Moving to Dublin - any advice?

[whattodo235]

Hello all, I posted in living overseas already so apologies for double thread! My husband has been offered a good job near Dublin airport so we’re considering moving from London to Ireland in the next few months. We will have 2 kids in nursery and one 5 year old at primary school (going into year 1 in the UK system). Do you have any advice on areas, schools, making friends, whether it’s a good idea overall etc?! Thanks so much!

@pushbaum - the OP's husband is working out by Dublin Airport so moving to Howth/Sutton/Malahide/Swords definitely seems like it will, at the very least, give him back time that he would have been spending in traffic on the daily commute to spend with his family.

Swords would be closer to the Airport @whattodo235 if you could find something in that area that would suit you. There is a lovely shopping centre with cinema, loads of restaurants & pubs and places to socialise. The first thing is to get the kids settled in an area that you're going to try to stay in for at least a year. Obviously when you were making the initial move you weren't 100% sure of the lay of the land so it's only natural that you'd make a move so soon after you arrive.

I know, thanks. I'm from Dublin and I think Dubliners tend to see the river as a massive barrier and overestimate how long it takes to go from Southside to Northside (and the other way around).
As I said, google maps has driving from Howth to the airport as a few minutes slower than from Sandymount, but that's during the day. Driving to the airport from Howth right now takes 27 minutes, from Sandymount 21. To arrive Monday morning at 9 am, it still takes longer from Howth than Sandymount.

Swords/Donabate/Malahide would be much quicker, but there's a huge difference from Sandymount in terms of access to the city

I didn't say that Dublin is like London. I said like London ( Cork/ Brisbane/ Denver/ any city) there are nice areas and not nice areas.

Swords is a handy spot. There is a lot to be said for living somewhere handy in a new country.

I'd go north of the river all the same, even though the commuting time is normally similar to that from Sandymount. It takes only one crash on a south to north route to really foul things up in the morning, but when you're already across the river you have more alternative routes to the airport.

I think Sutton or Howth would be a great choice for you @whattodo235

It is a short time for a child to settle (very short) but if you the adults want to move then go for it. FWIW I like Howth better than Sandymount also (but have lived in neither though close to both). I'd definitely consider the commute and public transport aspects not just now but for when your kids go to secondary school and college. Shellybanks IIRC is an ET and will have a different "way" to non-ET national schools and maybe some of those differences are unsettling to your child (or not like what he was used to). I'm thinking no uniform, first names for teachers etc. Sutton Park is fee-paying and would be very different to an ET. There are other standard primary schools in Howth which might also be good options. If you know you want to be in Howth then move as long as you have both the school place and somewhere you like to live. Good luck!

Just checking in with you @whattodo235 to see how you're getting on since your move to Dublin. Hope you and your family are keeping well. If you still need any advice, just holler 😉

Ahh that’s really kind of you, thank you! So we ARE moving to Howth/Sutton area to give it a go there and see if we want to settle there long term. I’ve applied for a few schools but am still weighing up Sutton Park, not because it might be better per se but because the hours are longer - 8:15-2:45 rather than 8:45-1:30 - is that ridiculous? I just feel it’s a really short school day otherwise? All schools have club options too on top of that…
but I haven’t met any Sutton park parents so hard to gauge how it is to go there/how it is socially for the kids and parents… anyone got any pointers?!?

Sutton Park bills itself as an international day school with students from 22 different countries.

I think that very likely affects the social aspect of it, with students coming and going. It might be hard to establish lasting friendships. I could be wrong.

I knew one person who went there as a boarder a good few years ago. There was certainly a revolving door element to it back then.

Are the terms shorter?

This might help:

OP, short school hours and long holidays in Ireland are the norm. And despite a call every few years to reduce there isn't a chance of this happening.

Young children are exhausted starting school. Sutton Park has a cohort of mostly children who stay here, there is some movement but that is across most schools. Plenty of local children attend and would have dual heritages.

Friends like it as it has excellent support, but to be honest it is very rare to hear anything negative about schools in this area or even the broader area.

From what I read on here we appear to not have the issues in UK schools. I think it's culturally a different relationship between school and home here.

Children tend to attend where they can walk to. Or where is convenient for parents work, after-school availability etc. Other than pressure on places we are very lucky.

Local fee paying primaries have shorter terms than the standard national schools...which have shorter terms than uk primaries. (Wait until we mention summer holidays in secondary school!)

I’m leaning towards Sutton park as I just feel the afternoons are too long and unstructured otherwise/there are fewer options for me to return to work longer term. He’s been going to school until 3pm in the UK so is used to the longer days (as am I!)

I’m heartened to hear that local kids are there too as I’d love him to make friends who are there for the long term (and hopefully some mum friends for me too!)

im struggling too with childcare options for my baby and 3 year old - any recommendations? I’m thinking maybe mo’s Montessori in baldoyle as they do afternoon slots. Or maybe deer park or one in Howth? Any suggestions? Anywhere that does all day?!

thanks so much for all your help all!

As others have said - fee paying primary schools here tend to have a shorter year than non-fee paying schools. Sutton Park finishes at the end of May and doesn’t return until the end of August. That’s three months of holidays to cover which is a bit of a nightmare if you are working as most summer camps don’t start until July. Just something to think about.

On the plus side, you can go on holidays in June when it tends to be cheaper, quieter and not as hot.

In terms of preschool childcare - crèches usually provide all-day care however there is a shortage of places everywhere at the moment so I would contact anywhere within the vicinity and ask about availability - it may be a case of taking what you can get rather than choosing unfortunately.

Hello all, I have to decide between st fintans and Sutton park this morning (!!) and still totally confused!! Argh! Is one more academic than the other? Long holidays are less of a concern for me than short days as we have parents in two other countries who are happy to help out (but can’t do the day to day). I want whichever will be more academically stretching and socially good…. Any final thoughts lovely craicnetters (and also a general comment that I love Ireland and the Irish, it’s a great place, v happy to be here!!)

Have you thought about secondary school? If they're likely to go to Sutton Park then going there for primary may be a good choice. Does Fintan's have a feeder secondary school?

Best of luck with the decision, I'm sure either will be good - it's a good area.

I'd go for Sutton Park but that's based on old information. But if you're gathering votes that's mine.

Yes we’d look at it for secondary, or st fintan’s boys or maybe belvedere in town (or move entirely and try for blackrock…)???

Having sent my son to Belvedere, I’d be championing this secondary school over Blackrock College.

Ohh thank you! Good insight! How come? And is it commutable from Howth ok?

I'd definitely choose belvedere over blackrock any day, I've experience of both. Depends on the child of course but we just found a much stronger ethos in Belvedere, nicer kids, less bullying. For primary I'd recommend St Fintan's over Sutton Park, nicer mix of parents ime

very commutable - lots of kids from Howth/Sutton etc

YYY with bells on to Belvedere.

It's reachable by Dart and bus. Friends of mine who went there from the Northside took the Dart to Connolly Stn and then a bus (with a bit of walking too).

My mum has neighbours who take the Dart from wayyy south, plus a bus, to get there and home again.