Ireland :)

[happyfacade]

so I've noticed some users on here who are from Ireland, and I was wondering if there was anything I should know about it..? I want to do a semester abroad there, and maybe move there eventually. Is there anything specific I should know?

[Union Of V]

It's a sh*thole.

Apart from that? It rains quite a lot, whatever you've heard about drinking habits is false - it's worse, the political system is flawed by definition and if you're American you're going to be considered an idiot by people considerably less intelligent than you. The positive side? People generally try to be nice.

You could do yourself a favour and move to the UK instead. It's considerably better.

[noise94]

Originally Posted by Union Of V

It's a sh*thole.

Apart from that? It rains quite a lot, whatever you've heard about drinking habits is false - it's worse, the political system is flawed by definition and if you're American you're going to be considered an idiot by people considerably less intelligent than you. The positive side? People generally try to be nice.

You could do yourself a favour and move to the UK instead. It's considerably better.

Agreed. 100%.

I hate it here...

I don't know why ANYONE would move here. I'm getting out the first chance I get, and no way am I coming back. Most people I know are the same about it.

[DarkSeph]

Originally Posted by Union Of V

It's a sh*thole.

Apart from that? It rains quite a lot, whatever you've heard about drinking habits is false - it's worse, the political system is flawed by definition and if you're American you're going to be considered an idiot by people considerably less intelligent than you. The positive side? People generally try to be nice.

You could do yourself a favour and move to the UK instead. It's considerably better.

How dare you insul....!

Oh who am I kidding, completely agree lol. Can't wait to move someday. :/

[happyfacade]

This is probably a stupid question, but what makes it so horrible?

[noise94]

Perhaps it would be easier for you to tell us what appeals to you about Ireland?

[happyfacade]

Actually, now that I think about it, there isn't really anything specific.. I've had romantic ideas about Ireland ever since I was little. Mostly just the people, and from what I've heard it's beautiful (even though it rains all the time.) And, this is going to sound really stupid, but I've always wanted to go to an Irish pub. Even though I doubt that's a good idea...

[Union Of V]

Originally Posted by happyfacade

Mostly just the people, and from what I've heard it's beautiful (even though it rains all the time.) And, this is going to sound really stupid, but I've always wanted to go to an Irish pub. Even though I doubt that's a good idea...

It's actually lovely in the summer, when the clouds clear. Now, considering we have total to near-total cloud cover from October through to March, that means maybe 1-2 weeks worth of beautiful days? Actually when we're flying to France I always know we've left Ireland when the clouds disappear...

Some pubs are quite nice, but you would really have to fit in with the usual crowd of 30-something men talking about the latest GAA news. Anything younger, and socialising consists of wading through a nightclub full of hen and stag parties so drunk you wonder how they're going to make their way back to the hotel. And house parties? Can you imagine people who's sole aim for the night is to get drunk, and try to achieve that goal as quickly as possible?

Do you live in the US? Because over there the word "Irish" describes Americans of vaguely Irish descent. Ireland itself is a completely different place - I always thought "Europe's largest open-air mental asylum" fit it nicely.

[happyfacade]

The pubs sound interesting, hahaha.

Yeah, I do. I'm half Irish (or something like that) but no one in my family who's actually lived in Ireland is around to tell me anything. I really enjoy that description, it's not quite what I expected.

[her_beautiful_mistake]

I went to Ireland last week and I loved it! But four things:

a) The weather changed ALL the time when I was there. Rain/sun/rain/sun etc.

b) It takes you quite a while to get about in Dublin as it's impossible to cross the roads where there is not a crossing, the crossings take ages and often you have to cross the street in a weird way to get where you want to go.

Like there was one street where you couldn't directly go from A to B, but you had to cross the road three times (each time waiting for the crossing to go) as there was not a crossing from A to B:


Very annoying!

c) Everywhere is expensive, but especially Dublin. (At least compared to England, and more expensive than London even!)

d) It's very very difficult to eat out as a vegetarian. I'd say its impossible as a vegan, literally.

[DarkSeph]

We rarely use crossings in Ireland. Most of the locals seem to prefer dashing across when they see a break in the traffic, even at lights. Most of my friends get annoyed at me when I use crossings properly.

Irish weather can go from blazing sun to lashing rain in a matter of minutes.

Dublin is ridiculously expensive.

[her_beautiful_mistake]

Well in Dublin it seemed impossible because the traffic was non stop? Everyone seemed to be using the crossings. If there was a gap we just ran but it just seemed to be neverrr ending

[happyfacade]

Is there anywhere that's not ridiculously expensive?

[Union Of V]

Originally Posted by her_beautiful_mistake

d) It's very very difficult to eat out as a vegetarian. I'd say its impossible as a vegan, literally.

My dad's a vegetarian and there are in total 3 vegan/vegetarian restaurants in the country (as far as we know) - Cornucopia in Dublin, and 2 more down in Cork.

Also, about the cars, you know if there's a line of traffic you can simply walk between two cars and they'll stop? Just make double sure the driver's not looking out the side mirror, I made that mistake once

Ireland is expensive full stop. I live in a rural town/city, and the local Subway sells subs for €7 - about $10. We're stuck in a sort of high wages - high cost of living balance, which makes holidays feel like bliss - great weather and cheap prices all in one!

[bitesize]

Awh, I love Ireland, not gonig to lie. Yes it may be boring to some people who live here, but I could never leave. Although it does rain. Right now I'm looking out the window at a grey threatening sky, and it's July.

Dublin is expensive, it's true. Especially taxis. But generally there's a good atmosphere and people are receiving. I was talknig to a Spanish girl last week and asked why she had wanted to visit Ireland, and she went on a big gush saying how lovely the people were and always willing to talk or help.

I can't think of anything really off the top of my head, but if you have any questions feel free to ask us. (:

[her_beautiful_mistake]

Originally Posted by Union Of V

My dad's a vegetarian and there are in total 3 vegan/vegetarian restaurants in the country (as far as we know) - Cornucopia in Dublin, and 2 more down in Cork.

Also, about the cars, you know if there's a line of traffic you can simply walk between two cars and they'll stop? Just make double sure the driver's not looking out the side mirror, I made that mistake once

We actually found two in Dublin, but sadly both on our last day, great timing eh?! One of them was by St Steven's Green and one of the was just off O'Connell Street. I felt so guilty for being vegetarian like all the time and so sorry for my dad, on the first night we spent over an hour in Temple Bar looking for somewhere that I could eat!

And that sounds way tooooo scary for me to do

[bitesize]

Originally Posted by her_beautiful_mistake

And that sounds way tooooo scary for me to do

Wait...so in other places you actually wait for the lights?? hah, but seriously, most people I know are constant jaywalkers. We must be a really impatient population or something.

[her_beautiful_mistake]

Originally Posted by bitesize

Wait...so in other places you actually wait for the lights?? hah, but seriously, most people I know are constant jaywalkers. We must be a really impatient population or something.

No I don't wait if there is a gap in the cars, I run.

But when I was in Dublin there were hardly ever gaps in the cars.

I'm not going to run across the street when it's full of cars going both ways at 20-40 miles per hour. I'd consider that suicide!

[happyfacade]

I'd be ok with jaywalking- as long as I wasn't totally smushed in the process.