At the recent Christmas Drop In I had a conversation with Mairead Noonan, a member of our RTAI branch for many years. We chatted about family matters, and it transpired that we both have children living in Australia. We spoke about the long plane trips and the cost of accommodation in Australia, and trips home by our children and families. Mairead mentioned that her daughter, Marianne, was setting up an organisation to help Irish parents who have family living in Australia, to facilitate travel both ways through arranging a home swap or rental accommodation on both sides of the Atlantic, to facilitate travel and visitation both ways. I am very enthusiastic about the project and I agreed with Mairead that I would facilitate and promote the project by posting information about it here. Please read the rest of this post and explore the links. If like me, you have children and grand children living on the other side of the pond, this sounds like a wonderful way to organise accommodation at a reasonable cost, to visit and spend time with family in Australia.
Have you ever wished your children or grandchildren in Australia could come home more often, or stay a little longer, while keeping the independence they’re used to Down Under?
And when you visit them in Australia, have you ever thought how much easier those precious stays could be, with your own space and the freedom to live like a local, without the huge price tag that accommodation often brings?
That’s where Bolya (pronounced Baile, as in the Irish baile)comes in…
What is Bolya?
Bolya is an Irish-founded home swap/rental community designed for families with loved ones living abroad, launching first between Ireland and Australia.
Instead of relying on hotels, guest rooms or expensive rentals, families can swap homes with, or rent from, someone in a similar situation. An Irish family visiting Australia stays in the home of an Irish expat, and vice versa.
This means:
- Children and grandchildren can come home and enjoy their own space, close to family
- Parents and grandparents can visit more affordably and in comfort
- Visits can be longer, more relaxed, and feel more like everyday life
It isn’t about holidays.
It’s about being together.
Why was Bolya created?
As more Irish families build lives abroad, visits become incredibly precious, but also more complex to organise. Accommodation costs are high, and making extended stays work on either side of the ocean can be challenging.
Bolya was created to gently remove some of these barriers, making it easier for families to say yes to visits, whether that’s for school holidays, new grandchildren, milestones, or simply time together.
Who is Bolya for?
- Irish parents and grandparents with children or grandchildren living abroad
- Irish expats living overseas who travel home to Ireland
- Families who value trust, warmth and community
You may not need Bolya yourself, but your children or grandchildren might, or will in years to come.
Where are we now?
Bolya is currently building its community and preparing for a pilot launch. There’s no cost or obligation to register interest; it simply helps us understand who we’re building this for.
How you can help?
If this sounds like something that could benefit your family, we’d love you to:
- Share this with your children or grandchildren living abroad, and friends who may be in the same boat
- Follow Bolya online as the community grows
- Register your interest via our landing page, or pass it along
Follow on Instagram
Follow on Facebook
Register interest – Click HERE
About the founder
Bolya was founded by Marianne Noonan, an Irish expat who has lived in Sydney for the past 13 years. Marianne has spent over 20 years working in the events industry, creating experiences that bring people together.
Like many Irish people living abroad, Marianne understands how important trips home and visits from family can be. Having a place of your own when visiting each other allows both sides of the family to spend more time together, maintain the independence and routines they’re used to, and truly experience day-to-day life, rather than feeling like visitors.
That lived experience is what inspired Bolya.
We hope you can join us!
Dublin South RTA 