LOL- lads lads lads!!
My point is that it's the "WORLD WIDE" web (did ye know that
) . Just because he's moved to the UK and has 'Ireland' in the domain doesn't stop him from acquiring and working with Irish clients in the future.
So, keep the domain and keep the site. Get your new domain and your new site too or do a ht.acccess or 301 to an Irish-specific page etc.
Granted, he may not want to but it doesn't have to be an either-or situation.
Now get back to yer pixel pushing and interwebbing.