Lifestyle Ireland: Finding Home Again in Greystones After Leaving Mauritius

There is something quietly revealing about arriving back in Ireland at the end of October: the cold catches you first, then the light, then the realisation that home is sometimes less about weather than belonging. That is the thread running through this lifestyle ireland story of Farzana Maudarbaccus, who left Mauritius, built a life in Ireland, briefly returned home, and then chose Ireland again for the future of her family.

Farzana moved from Mauritius to Ireland in 2011, after earlier years studying psychology near Paris. Coming from a small island nation shaped by both French and British influence, she had long wanted to experience more of the world. Her path to Ireland was also personal: she had met her future husband, Naazim Mohungoo, during a summer back home. He was studying medicine in Ireland, and after years of long-distance life, she joined him here as he completed his psychiatric specialisation.

The early period was not easy. Like many people starting over in a new country, she found those first months lonely. Her husband was working long hours, and she knew very few people. But in a very human way, community began to build through ordinary routines. A local gym helped. Then a running club helped more. Training with a group of women while working towards a sub-one-hour Women’s Mini Marathon gave her more than a goal; it gave her friendship. She has taken part in Dublin’s Women’s Mini Marathon every year since moving here, a small but powerful example of how wellness ireland and connection often go hand in hand.

How community shaped this lifestyle Ireland journey

Professionally, Farzana also had to rebuild. A qualified psychologist, she used networking to create opportunities in a system that was not straightforward to enter. A post on the Psychological Society of Ireland’s LinkedIn page led to an interview for an internship, and continued relationship-building eventually helped her secure a role with visa sponsorship. It is a reminder that in irish lifestyle conversations, careers and belonging are often deeply linked.

Family life then changed everything again. After welcoming a son in 2015 and a daughter in 2017, Farzana found another layer of community through baby groups and school connections. Those everyday touchpoints became part of the support network that many parents rely on, especially when raising children away from extended family.

In 2018, the family made a major decision: they moved to Mauritius, believing the return might be permanent. Instead, they stayed only 10 months. Having lived away for so long, both felt unexpectedly out of place. When they came back to Ireland in late October, the cold was memorable, but so was the clarity. Ireland, they realised, was where their family functioned best.

One reason stands out. Farzana appreciates what she sees as a more relaxed, less rigid parenting culture here. She values being able to tell her children that their family can do things in its own way, without feeling pinned down by heavy social expectation. That sense of freedom speaks to broader themes in healthy living ireland, ireland wellbeing and modern family life: people are increasingly defining success not by appearances, but by what genuinely works at home.

Why Ireland now feels like home

Back in Greystones, Co Wicklow, the family put down roots. Farzana describes a neighbourhood where asking someone to mind a child for a few minutes, or borrow an egg for a recipe, is normal. That detail says a great deal. In an era full of conversation about ireland mental health, ireland self care and ireland work life balance, genuine local support still matters enormously.

She has also reshaped her own career on new terms. After some years out of paid work while her children were small, she studied creative thinking and entrepreneurship and later launched a business focused on coaching, leadership development, assessment centres and workplace wellbeing. More recently, she was invited to give a TEDx talk in Tralee on the brain’s ability to change, underlining her continued contribution to health ireland and workplace wellness conversations.

Ireland has changed her, too. She has embraced traditions such as St Patrick’s Day and says Christmas in Ireland feels especially beautiful, if a little stressful. Yet there is still an emotional pull toward Mauritius, particularly as ageing parents face health issues. Like many migrant families, she is living with the tension of loving one home while worrying about another.

FAQ: What can we learn from this story?

Why did Farzana return to Ireland after moving back to Mauritius?
She and her husband felt out of place after years abroad and decided Ireland offered a better fit for their family life, work and community.

How did she build a social circle in Ireland?
Mainly through her gym, a running club, baby groups, her children’s schools, and local activities such as a book club and swimming group.

What does this say about modern life in Ireland?
It highlights the value of community, flexible parenting, local support and meaningful work in shaping a balanced life.

For anyone watching lifestyle ireland and the evolving shape of belonging, Farzana’s story offers a grounded takeaway: home is not always where you started, but where your family can grow, be supported and live fully. In that sense, this lifestyle ireland journey is not just about moving countries; it is about recognising the place that allows life to feel most like your own.

Article/Image Courtesy: The Irish Times