To think that life seems better in rep of ireland?

[PunnyOliveTurtle]

ok...hear me out...My DM is Irish and she has not been home in a good few years, I haven't been over since I was 15, I'm early 40's now. So i decided to bring her over to visit her sisters as they are all getting older...late 60s/early 70's.

I had a wonderful time. I caught up with all of my cousins...and here is where I noticed the divide...they all have gorgeous homes and I mean stunning! Some in the country, some in the town, all fab new builds or gutted and updated old houses. A couple in new housing estates which were FAB!!
One of my cousins has just bought a new home...her DH is driving a 2025 car, they are off on hols next week. I asked her if she won the lotto and she laughed saying she wished, savings are now depleted and she was "broke". I know she has no credit cards because she metioned that she didn't have one when we wer talking about booking dinner somewhere and they wanted to take a deposit.

They all have great jobs...a lot of them are teachers...like i was. But they are no where near as stressed as I was. They are on holidays already and have been with a few weeks.Some are nurses but work part time in private hospitals, others work in big pharma companies, banking etc.Their dh's also have great jobs, engineers, managers in tech/pharma, one owns a construction company, one is a farmer.
All and I mean ALL of their DC who are of uni age are in university...no student loans. They have a grant scheme apparently. None of my cousins themselves have student loans...they are in 30's to mid 50's. (Can you tell we had an in depth discussion on uni and fees etc!)
Their DC aged 15+ all have summer jobs...in a local chippy, local cafe, one on a farm etc. My 18 yr old cant get a job at all!!

Everything just seemed so positive there...and im sure its not but I cant put my finger on it...it really got me.
I'm struggling most months...this trip was part on credit card. DD looking to start uni and i dont know how I'm going to help her... I know they say dont compare and I know there must be those struggling in Ireland too but there seemed to be A LOT more money being thrown around.

Well yes, and Lisbon's is better...

I think it's you that's bonker my love

Are you kidding me? Liverpool has way more to offer than Dublin!

You really seem to have an agenda, @WallTree
Plus an inability to grasp that others have different viewpoints.

Ireland was largely deforested by colonisation in the 1500s-1600s. We've had quite a while to sort it out. At what point do we take any accountability for ourselves?!

Why are you so obsessed with forestation? According to the figures posted upthread we're only a smidge behind the uk anyway. We also have lots of land types that don't suit extensive tree planting and lots of farmland which is being put to excellent use in other ways.

It’s way more expensive, a pint being €12.

Nonsense. The average price of a pint in Ireland is €6-7.

It's definitely more expensive in the likes of Temple Bar but it's not even €12 there.

It's very disingenuous to say otherwise.

Hurling semi final on bbc2 now, I’m neutral as I support the cats. Nice to have a taste of home

I couldn't agree more!
These posts claiming Dublin is boring & has nothing to do appear v frequently & they're utter horseshit!

I dont know how anyone can claim there's 'nothing to do'

Off the top of my head we have:

The National Galley
Irish Museum of Modern Art
RHA Gallery (Royal Hibernian Academy)
The National Concert Hall
The National Museum
The Natural History Museum
The Little Museum of Dublin
Epic - the Irish Emmigration Museum which had won many prizes
Henrietta St Tenament Museum
Kilmainham Gaol - unmissable
GPO 1916 Museum
The Long Room / Book of Kells
Guinness experience
St Michan's crypt (Brahm Stoker)
MoLI (Museum of Literature of Ireland)
The Hugh Lane Gallery
The James Joyce Centre
The 02 Arena
The Abbey National Theatre
The Olympia Theatre
The Gaeity Theatre
Smock Alley Theatre
Christ Church Cathedral
St Patrick's cathedral
Dublin Castle
The Chester Beatty Library
The National Library
St Stephen's Green
The Phoenix Park
Dublin Zoo
Aras an Uchtarain
Glasnevin Cemetary
The Viking Experience

Contemporary galleries such as Temple Bar Galley & Studios, The Ark Children's Cultural Centre, The Complex, Project Arts Centre etc

That's without mentioning the many many fabulous pubs with literary & music connections.

Dublin institutiions such as Bewley's Cafe, The Shelbourne Hotel (the horseshoe bar), Powerscourt Town House, Trinity College Campus etc

And of course The Liffey & the canals & a v short tram ride to the coast if you fancy seeing the sea.

If you can't find things to do in a small, walkable city that houses all that then i don't know what you would want from a city break?

Temple bar is not all of Ireland 😂

Dd loved the tour of Croke park, even tried her hand at hurling

In my 43 years in Ireland I have never set foot in the place. Give me a nice old pub with a snug in Doolin or Castletownbere.

I totally forget to mention the sports stuff as its not my interest but yes, of course loads there too

I've literally just googled & a pint of Guinness is €9 in The Temple Bar which is arguably the quintessential tourist destination . So no idea where the €12 has come from.....🤔

I’m in Dublin and I’ve just paid over €11 for a pint so just round up the the odd pence, it’s also around €18 for a pack of cigarettes. My uncles come over to the U.K. to buy tools and farm equipment because it’s cheaper. But obviously I’m lying.

God your posts are really nasty.

Its not that serious of a topic.

Imagine getting thst aggressive and nasty about such a mild thread

Do you have anger issues?

Really? Wow, who’d have known seeing I was born and bred in Clonmel I didn’t know that.

Tp be fair I don't think @TheKeatingFive a posts are nasty at all. It's pretty shitty hearing constantly how crap where you live and are proud of is especially when it's not true at all.

I don't think anyone said that Ireland was crap.

I didnt even say that there is nothing to do in Ireland. I said there is more to do in other countries.

I just said that i have lived in Ireland for a long time, done everything , I have been to every county in Ireland many times, and I want to see other places.

There are many good things in Ireland of course. The nature is one - its beautiful

€5.40 for a pint of Guinness /Heineken etc in my local 2 weeks ago (when I was last there). €12 would nearly get you the G&T with it. Stay away from the tourist traps where they'll gouge you tbf.

Where did you pay €11+ for a pint? I'm v curious as I assumed (apart from 5* hotels) that The Temple Bar would be one of the most expensive places

Ofgs don't be ridiculous 🫠

Meals out in England are really expensive aswell.

Out of interest, where are people paying €12 for a pint? Outside of temple bar?

She is being really nasty and rude.

Was it necessary for her to write

"No- one will be begging for you to stay"

To me?