Uk or Ireland?
Discussion
I'm trying to decide which is the better location for a working holiday, any advice?
I have been to the UK before and have friends and family to leech off should the need arise. On the other hand I've seen most of the major sights (in London anyway) and it's rather expensive to live there. Last time I was there the air pollution (in London) was really bad as well. I dont necessarily need to go to London though, any other suggestions for places in the UK? or places to avoid?
Ireland is somewhere I haven't been and I'm told it's good, but the Irish tend to be big drinkers and whilst I enjoy a drink as much as the next man, it's not the sort of thing I like to do everyday.
I have been to the UK before and have friends and family to leech off should the need arise. On the other hand I've seen most of the major sights (in London anyway) and it's rather expensive to live there. Last time I was there the air pollution (in London) was really bad as well. I dont necessarily need to go to London though, any other suggestions for places in the UK? or places to avoid?
Ireland is somewhere I haven't been and I'm told it's good, but the Irish tend to be big drinkers and whilst I enjoy a drink as much as the next man, it's not the sort of thing I like to do everyday.
Drinking in Ireland is not compulsory. I lived in Ireland until I was 27 and hardly drank at all whilst I was there. I only became a (casual) drinker after I moved to the UK.
However, I do agree that a lot of social life in the UK is centered on the pub and it can be sometimes difficult to find alternative forms of social interaction, especially outside the bigger cities.
These days I would suggest that Ireland is even more expensive to live in than the UK.
>> Edited by Eric Mc on Sunday 20th February 09:16
However, I do agree that a lot of social life in the UK is centered on the pub and it can be sometimes difficult to find alternative forms of social interaction, especially outside the bigger cities.
These days I would suggest that Ireland is even more expensive to live in than the UK.
>> Edited by Eric Mc on Sunday 20th February 09:16
Go to Ireland, I've never been but for somewhere so close, it seems so remote and untouched. I believe the roads are fantastic (although some are very poor quality).
If you can, you must go to Edinburgh (cheapo flight). Its a beautiful city, much much more impressive than London.
While you're in Edinburgh, only a few miles north is Knockhill Circuit, if you're lucky you can catch some racing there!
>> Edited by parrot of doom on Sunday 20th February 10:57
If you can, you must go to Edinburgh (cheapo flight). Its a beautiful city, much much more impressive than London.
While you're in Edinburgh, only a few miles north is Knockhill Circuit, if you're lucky you can catch some racing there!
>> Edited by parrot of doom on Sunday 20th February 10:57
Ireland is limited for circuits. There are only two mainstream ones, Mondello Park in Co. Kildare and Kirkiston in Northern Ireland.
Also, I always found the Republic less "techno geeky" than the UK, probably because it has an agricultural legacy rather than an industrial one. The North of Ireland is quite different, having a world reknowned background in engineering, especially in shipping and aircraft. Now, most of us on PH probably try to distance ourselves from the "geeky" image but, let's face it, all of us are into cars and lots of other "tecchie" subjects too (like planes).
One of the reasons I moved to the UK was because lots of the things I was interested in were better accessed and more plentiful in the UK than in Ireland.
Also, I always found the Republic less "techno geeky" than the UK, probably because it has an agricultural legacy rather than an industrial one. The North of Ireland is quite different, having a world reknowned background in engineering, especially in shipping and aircraft. Now, most of us on PH probably try to distance ourselves from the "geeky" image but, let's face it, all of us are into cars and lots of other "tecchie" subjects too (like planes).
One of the reasons I moved to the UK was because lots of the things I was interested in were better accessed and more plentiful in the UK than in Ireland.
Ireland can be great if you just want to wind down. If you find the right places where shops still don't open 'til after 9.30 when the deliveries come, then stay open 'til 11.00 just because they do.
You can send the kids out on their own like we used to in this country without fear of them ending up under a old Escort driven by a c
t. Miles of golden beaches with no-one on them (water's cold, but the air temp is great).
Last time I was in Ireland the Garda ejected us from two different pubs at 3.00am on consecutive nights. On the second occasion my cousin put his hand over my pint to slow me down whilst the guy stood behind him watching every move.
I've holidayed in Kerry maybe 20 times and I'm going again in July and the amazing thing is that given the choice of anywhere within reason, the kids have overwhelmingly said, "Ireland"!!!
You can send the kids out on their own like we used to in this country without fear of them ending up under a old Escort driven by a c
t. Miles of golden beaches with no-one on them (water's cold, but the air temp is great). Last time I was in Ireland the Garda ejected us from two different pubs at 3.00am on consecutive nights. On the second occasion my cousin put his hand over my pint to slow me down whilst the guy stood behind him watching every move.
I've holidayed in Kerry maybe 20 times and I'm going again in July and the amazing thing is that given the choice of anywhere within reason, the kids have overwhelmingly said, "Ireland"!!!
Not sure on the type of work you are after, but I would recommend Ireland. I pop over there every year, usually the Cork/Kerry area, and can't get enough of the place.
Over recent years standards of living have risen dramatically; probably now amongst the best in Europe. True, drinking is popular, but no more than over here. From my experience the Irish youth tend to drink more responsibly than their English counterparts, but that might be down to a more responsible drinks trade. Either way the binge drinking, yob culture which, which seems to be pretty unique to this country, is not something I have experienced over there.
Oh yeh, and the scenery is not bad either.
Over recent years standards of living have risen dramatically; probably now amongst the best in Europe. True, drinking is popular, but no more than over here. From my experience the Irish youth tend to drink more responsibly than their English counterparts, but that might be down to a more responsible drinks trade. Either way the binge drinking, yob culture which, which seems to be pretty unique to this country, is not something I have experienced over there.
Oh yeh, and the scenery is not bad either.
Ferg said:
You can send the kids out on their own like we used to in this country without fear of them ending up under a old Escort driven by a c
That's right! I recall driving from Belfast to Clones in Monaghan and being staggered at the number of schoolgirls trying to thumb a lift out in the sticks. Shame that I had to be surprised about it, really.
hmmm some interesting stuff to ponder, I have been think of going to Scotland, I actually spent a month there as we have friends who live there, though that was during winter which was very cold, this time I'll probably be there in summer so maybe not so bad. I also have a place to stay if I go to Scotland. Scotland is looking better atm. It looks like I may even be able to do the lot since I am eligible for a UK ancestry Visa I can stay longer than usual, might spend say 6 months to a year in Scotland to establish myself then move somewhere else.
Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff