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Original poster

Does anyone else not like Dublin?

275 replies

tirkishdelighttt · 21/08/2023 09:37

First time in Dublin over the weekend and didn't get the hype
Really expensive (2 drinks 25 euro )
Some places in the city centre quite smelly /dirty
Some people rude especially on busses
I was paying my fare and they just pushed past me to tap the pass
I just don't get the hype of it

OP posts:
Beverlysparty · 21/08/2023 16:05

It depends on what you mean by 'Dublin'. A lot of the city centre is run down and people who live in Dublin tend to only go in there for work or very specific reasons, leaving it the rest of the time for tourists and sadly the many homeless and drug addicted people who have become an increasing part of the city.

But there are lovely parts of Dublin - small coastal towns and buzzing villages which are lively, well kept and where most Dublin residents prefer to socialise.

GiveYourHeadAWobble · 21/08/2023 16:06

I didn't like it at all when I visited, and I saw some very rude behaviour and some very bad racism.
This was some time ago, though. I'd be interested to visit again and see what I think of it now.

Beverlysparty · 21/08/2023 16:14

Like everywhere, Dublin has its share of rude, unpleasant, spoilt and obnoxious people who think the world owes them a favour and no one should hold them up in a queue for a nano second, or drive at less that 20 miles over the speed limit, or ask them to keep the noise down at night. These people are in the minority but are unfortunately the ones you remember. Believe me, native Dubliners find them as annoying and dislikeable as tourists do.

Mooshamoo · 21/08/2023 16:18

toadasoda · 21/08/2023 14:17

@Rogerstreasures They sound like a bunch of dicks. Unfortunately they exist everywhere.

I lived in Dublin for a few years and times change so quickly, the things I disliked about Dublin seem to no longer exist. It was all trendy pretentious expensive cafes and bars. New places opening every weekend with queues just to be seem to be there. Rich trendy people everywhere in the city centre. Construction everywhere, roadworks everywhere. That was during boom time and my goodness did it change quickly. I much preferred the post recession Dublin, from the 2010s on, the city had a really cool vibe. I visit a lot maybe 3 /4 times a year but maybe get to the city once a year. I enjoy it but glad I don't live there.

They weren't just being a bunch of dicks.

There is extreme hatred towards English people in Ireland, many English people have told me they don't feel safe to go to Ireland.

I was just talking to an English man in Spain. He told me that he took a job in Dublin for a year. He said that he would go into the toilets in his workplace, and his Irish colleagues had written "kill the Brit" "fuck off back to England you English bastard"

Etc.

I feel a lot about this as my family are half english half Irish, and I have seen the English side of my family receive a lot of abuse when they go to ireland.

No matter how much I point out to Irish people that hating all English people doesn't make any sense, and that the people born in England today have nothing to do with what their ancestors did , it doesn't seem to get through to them . There is a real deep dark scary hatred in Ireland towards English people. It's a bad side of Ireland to be honest. I was actually in Galway not long ago, and the bar had an English barman. He told me he was going to have to leave his job and go back to England as he was getting so much abuse

CoreopsisEverywhere · 21/08/2023 16:20

Me.

dull, expensive and dirty. We have a flat there but I rarely visit.

MadisonAvenue · 21/08/2023 16:25

I’ve been a few times, liked it but didn’t love it. Much prefer Belfast.

That said, we’re going for a few days next week. Husband’s choice, plus flights were cheaper than getting a train to London.

Spanglybangles · 21/08/2023 16:25

I’ve not spent time in Dublin. However, I did fly there a couple of weeks ago to get a connecting flight to Canada. Arrived at terminal 2, connection was from terminal 1….good god, the walking between the two was awful, felt like bloody miles. So for that reason, I too dislike Dublin 😆

toadasoda · 21/08/2023 16:27

@Mooshamoo I'm really sorry to read that, I'm Irish and I honestly thought those days were long behind us. Irish in UK suffered terrible racism for a long time but as far as I can see its a thing of the past now, I naively assumed it worked both ways. Its a shame to hear that.

