moving to Dublin with 4 year old

[knitknit00]

Hi all,
we currently live in London and are considering a move to Dublin for work reasons. It's not easy with a 4 year old toddler and any advice on areas and schools is very welcome. At the moment we know that rents are higher than London, there's no tube but the trams are good, and that state schools are nearly all catholic and prioritize baptised children, especially those who belong to the nearest parish I seem to gather. (Ps This was pretty shocking and a real cold shower: how anachronistic...). Any advice on private schools and areas?
many thanks!

Do you need to live in the city or can you look at commuting? I'm from Dublin and I wouldn't live in the city even if it was cheaper than the suburbs.

Your post is confusing do you have a four year old and a toddler?

Educate together schools are the best schools if your not catholic but they have waiting lists, you can sign up online. I would live outside of Dublin and commute. Rent prices vs buying are ridiculous, it worked out almost 3x the price of a mortgage to rent and that was outside of Dublin.

There is a section on here called Craicnet... might be worth asking there, though perhaps a little research and sensitivity to your prospective adopted country might be in order....

Craicnet? I'll check it out, thanks. Should I also point out, though, that it is not insensitive observing that state schools paid for by taxpayers, too, should not be discriminating children on any basis, whether that be religion, sex, race or nationality. I find insensitive to discriminate people, not to point out that it is wrong to do so.

Thank you so much. I heard about Educate together and they seem brilliant. Thanks also for the information about rents/mortgages, that's precious.

@MyDcAreMarvel sorry it was confusing. Just a 4 year old! Thanks

@Chifi thanks for the pointer. Is the city too busy/noisy? Or are just the suburbs nicer? many thanks

Well people in your new country might think differently or at least will express it in a way that doesn't immediately sound like a self righteous newcomer. Irish people are very welcoming, warm and friendly, in my experience; starting out by immediately criticising doesn't generally go down well in any new community.

Try boards.ie knit

Also - I am catholic (very much lapsed/liberal) and you will find that a lot of people are despite being regular mass goers (honestly!!) People are generally very open minded. Dublin is hugely expensive. Daft.ie is a good starting point to look at rentals but you will not find much value for money. I would recommend commuting.

Do you have jobs lined up, as in the location? There are some lovely suburbs within easy commute of the city. There's a Luas & a DART, you could look the routes up and try to find somewhere to rent along those routes. Educate Together schools are great but as a previous poster said there might be a waiting list. Will your child be going to school next September? A lot of Irish people have the same issue you do with the catholic schools!

What type of accommodation are you looking for?

Dublin is tiny compared to London so they are really incomparable in that regard.

Schools are religious (which rankles with plenty of the natives too but that is a legacy issue) but less religious than UK Catholic schools in some ways, plenty of a la carte Catholicism going around. Primary education is excellent, Secondary not as good but probably better than public UK overall.

Nicer Subarbs generally South of the Liffey but there are some nice places on the Northside too. Accommodation is difficult to find and expensive because there is a shortage.

Subarbs = Suburbs

Plenty v lapsed Catholics about so you don't need to worry too much about the catholic element especially in Dublin.
Faith schools in the UK definitely seem more "religious"
Suburbs are definitely nicer in general with a family.

Not only are rents extremely high at the moment but there is such huge demand it can be almost impossible to find a place and you might have to settle for a not so nice place.

Daftt.ie is the main site for finding property touch.daft.ie and there is also My Home m.myhome.ie

See how much you can afford to pay in rent and see what areas are showing up and maybe ask specifically then about those towns and the schools there.

@moveablefeast. Yes I know have been to Ireland for months before and have many Irish friends. Very familiar with the friendliness and warmth. But it's wrong not to point out that discriminating is wrong, any kind of it.

@littlelambpeep Please don't get me wrong never said anything against catholics or such. I actually find Irish people pretty liberal. Was just pointing out that excluding a child based on belonging to a creed or not is wrong. Thanks for all the advice!

@spicspatspot Thanks so much for the advice! it's Dublin 2, roughly. I researched schools and, yes, I know about the controversy between maintaining the ethos of the school and allowing all children their right to be educated. I personally find anachronistic and very wrong to exclude people based on race, skin colour, creed etc.

@Yellowshadeofgreen. Lots of interesting info! Many, many thanks for taking the time to answer. A 2 bed would be fine then we'll see. We are used to an overcrowded city and tiny flats so we should be fine. Although lots of people are leaving London these days due to Brexit reasons and you would be amazed to know that many schools are undersubscribed now...

@Vibe2018. Thanks!! So many nice people here with great info and advice. It sounds like London years ago. Now many are abandoning the sinking brexit ship...Here rental prices have gone 10 per cent down at least. Definetly Dublin is going to get more cosmopolitan than it already is.

Was just pointing out that excluding a child based on belonging to a creed or not is wrong.

Completely agree OP.

@BarrysnotLyons Oh really nothing against catholics :) ahaha. My friends are from all countries, creeds and races. Just don't like this school exclusion thing and I won't shut up about it, no matter if it gets me in trouble I gotta say what I gotta say man ! I agree some faith schools in uk seem more religious, but it really depends on the single school I guess. I saw some that are religious just in name and some that oh boy nearly say mass everyday with an altar and all the paraphernalia. I guess it wildly depends on the area, too. In London, being more cosmopolitan, they are generally on the lighter side. Thanks again for the advice!!

OP, don't worry, lots of us Irish people agree with you that the schools system is mad. I haven't lived there in yonks so afraid I can't help with your questions.

The Irish government is currently trying to get rid of the bapism barrier.
amp.independent.ie/irish-news/education/school-baptism-rule-to-be-scrapped-35370031.html

@Rainatnight Yes, I researched and from what I read my point of view is rather common. I think that coming from a foreigner might make it sound like criticism...but what's wrong is wrong and definetly discriminating is. I feel the need to say it. Also I think some people put a nationalistic spin on comments and get their knickers in a twist without concentrating on the actual issue at hand, which is very human and understandable though.