Reply to: Ireland rules OK

[up4it]

Cailin: Limerick is definitely a bad bit!

I noticed a lot of the really run down, no-go crime areas there are mainly populated by Travellers.


I have spent time in other countries and found the people there very welcoming, so I do have something to compare with.

But I'm still proud of my Irish roots!

[cailin maith]

I am British born & bred and have worked all over the UK. I once made the mistake of taking an IT job in the Limerick area. I've never known such a nice looking place to be a such a s**t-hole. Half of Limerick is totally out of Police/Guard control and the crime, drug scene & violence has spiralled out of control.

If u are British/English u can expect the constant anti-British comments at work, down the pub, on the TV and down the gym. These range from "wish u wouldn't cum over here taking our jobs!" to "I wish I had my gun so I could shoot the Brit bastard!"

So if u can tolerate that without punching someones lights out then u may last longer than I did and I even have some Irish blood an Irish passport!

I'm a friendly big muscular guy so can look after myself and can more or less get on with anybody. The nice friendly Irish image has been nurtured by the Irish tourist board to attract tourists and get their money in as many ways and as quickly as possible.

If u must go there go for Dublin, Cork, etc. as people are much more civilised and cosmopolitan there. But u may still need a thick skin at times!

Don't want to sound negative but just telling how it really is!

Shame you had such a tulipty experience.

By the same token, as an Irish person in this country I have also had to put up with the "wish u wouldn't cum over here taking our jobs!" comments.

It's likely the same as in any country - good bits and bad bits!

[up4it]

I am British born & bred and have worked all over the UK. I once made the mistake of taking an IT job in the Limerick area. I've never known such a nice looking place to be a such a s**t-hole. Half of Limerick is totally out of Police/Guard control and the crime, drug scene & violence has spiralled out of control.

If u must go there go for Dublin, Cork, etc. as people are much more civilised and cosmopolitan there. But u may still need a thick skin at times!

Don't want to sound negative but just telling how it really is!

[lilelvis2000]

There's nothing wrong with East Lancs! Or at least there wasn't!

Oh its a beautiful senic part of England...Its not bad if you ignore the people and the towns. Blow up Blackburn, Burnley and Nelson and it transforms into a major tourist attraction.

[cailin maith]

I worked in Cork briefly a few years back and noticed that on the bottom end of a slip road from the dual carriageway, instead of the customary No Entry sign to prevent you from entering the carriageway in the wrong direction, there was an official sign that said "You are going the wrong way". Classic!

They have them signs on pretty much all the motorway sliproads now. Last Christmas we saw some fella reversing up the sliproad... crazy!! A couple of summers ago, we saw a family having a picnic on the central reservation

[shaunbhoy]

Unbelievable number of road deaths for such a small population, it got so I wouldn't drive on a Saturday night, tulipe roads & tulipe drivers are not a good combination.

I worked in Cork briefly a few years back and noticed that on the bottom end of a slip road from the dual carriageway, instead of the customary No Entry sign to prevent you from entering the carriageway in the wrong direction, there was an official sign that said "You are going the wrong way". Classic!

[portseven]

Limerick is pretty shocking though, also known as Stab City so try to steer her in Cork/Kerry direction if you can!

Limerick is alright, lived there on and off, back in the early 90's late 80's. I admit there are some rough areas, lived between a couple of dodgy estates, one of them being the infamous Southill. In fact spent quite a bit of time in Southill, but was given advice on what streets to stay away from and people not to talk to on the account of me being English, I survived pretty much OK.

I also did some work for a client making their first foray into Southern Ireland a few years ago, and I can tell you working with Eirecom is a lesson in paintence. Don't think they know the meaning of the word SLA, took us 9 months (not kidding!) to get a 2mb line into the corporate WAN from a site in Dublin.

There is the rough areas like in most big towns, but as my step-dad was a guard in the prison there, Limerick seems to have a larger proportion of gangsters / hard nuts that you would expect in a town of it's size.

[cailin maith]

Thanks Cliphead. Interesting perspective.

I expect the broadband issue will be resolved in time, but more concerned about road carnage.

I guess you'd need to drive a lot there. I hate driving anyway.

