Thinking of moving to Sligo

TequilaMockingBird

CalRobert wrote: »

Any chance you could elaborate for a young family? Wife and I, currently in Dublin, have a ten month old and may want another. I have a 100% remote job (coding) and Sligo looks like it might be an attractive place to be, especially since you note good schools, but then you read about people being under siege and that sounds, well, horrible. How could someone without a connection to the are know how to avoid things like getting robbed all the time or rocks thrown at your head?

I moved here 15 years ago with a baby. It's a lovely place to live. The only trouble you're reading about is to do with the drug business. If that's not your thing you'll be fine. I'd never leave. Your child is a perfect age to move here, you get to know other parents through the school and they are great as your child grows up and ventures out. They'll give you the heads up about anything dodgy and also keep an eye on your child.

There's a couple of 'bad' areas, same as any other town, but in general, it's great.

CalRobert

No involvement with drugs myself, but there's a good half-dozen dealers on my corner every morning and while I don't begrudge them their desire to earn a living I could do without hearing them shouting at each other all day. I actually favour Portuguese-style decriminalization, but that's another story... If I go 200 meters southwest from where I live now I get the odd rock thrown at me too while cycling (because why not?)

Can you elaborate on the bad areas? Wife and I saw what looks like a nice inexpensive house in Rathbraughan Park, but then you google it and apparently the area's rough. http://www.daft.ie/sligo/houses-for-sale/sligo/85-rathbraughan-park-sligo-sligo-1771850/ . This looks nice too, but for all I know city centre is rough (looks delightful in pictures though...) http://www.daft.ie/sligo/houses-for-sale/sligo/9-union-place-sligo-sligo-1640879/

Also, I don't mean to use you as a Sligo consultant but is there decent cycling? I was looking at Sligo at https://www.gaffologist.com/ (disclosure - I made it because I couldn't find places with bike trails near houses) and there seem to be a couple routes but I'm not sure they're the sort I'd like a young child ride on.

dingding

CalRobert wrote: »

Any chance you could elaborate for a young family? Wife and I, currently in Dublin, have a ten month old and may want another. I have a 100% remote job (coding) and Sligo looks like it might be an attractive place to be, especially since you note good schools, but then you read about people being under siege and that sounds, well, horrible. How could someone without a connection to the are know how to avoid things like getting robbed all the time or rocks thrown at your head?

There is the start of a AI / Cloud software hub in Sligo. It could be a good time to move. E3, Livetiles and Overstock all have software development operations in Sligo as well as a number of others.

If you need broadband, anything around the town should be good. I have the options of Eir Fibre, SIRO and Virgin as will most houses within a mile of the town centre.

There are a number of areas where there are issues but in general if you dont go looking for trouble you wont get it. Generally the cheaper houses on daft would be in areas where there are issues.

Regarding cycling there are some lovely public spaces that are cycle friendly. Doorly Park and along the river. Any of the forests, Hazelwood, Union Wood, Slish Wood, etc.... The cycle lanes around the town are a bit hit and miss, however if you can bring the kids bikes in your car there are some wonderful options.

http://www.daft.ie/sligo/houses-for-sale/sligo/fanore-1-larkhill-road-sligo-sligo-1773969/

As an example, this house, while a bit dated is in a great location about 15 minutes from town walking and is about 5 minutes walk from mitchell curley park. There is some value to be had as there are still houses to be had at reasonable prices. Generally anything less than 100K would have issues around location etc...

http://www.daft.ie/sligo/houses-for-sale/sligo/7-cedar-drive-sligo-sligo-sligo-1754833/

Is a house in a nice part of town but the compromise is size.

red sean

CalRobert wrote: »

No involvement with drugs myself, but there's a good half-dozen dealers on my corner every morning and while I don't begrudge them their desire to earn a living I could do without hearing them shouting at each other all day. I actually favour Portuguese-style decriminalization, but that's another story... If I go 200 meters southwest from where I live now I get the odd rock thrown at me too while cycling (because why not?)

Can you elaborate on the bad areas? Wife and I saw what looks like a nice inexpensive house in Rathbraughan Park, but then you google it and apparently the area's rough. http://www.daft.ie/sligo/houses-for-sale/sligo/85-rathbraughan-park-sligo-sligo-1771850/ . This looks nice too, but for all I know city centre is rough (looks delightful in pictures though...) http://www.daft.ie/sligo/houses-for-sale/sligo/9-union-place-sligo-sligo-1640879/
Also, I don't mean to use you as a Sligo consultant but is there decent cycling? I was looking at Sligo at https://www.gaffologist.com/ (disclosure - I made it because I couldn't find places with bike trails near houses) and there seem to be a couple routes but I'm not sure they're the sort I'd like a young child ride on.

First one you linked to is an area that has gone down rapidly the last number of years, hence the price for a 1980's house, and the other is beside the inner relief road with very heavy traffic noise I'd imagine. Othrewise it looks nice.
Always remember if it's cheap when the market is busy, there's a very good reason!

CalRobert

Thanks - yeah I read about the inner relief road and it looks like a catastrophe; really sad to read they destroyed 50 homes for the sake of putting more cars in to Sligo. Apparently yet another "relief road" was just approved by Shane Ross, because the first one worked so well I hear...

CalRobert

Speaking of that, I assume the idea of not owning a car in Sligo is a pipe dream?

red sean

The relief road has worked well and was necessary as Sligo was a bottleneck to get through beforehand. The additional road, to access the main industrial area, was part of the original plan but funding has just been made available now.
Whether you own a car or not is your choice, depending on how much you intend to travel. Sligo is no different to any other town or city in that respect.