What Is
Bolya?
Swap. Stay. Belong.
Trips to visit your people are precious. The hugs, the fry-ups, the sightseeing, the craic. But squeezing into the box room or sleeping on a blow-up mattress isn’t quite the space or independence any of us are used to. And if you rent, finding somewhere nearby can be tough and expensive. What if you could keep the closeness and still have your own space without the price tag? That’s where Bolya comes in.
Bolya is a community-driven platform for Irish expats and the people they love, built on trust and connection. Inspired by the Irish words abhaile and baile (home and town), it lets you swap your home or rent your space within the Irish community.
Whether it’s a stay near family in Galway, a visit to your brother in Bondi, or a home swap between Melbourne and Sydney, Bolya makes it simple to find a place nearby so you can be close without crowding.
Other home exchange sites exist, but none are made for this kind of travel where family hugs, comfort, and community come first. Bolya isn’t just a platform. It’s a warm bridge between countries, cousins, and cups of tea.
Coming Soon!
Launching first between Ireland and Australia. No pricey hotels. No squeezing awkwardly into your childhood room. Just real homes and real connections.
A new way for the Irish community to visit each other & live like a local, wherever they are.
Pop your name down to join the community and help shape Bolya — it only takes 2 minutes!
Join the community
We’re building a community of Irish expats & their people who want to stay close without crashing in the box room or shelling out for hotels. Whether you're living in Australia or based in Ireland, if the idea of swapping or renting Irish homes [at affordable rates] to visit loved ones sounds like your cup of tea, we'd love to hear from you.
In this first phase, we’re hand-picking matches for free to grow the community & stories. We only use your info to match you with good people & good places [with your permission], no spam, no pressure.