I'm beginning to think I can't stay in Ireland

[Cveg]

I know Covid will have made everywhere awful, but I moved here from Asia in 2019. I chose my location carefully a place I knew well. Honestly 2 years on, I hate the place I live and I feel like if I stay too much longer I will start to hate Ireland too. Its become so depressing and inward-looking. Noone can ever say anything at all to question NPHET, the government or any local public servants, some of whom have become like local overlords. I used to love it here (visited many many times and felt welcome) but now it feels like the place is telling me to go away. All you get on TV is stupid obsequious programmes like The Late Late and all this enforced collectivisation "WE're ALL x, WE're ALL y".
I'm so unhappy

Move to a different place, some places are odd. I rarely watch Irish TV. The late late show is depressing.
I'd try renting in a different location.

I’m sorry you feel as you do, and I really ignore a lot in what you say, which is probably why I left rural Ireland at 17 and have been in Dublin/suburbs ever since. The sense of community is something that I value very much, however, and I’ve found a new ‘village’ community where I live now. Maybe it’s in my dna to find that sense of community comforting in a way that you find Perhaps a bit tribal. I do recognise that there is a homogeneity in the fact that the Late Late or Liveline or Primetime still get huge audience share, milestone moments like Holy Communions or ‘did you hear who died?’ or plots of land for sale are what people talk about (at least, in trying to find common ground For conversation.). Have you found interests you can pursue, likeminded friends, colleagues? I wish you well, and good you find your tribe.

Not ignore - don’t know where that came from - recognise was what I meant.

My parents are proud culchies and I always thought I’d love to live in Ireland as an adult

Lived in Dublin for a bit, like it enough
Then cork for a few months...

I find it really insular in the south and reckon you’d feel like a blow in all the time

Telly seems parochial and really limited

I love love love the Irish bit could I live in Ireland? No. Not the rural south anyway!

Sorry you’re struggling OP. The pandemic has been very hard on lots of people.

I moved to west cork from a U.K. city and I don’t recognise your version of Ireland at all. However, I’m not suffering from depression which I assume makes normal things seem very bleak?

My adult kids are stuck in flats in London and every day of the pandemic lockdowns, I was grateful for living in a nice house with a large garden, beautiful countryside and more importantly, supportive local friends.

Regarding Irish TV, I never watch it. We watch Netflix and Prime and sometimes other stuff via the satellite dish but we have to switch to the Arial to watch Irish channels and I can’t be arsed.

There are large numbers of Brits (and other nationalities) living locally and it doesn’t feel parochial to me at all.

Have you struggled to make new friends since you’ve been here?

Incomers in my part of Cork have different experiences. Some have lots of local mates and are into stuff like the Tidy Towns or various hobbies. There's others you just don't see often- maybe once a week at the farmer's Market. I used to run a petrol station and there were English ppl I only saw in Summer - they came to fill their lawnmowers. No doubt they are bored and find the place parochial. Newsflash - you live in a parish. Avoid the blow in bubble if possible. You can watch satellite TV anywhere why bother moving to Ireland? We have English and French ppl at our comhrá learning a bit of Gaeilge !

Hello, my little girl is starting with a childminder soon. It's my own fault but she naps in her buggy during the day for her nap. I always went walwith her after her lunch, she falls asleep and that was it I'd leave her there for an hour and a half. What is people's experience with childminders and the child doing their nap in the buggy? I can't see my one going down in a cot & I know there are regulations which I totally understand. Thanks

Sorry think I posted this in the wrong place Apologies

If your DD is used to going for a nap in her buggy I cannot see it being a problem for the childminder especially if it's a buggy that can be put in a flat position.

Thank you, yes I was talking to her & it seems it will be fine which is great. As long as she sleeps i don't mind, she's actually here in her buggy now an hour into her na. Thanks for the reply.

I wonder how this panned out for you Cveg?
Did you leave or settle?