Ballina - area by Ferran terrace/St Joseph's hospital?

CalRobert

I got a remote job recently, and my wife and I have been looking at leaving Dublin for somewhere more pleasant (and hopefully much less expensive) around the country. I'm looking at a house for sale near St Joseph's hospital soon, can anyone say what the area is like? Would you walk around it at night?

Asmodean

Sorry to put it so bluntly, but no, I wouldn't. It's fairly close to a few areas I would definitely refer to as undesirable.

CalRobert

Hmm, thanks. Sorry to hear that...

PARlance

CalRobert wrote: »

I got a remote job recently, and my wife and I have been looking at leaving Dublin for somewhere more pleasant (and hopefully much less expensive) around the country. I'm looking at a house for sale near St Joseph's hospital soon, can anyone say what the area is like? Would you walk around it at night?

You will certainly got somewhere less expensive but you'll also generally get what you pay for too.

CalRobert

PARlance wrote: »

You will certainly got somewhere less expensive but you'll also generally get what you pay for too.

True, but I'm ok with some tradeoffs. I live on a street with loads of people selling drugs all the time, car windows getting smashed, and loud drunks at the moment, so I'm not necessarily looking for suburban bliss. Mostly "will I be murdered" or "can I walk to the shop without being accosted", etc.


Unsurprisingly the biggest appeal is that it looks like you can buy places within walking distance of the town centre for only a bit more than I spend on a years' rent at the moment.

PARlance

CalRobert wrote: »

True, but I'm ok with some tradeoffs. I live on a street with loads of people selling drugs all the time, car windows getting smashed, and loud drunks at the moment, so I'm not necessarily looking for suburban bliss. Mostly "will I be murdered" or "can I walk to the shop without being accosted", etc.


Unsurprisingly the biggest appeal is that it looks like you can buy places within walking distance of the town centre for only a bit more than I spend on a years' rent at the moment.

I can't give any guarantees, but you probably won't get murdered... on the plus, there's a hospital near by.

Your OP states that you're looking for a better place to live (and less expensive). However, your priority seems to be the less expensive bit. It's certainly worth a viewing if that's the case.

CalRobert

PARlance wrote: »

I can't give any guarantees, but you probably won't get murdered... on the plus, there's a hospital near by.

Your OP states that you're looking for a better place to live (and less expensive). However, your priority seems to be the less expensive bit. It's certainly worth a viewing if that's the case.

Fair enough, I did say that. I guess I should've been a little bit more detailed. I did a bit of reading about Ballina and got to like the idea (I'm going on a fishing trip in a month and having salmon fishing nearby sounds amazing, among other things) Regardless I really do appreciate the feedback, thank you.

PARlance

CalRobert wrote: »

Fair enough, I did say that. I guess I should've been a little bit more detailed. I did a bit of reading about Ballina and got to like the idea (I'm going on a fishing trip in a month and having salmon fishing nearby sounds amazing, among other things) Regardless I really do appreciate the feedback, thank you.

Would you considering renting for a year to see if you like the town / familiarise yourself with the area? It would be my advice.

It certainly doesn't seem that you'll be leaving much behind in Dublin anyway. My wife and I moved to Castlebar from Dublin just over 2 years ago with our 2 kids. I'm from the area originally but it has been a great move for us and especially the kids. My wife worked in Ballina for the first year, she wasn't gone on the town tbh but neither was she with the job, so that probably weighed on her views. Ballina people may jump on me, but I do think Castlebar has a little bit more going for it.

If you're paying considerable rent in Dublin, then my advice would be to get a nice house in Ballina town. It'll be at least half of what you're paying, maybe even a third... I think you can realistically look for less expense while having a very good standard of living without much fuss.

If you want any advice on areas in Castlebar then I would be happy to do so.

imp1

The area around the hospital would be a no go area for most people at night (and most of the day). You can get a new 4 bed semi in Ballina for less than €100k - might be a builders finish, but a decent house for not a lot of money (relatively speaking), left over from the boom. Ballina is small enough that anywhere is walkable/cycleable to the hospital, but bear in mind the Ballina postal area extends about 40 miles to the west.
4 bed semi in a nice area, in town, would be up to €800 per month

CalRobert

Thanks guys, appreciate it. Will look closer to town.

imp1

Ballina is a great place / area to live in, and right now the river is hoaching with salmon - right in the middle of town, quite a spectacle for the tourists.

Asmodean

I moved from Galway to Castlebar about 2 years ago for a job and I have to say after a bit of a culture shock at first, I have really grown to like the town a lot for its relatively easy going way of life compared to the cities I had lived in until then. We're hoping to start saving for a deposit on a house sometime soon, something we could never afford to do when renting in Galway.

My wife is from Ballina so I've spent a huge chunk of my life there and am very familiar with it. Castlebar is a bit more functional and better for shopping / jobs etc but I have to hold my hands up and say that Ballina is a much prettier town IMO.