What's better where you are than in Ireland?

_blank_ · 22-08-2006 10:46am #1

Well, I have one biggie.

Cherry Ripe Cadbury chocolate bars in Australia. I miss these a lot. If anyone is going anywhere near Australia soon, please bring me back some.

I hate the Dublin Transport System. Compared to Sydney and Melbourne it's just shat.

The Sweeper · 22-08-2006 11:06am

1. The weather.
2. The transport system.
3. The multicultural tolerance.
4. The cost of a basket of groceries.
5. The quality, price and choice when eating out.

Saying that, things that suck include council tax, the cost of the transport system, spiralling utility prices and paranoid terrorism-mania.

Bookee · 22-08-2006 2:53pm

Must be nice though these days, with the 'pressure' off the "Paddies".... !
Remember years ago "WE" were the alleged Terrorists... Just curious.. ?

Sorry, should have mentioned that's directed at the last post, Mines... !

22-08-2006 2:57pm

A bottle of Whiskey in Italy costs less than a double Whiskey in a pub.

Ruu_Old · 22-08-2006 3:13pm

House prices are nice and cheap in my part of the US as is cost of living. Transport is pretty good, buses take you wherever you want to go and fairly often.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 22-08-2006 3:30pm

Minesajackdaniels wrote:

1. The weather.
2. The transport system.
3. The multicultural tolerance.
4. The cost of a basket of groceries.
5. The quality, price and choice when eating out.

QUOTE]

6. The fact that everybody doesn't beleive everything theyread in tabloids and then claim not read them
7. The women
8. Let's face it - the men.
9. More varied night life.
10. Add "better service" to number 5 above.
11. Less scumbags
12. The sports facilities
13 Less ****ing whiney drivers claiming that they should be able to driver whereever they like because they've paid a few quid.
14 Chepaer alcohol.

ok, it's where I used to live, seeing as I'm back in Dublin now. Temporarily.

eiretamicha · 22-08-2006 8:11pm

There's more trees and wildlife here in America than there is in Ireland. I'm a nature-lover, so it's one of the few things I'll miss when I move back. That said, I'm hoping to move to a wooded area in Donegal, so it shouldn't be too bad.

Also, I'm a giant-bookstore plus cafe' fanatic (think Books a Million with a Joe Mugs in it), and I haven't seen many of those over in Ireland. I'll miss going there at 8pm, getting an iced chai tea, and reading books in the cafe' until closing time. Although, I don't get to do that much nowadays anyway because my husband's not a big fan and I just don't have the spare cash.

And even though I'm ashamed to say it, I'm a fan of (some) chain restaurants like Olive Garden and Chilis and those just don't really exist in Ireland.

That's about it though. And I'd trade all those anyday for a small town with everything in it where everyone knows everyone and crime is almost non-existant, public transportation, a nice warm pub, and eating dinner at my mother-in-law's while watching UTV news in front of the fire.

Black Swan · 30-08-2006 9:39am

The weather, the beaches, and the surf.

eljono · 30-08-2006 9:49am

Hmmm...

Public transport
Choice of food
Price of groceries and alcohol
Late hours for pubs and clubs
Low crime
Tolerance

A lot really but Ireland has it's advantages over Tokyo and for me is still the better place to live.

Jimoslimos · 30-08-2006 10:09am

Transport system (noticing a trend here!)
Free(ish) health service
Weather
Cost of banking/insurance

Apart from that I'd happily move back to Ireland (if I didn't need to travel anywhere, didn't get ill, wore a jumper all the time and kept all my money under a mattress)

spuddy · 30-08-2006 8:59pm

Incredible scenery
Fast Reliable and Cheap Public Transport
Cheap Shopping
Insurance
Health care
IKEA
Living on the doorstep of 3 countries :-)

Alas, it doesn't make up for absent friends and family.
And nowhere I've been comes close to the craic at home.
Thankfully it's not too far away.

BossArky · 31-08-2006 12:04am

Being a small fish in a big pond as opposed to a big fish in a small pond.

susanna · 03-11-2006 3:54am

Weather
Lifestyle
Transport system
Shopping
Cost of living
Eating out
Good looking men
Lack of scumbags

growler · 03-11-2006 2:21pm

transport
sporting events
choice of shops
better salaries
flights to anywhere you want every day
eurostar
variety of the fairer sex

Ajos · 03-11-2006 5:27pm

BossArky wrote:

Being a small fish in a big pond as opposed to a big fish in a small pond.

QFT. Decent public transport, many cheap good eating choices, friendly women, multicultural tolerance and bars that close at a reasonable hour so that people can leave when they've had enough and not just be shoved onto the street all at the same time are all massive improvements over Dublin, but that pond thing is the most important.

Working in the Irish Film/TV industry at best you might once in a while get to work on a cool show like Bachelor's Walk (I'm sure there have been cooler shows since that I could have worked on but I left three years ago and that was as good as it got), or be a small cog in a mid-sized Hollywood production that's almost certain to flop miserably (I don't know why but it's true).

Here you can work on things that people might actually see. You can be involved in projects that are legitimately part of the cultural discourse of the Western World. It's a crazy buzz that you could easily have an entire career in Ireland without experiencing.

