Any Irish users here? Advice please!

Hello, everyone! I have recently accepted an offer to study in Dublin for the upcoming school year. Now, this is the first time I will be doing any kind of international travel (and I may have to do it alone!), so naturally, I'm very nervous. I just don't know what to expect!

I guess some things I'd like advice on are (I'll add more when I think of them ) :

-Would you consider Dublin a safe city? Let me clarify on that: I've lived my entire life in the countryside, so this is going to be quite a change for me!

-How reliable is the public transport?

-Food/entertainment/sight-seeing options?

-And of course, advice to combat the nerves and anxiety of moving to an unfamiliar setting?

Thanks in advance! Any help would be appreciated!

dna5019 said:

Hello, everyone! I have recently accepted an offer to study in Dublin for the upcoming school year. Now, this is the first time I will be doing any kind of international travel (and I may have to do it alone!), so naturally, I'm very nervous. I just don't know what to expect!

I guess some things I'd like advice on are (I'll add more when I think of them ) :

-Would you consider Dublin a safe city? Let me clarify on that: I've lived my entire life in the countryside, so this is going to be quite a change for me!

-How reliable is the public transport?

-Food/entertainment/sight-seeing options?

-And of course, advice to combat the nerves and anxiety of moving to an unfamiliar setting?

Thanks in advance! Any help would be appreciated!

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I'm very rarely down in Dublin (something like once a year!), so I don't know the sorts of things you are looking to find out more about.

But, I'll send a PM to a couple of GS members who live in Dublin, to let them know about this thread.

Just be aware that a few of the higher education establishments are not located in Dublin city itself, but are actually located in suburbs. For example, despite it's name, Dublin City University is in Glasnevin. So, you might have to be more specific about where you will be.

By the way, I live in a largish town which is surrounded by the countryside. And growing up, I never considered myself a country person (a "culchie"). But when I went to Uni in Belfast, I didn't like it. Too many people, too much traffic, that sort of thing. Belfast is quite a bit smaller than Dublin. But hopefully you will find it easier to adjust than I did.

As a whole, the Irish tend to be very friendly. So, you shouldn't have much bother making new friends.

I hope you enjoy your time in Ireland.

CaroLiza_fan

CaroLiza_fan said:

Just be aware that a few of the higher education establishments are not located in Dublin city itself, but are actually located in suburbs. For example, despite it's name, Dublin City University is in Glasnevin. So, you might have to be more specific about where you will be.

CaroLiza_fan

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Yes, I just realized I forgot to mention where I was going! I was accepted to Trinity College Dublin, so I will be spending quite a bit of time downtown. Thanks for your help!

Hey there, can't answer in too much detail right now as I'm just on the mobile phone but will send you a good answer tomorrow. I'm a Dubliner who has lived here all my life so would be delighted to impart some wisdom. Just one quick question that might help me answer some of your questions - where will you be staying during your time here? Talk to you more tomorrow!

Hi again, I'm in work now so am ready to get going. I can be more specific with some advice depending on more detail of what you are interested in and where you will be living (out of the city and commuting to college or in the city centre) etc but I can start with some general advice.

1. You asked was the city safe - the city is pretty safe but you do still want to have the same regard for yourself and your possessions as you would anywhere else, especially in an urban setting. Trinity College is about as central in the city as it gets and where there are a lot of people you're going to get a proportion of those people who are not of the highest calibre. I'm a police officer in the city so know a thing or ten about the less savoury elements and whereas I would warn about that, it is with the proviso that the vast majority of the people in my city are friendly and welcoming and happy to help and guide you. Just be careful with your things about you and where you may find yourself especially late at night but that's practical advice that would go for any location in the world I guess! I can be more specific in due course but don't want to overload you on the first go!

2. Public transport is pretty good. There's the bus system and two light rail systems for transport within the city and the suburbs and commuter and inter city rail and countrywide bus transport for getting out of the city. One of the reasons I ask whereabouts in the city you are staying is so I can better advise what transport would suit you for day to day travel. There's also a relatively new bike hire system at various points around the city. I keep threatening to avail of it but never seem to get around to it. Most areas within the city centre itself are amenable to anyone with half a mind to walk a short to reasonable distance, it's pretty pedestrian friendly.

3. What can I say about food/entertainment/sight-seeing options?! All of the above are more than amply catered for. Every taste is catered for and the pub scene is the best in the world. You certainly won't be short of choice of any kind. The music and theatre scene is rich beyond measure and I'm sure Trinity will provide much on that front but outside of the college, there are many venues to be explored. For example, just for socialising purposes, one of my favourite pubs is a place called Kehoe's which is very close to Trinity. It's an establishment that has lots of little nooks and crannies and upstairs in the place is like going into a couple of sitting rooms in a turn of the century city centre house. We watched the England Ireland rugby game there with a bunch of people we didn't know and we were all pretty much friends by the end of the game. It's an indefinable thing that you will find in Irish pubs where you can just get chatting to a complete stranger and make a friend in a very short time. If you could maybe let me know what kind of food/entertainment/socialising you are into I could offer more specific tips etc.

