To wonder why MN hates Dublin?

[HollyCarrot]

I am Irish. I'm watching the Irish version of newsnight and it's all about MN bad reviews of Dublin. We have lots of problems here but I don't get that people would dislike us that much?

oh yes Dyrne, Paris syndrome. Now Paris is a massive letdown. Many great French cities otherwise though.

I think the main thing that would improve Dublin for visitors would be to sort out the roads, to redirect traffic from the historic centre and create more space for strolling - it needs some visionary urban planning. Particularly the area around Trinity is very traffic dominated. Although there are lots of interesting historic sights, museums, galleries etc, you have to do quite a bit of walking down busy, ‘ordinary’ streets to get between them and so it doesn’t create the sense of a historic core which you get in a lot of other European cities. And it makes it feel dirty because of all the polluting vehicles, and stressful because of the crowded pavements.

I'm English, lived in Dublin for 10 years. I love it and can't imagine living anywhere else now.

I can understand criticisms that it's expensive - certainly my friends and family notice that when visiting from England. I can also, to a degree, understand the observations about homelessness and drug problems in the city centre. This is sadly true and has undoubtedly got worse over the last few years. Sadly planning permission has just been refused for the city's first safe injection centre so can't see the drug problem improving any time soon. But as I said on the other thread, this is not a problem that is unique to Dublin. I used to live in London and it is noticeable how many more homeless people there are on the streets nowadays. We noticed similar when visiting Lisbon earlier this year.

However I cannot understand comments that there is nothing to do - this just smacks of laziness and a lack of research. After 10 years living here I am still finding new activities and places to go when friends and family visit! Even if what is in the city centre doesn't float your boat, there are loads of day trips/tours you can do outside the city. Also really can't understand those saying it is hard to get around - I don't drive and don't think I have ever visited another city that is so easy to walk around with most of the main attractions within easy walking distance of each other. Public transport is also excellent around the city centre - yes some areas of the suburbs are very poorly served by public transport but this is unlikely to be an issue for tourists.

Finally those saying it is ugly - yes there are certainly some ugly buildings but I challenge anyone saying this to look at the view we have of the River Liffey at night, or the view over Dublin Bay from Sandymount Strand, and still say that

I don't 'hate' it but I'm not in a hurry to go back. I've been twice for work and once for 'pleasure' and found everyone rude and unfriendly.

HollyCarrot

I saw Primetime too and looked up the MN thread they were on about. It's in October, v easy to find. Loads of people on it were critical of Dublin and loads spoke fondly about it. I found it hilarious that Primetime were talking about this MN thread as though it was a proper, representative sample survey.

It was ridiculous, and even then they painted it as though everyone on the thread was negative about Dublin, which wasn't true at all.

I reckon it was indeed an extremely slow news day... and primetime are a bit confused when it comes to what constitutes actual evidence of something.

For the record, I lived in Dublin for years and I can see why some people might find it disappointing - the tourist trail there - Temple Bar etc is crap. For me it was an often dreary, occasionally magical place.

And it's definitely too expensive

I've been a couple of times, admittedly quite a few years ago, and what stood out for me was the amount of seriously good looking people in one city, male and female.

I love Dublin but I don’t live there

I've never been. My Husband loves it though.
Loves the atmosphere and music etc.

However. He goes as a bloke. With out blokes usually on a stag do.
So he probably the thing putting some off.

He said it was pricey. But no more pricey then any other capital city so found it fine.

He loves how friendly and welcoming it was, loved the live music and did the Guinness tour.

Going by his review I would like to visit.

I found it hilarious that Primetime were talking about this MN thread as though it was a proper, representative sample survey.

It was actually the Irish Times (of which I expect better) which first reported it this way, and yes, implicitly suggested it was the result of a formal survey, rather than a bunch of people arguing on the internet. But a bit puzzling, either way.

It was actually the Irish Times (of which I expect better)

Oh right, thanks Gallivespian. That is weird of them. But I actually think the Irish Times used to be a much better paper than it is now.

I used to work in Dublin on a short contract. I did not like it too much, to be honest (and I am not British). Was shocked by the abundance of drug addicts begging for money in the centre, and the property prices are just unbelievable (and I am saying this as someone who is permanently based in London).