Farmageddon · 21/08/2023 16:32

Beverlysparty · 21/08/2023 16:05

It depends on what you mean by 'Dublin'. A lot of the city centre is run down and people who live in Dublin tend to only go in there for work or very specific reasons, leaving it the rest of the time for tourists and sadly the many homeless and drug addicted people who have become an increasing part of the city.

But there are lovely parts of Dublin - small coastal towns and buzzing villages which are lively, well kept and where most Dublin residents prefer to socialise.

I agree. I don't like the city centre at all anymore, although years ago I worked there and loved the nightlife.

I live in a really 'naice' south Dublin suburb and would say it's a good place to live and would be a great place to bring up kids - close to the sea, close to the Wicklow mountains, good schools, nice cafes and parks. Lots of social stuff to do.

But the city centre is underwhelming and expensive.

Nyporeon · 21/08/2023 16:34

Farmageddon · 21/08/2023 16:32

I agree. I don't like the city centre at all anymore, although years ago I worked there and loved the nightlife.

I live in a really 'naice' south Dublin suburb and would say it's a good place to live and would be a great place to bring up kids - close to the sea, close to the Wicklow mountains, good schools, nice cafes and parks. Lots of social stuff to do.

But the city centre is underwhelming and expensive.

Show quote history

Dun Laoghaire?

43ontherocksporfavor · 21/08/2023 16:35

I went recently and loved it. We actually had a great weekend but some areas by the river are a bit run down. Smarter near the government building and Shelbourne (?)hotel, smart squares etc. I loved the craic and that may be due to my Irish heritage but we were not happy with €9 pints of Guinness considering it’s the local brew.

I’ve

LemonDrizzleDessert · 21/08/2023 16:37

I picked up a very weird vibe

LookItsMeAgain · 21/08/2023 16:37

@Mooshamoo - I'm sorry that you experienced that. I hate bringing things to a political point but if you felt that, and it was quite recent too, can you imagine what it must be like for anyone living in Northern Ireland? It must feel like one spark is all it will take to reignite the troubles of the past. Peace is so fragile up in Northern Ireland, it really is.

Anyway, back to Dirty Dublin. Dublin City Council hasn't invested money in the city centre except to buy a job lot of bollards and install them on every street they can possibly get away with. They've even installed them in places that street sweepers can no longer access because there isn't enough space between the premises and the bollard or the bollard and the road or whatever. It is a joke! We are getting seriously pissed off with the way the council is conducting itself.
The Chief Executive of DCC was appointed in 2013 for a 7 year term and in 2020, he appointed himself again to the role for a further 3 years. I mean who does that? He's finally retiring in a few weeks time and I'm delighted! He's singlehandedly wrecked our city in my opinion.

(reference: https://www.independent.ie/regionals/dublin/dublin-news/dublin-city-council-confirms-date-for-owen-keegan-to-retire-as-ceo/a960772956.html

Dublin City Council confirms date for Owen Keegan to retire as CEO

Owen Keegan, Chief Executive of Dublin City Council, will retire from his position on September 9, it has been confirmed.

https://www.independent.ie/regionals/dublin/dublin-news/dublin-city-council-confirms-date-for-owen-keegan-to-retire-as-ceo/a960772956.html

Mary46 · 21/08/2023 16:47

Im from there op you right very costly. Our transport just ok. Europe much better as regards trams trains etc

BlueSquirrelTurnip · 21/08/2023 16:49

I’ve lived in Dublin (outskirts) for nearly 15 years and never experienced anti-English sentiment. That’s a racist trope in itself.

BlueSquirrelTurnip · 21/08/2023 16:50

And tbh, if you were hanging around in Temple Bar, it’s highly likely you were hanging round with loads of other people from the UK! 😂 It’s stag and hen do central.

Farmageddon · 21/08/2023 16:53

Nyporeon · 21/08/2023 16:34

Dun Laoghaire?

Show quote history

Near enough to it.

Like I said, there are great places to live around Dublin, but it's not a great capital city, and the city centre is not somewhere I would recommend for a tourist.

I would always advise they get out of Dublin and go explore the country.

enchantedsquirrelwood · 21/08/2023 17:04

ConsuelaHammock · 21/08/2023 12:01

Dublin is lovely but Belfast is nicer!

