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Short break. Why is Dublin so bad

491 replies

IfIShouldFallFromGraceWithGod · 20/10/2019 18:45

I'm looking for a city break and Dublin was on my list. It scored highly on the worst holiday thread, can anyone tell me why

OP posts:
jennymanara · 25/10/2019 11:19

In fairness there are cities that are clean and pretty safe and cities that are very dirty and crime ridden. I know one of the things I disliked about Naples was how dirty it was. Zurich was very clean though.

Brackish · 25/10/2019 11:27

I know one of the things I disliked about Naples was how dirty it was. Zurich was very clean though.

It is also one of the most expensive cities in the world. Does the pristineness make that worth it?

jennymanara · 25/10/2019 11:40

It is officially the 2nd most expensive city in the world. Three cities tie for first place Paris being one, and Paris is not a clean city. Calgary is officially the cleanest city in the world.

In the wider point, I do go to expensive and cheaper cities, just as I go to cheap and more expensive holiday destinations. But more expensive places have to have something that cheaper places can not offer.

TotallyPearshaped · 25/10/2019 14:20

I live in Dublin, and like any other city it can seem very closed to tourists.
When you live in a city you know it and the gems are not obvious to tourists.

if you're a tourist you need to do some research, and if nothing appeals, go somewhere else.

If you like museums you'll like Dublin.
Shopping is limited to areas such as Grafton Street and environs and on the North side of the River Liffey in Henry street.

In London there are 8,855 rough sleepers spread around the city, and afaik there are 156 rough sleeping homeless people living on the streets in Dublin city centre. Proportionately there are five times as many more rough sleepers per capita in London.

Most of the rough sleepers in Dublin are not moved on, and hostels are provided for night time. Not every homeless person likes the hostels, because they're on the road of addiction recovery and some prefer to sleep rough where they don't have to smell alcohol.

Unlike other cities, we do not squirrel away our drug addicts and have needle exchange vans around the city to provide health services to homeless addicts.

If you like all city streets cleaned up and all "problem" people out of sight and out of mind, don't come to Dublin. We have socio-ecomomic mixes throughout all areas in Ireland - there are no places in any city or town which are exclusive ghettos for the rich - everyone is mixed in.

Addicts and homeless people are treated the same as other citizens and are entitled to protection from harm - they also have prior claim to that doorstep if that's where they've laid their hat, and call home.

Some English tourists I've noticed expect street cleaners to clean up these ubiquitous problems and ship homeless people out to somewhere more 'acceptable' (where they are unseen and unheard).

Ireland isn't like England in any way.
Just because historically we were forced to speak English by law, and were governed by Westminster from 1800, doesn't mean we speak the Queen's English nor have English attitudes now. We don't have a police force for example - we have guardians of the peace.

Change your expectations of Ireland to a more inclusive European/ Scandinavian social democracy society and you'll feel right at home in Dublin.

Expect a London lite, and you're going to be disappointed (as will we in you!)
All Welcome, just wipe your feet.

isabellerossignol · 25/10/2019 14:42

This thread put me in the notion of visiting again, although it's only a few weeks since I was last there. So I booked a hotel this morning. Very much looking forward to it. Smile

Trewser · 25/10/2019 14:58

London and Dublin are in no way comparable!

maddy68 · 25/10/2019 15:06

Dublin is a laugh. Irish music in every bar. Good atmosphere. Nice friendly people. Go for it

Potnoodledoo · 25/10/2019 15:23

Well i suppose @jennymanara you could always go to Dun Laoghaire its lovely out there.And go to Wetherspoons.It might make you feel better.

jennymanara · 25/10/2019 15:29

You know fuck all about me. So don't make assumptions that I go to weatherspoons.

Shalom23 · 25/10/2019 17:04

Jenny there is weathespoonds in Dublin now. For your next visit.

Aworldofmyown · 25/10/2019 17:10

I have been a couple of times and found it a bit 'Meh' tbh.

Would really love to go to Belfast and would highly recommend Budapest - was totally blown away with that city!

MadamBatty · 25/10/2019 17:20

Well said totallypearshaped

If you don’t want music, history culture, good food & fun Dublin is not the place for you

bluebellation · 25/10/2019 17:28

I second Pearshaped's post. Wonderful city , loads of free things to do . Remember, sterling is weak at the moment so ANY European city will be dearer this year than before the referendum.

B ring comfortable shoes and walk, walk, walk - along the canal, along the Liffey boardwalk, out to Kilmainham . Take a bus to the Botanical Gardens and Glasnevin cemetery.

We visit a couple of times a year and are still finding fresh places to go.

MadamBatty · 25/10/2019 18:12

That of course should have been if you WANT music history etc....Dublin is not for you.

It’s been a long day

Drabarni · 25/10/2019 18:55

If you don’t want music, history culture, good food & fun Dublin is not the place for you

On the contrary, I found lots of culture, history and music and had great fun.

Potnoodledoo · 25/10/2019 19:37

@jennymanara its no different from you making assumptions about Dublin.

mathanxiety · 26/10/2019 06:55

Jenny, were you surprised to find that Naples was dirty?

Just curious.

Moomoo1975 · 26/10/2019 07:20

Gosh, I think there is lots to do in Dublin. The dead museum is fab. Lots of little mueums. Art galleries, trinity college. If you like history , good food and music it is great. Do the legwork 1st. To be fair lots of cities are grubby and you can't do anything about the rain!

jennymanara · 26/10/2019 11:22

@mathanxiety No partly because I had read up on Naples but also I have read about the role of the Camorra in rubbish collection. But it had more of an impact on me than I had anticipated. It was very hot and the resulting smell was very unpleasant.

mathanxiety · 26/10/2019 22:22

Was the cleanliness of Zurich a surprise?

mathanxiety · 27/10/2019 05:20

Or had you read up on that too?

  • In breaking news, Dublin's St. Anne's Park was named one of the five best parks in the world..
ExecutiveFiat · 27/10/2019 05:59

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

ExecutiveFiat · 27/10/2019 06:08

Op, have you got the desired reaction, or are you dissapointed that there are lots of people who love Dublin?
Your thread title is goody ,- but you knew that already..Hmm

ExecutiveFiat · 27/10/2019 08:12

There’s actually three Wetherspoons in Dublin now(more’s the pity,) Jenny will feel right at home.

PierreBezukov · 27/10/2019 08:31

Yes the discussion about beaches was a bit off-topic - it all started because someone said Dublin was within easy reach of the sea by Dart and I said the sea near Dublin, and in fact the Irish Sea coast in general, is not that nice in my opinion. This thread is about opinions after all.
I accept that going to the beach is not really part of city breaks - you could just as well say Glasgow or Edinburgh have nice beaches near them, but that's not why people go there.

I lived in Dublin and still visit quite regularly. While I think it's worth a visit as a tourist, I would warn them that it is dirty and not very pretty, and very expensive.

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