Six in 10 felt retiring before the state pension age of 66 was not financially realistic. Nearly half of men in Ireland expect to retire before the state pension age of 66, compared with just 30pc of women, a new survey has found. Overall, the survey found most people believe retiring early remains out of reach, with six in 10 saying quitting before the state pension age of 66 did not feel financially realistic. Attitudes towards the idea of stopping work for good are shifting, with 15pc of women saying they never want to fully retire, compared with 10pc of men. “The prospect of retiring before the state pension age of 66 remains out of reach for most, who say it simply isn’t financially realistic,” said Mark Reilly, the pension proposition lead with Royal London Ireland.

Source: Irish Independent January 13, 2026 14:32 UTC