Discussion
Just spent the weekend in Galway, the centre is very pretty and quaint, but like every City in Ireland suffers horribly fr oma centre that just cannot handle the volume of traffic pressent on the Irish roads these days.
I was astounded at just how much development is going on around the outskirts of the place. The city has sprawled out mixing ugly monotonous estate type housing with newly built light industrial units. Every spare bit of land is covered in piles of rubble.
All very disappointing and not a pretty sight.
The friends we were visiting live on a bout 9 acres with a small country cottage near a Craughwell. With the coming of the new Galway-Dublin motorway they've discovered their property wil now be worth 500,000 Euro due to the fact you will be able to get into Galway in about 10 minutes, and Dublin i nabout 2 hours.
There's a lot of money coming into this country still leading to too much development too soon IMO, all in the name of progress I guess, and like Ian I think I'll keep to my country residence.
best
Ex
I was astounded at just how much development is going on around the outskirts of the place. The city has sprawled out mixing ugly monotonous estate type housing with newly built light industrial units. Every spare bit of land is covered in piles of rubble.
All very disappointing and not a pretty sight.
The friends we were visiting live on a bout 9 acres with a small country cottage near a Craughwell. With the coming of the new Galway-Dublin motorway they've discovered their property wil now be worth 500,000 Euro due to the fact you will be able to get into Galway in about 10 minutes, and Dublin i nabout 2 hours.
There's a lot of money coming into this country still leading to too much development too soon IMO, all in the name of progress I guess, and like Ian I think I'll keep to my country residence.
best
Ex
Dublin has been expanding relentlessly since the early 1950s. It's not a new phenomenon. Evey time I go back there it takes a while to re-orientate myself - especially in what used to be my hometown north of the city.
I used to know the north city and suburbs/rural areas like the back of my hand. Now I find it really difficult to recognise where I am (and it's not just senility if that's what anyone's thinking).
I used to know the north city and suburbs/rural areas like the back of my hand. Now I find it really difficult to recognise where I am (and it's not just senility if that's what anyone's thinking).
wedg1e said:
Four days.
I wasn't impressed.
I know what you mean, Dublin today is just like London but cleaner and smaller, it has long lost the Irish charm of years ago.
If you get away from Dublin in pretty much any direction and generally away from the rat race it is still the country it used to be with great people that know how to have a laugh. If you have not been to other parts I would not give up with Ireland just yet.
I actually like what is going on in Dublin city centre. OK, it may be losing some of its old "charm" - but a lot of that was down to the general sense of dereliction and depression that pervaded the place up to the 1990s. I think the "Spike" is brilliant (literally) and the Luas trams look great. In a way, both those features are a modern version of things that Dublin used to have decades ago - a tall O'Connell Street monument (used to be Nelson's Pillar of course) and electric trams.
We all miss things we were familiar with - but I don't miss the run down, tatty, crumbling look of Dublin in the 1970s.
We all miss things we were familiar with - but I don't miss the run down, tatty, crumbling look of Dublin in the 1970s.
the Pope' or 'NO SURRENDER' or anyfink.I've been going to Ireland pretty much every year for the past forty years (visiting family out in the sticks) but only started going to Dublin about fifteen years ago (work initially). In both cases the changes over that time have been incredible. Used to love Dublin for the fact that it was a bit different but over time it's becoming just like most other European cities, still love it for the people though. Best area of town IMHO is down Lower Baggot Street, though thats starting to become a bit touristy too. Getting in and out of the city at rush hour is a nightmare though.
I've been to most other places in Ireland and there are still some great ones. I've found going there away from the tourist season can be a good plan, had a fantastic time in Kinsale at the end of November.
Right, I'm home for lunch so I don't have to worry about the boss breathing down my neck now, so...
Firstly this was a birthday trip for Julie who'd never been to Ireland (north or south) before. I've been quite a few times, always with work. People kept telling me what a great place Dublin is to visit so I went along with it, although I have always hated 'cities' ever since I went to London when I was 13 (1977).
It was difficult to find an Irish person. In the Brazen Head on Sunday, only one person was cheering for the Irish team, and he was the barman. I accept that the Brazen is probably not the average Paddy's local (in fact the graffiti in the Gents' says it all: "What a sh!thole. Irish bOllox, stereotype theme pub" I didn't think it was quite THAT bad, but I could see his point).