Is Dublin actually expensive, or does it just appear that way to Brits due to the weak pound? It's certainly cheaper than Denmark, and I haven't even been to Copenhagen, just a small town.

I went to Dublin when you could get nearly 1.5 Euro to the pound and it felt quite reasonable. Earlier this year when the rate was more like 1.1, not so much, but not disproportionately expensive compared with London.

Just be grateful you’re not an Emirati

Gallivespian
I haven't been yet. I am researching family history first. I will go. I'm waiting for better weather
I am very at the thread being reported. I honestly thought Dublin would be loved by most people

@BarbaraofSeville rents there are definitely really high since the tech companies have moved in. I personally have found it more expensive when buying coffees, beers and meals than London on recent visits, regardless of the exchange rate. Maybe I just chose expensive options but it always seems like that to me. I think the DART and the Luas were slightly cheaper than TFL to be fair.

I've been all over Ireland over the years, but other than driving through for the ferry, Dublin had always been a glaring ommision on our itineries. DH never rated it so was never bothered about hanging around the area. (It does look good lit up when you get off the ferry at midnight!)

A few years ago we did a longer stay than our usual family visit and focused more on the east than usual. We camped by New Grange and after getting off the boat at about 7am, had time to kill until early afternoon. We had two young children with us, so drinking and Guiness tours were off (not that I can stand Guiness anyway).

We struggled. We did a tour bus which was good. The queue at the Book of Kells was too long for the DCs to cope with, so we hopped back on. We just didn't find it a very intuitive city to find things to do. It's not a great place to meander and take in. Most of the family friendly attractions were away from the city centre.

The rest of the holiday was great. Ireland's charm is mainly in its rural areas, although smaller cities like Galway have a great vibe too. I've always been surprised at people's enthusiasm for Cork city, but then visiting with a shop-phobic DH, and staying with teatotal relatives mean that I'm not in the best position to experience it, and for all the numerous visits to the county, have never had a night out on the city which would probably be a game changer. The area around Brown Thomas is well done up and feels more comsmopolitan than my experience of Dublin. A lot of Irish architecture can be quite austere in a functional Victorian way that is shared with British industrial towns and there isn't an abundance of iconic architecture.

I'd keep an open mind about Dublin and Irish cities for nightlife, but for families, I'm not enamoured.

Yes, Dublin is actually expensive. I lived south of Dublin for 7 years and found it expensive, so it's not a €£ thing.

The area around Brown Thomas is well done up and feels more comsmopolitan than my experience of Dublin. A lot of Irish architecture can be quite austere in a functional Victorian way that is shared with British industrial towns and there isn't an abundance of iconic architecture.

@ShinyGiratina, I assume you're aware that Cork city centre was burnt to the ground by British troops in 1920? Most 'iconic' architecture was destroyed then.

Dublin is a mini expensive version of Glasgow.

at "mini"
Population size
Dublin 1.8 million
Glasgow 0.6 million

Paris syndrome. Now Paris is a massive letdown. Many great French cities otherwise though.

^^

See, this I don't get. Paris!! It's amazing one of the few places that I've thought, yup, I could easily move her for a year and just wander around.

I am Irish and have lived in and visited countries all over the world.
I find Dublin challenging with kids. The best stuff for kids is outside Dublin by the M50 (Imaginosity, Explorium, Blanchardstown Aquatic Centre) and are not easily accessed by quick transport.

I'm from Cork and not too fond of Dublin either, sorry

@BellyButton85 I just dislike Ireland completely, both northern and southern. The films all show exactly the opposite to the several places I've been in Ireland. I was very disappointed and wouldn't go again

Funniest thing I've read in a long time - as the Dubs would say "scarleh for ya". Ireland is beautiful and Dublin is fab - if you have any interest in history there is so much to see.

Galway is the best Irish City imo

BellyButton85 I just dislike Ireland completely, both northern and southern. The films all show exactly the opposite to the several places I've been in Ireland. I was very disappointed and wouldn't go again.
I was disappointed when I went to New York and didn't see Sarah Jessica Parker dancing through the streets of Manhattan in Manolo Blahniks, and I therefore dislike all of America.