GMIT - a little advice/info?

motormatic

Hiya all...............I'm wondering if you can give me a little advice.

I lived in Ireland (Newport, Co. Mayo) a long time ago when I was a kid and I'm seriously looking at moving back to be closer to family and return to college. I'm thinking Galway is my top choice as it's so beautiful around there and it's close to my family. I've been looking at a lot of schools but I'm pretty interested in the Film and Television production courses at GMIT. I'm just interested to see if anyone has taken this and how it was. There are so many schools all over the place that it's really hard to pick one, especially coming from so far away so I'm hoping to get a first hand review. I live in Toronto, Canada, so it's not exactly like I can come down and check it out more than once before moving. There are a lot of comparable courses in the UK but I really don't want to live there so I'm hoping to find the right one in Ireland.

I'd really appreciate any info anyone has about the school, or Galway in general. Cheers!

padi89

I cant give you any information on your course or GMIT but i can give you a big thumbs up for Galway as a place to live.Its not too big ,not too small .Its got pretty much everything you could need,good restaurants,good pubs and nightlife and weather permitting there are loads of different sports or activitys.I think its a friendly city too,because its a bit more laid back people are in general easy going.Im sure making friends wont be a problem.During the winter and spring months there is a big student population and in the summer plenty of tourists around.Remember its pretty expensive living in ireland now but it doesnt mean that you need cash to enjoy yourself.

nollaig

I went to GMIT and would recommend it. Galway is a great place for a student. I lived in 2 different student villages and I'll always remember those years, you meet so many new people in those villages.

As for the course, I knew a couple of people who did it. Apparently it is a very good course but it is a difficult area to get a job in in Ireland. But I hear its improving...

biko

motormatic wrote:

I've been looking at a lot of schools but I'm pretty interested in the Film and Television production courses at GMIT.

NUIG forum is pretty slow atm but I'm sure someone there can give you advice about schools etc http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=569

As for Galway, look around this forum. There are plenty of similar questions and lots of answers. I'm sure you'll like it here, everyone does.
Imo - Gaillimh abu!

nollaig

Hiya all...............I'm wondering if you can give me a little advice.

I lived in Ireland (Newport, Co. Mayo) a long time ago when I was a kid and I'm seriously looking at moving back to be closer to family and return to college. I'm thinking Galway is my top choice as it's so beautiful around there and it's close to my family. I've been looking at a lot of schools but I'm pretty interested in the Film and Television production courses at GMIT. I'm just interested to see if anyone has taken this and how it was. There are so many schools all over the place that it's really hard to pick one, especially coming from so far away so I'm hoping to get a first hand review. I live in Toronto, Canada, so it's not exactly like I can come down and check it out more than once before moving. There are a lot of comparable courses in the UK but I really don't want to live there so I'm hoping to find the right one in Ireland.

I'd really appreciate any info anyone has about the school, or Galway in general. Cheers!

Well, What info. are you looking for???

GMIT is smaller than NUIG, there's something like 10,000 students there now though, I think,not far off anyways. A new wing was built about 4 years ago so the facilities, like library are really top class. Great view out onto Galway bay from the Library too. Top class internet access etc.

However, doing the Film & TV course, you would be mainly based in the cluain mhuire campus. This is where most of these arts courses are thought. This is not a bad thing as you will stationed closer to the city sentre. Unfortunately, you would not be near any student village (if you wanted to live in one). It would be about a 20 minutes walk. However, a retail park opened right beside cluain mhuire in the last 2 years where theres an eddie rockets, barbarista, hotel, and a cinema. The Huntsmans isnt too far away either. College can have some very stressful days and you need to go to your local:D .

Hmm, what else? There is a gym in GMIT (on the main campus), It was something like 80 euro for the year, it was pretty basic but it was nice and the staff are sound.

If you are thinking about going to GMIT, then you should read "Kittyland" by Declan Varley. He picked up on a lot of the peculiar things about it, like, how it feels when you walk into the canteen that everybody is looking at you!

As for clubs and sports, there does be a variety of things going on in the sportshall, I never really joined any but saw them from the gym. There was archery, judo, dane classes. Loads of stuff really.

The students in Cluain Mhuire often have exhibitiions & public projects as well so it sounds like a good place to go to.

MattKid

Again I can't help you with the course, but I spent 4 days in Galway last october and I am just about to sell my flat here in the UK and move over, even with no friends or job, I am sure this is the best decision I've ever made and i'm really excited about it.

jabberwock

no more than the NUI forum being a bit quiet, there's a GMIT CompSoc forum aswell ->Here

from just outside galway but in the city now.
i have lived alot of places in Ireland and have found galway to be the best of all worlds
went to both GMIT and GMIT Castlebar over the years and they're just good solid colleges.

motormatic

Hey thanks a lot you guys. It's sounding better and better:) I like the idea of moving somewhere smaller than where I live. Toronto is SO overcrowded and busy and mean. I was back in Ireland about a month ago and had a great time, I didn't even want to come home. I will def. pick up "Kittyland" by Declan Varley and give it a read.

I'd probably live in the city center anyway. I've never really been one for student stuff, plus I'm probably a bit older than most of the students in residence anyway (hah, at the ripe old age of 25!). This would be my third go at school. I'll need to be working as well, or there's no way I'll be able to afford to live!

I'm also wondering what the local music scene is like? I don't play in a band, but I like to go to local punk shows a lot and support the indie scene. It's a bit daunting thinking of coming over as I don't know a single person there but that's ok, I don't have too hard a time meeting people usually.

jabberwock

well there's a good gang of us on here from Galway.

named and shamed here -> WIKI

padi89

motormatic wrote:

Hey thanks a lot you guys. It's sounding better and better:) I like the idea of moving somewhere smaller than where I live. Toronto is SO overcrowded and busy and mean. I was back in Ireland about a month ago and had a great time, I didn't even want to come home. I will def. pick up "Kittyland" by Declan Varley and give it a read.

I'd probably live in the city center anyway. I've never really been one for student stuff, plus I'm probably a bit older than most of the students in residence anyway (hah, at the ripe old age of 25!). This would be my third go at school. I'll need to be working as well, or there's no way I'll be able to afford to live!

I'm also wondering what the local music scene is like? I don't play in a band, but I like to go to local punk shows a lot and support the indie scene. It's a bit daunting thinking of coming over as I don't know a single person there but that's ok, I don't have too hard a time meeting people usually.

There was a thread here recently on punk rock bands.I think the general buzz was that there are a few nights here and there with live bands playing but im not too sure of a regular setup.as for Galways music scence its excellent,I mean we just had your fellow country man Bryan Adams play here last week...legend:D
There are some good live venues around town,roisins is probably the best at the moment.Its a pretty intimate small venue but it always attracts great artists.
http://www.roisindubh.net/
Now and again you will get big acts coming to town but its not a frequent occurance.there alot of good pub bands around down that do their own stuff and covers and you should be able to catch one any night of the week.
Dont think you be that ripe of an age at 25 as a student in galway.there are plenty of students that came to Galway at 18 and are still trying to finish 1st year at 25:D

Surrender

I have a mate who did the film & Tv course in Cluain Mhuire and loved it to bits.
You can choose after 1st or 2nd year what area you want to specialise in (sound,editing,production,scriptwriting etc). He's working for a production company called Telegael in Spiddal now as a TV editor. He's happy out. Galways the business, no issue there. I've been at the Uni for 3 years now but I have a lot of friends at the IT and I have to say that theres a better atmosphere out there. NUIG is grand but there's a little snobbery sneakin in there in recent years whereas you get genuine down-to-earth people out in the IT. I'd say go for it