Leaving aside the tourists, the staff of every place we visited (inc. the BH, and most depressingly, Guinness) were foreign. I suppose that's par for the course, I hear that every other barman in London is an Aussie. But when you get on a RyanAir plane and you can't understand a word of the safety briefing because they've hired some Chechnyan refugee for a Euro an hour, it gets a bit annoying. If I wanted to practice my French or Spanish, I'd go to their country.
Sirens. Is every city like the Bronx? Bloody sirens, all day and most of the night. Either there are a lot of fires or a lot of aggro somewhere in ath Cliath.
Graffiti and rubbish? Yes, plenty of that too; again I accept it's part of town life, but you'd think they'd make an effort to get rid, especially around the real touristy bits.
Prices. Tourism rules, £$? How we chortled at being ripped >7.5 Euro for a pint and a half of Guinness. Just the once, mind, then we moved on.
Scenery? We took a coach trip. Not my usual cuppa, but me Julie wanted to see Ballybloodykissfeckingangel. Don't. Ever. Waste. Your. Time.
I thought Caernavon was a dump till I saw Avoca. Julie was most disappointed. My guess is that the only thing that brightened the place up was Dervla Kirwan, if indeed she ever went there at all. Oh, the scenery... yeah, great. Just - in fact EXACTLY - like the Lake District. But from here I could get to the Lakes quicker than you can get to Avoca from Dublin (all of, what, 40 miles?). The country lanes aren't the problem, the roads of Dublin however are a suspension seller's dream.
Which brings me neatly to that current motoring fad: w@nker lights. In all seriousness, I can only say
, because if I try to put it into words I'll have a coronary. I know Eire is famous for its laid-back motoring history, but if they could spare a few (well-paid, according to the Irish Independant)Gardai from the armed convoys that were hurtling around the place on Friday, they could emulate Labour and rape some serious roadside tax from the ar53pipes who presumably claim that Gaelic is their first language and don't undertand the word 'FOG' on that little dashboard switch.
At this juncture I should point out that I haven't run out of rant, but I have run out of lunch break.... as a parting shot can I just say (again) that Guinness DOES NOT taste better over there than it does over here.It may be DIFFERENT, but it's not necessarily BETTER...
Firstly this was a birthday trip for Julie who'd never been to Ireland (north or south) before. I've been quite a few times, always with work. People kept telling me what a great place Dublin is to visit so I went along with it, although I have always hated 'cities' ever since I went to London when I was 13 (1977).
It was difficult to find an Irish person. In the Brazen Head on Sunday, only one person was cheering for the Irish team, and he was the barman. I accept that the Brazen is probably not the average Paddy's local (in fact the graffiti in the Gents' says it all: "What a sh!thole. Irish bOllox, stereotype theme pub" I didn't think it was quite THAT bad, but I could see his point).
Leaving aside the tourists, the staff of every place we visited (inc. the BH, and most depressingly, Guinness) were foreign. I suppose that's par for the course, I hear that every other barman in London is an Aussie. But when you get on a RyanAir plane and you can't understand a word of the safety briefing because they've hired some Chechnyan refugee for a Euro an hour, it gets a bit annoying. If I wanted to practice my French or Spanish, I'd go to their country.
Sirens. Is every city like the Bronx? Bloody sirens, all day and most of the night. Either there are a lot of fires or a lot of aggro somewhere in ath Cliath.
Graffiti and rubbish? Yes, plenty of that too; again I accept it's part of town life, but you'd think they'd make an effort to get rid, especially around the real touristy bits.
Prices. Tourism rules, £$? How we chortled at being ripped >7.5 Euro for a pint and a half of Guinness. Just the once, mind, then we moved on.
Scenery? We took a coach trip. Not my usual cuppa, but me Julie wanted to see Ballybloodykissfeckingangel. Don't. Ever. Waste. Your. Time.
I thought Caernavon was a dump till I saw Avoca. Julie was most disappointed. My guess is that the only thing that brightened the place up was Dervla Kirwan, if indeed she ever went there at all. Oh, the scenery... yeah, great. Just - in fact EXACTLY - like the Lake District. But from here I could get to the Lakes quicker than you can get to Avoca from Dublin (all of, what, 40 miles?). The country lanes aren't the problem, the roads of Dublin however are a suspension seller's dream.
