When I was trying to return to Dublin (from UK) I found I rarely made it to the formal interview stage (panels for semi-state posts) and that though there appeared to be abundant vacancies in my field applications and c.v.'s seemed to disappear into a 'black hole'. Friends and family in Dublin advised it was important to 'be on the spot' and certainly there is an informal, as well as an advertised, job-networking system in operation.
In the end I decided not to move back at the time for a number of reasons the most important being that I did get appointed to a post I was enthusiastic about and was then contacted by the project co-ordinator suggesting I 'job-share' with another candidate. Whilst I appreciated the creativity of this 'two-for-the-price-of-one' approach my confidence in the planning and judgement of the administration was shaken. Also, it was a 'time-limited contract' (18 months) with assurances it 'probably' would continue beyond that. Though salary was in theory negotiable they agreed to match my current UK salary. However I was very aware that since Ireland - especially Dublin - has a higher cost of living than UK I was actually dropping income level.
Just some things to chew on........