Moving to Limerick, city centre or suburbs?

Gear9992

Hi all,

I'm starting a job next week with a company in the technology park in Castletroy, so I'll be heading down to Limerick soon to find a room to rent in the area.

So my question is, should I move to Castletroy/Annacotty, or should I find somewhere in the city and get the bus out to work? My initial plan was to find somewhere in the suburbs which would mean I could probably walk to work, but then as a young lad in my 20's, I imagine it would be more lively living in the city.

I've lived in Dublin city and Cork city in the past which I loved, but since I don't know Limerick city at all, I'm wondering if city living would be comparable to Dublin or Cork, or would I be better off living in the suburbs.

Unfortunately I don't have my driving license yet, so if I do decide to move into the city, I'll have to get the bus out to Castletroy

Cheers

osarusan

Castletroy is a huge suburb with lots of employees from the technology Park and also lots of UL students as well. So there are a fair amount of shops, a few pubs, and other facilities like a post office and a cinema, and the public transport isn't bad. There are plenty of UL students who spend most of their time in the Castletroy area, and don't even go into the city centre that much.

If you live in the city centre, obviously you'll have more stuff for shopping, more pubs and stuff like that. There are also regular buses out to UL/technology Park, or you could easily get a bicycle and cycle out there.

As you are looking to rent a room, rather than a house or flat, maybe that would be easier in Castletroy as landlords would be used to that from students. But maybe that's pretty common in most places now anyway, I'm not sure. Be aware that University starts in September so you will be far from the only person looking for a room.

bazz26

You may need to decide what is more convenient for yourself depending on where you will spend most of your off work time. Both city centre and suburbs will have their advantages/disadvantages. Castletroy has the University campus so if your into your sports/fitness then you should be able to avail of their facilities like running tracks, swimming pool, etc. If you're more into socialising then there would be more of a selection of pubs/restaurants in the city centre.

Gear9992

osarusan wrote: »

As you are looking to rent a room, rather than a house or flat, maybe that would be easier in Castletroy as landlords would be used to that from students. But maybe that's pretty common in most places now anyway, I'm not sure. Be aware that University starts in September so you will be far from the only person looking for a room.

I hadn't thought of the students coming back. Turns out I start work the day the students are back in UL, so I may just have to move into whatever place is available.

bazz26 wrote: »

You may need to decide what is more convenient for yourself depending on where you will spend most of your off work time. Both city centre and suburbs will have their advantages/disadvantages. Castletroy has the University campus so if your into your sports/fitness then you should be able to avail of their facilities like running tracks, swimming pool, etc. If you're more into socialising then there would be more of a selection of pubs/restaurants in the city centre.

I will be using the UL gym so it would be very nice to be able to walk there from home.

From looking at the bus timetables, it seems like it'll be tricky to get from the city to work in time for my 8am start.
If there's no reasonable way for me to get to work on time, I think I'll have to move to Castletroy/Annacotty.

bazz26

Accommodation is going to be a challenge, most students in the area will have their accommodation sorted at this stage. Rental accommodation in Limerick in general is a big problem at the moment, with the increased number of students and full time workers moving to the region and the lack of new or any apartments/houses being built, demand outstrips supply. Of course there are landlords who specifically want to rent to professionals rather than students so you will just have to keep an eye out for places to pop up as it could come down to being at in the right place at the right time.

dominatinMC

Word to the wise, the accommodation situation around Castletroy is pretty bad at the moment. I work in UL and they are sending out emails/letters to residents enquiring about the availability of rooms for renting to students. First years are back today, the rest are back next week so I would say get cracking!

To answer your question, I would recommend living in the city. Just better for social life, there are gyms in there too if that's your thing.

zulutango

The fact that you're working in the suburbs means it makes reasonable sense to live out there. If it was me though, I'd choose the city centre, or easy walking distance from it. Castletroy is not very interesting. Annacotty is worse.

CatFromHue

If you want to be close to restaurants and take aways then you'd want to be closer to the city centre.

Do you cycle?

It's really not that far from the city centre out to the Tech Park, maybe 7km or so and it's pretty much flat the whole way.

When you do come down to check out accommodation spend a bit of time getting to know the place a bit. Go for a walk about the place to see what it's like for yourself.

jasonthelad

hey guys moving into accom tomorrow in Plassey and I'm just wondering where do I go to get my key and pay my rental fees?? Is it the Campus Life Services Building or the Plassey Village reception?

Also I have a bank draft for €1500 for the Student Services Contribution and I am wondering where should I go with that? Thanks!

CatFromHue

Granted it's been a number of years since I was a student in UL but Plassey Village reception will probably be able to guide you onto the right direction for both your queries

callaway92

Gear9992 wrote: »

I will be using the UL gym so it would be very nice to be able to walk there from home.

Just an fyi,

I use this gym too (go there after work in the technology park too) and I swear to god, it is unbearable at this stage. Way too busy no matter what time of the day. I'd recommend gymming at Castletroy Park instead. Sadly I've a couple of months left on my membership so I kinda want to see them out.

Gear9992

I found a place yesterday in Annacotty that's a 10 minute walk from work, so I found it hard to say no to the place. The landlord was saying there was a lot of demand for the place, so I think I'm lucky to find a place so quickly.

If I find it too boring in Annacotty I might move to the city in a few months, but I'll probably wait until I get a car for myself.

Regarding the UL gym, it sucks that it's very busy but I get free membership from work so I might as well make the most of it.

callaway92

Gear9992 wrote: »

I found a place yesterday in Annacotty that's a 10 minute walk from work, so I found it hard to say no to the place. The landlord was saying there was a lot of demand for the place, so I think I'm lucky to find a place so quickly.

If I find it too boring in Annacotty I might move to the city in a few months, but I'll probably wait until I get a car for myself.

Regarding the UL gym, it sucks that it's very busy but I get free membership from work so I might as well make the most of it.

Yup spot on.

I'd try to go in the morning if I was you though.