Donegal is right up in the back ass of nowhere to be fair My ex b/f went to Uni in Letterkenny so I spent a bit of time up there.

Broadband in the more populated areas isn't an issue - although my friend who built her own house had to wait about 6 months for eircom to install the line...

I moved to Donegal for a year to see how it would work out (my family are from there), was a great place but not to live. Very expensive and no broadband when I was there, they were still getting to grips with ISDN.

Unbelievable number of road deaths for such a small population, it got so I wouldn't drive on a Saturday night, tulipe roads & tulipe drivers are not a good combination.

Live music, beer, fantastic empty beaches, friendly, couldn't recommend it highly enough for a holiday.

Agree with what you say Cliphead but how long ago was that? I know the Gardai are clamping down a lot on it now - it's become very taboo to drink and drive unless it's a very rural area. Problem is everyone over there drives, licence or not - you have to if you want to get anywhere.

An example, over the course of ten days two young guys I knew, both early twenties were killed in seperate road accidents. Unfortunately very common, in a small town of about 2000 people about a dozen died in road accidents during the year I was there.

I don't know about the rest of Ireland but Donegal roads are lethal at weekends, drinking and driving is still the norm there.

Such a shame I know quite a few families who have lost son's/daughters etc due to the drink driving issue but it is getting better, there is no doubt about it.

More Gardai helps, especially now that the application process is more inclusive.

[bogeyman]

An example, over the course of ten days two young guys I knew, both early twenties were killed in seperate road accidents. Unfortunately very common, in a small town of about 2000 people about a dozen died in road accidents during the year I was there.

I don't know about the rest of Ireland but Donegal roads are lethal at weekends, drinking and driving is still the norm there.

Gawd. Terrible.

Even when drinking and driving was the norm here (I was a teenage motorist), I don't remember things being quite that lethal.

Thanks for the advice.

[Cliphead]

more concerned about road carnage.

An example, over the course of ten days two young guys I knew, both early twenties were killed in seperate road accidents. Unfortunately very common, in a small town of about 2000 people about a dozen died in road accidents during the year I was there.

I don't know about the rest of Ireland but Donegal roads are lethal at weekends, drinking and driving is still the norm there.

[bogeyman]

I moved to Donegal for a year to see how it would work out (my family are from there), was a great place but not to live. Very expensive and no broadband when I was there, they were still getting to grips with ISDN.

Unbelievable number of road deaths for such a small population, it got so I wouldn't drive on a Saturday night, tulipe roads & tulipe drivers are not a good combination.

Live music, beer, fantastic empty beaches, friendly, couldn't recommend it highly enough for a holiday.

Thanks Cliphead. Interesting perspective.

I expect the broadband issue will be resolved in time, but more concerned about road carnage.

I guess you'd need to drive a lot there. I hate driving anyway.

[Cliphead]

I moved to Donegal for a year to see how it would work out (my family are from there), was a great place but not to live. Very expensive and no broadband when I was there, they were still getting to grips with ISDN.

Unbelievable number of road deaths for such a small population, it got so I wouldn't drive on a Saturday night, sh1te roads & sh1te drivers are not a good combination.

Live music, beer, fantastic empty beaches, friendly, couldn't recommend it highly enough for a holiday.

[bogeyman]

Does this include Northern Ireland? They just kicked out a 100 Romanians - and the marches are starting..

Oddly, although I've known quite a few Norn Ironers from both communities, and got on well, I couldn't imagine going to NI out out of choice.

The Republic is, of course, a totally different scene. I like and always get on with Irish people - well so far. I'm sure they have their share of shytes and bastards, but people there seem very kind and friendly on the whole.

[scooterscot]

Does this include Northern Ireland? They just kicked out a 100 Romanians - and the marches are starting..

[bogeyman]

Ah - it's grand - it's just a small Irish town, lots of pubs and betting shops but fairly laid back! I've not been for a few years but I don't expect it's changed much, places like that don't usually! It's got the river which is nice too.

I'd say Kilkenny is the nearest big town and thats lovely - it's got a castle and stuff - really lovely.

Thanks CM.

Where's your home town? (no, I'm not stalking you, honest).