Which brings me neatly to that current motoring fad: w@nker lights. In all seriousness, I can only say
, because if I try to put it into words I'll have a coronary. I know Eire is famous for its laid-back motoring history, but if they could spare a few (well-paid, according to the Irish Independant)Gardai from the armed convoys that were hurtling around the place on Friday, they could emulate Labour and rape some serious roadside tax from the ar53pipes who presumably claim that Gaelic is their first language and don't undertand the word 'FOG' on that little dashboard switch. At this juncture I should point out that I haven't run out of rant, but I have run out of lunch break.... as a parting shot can I just say (again) that Guinness DOES NOT taste better over there than it does over here.It may be DIFFERENT, but it's not necessarily BETTER...
Eric Mc said:
Why weren't you impressed?
Dublin never sets out to impress anyone. That's not the way it works there. Dublin is not a city, it is a state of mind.
That's what you could say about Manchester, too, Eric.
Full of appalling urbanites who think they're in Tuscany, right up to the moment some ape like Bez hits them in the rollocks, only to chuckle the chuckle of the Mancunian inanite.
I've never been to Dublin but am well aware of the urban myth-cum-overhype that often attatches to towns & cities: a dump, is a dump and a dump noneonetheless!
Having studied life, in all it's forms, I am convinced ~ especially with the advance of senility ~ that Wedg1e's outlook on life is in fact, the best.
Minimal stress & maximum self contentedness and a modest dollop of English horsepower to keep one honest.
Something difficult to achieve amidst the drowning rats.
Ergo, a modest hail in the direction of where is it, Teeside? (Feel free to lambast if the geography's oot!)
derestrictor said:
Having studied life, in all it's forms, I am convinced ~ especially with the advance of senility ~ that Wedg1e's outlook on life is in fact, the best.
Minimal stress & maximum self contentedness and a modest dollop of English horsepower to keep one honest.
So is that what you will be doing then?
Whenever I asked my grandfather about places he had been (at the time an 80+ y.o. ex-miner, with daughters who had lived in Canada/Finland/Rome/Berlin/Hamburg/ Todmorden (!), he always said the same thing:
"Well, when you get there, it's all streets and houses"
The more I see of the world, the more I get his point.
"Well, when you get there, it's all streets and houses"
The more I see of the world, the more I get his point.
Ribol said:
Having studied life, in all it's forms, I am convinced ~ especially with the advance of senility ~ that Wedg1e's outlook on life is in fact, the best.
Minimal stress & maximum self contentedness and a modest dollop of English horsepower to keep one honest.
So is that what you will be doing then?
Don't be ridiculous!
Think you need to be further north than Teesside, old boy.
Bit too ICI for me, an aura of "sleeping giant thats had the life support machine switched off many moons ago" to it. Christ knows I drove through it enough on my way back to the smerk from GeordieLand.
I think darkest Northumbria is a ratings winner, top scenery, and not a bloody speed camera in sight.
Sensible policies for a "retire to the countryside" Albion.
Bit too ICI for me, an aura of "sleeping giant thats had the life support machine switched off many moons ago" to it. Christ knows I drove through it enough on my way back to the smerk from GeordieLand.
I think darkest Northumbria is a ratings winner, top scenery, and not a bloody speed camera in sight.
Sensible policies for a "retire to the countryside" Albion.
GregE240 said:
I think darkest Northumbria is a ratings winner, top scenery, and not a bloody speed camera in sight.
Sensible policies for a "retire to the countryside" Albion.
And in the interests of keeping it that way, I would be grateful if you would refrain from promoting the fact to anyone and everyone....... my stock response to anyone enquiring about Northumberland; 'Its sh1t, the roads are rubbish, you wouldn't like it'
derestrictor said:
derestrictor said:
Having studied life, in all it's forms, I am convinced ~ especially with the advance of senility ~ that Wedg1e's outlook on life is in fact, the best.
Minimal stress & maximum self contentedness and a modest dollop of English horsepower to keep one honest.
So is that what you will be doing then?
Don't be ridiculous!
Nice one, so that was a really deep and genuine statement on your part
Are you related to Bliar at all?
Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff