Dont waste your money training in Ireland. You can train in the UK for about 30% less than in Ireland. But look at the US, if money and time is an issue.
I started my training in the UK about a year ago. Did the PPL while working, and then when my work contract ended at the start of the year I started studying for the JAA ATPL ground school exams. Have my last 7 exams in 2 weeks. Then I'm off to the US to finish the training.
The J1 visa allows you 2 years, in which you can complete your course and work as an instructor for the remaining time. There are 2 schools over there that I know of that sponsor students for the J1 visa - Hillsboro(in Oregon) and HAI. You could go the straight FAA route, which you'll do much quicker than the combined FAA/JAA course(only available at HAI) and then as you're working you could do the study for the JAA ground school in your spare time. If you work hard you could have the exams done in 9-12 months (part time studying). You could then sit the exams and do the skills test before leaving the US. Returning home with a good few hours and your FAA and JAA licences.
I went to a seminar for Heliflight in NZ at the start of the year and they seem like a decent outfit. And you could find worse places to train!