Dirty, dreary, expensive, nothing to do

Stop moaning ffs

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

And the reason most cars drive to town these days is because they can, not because they need to. People just didn't have cars back then.

Here’s that clip. It’s lovely. And it actually mid 60s. Place looks spotless
https://www.facebook.com/nolancoaches/videos/1738009353128728?sfns=mo

Thelonious Monk

Stop moaning ffs wrote: »

Here’s that clip. It’s lovely. And it actually mid 60s. Place looks spotless
https://www.facebook.com/nolancoaches/videos/1738009353128728?sfns=mo

Wow, weird seeing the place with no cars. I was thinking of another video which is footage from a car driving around dame st, O'Connell etc. Lots of cyclists everywhere.

meeeeh

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

I don't think Warsaw or Budapest were ever poorer than us. Budapest of the mighty Austro-Hungarian empire? Simply walking about these cities makes you realise they were absolutely minted at some stage in history. Dublin was always a run down kip in a lot of parts!

Budapest is one of my favourite cities to visit but traffic there is pretty annoying too. I wouldn't make it an example of great traffic management but there are some lovely pedestrianised areas around the banks of Danube. I don't think architecture in Dublin is the problem and there are plenty of drab areas in Budapest (you come accross more if you drive to the city). I think the narrow Dublin streets are often used as an excuse that nothing can be done.

Stop moaning ffs

meeeeh wrote: »

Budapest is one of my favourite cities to visit but traffic there is pretty annoying too. I wouldn't make it an example of great traffic management but there are some lovely pedestrianised areas around the banks of Danube. I don't think architecture in Dublin is the problem and there are plenty of drab areas in Budapest (you come accross more if you drive to the city). I think the narrow Dublin streets are often used as an excuse that nothing can be done.

Funnily enough I find Dublin to be beautiful if you look up past the ground level and what’s going on above. Sunlight chambers on the corner of capel st bridge parliament st a great example. Or the mad purple roof on top of the gay spar on dame st/George’s st. Kind of Art Deco. And George’s arcade. Loads of cool tuff if you lift your gaze

Thelonious Monk

Ive heard this a few times but whats so gay about that spar?

Stop moaning ffs

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

Ive heard this a few times but whats so gay about that spar?

Ah it’s just what we call it. It was gay centra across the road was the go to butt when spar opened it was way bigger and nicer it took over.

Go to do food after the George which I right next door.

*gay spar had its own twitter account. Very very funny. Might still be there.

Thelonious Monk

Is it full of gays after the george closes?

Realt Dearg Sec

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

I don't think Warsaw or Budapest were ever poorer than us.

They're poorer than us right now! During the Cold War era and its aftermath they were significantly poorer than us.

I should say I lived in Budapest for a year in 2004-5 so would have very fond memories of the place, and particularly of its public transport, which was very ramshackle but also comprehensive. As meeeh says above, the traffic isn't perfect there, but honestly I would say I sat in a car in Budapest about three times the whole time I lived there, you don't need one to get around there.

Stop moaning ffs

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

Is it full of gays after the george closes?

Absolutely!

FixdePitchmark

So was in town today .

Was looking with eyes open in the context of this thread .

I have not been in town much over last few years.

But the rate of change is incredible.

Was around grafton street area. Dart in so perfect that way.

First off, Monday , amazing how much busier Dublin is with the combination of economy and even tourism / students and building.

The area is stunning, but I've noticed how far more upmarket it has all become.

The likes of The Ivy and other eateries wouldn't look out of place in New York.

There is a mix of art galleries, smaller coffee shops , but you'd fear for these places as rents in area, are upward only and insane.

Fantastic lunch , bought a picture. But sad to say Grafton street area is kind of out of even a middle class existence these days .

But that is the case in most great cities in world (in parts).

There is a bit of sadness in that , because nowhere in dublin was like that before, even 5 years ago.

