lucky to be involved with, while the remainder of my time will be in ad hoc consultancy and training to pay the bills (sounds like a lot of people I know).
I will share the details of this project once the initial beta test is complete but I imagine my blog will change for a while as I document the challenges of a city boy moving to a rural location where the nearest shop is three miles away.
In the meanwhile I would like to thanks all the staff of Slattery Communications and Padraig Slattery in particular for providing a rewarding, challenging and enjoyable workplace. I wish them all the best as they embrace the social media challenges ahead.
I will be in Dublin for the next two months and still engaged as chair of the Social Media Working in the Irish Internet Association. In reality, physically I will move to the west of Ireland but will probably still be back up in Dublin a couple of times a month.
Coffee anyone….anyone….
19 Comments. Leave new
I moved from Dublin to Clare three years ago Eoin, and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else now. I imagine though that after 11 years in Slatterys, it’s a big wrench to leave, but it’s exciting too to be starting a new project. I look forward to learning more about it and wish you the best in your new life.
Conor, It’s been a privilege working with you over the last five years – hope your move proves fruitful, relaxing and fulfilling.
Best
BArry
Eoin even!!
Best of luck in Mayo Eoin, hope it works out for you. Never realised you had this dual county existence until now. Sounds like it will be less stressful if nothing else. Oh and do keep me posted on what you get up to.
Thanks Marie. Looking forward to sharing the experience. Glad to hear its gone so well for you so far.
Eoin,
the very best to you and the family. Will look forward to the coffee before you go and will be honoured when our paths do cross again.
Slán go foill
peter
The very best of luck, Eoin. Brave move but sounds completely justified and exciting. Look forward to hearing, seeing … and sharing it. All the best. Neil
Hi Eoin,
Are you following / stalking me!
I am really looking forward to your move to the west, as there will be no more excuses, (at least none that are acceptable to me), as to why you cannot go for a run, cycle, swim, climb, pint etc.
Prepare to lose the paunch! and claim back your thirties!
Oh! we have coffee here too!
Mike
Eoin,
The best of luck to you!
Warm regards
Dan
[…] Meanwhile Eoin Kennedy is Going Out West. […]
Best of luck Eoin.
I hope the move goes really well for you and your family.
All the best,
Aedan
Eoin!
Best of luck, I went West myself two years ago… well a little further west 😉
Delighted for the four of you, the reduction in stress and distance will be worth it and some would say there’s no better time to take a new direction.
Keep us up to date on your progress!
Tom
Eoin,
Wishing you all the best. You’re relocating to a beautiful county. Great to see you and others make challenging life changes,
Kind regards and best wishes,
Steve Rawson
Welcome to the West! I admire any man (or woman) who makes a move to provide a better quality of life for their family. Well done and best of luck!
Móna
Best of luck Eoin – not that you’ll need it!!
Thanks Mona. Its gonna be pretty different. Must hook up when I finally find a place to live!
Your move was a little bit further. Am sure that new stresses will arrive but face to face stress rather than from a distance. Hope to post about some of the experiences.
Thanks Steve. Fingers crossed!
Best of luck Eoin, was nice to meet you and I’m sure you will love living in the country and growing your own vegtables and making your own beer in no time..:-) Abi