To ask about Limerick?

[justilou1]

We might be moving there from Australia and I honestly don't know the first thing about the place. Which areas would you move to if you had three kids (lower high school and upper primary), are not afraid of driving, etc....?
I have lived overseas before - The Netherlands, and I loved it. I imagine that Ireland would be a slightly easier transition because there is (almost) no language difference and the sense of humour is similar.

I honestly don't know who to ask!

[c75kp0r]

Oops less insular and MORE open to diversity.. though you probably guessed that...

[Thermowoman]

c75 Just because I disagree with you doesn't mean I'm wrong. I am Irish myself as are all my family. They all still live there, I talk to them a lot and I don't see any huge changes in the five years since we left. I still see lots and lots of people who are not religious in the slightest making their kids take communion. Why are they doing this if not for societal influences? I do agree far fewer people are actually going to church now except for hatch match and dispatch, but other countries I've lived in have been a lot more secular, and I'm glad of that.

[RitasEducation]

Yes I am very shocked at some if the responses on this thread. Very racist to the Irish. I'm Irish, I actually find Ireland less racist than say the UK. None of my family, friends, our children are racists and have embraced growing communities.

Limericks economic growth is very strong, lots of investment and job opportunities and I can only imagine it will get stronger after Brexit. It will continue to boost house prices, school investments, bring in higher earners. We Irish love high earners they're great Craic.

[Situp]

I'll be honest OP, now DH knows you aren't bringing the new Strength and conditioning coach for Munster with you he feels far less invested in your happiness.

Biggest downside for me with Limerick is the proximity of MIL but that clearly wouldn't be an issue for you.

By the way, Angela's Ashes was filmed during a particularly warm dey summer in Ireland and they had to use hoses for most of the rain

[Procrastination4]

I didnt find it very forward thinking or open to change and new influences
Hmmm, that doesn’t exactly tally with the fact that Ireland became the first country to vote for same-sex marriage though, does it???

[Thermowoman]

It wasn't the first, that was the Netherlands.

[saoirse31]

Ireland was first to pass referendum ie popular vote deciding to legalise. I think. Netherlands was govt legislating, without popular vote, I think.

[Procrastination4]

Yes, by popular vote rather than government legislation, was what I meant. The later wouldn’t be as indicative of “forward thinking”/“open to change”.

[GlitterUnicornsAndAllThatJazz]

I actually think passing it by govt leg IS more indicative of forward thinking actually. It implies you can just go ahead and make something legal whilst very confident in the knowledge there isn't going to be public outrage.

Which i guess is why Brexit required a vote

[Clandestino]

Thermowoman and Glitter

I live in Ireland, my daughter is an atheist, coming from an atheist family and she attends a Catholic school as it's the best in town. We wanted her to attend religion because it's a part of the culture but that's it. So she goes to church every Friday now as they are preparing for their Communion, unlike her because she's not even baptised. She was admitted to school fully knowing she's not baptised and I was very open when talking to the principal about not wanting her to be baptised for the sake of having a piece of paper which means nothing to me.
We never felt a pressure to be "churchy" in any way and we live in a semi-rural town.
We couldn't give a flying fuck about the availability of drink on any given day during the year and it that was a criterium I'd happily live somewhere where alcohol is completely banned because I really don't care. We don't go to pubs, rarely buy alcohol and I don't drink at all. DH only occasionally.
Abortions are an issue but I hope it will be sorted out with the referendum.
Overall I believe Ireland is a very open society and I really enjoy living here.

[Trinity66]

I actually think passing it by govt leg IS more indicative of forward thinking actually. It implies you can just go ahead and make something legal whilst very confident in the knowledge there isn't going to be public outrage.

Because it was an actual change of the definition of marriage in our constitution it had to go to a referendum. On the one hand I think it's kind of insulting to gay people to have a load of straight people decide whether they're allowed get married or not however I think it's vital that the people vote on any changes to our constitution

[bfgdreamtree]

It implies you can just go ahead and make something legal whilst very confident in the knowledge there isn't going to be public outrage

You can't when you have a consitution that needs to be changed to do so.