Ready4Boarding

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

But sad to say Grafton street area is kind of out of even a middle class existence these days.

There is a bit of sadness in that , because nowhere in dublin was like that before, even 5 years ago.

I don’t really share your experience. Also was around Grafton today. Had lunch in Fallon and Byrne for a fiver. Tagged along with my sister to Lush and George’s Street Arcade. Had a look in the Secret Bookshop. Pizza in Gotham in South Anne’s Street for eleven euro. You make it sound, though, like Knightsbridge.

Stop moaning ffs

Ready4Boarding wrote: »

I don’t really share your experience. Also was around Grafton today. Had lunch in Fallon and Byrne for a fiver. Tagged along with my sister to Lush and George’s Street Arcade. Had a look in the Secret Bookshop. Pizza in Gotham in South Anne’s Street for eleven euro. You make it sound, though, like Knightsbridge.

Lunch in famine and Byrne for a fiver?

All due respect you are taking the piss now

Ready4Boarding

Stop moaning ffs wrote: »

Lunch in famine and Byrne for a fiver?

All due respect you are taking the piss now

Soup and soda bread for 4.75. Try it some time

Stop moaning ffs

Ready4Boarding wrote: »

Soup and soda bread for 4.75. Try it some time

This Is one occasion I Wish someone took a pic of their meal

Ready4Boarding

Stop moaning ffs wrote: »

This Is one occasion I Wish someone took a pic of their meal

I would normally frame the price tag out of shot, though!

Thelonious Monk

Stop moaning ffs wrote: »

Lunch in famine and Byrne for a fiver?

All due respect you are taking the piss now

Theres a deli counter they prob mean soup from there

FixdePitchmark

Ready4Boarding wrote: »

I don’t really share your experience. Also was around Grafton today. Had lunch in Fallon and Byrne for a fiver. Tagged along with my sister to Lush and George’s Street Arcade. Had a look in the Secret Bookshop. Pizza in Gotham in South Anne’s Street for eleven euro. You make it sound, though, like Knightsbridge.

I accept it isn't there yet but my lunch was 120 with 3 glasses of wine . The Pigs Ear , good food. But would be 25 euro in San Sebastian.

Yes there is variety around that area, but if you go anywhere with table service. It is big money and 10 euro a drink. Gin and tonic in cafe en seine would be interesting ?

The place has gone up another level in cost imo.
Even the old Shelbourne 20 years ago, you could go in and get a drink no big deal. I'd be afraid to even walk in there now. Would you get in ?

Stop moaning ffs

Simons place in George’s st arcade is the only place to go for amazing lunch. Soup and sandwiches are untouchable and delicious and it’s an independent business owned by Simon. Not some millionaire living in Britain.

Thelonious Monk

Stop moaning ffs wrote: »

Simons place in George’s st arcade is the only place to go for amazing lunch. Soup and sandwiches are untouchable and delicious and it’s an independent business owned by Simon. Not some millionaire living in Britain.

Must check it out, its hard to find decent soup at lunch. I love Umi Falafel in the Arcade.

Ready4Boarding

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

I accept it isn't there yet but my lunch was 120 with 3 glasses of wine . The Pigs Ear , good food. But would be 25 euro in San Sebastian.

Yes there is variety around that area, but if you go anywhere with table service. It is big money and 10 euro a drink. Gin and tonic in cafe en seine would be interesting ?

The place has gone up another level in cost imo.
Even the old Shelbourne 20 years ago, you could go in and get a drink no big deal. I'd be afraid to even walk in there now. Would you get in ?

Right, well, that would be very much outside of my range as a student! I've heard about lifestyle inflation, whereby you're compelled to pay more and more for (nominally) the same things as you and your peer group earn more, but for the moment I'm quite content eating in the various burger and curry places around there for less than fifteen euro and drinking in places like Market Bar at normal prices.