Faith · 03-11-2006 6:04pm

Aye, the transport system is better here than at home too. It rains less, but I wouldn't necessarily say the weather is better. The men are better, but they're bloody hard to find! The variety of clubs is better, there's more indie and alternative nights, so you don't have the same shíte music everytime. Everything's closer together and easier to get to. It's far cheaper, for the most part.

dSTAR · 04-11-2006 3:21am

Weather - Hot summers and mild winters
Lifestyle - Warm evenings, BBQ's, outdooors
AFL - Beats GAA hands down
Proximity to Asian countries i.e. Thailand, Bali, Singapore, Japan

Arctice · 04-11-2006 8:16am

Comparing Ireland to Kansas...hrmmm...GOOD points of Kansas....hrmmm...I guess...no...ermm. Difficult. Well, the people here have insanely good manners. Its almost like a manners competition or something. Thats....about it. Can't think of anything else, really.

r3nu4l · 04-11-2006 3:24pm

On the occasions that I get homesick and feel sorry for myself...nothing!

The rest of the time...

Transport
Weather
Cost of eating out
The huge variety of beers, real ales and bitters at a price that doesn't leave you reeling.
For me, the amazing amount of really cheap bookshops in Cambridge, Galloway and Porter ftw!

motormatic · 04-11-2006 8:08pm

I like the tolerance that Canada has for different cultures, sexualities, etc. I think women are treated far better here. The west of Ireland is still somewhat in the dark ages, I think. There is more to do here, and bigger opportunity. But when all is said and done, I still prefer Ireland.

Tuesday_Girl · 05-11-2006 10:57pm

The weather is slightly better
Public transport is excellent, no need for a car
I live 10 minutes from a major airport
Endless choice of cultural activities and things to do
Everything costs less, especially eating out and socialising in general
Good and cheap healthcare system
A multicultural, tolerant society (albeit not without its integration issues)
People drink in moderation

Faith · 05-11-2006 11:02pm

Where are you, Razzle?

Tuesday_Girl · 06-11-2006 10:34pm

I'm in Amsterdam

jester77 · 08-11-2006 11:16am

the BEER.
Civilised drinking culture.
Public transport, amazing.
Health system.
Salary.
Cost of living and going out.
Weather.

Ponster · 08-11-2006 3:15pm

Cost of living.

World-class public transport and great moterways.

11 weeks paid holidays per year.

An attitude to living where your work and what you do doesn't define you as such. A job is something that puts a roof over yur head. People do as much as they need to and not more. The concept of 'overtime' doesn't exist as it does in Ireland.

25Mb ADSL with free telephone calls in Europe/North America and 100 TV channels for €25 per month.

Health system.

FatherTed · 08-11-2006 4:05pm

People are more polite
Cheaper and better restaurants
Social life does not revolve around the pub
Variety of nationalities/ethnic groups that DO mix (at least in northeastern USA)
More tolerance (again, here in northeastern USA)
Weather
Better health facilities

yossarin · 10-11-2006 12:58pm

in London:

better transport.
better choice of food.
much easier to find fun things to do - theres a seemingly endless flow interesting events on.
better choice of jobs offering more experience and better pay for same.
exchange rate back into europunts is favorable

on the downside:
costs: transport, council tax, water rates, tax, etc.
people work longer hours (I think - i never really worked in Ireland)
on the social side, its really hard to meet up with people - it takes hours to go over to a friends house and most evenings you just don't bother as its so much work.

Manic Moran · 27-11-2006 7:23pm

Focusing just on the good things here in Silicon Valley.

1) Weather. I'm in shirt sleeves, it's almost December.
2) Lots of things to do: Skiing is all of three hours drive away. The beach is even closer. Or I can go into the trees North or South of here.
3) Firearms laws. Not as loose as almost every other state, unfortunately, but still.
4) Relative cost of living. Silicon Valley is very expensive by American standards, but still compares favourably with Dublin.
5) Fun cars. V8rooommm!!!
6) Good-looking girls around here (Of which there are more than a few in California) will give you the time of day without requiring you to have written permission from the Pope beforehand.
7) Related to 1 and 6: The weather results in the girls wearing less.

That's what comes to mind initially.

NTM

Ponster · 27-11-2006 8:42pm

Hey Manic, I was in Cupertino last Sept visiting my wifes family....I'm even looking into moving threre !

Movershaker · 28-11-2006 8:09pm

Manhattan:

Transport system - I have a 1.5 hour commute each way that would take twice as long in Dublin
Choice of restaurants/bars/clubs
Proximity to everything - on every corner
People are very friendly, helpful and polite (was incredibly surprised by this)
Good value clothes
General variety in every area of life!

Other observations:

On the bad side, grocery shopping is extremely expensive due to lack of large supermarkets.
Gyms are not as cheap as I thought they might be, but they have better 'perks'.
Rent is astronomical, but generally reflected in salary.
Cinema is even more expensive than home.
The waste here is mind boggling. I work in a company of about 300 people and there are no plates, knives, forks etc in the canteen or any of the coffee docks. Everything is plastic and styrofoam (or whatever it's called). The sheer amount of it scares me, along with the fact that none of it is recyclable. And I'm no tree hugger!

I only moved over a couple of months ago, so I'm sure this list will change as time goes on!

Ajos · 28-11-2006 8:18pm

Movershaker wrote:

Manhattan:

Transport system - I have a 1.5 hour commute each way that would take twice as long in Dublin

Whereabouts are you? That's a hell of a commute for here!

What's better where you are than in Ireland?

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