I agree. I really liked Dublin - but I liked Belfast more.

But why so many threads on MN about disliking Dublin? Is it because people have high expectations? It must be really tedious for Irish MNers.

Berlinlover · 21/08/2023 17:06

Mooshamoo · 21/08/2023 16:18

They weren't just being a bunch of dicks.

There is extreme hatred towards English people in Ireland, many English people have told me they don't feel safe to go to Ireland.

I was just talking to an English man in Spain. He told me that he took a job in Dublin for a year. He said that he would go into the toilets in his workplace, and his Irish colleagues had written "kill the Brit" "fuck off back to England you English bastard"

Etc.

I feel a lot about this as my family are half english half Irish, and I have seen the English side of my family receive a lot of abuse when they go to ireland.

No matter how much I point out to Irish people that hating all English people doesn't make any sense, and that the people born in England today have nothing to do with what their ancestors did , it doesn't seem to get through to them . There is a real deep dark scary hatred in Ireland towards English people. It's a bad side of Ireland to be honest. I was actually in Galway not long ago, and the bar had an English barman. He told me he was going to have to leave his job and go back to England as he was getting so much abuse

Show quote history

When I got to the second paragraph, before I even looked at your username I knew this post was from you.

SkinnyMalinkyLankyLegs · 21/08/2023 17:07

I found it to be dirty, people were rude and it's eye wateringly expensive.

enchantedsquirrelwood · 21/08/2023 17:10

You all realise that Temple Bar is a bit like Leicester Sq

Indeed - I hate Leicester Square - it's so tacky and horrible. And kept away from Temple Bar. But otherwise Dublin is really interesting. I do think there are massive inequalities of wealth - that isn't something for people from the UK to be judgey about though given our vile government and the inequalities here.

JaneJeffer · 21/08/2023 17:12

I was just talking to an English man in Spain. He told me that he took a job in Dublin for a year. He said that he would go into the toilets in his workplace, and his Irish colleagues had written "kill the Brit" "fuck off back to England you English bastard"
He shouldn't have taken it so personally

supersonicginandtonic · 21/08/2023 17:17

I went just over a week ago. I bloody love Dublin. I find the Irish very very friendly. Hardly saw any drug or homeless use, compared to English cities and I work in substance misuse so I can spot it a mile off. Drinks etc were no more expensive than London, Edinburgh etc. I also didn't feel unsafe but im used to working in unsafe environments.
If you think Dublin is run down come visit derby 🙈😂

Turfwars · 21/08/2023 17:21

I went to uni in Dublin, and hated every minute of it.

I moved to Galway soon afterwards and stayed there decades. I also think Cork is fab and Limerick is a good spot as well.

Beverlysparty · 21/08/2023 17:24

Mooshamoo · 21/08/2023 16:18

They weren't just being a bunch of dicks.

There is extreme hatred towards English people in Ireland, many English people have told me they don't feel safe to go to Ireland.

I was just talking to an English man in Spain. He told me that he took a job in Dublin for a year. He said that he would go into the toilets in his workplace, and his Irish colleagues had written "kill the Brit" "fuck off back to England you English bastard"

Etc.

I feel a lot about this as my family are half english half Irish, and I have seen the English side of my family receive a lot of abuse when they go to ireland.

No matter how much I point out to Irish people that hating all English people doesn't make any sense, and that the people born in England today have nothing to do with what their ancestors did , it doesn't seem to get through to them . There is a real deep dark scary hatred in Ireland towards English people. It's a bad side of Ireland to be honest. I was actually in Galway not long ago, and the bar had an English barman. He told me he was going to have to leave his job and go back to England as he was getting so much abuse

Show quote history

I'm sorry some people have had that experience. But it really isn't a typical attitude in Ireland. The huge welcome given to Queen Elizabeth when she visited here is testament to how things have moved on. Of course, there are some people still stuck in the past who make stupid and ignorant comments. But the vast majority of Irish people have grown up in an increasingly multi cultural country, with Irish English animosity moving further and further back into history. Anti English sentiment just isn't a big thing here anymore. There are so many different accents on our streets and English people don't attract any particular attention in most places.