FixdePitchmark

Ready4Boarding wrote: »

Right, well, that would be very much outside of my range as a student! I've heard about lifestyle inflation, whereby you're compelled to pay more and more for (nominally) the same things as you and your peer group earn more, but for the moment I'm quite content eating in the various burger and curry places around there for less than fifteen euro and drinking in places like Market Bar at normal prices.

Ok we are not talking about the same thing.

But , no mistaking it , the general area has gone incredibly up market.

And I'm talking even in a short enough time frame.

Stop moaning ffs

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

Must check it out, its hard to find decent soup at lunch. I love Umi Falafel in the Arcade.

Simons place is in the arcade and on the street. Beside the GameStop that used to be laser video.
George’s st end.

It’s such a lovely spot. Such a varied interesting clientele too. Real characters. And nowhere better for people watching.

Ready4Boarding

Stop moaning ffs wrote: »

Simons place is in the arcade and on the street. Beside the GameStop that used to be laser video.
George’s st end.

It’s such a lovely spot. Such a varied interesting clientele too. Real characters. And nowhere better for people watching.

And if you get bored of there, Fallon and Byrne do a great soup and soda bread for 4.75

Stop moaning ffs

I know which of those I would pick but I don’t have insufferable notions. Thankfully.

Archeron

In that same georges arcade, for ten euro you can get enough fudge to fill two people for lunch.
You might want to really like fudge though.

Del.Monte

I like the George's Street Arcade - Stokes Books is my regular call and then on to Grogan's Pub for art and a pint or Kehoe's (Sth.Anne Street) for a pint and a toasted ham and cheese - 70s style in burnt on polythene. Dublin can be heaven or a dirty kip, depends on the day.

Stop moaning ffs

Del.Monte wrote: »

I like the George's Street Arcade - Stokes Books is my regular call and then on to Grogan's Pub for art and a pint or Kehoe's (Sth.Anne Street) for a pint and a toasted ham and cheese - 70s style in burnt on polythene. Dublin can be heaven or a dirty kip, depends on the day.

I’ve brought so many friends from overseas to Grogans. On lovely Dublin summer days and wet horrible ones.

Result is always the same. Perfectly placed pub. Historic. Interesting characters and no end of people watching within and without.

It’s a solid win for anyone coming to Dublin.

LoganRice

Dublin is a nice, bustling city with lots of tourists and attractions. It isn't the biggest city or the greatest city but it's a good, solid european city.
There's some awful cities in England that are much worse than Dublin, like Bradford and Coventry. But there's also nice cities that are better than dublin in my opinion, like Bristol and Brighton. But Dublin is definitely more international than those two places.
I'd probably go to Manchester or birmingham faster for shopping than dublin, though

Yamanoto

Stop moaning ffs wrote: »

Simons place in George’s st arcade is the only place to go for amazing lunch. Soup and sandwiches are untouchable and delicious and it’s an independent business owned by Simon. Not some millionaire living in Britain.

Always been a bit poncey though

A place to be seen by legends in their own lunchtime

Stop moaning ffs

Yamanoto wrote: »

Always been a bit poncey though

A place to be seen by legends in their own lunchtime

Really? It’s mostly older people when I go in. All really eccentric or something.

LeeroyJ.

There is some truth to OP, not all of it but some.
People don't really seem to care either, today the new IFSC rafting attraction was reported on and literally everyone I speak to about it goes 'it will fail, it's a waste, it's dumb, insurance will kill it'. Is it something I care about? No. Is it something I think will upgrade the area, for sure.
This seems to be the general mindset of the People in Dublin anytime something ambitious or out of the ordinary is suggested.

2lazytogetup

The context of the mumsnet forum has been lost on people here. Its a forum for people with young kids. I recently went into dublin pushing a buggy, and it was awful, narrow and able bodies in their 20s/30s wanted me to go off the kerb so they can get through. ill risk my baby so they can get through quicker and safer. gtf

there are a couple of nice playgrounds in the southside of the city, merrion square and st. stephens green, and the dead zoo. but nothing much else for kids. kids dont go into cafes or pubs or restaurants or shopping.

though this could be said for all cities, they are meant for people in their 20s/30s. id still rather bring a kid around dublin which isnt so big that you couldnt walk, rather than a kid on the london tube for example.