4. As far as nerves at entering into an unfamiliar situation go - I'm not going to say that you shouldn't have them, because everyone gets them and that's completely normal. I still get them when I'm going to an unfamiliar location. One way I have of trying to combat this is to just arm myself with as much information as possible before I go so you are already on the right track with asking for advice and information. Check out things online and look at pictures of different areas and maps etc as much as you can so you have half an idea of where you will be going to and from on a day to day basis. Enquire with the college as a starting point if maybe they have social clubs that will help you find your feet. I'd be happy to meet you and give you a bit of a guide if you want too. I think you'll have many friends and familiar faces within a short period of time but I appreciate that before that happens, it might seem a little scary, especially going from a rural to an urban setting. A lot of the students in Trinity will possibly be going from a rural to an urban setting too so you won't be alone there.

So, let me know what else you might specifically be interested in and I can get loads more info to you!

lyverbird1 said:

Hi again, I'm in work now so am ready to get going. I can be more specific with some advice depending on more detail of what you are interested in and where you will be living (out of the city and commuting to college or in the city centre) etc but I can start with some general advice.

1. You asked was the city safe - the city is pretty safe but you do still want to have the same regard for yourself and your possessions as you would anywhere else, especially in an urban setting. Trinity College is about as central in the city as it gets and where there are a lot of people you're going to get a proportion of those people who are not of the highest calibre. I'm a police officer in the city so know a thing or ten about the less savoury elements and whereas I would warn about that, it is with the proviso that the vast majority of the people in my city are friendly and welcoming and happy to help and guide you. Just be careful with your things about you and where you may find yourself especially late at night but that's practical advice that would go for any location in the world I guess! I can be more specific in due course but don't want to overload you on the first go!

2. Public transport is pretty good. There's the bus system and two light rail systems for transport within the city and the suburbs and commuter and inter city rail and countrywide bus transport for getting out of the city. One of the reasons I ask whereabouts in the city you are staying is so I can better advise what transport would suit you for day to day travel. There's also a relatively new bike hire system at various points around the city. I keep threatening to avail of it but never seem to get around to it. Most areas within the city centre itself are amenable to anyone with half a mind to walk a short to reasonable distance, it's pretty pedestrian friendly.

3. What can I say about food/entertainment/sight-seeing options?! All of the above are more than amply catered for. Every taste is catered for and the pub scene is the best in the world. You certainly won't be short of choice of any kind. The music and theatre scene is rich beyond measure and I'm sure Trinity will provide much on that front but outside of the college, there are many venues to be explored. For example, just for socialising purposes, one of my favourite pubs is a place called Kehoe's which is very close to Trinity. It's an establishment that has lots of little nooks and crannies and upstairs in the place is like going into a couple of sitting rooms in a turn of the century city centre house. We watched the England Ireland rugby game there with a bunch of people we didn't know and we were all pretty much friends by the end of the game. It's an indefinable thing that you will find in Irish pubs where you can just get chatting to a complete stranger and make a friend in a very short time. If you could maybe let me know what kind of food/entertainment/socialising you are into I could offer more specific tips etc.

4. As far as nerves at entering into an unfamiliar situation go - I'm not going to say that you shouldn't have them, because everyone gets them and that's completely normal. I still get them when I'm going to an unfamiliar location. One way I have of trying to combat this is to just arm myself with as much information as possible before I go so you are already on the right track with asking for advice and information. Check out things online and look at pictures of different areas and maps etc as much as you can so you have half an idea of where you will be going to and from on a day to day basis. Enquire with the college as a starting point if maybe they have social clubs that will help you find your feet. I'd be happy to meet you and give you a bit of a guide if you want too. I think you'll have many friends and familiar faces within a short period of time but I appreciate that before that happens, it might seem a little scary, especially going from a rural to an urban setting. A lot of the students in Trinity will possibly be going from a rural to an urban setting too so you won't be alone there.

So, let me know what else you might specifically be interested in and I can get loads more info to you!

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Hello, lyverbird1! Thanks so much, this is great! Couple of things (bolded areas)

1: I'm not entirely sure where I will be staying just yet. I submitted an application for university housing, and I'm hoping I'll be able to find housing on the campus grounds (I figured it would make my life a bit easier), but I'm also willing to accept any offer given at this point. Sorry I can't be more specific on this, but I can post an update later once I find out.

2: I guess the biggest thing I'm looking forward to about the entertainment/social scene is the music. I love Celtic music, so anywhere I can relax and listen to the musicians would be great. I used to be very involved in music myself when I was younger, so if you have any suggestions with how to get involved, that would d be great as well. I'm already looking into vocal/choir groups with Trinity.