This is what he learned and found somewhat surprising:
In a nutshell, they have experienced much of the same trends as we have: low inventory, high demand. Fallout from the 2008 financial crisis. Galway is a college centric rental environment so demand for rental is constant. They also have rent control in place for 2 years per lease. This was instituted to address affordable housing (contain cost/stabilize rents). Once those properties became available again, the rents have escalated exponentially. Additionally, what was traditionally rental housing is being purchased now as primary dwellings.
Add to this the low to nonexistent new construction and they find themselves in the same soup as we are here in Florida and much of the US overall. This is what he learned in just one specific Irish market but does support the adage: it really is a small world.