Thelonious Monk

LeeroyJ. wrote: »

There is some truth to OP, not all of it but some.
People don't really seem to care either, today the new IFSC rafting attraction was reported on and literally everyone I speak to about it goes 'it will fail, it's a waste, it's dumb, insurance will kill it'. Is it something I care about? No. Is it something I think will upgrade the area, for sure.
This seems to be the general mindset of the People in Dublin anytime something ambitious or out of the ordinary is suggested.

I don't get that rafting thing. I mean there's still tonnes of unruly kids in that area from Sherriff St etc, the thing will need constant security, wonder how that will work, or if there will be walls around it or what. Especially now that they've all got lidl wetsuits.

timmyntc

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

I don't get that rafting thing. I mean there's still tonnes of unruly kids in that area from Sherriff St etc, the thing will need constant security, wonder how that will work, or if there will be walls around it or what. Especially now that they've all got lidl wetsuits.

They'll just end up drowning themselves - one of those problems that sorts itself out yknow :pac:

Really though, there will be barriers all around to stop people accidentally falling in. And once the centre closes, the pumps are shut off and water stops flowing. If scrotes throw something in - it's annoying, but it'll be fished out the next morning.

When it's running, there's generally enough kayakers/rafters on the course all the time to look after things. Thats how things are in similar centers anyways.

Edgware

Stop moaning ffs wrote: »

I’ve brought so many friends from overseas to Grogans. On lovely Dublin summer days and wet horrible ones.

Result is always the same. Perfectly placed pub. Historic. Interesting characters and no end of people watching within and without.

It’s a solid win for anyone coming to Dublin.

Interesting characters = Pissheads

Stop moaning ffs

Edgware wrote: »

Interesting characters = Pissheads

Harsh

Stop moaning ffs

Seeing this a lot last couple of days. Loads of streets closed down cos the farmers are up in arms. And people are loving the streets being car free

https://twitter.com/icrt_ireland/status/1199688252120272898?s=21

Fritzbox

Fritzbox wrote: »

That doesn't stop Dublin being one of the most popular tourist cities in Europe. Why are there so many tourists in London and Paris if they are also so expensive?

Are you seriously comparing Dublin to Paris and London?

London was the third most visited city in the world in 2018. Paris was second. https://newsroom.mastercard.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/GDCI-Global-Report-FINAL1.pdf

There's infinitely more to do in both.

Fritzbox

Deleted User wrote: »

Are you seriously comparing Dublin to Paris and London?

London was the third most visited city in the world in 2018. Paris was second. https://newsroom.mastercard.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/GDCI-Global-Report-FINAL1.pdf

There's infinitely more to do in both.

I am seriously comparing Dublin with those 2 cities - have you provided an answer to the question I set?

BTW, I never actually said there was more to see or do in Dublin compared to London or Paris - where did I say that?

lawred2

Stop moaning ffs wrote: »

Seeing this a lot last couple of days. Loads of streets closed down cos the farmers are up in arms. And people are loving the streets being car free

https://twitter.com/icrt_ireland/status/1199688252120272898?s=21

getting the cars out of the city would make a huge difference

lawred2

2lazytogetup wrote: »

The context of the mumsnet forum has been lost on people here. Its a forum for people with young kids. I recently went into dublin pushing a buggy, and it was awful, narrow and able bodies in their 20s/30s wanted me to go off the kerb so they can get through. ill risk my baby so they can get through quicker and safer. gtf

there are a couple of nice playgrounds in the southside of the city, merrion square and st. stephens green, and the dead zoo. but nothing much else for kids. kids dont go into cafes or pubs or restaurants or shopping.

though this could be said for all cities, they are meant for people in their 20s/30s. id still rather bring a kid around dublin which isnt so big that you couldnt walk, rather than a kid on the london tube for example.

Was in London over the weekend... getting about with kids and buggies is no dreamland at all

Generally speaking I'd agree with you - city breaks are not for young children.

Edgware

Stop moaning ffs wrote: »

Harsh

You are in the pub having a few quiet pints with friends when the local pisshead ( also known as a character) intrudes on your company with old drunken ****e talk.
Are we supposed to enjoy this because he is a " salt of the earth"?

Stop moaning ffs

Edgware wrote: »

You are in the pub having a few quiet pints with friends when the local pisshead ( also known as a character) intrudes on your company with old drunken ****e talk.
Are we supposed to enjoy this because he is a " salt of the earth"?

That’s never happened me once in grogans to be fair. Or anywhere that I can think of. But I don’t have a local.

Muahahaha

LoganRice wrote: »

There's some awful cities in England that are much worse than Dublin, like Bradford and Coventry. But there's also nice cities that are better than dublin in my opinion, like Bristol and Brighton. But Dublin is definitely more international than those two places.
I'd probably go to Manchester or birmingham faster for shopping than dublin, though

Was in Coventry a few years back visiting a mate and had a few hours to kill before he finished work. The highlight of Coventry was the transport museum and the highlight of that was the open topped double decker bus used to parade the 1987 FA Cup winning Coventry football team.

Ready4Boarding wrote: »

Soup and soda bread for 4.75. Try it some time

Thats pretty decent as Ive noticed places creeping up and up their prices on starters/small meals. Was in a restaurant a while back and the bowl of soup was 9 euro :eek:

Stop moaning ffs

Stop moaning ffs wrote: »

Seeing this a lot last couple of days. Loads of streets closed down cos the farmers are up in arms. And people are loving the streets being car free

https://twitter.com/icrt_ireland/status/1199688252120272898?s=21

That seems so wrong.

Idbatterim

crap weather compared to where? southern europe?! good atmosphere in town, lots of history, gorgeous geographical setting. For a city its size, what the hell do people expect?! Its not London, NY or Paris!

It is pricey for british tourists in particular, with the weak sterling. Many areas of central dublin are still kips, but the amount of redevelopment that will take place over I'd say the next 5 years, is going to massively improve central dublin, the clerys redevelopment. Docklands ongoing. Guinness site. big development planned beside heuston station, some huge developments now planned for around north docks. irish glass bottle site. Then hopefully the surrounding areas are gentrified and spruced up...

The crap transport, isnt as big a deal for tourists as it would be for people living here, as they are usually staying centra-ish. No rail line to the airport is a disgrace! Dublin is a city if I were a visitor, that I would spend 2-3 nights in. Its not a L,P or NY where you could stay a week or more and constantly see amazing attractions...

Del.Monte

Stop moaning ffs wrote: »

That’s never happened me once in grogans to be fair. Or anywhere that I can think of. But I don’t have a local.

It's only certain people who attract the attentions of these 'characters'.

Dublin Spur

badabing106 wrote: »

The problem with the city is that there’s a serious absence of civic pride,

I fully agree with this

The rubbish and general filth on the streets where I work (Foley St / Talbot St) is disgusting and embarrassing

Idbatterim

Dublin Spur wrote: »

I fully agree with this

The rubbish and general filth on the streets where I work (Foley St / Talbot St) is disgusting and embarrassing

I would agree about the civic pride thing. Dublin city council are a total disgrace! Tarmac surface across o'connell bridge for the footpath, for the last god knows how many years! with the insane amount tourism generates here, you think they could keep the place cleaner!

Pinch Flat

Idbatterim wrote: »

....with the insane amount tourism generates here, you think they could keep the place cleaner!

Or people could stop dumping their rubbish everywhere.