Bad news for Limerick City in the census

Amazotheamazing

Population of the city has decreased again in the latest census, while Limerick Co., Clare and North Tipp all registered gains. I could blame the fact that 20,000 or so travelled to the semi in Dublin but realisitically it's time for the politicians to stop waffling and start acting. If the boundary extension cannot be approved (becuase Co. Limerick would rather see the entire Shannon region suffer than actually do whats best for the region) then the city needs to agressively pursue urban renewal projects.

ellenmelon

boundary extensions will only do so much.
limerick doesnt exactly make itself welcoming so retention of people is pretty low because of that i reckon.

Amazotheamazing

Other way round, Limerick city's population is declining becuase people stay here so long.

Take Janesboro or Clareview, 20 years ago they would have been full of young families, now it's only the parents or surviving parent living at home. Liemrick City has quite a few aras where the pop decline is solely due to ageing population. It doesn't help that UL, with roughly 12,000 transient people is counted outside the city while UCC and NUIG are counted in Cork and Galway's population. Indeed, even LIT's student housing is in the county.

However, you are right, we need to change the country's view of Limerick, I think we are slowly doing it with HEC rugby and things like Riverfest but more needs to be done. We need to make Limerick City Centre a place people want to visit and live in.

ellenmelon

AmazotheamazingOther way round, Limerick city's population is declining becuase people stay here so long.


uh, what? that doesnt make a whole lot of sense..how can people stayingmake the population decline?

the fact that once you've finished uni, that you have to go out of limerick to get a half decent job (my mum finished uni and they went to england, then to aussie) doesnt help the fact. what person with a uni degree wants to work at Dell or those other multinationals? what a waste of 3 years. Limerick doesnt have the resources to keep people, especially those in the 20+ age bracket.There is a very small arts scene so if you want to get a job in that arena you really have to move out of limerick. small businesses need to be encouraged to set up in limerick (like eightball for example..who could've set up in dublin but they didnt) to create jobs. i could go on but yeah..you get the picture.

mysterious

Amazotheamazing wrote:

Population of the city has decreased again in the latest census, while Limerick Co., Clare and North Tipp all registered gains. I could blame the fact that 20,000 or so travelled to the semi in Dublin but realisitically it's time for the politicians to stop waffling and start acting. If the boundary extension cannot be approved (becuase Co. Limerick would rather see the entire Shannon region suffer than actually do whats best for the region) then the city needs to agressively pursue urban renewal projects.

Yeh where is your results, while I agree on most points, "decreasing" the population of the city centre actually grew, and the development in the city is actually rising. Though you are right that the city was a ghost town on the day of the census and even a few days afterwoulds.

The population Of clare, IMO will grow even faster due to, Shannon and Ennis and even Northern Clare Where the Galway commuter belt is touching.... North Tipp should pass the national average growth in this census, from a modest 3-5% in the last 02 census I think to at least 5% in this one 06. Due to the phenomenal growth in the towns of Birdhill, Portroe,Killaloe/Ballina, Newport and Nenagh and even Roscrea...


Limerick county will boom in this census, Which is a good thing Limerick cities population is so unique that it spreads in very irregular patterns like Charleville in Co. Cork, Newport and Tipperary towns in Tipperary which jumped in numbers mainly due to being swallowed up in the commuter belt. So Corkonions actually are given an extra boost because of Limerick!

But towns such as Kilmalock, RathKeale and Mungret which are all in Co.Limerick as a few examples did not increased much at all in the last census!!!. Though due to many reason such as proper infastructure. This census will be a turnaround for these places. Newcastle which was mentioned in a few papers and local radio stations, that it's one of the fastest growing towns in Munster. Nenagh In Co. Tipp will also be an interesting one too. Ennis will become the biggest town in Ireland after Navan, Drogheda and Dundalk... Limerick city as a whole should nearly touch 100,000. West Limerick should be an increase in Pop rather than a decrease which is noted in 02 census. Now this all just my analysations and observation over the last census and predictions. So amaxzingtheamazing where is the census facts?

Amazotheamazing

Cso website, cso.ie

Overall it's relatively positive for the region but the city is losing people.

Mungret will show a big increase in the next few years, loads of houses planned for there.

ellenmelon

mysterious wrote:

Yeh where is your results, while I agree on most points, "decreasing" the population of the city centre actually grew, and the development in the city is actually rising. Though you are right that the city was a ghost town on the day of the census and even a few days afterwoulds.

The population Of clare, IMO will grow even faster due to, Shannon and Ennois and even Northern Clare.... North Tipp should pass the national average growth, from a modest 3-5% in the last census I think to at least 5% in this one.


Limerick county will boom in this census, Which is a good thing Limerick cities population is so unique that it spreads in very irregular patterns like Charleville in Co. Cork, Newport and Tipperary towns in Tipperary which jumped in numbers mainly due to being swallowed up in the commuter belt. So Corkonions actually are given an extra boost because of Cork!

But towns such as Kilmalock, RathKeale and Mungret as a few examole did not increased much at all!!!. This census will be a turnaround for these places. Newcastle which was mentioned in a few papers and local radio stations that it's one of the fastest growing towns in Munster. Nenagh will also be an interesting one. Ennis will become the biggest town in Ireland after Navan, Drogheda and Dundalk... Limerick city as a whole should nearly touch 100,000. Now this all just my analysations and observation over the last census and predictions. So amaxzingtheamazing where is the census facts?

agreed on the whole quantifying your post thing like mysterious said..posting off the back of a press release (which i assume you're doing amazo..all rte news said was "limerick city has registered falls" or something to that affect)isnt the best way to do things..you have to take information like that and look at it in comparison and it context with the other figures in the census.

ellenmelon

Amazotheamazing wrote:

Cso website, cso.ie

Overall it's relatively positive for the region but the city is losing people.

Mungret will show a big increase in the next few years, loads of houses planned for there.

houses do not show that the people are moving into that area. im sure i read somewhere that there are too many houses being built. i see so many empty flats and apartments around the show..developers are building on the hopes that people might want to move to the area. its all guesswork and not an indication of whats happening IMO

Amazotheamazing

The cso released the figures today, check their website if my word isn't good enough for you.

The demand for houses in Mungret will exist, I'm absolutely certain of that. Look at Newport, it's pop is now 2,118, almost all will be working in Limerick.

ellenmelon

Amazotheamazing wrote:

The cso released the figures today, check their website if my word isn't good enough for you.

The demand for houses in Mungret will exist, I'm absolutely certain of that. Look at Newport, it's pop is now 2,118, almost all will be working in Limerick.

settle pettle. no need to get all wound up on a hot day like this.i dont know you so of course im going to go "i wonder if this dude is for real".jeeez

Amazotheamazing

I'm sorry, I did over-react.

I guess I'm just frustrated that the Gov is allowing the Shannon region develop into a "doughnut" city with several small outlying towns all car-dependant feeding off the city.

ellenmelon

you're grand. everyone is in dodgy moods today with the heat and stuff.

unfortunately it happens all the time..people end up commuting into town and living outside of the city. i cant forsee it changing in the next couple of years really..the TDs up in dublin are so disconnected with whats going on in the rest of the country (hello? i know a lot of people that would disagree with this whole "the country is thriving" thing when they cant afford to buy a house for their kids and are stuck in a wee apartment :mad: ).
changes could be made with the next election if people vote for who will make changes, not for who theyve voted for forever if you get what i mean

mysterious

Amazotheamazing wrote:

The cso released the figures today, check their website if my word isn't good enough for you.

The demand for houses in Mungret will exist, I'm absolutely certain of that. Look at Newport, it's pop is now 2,118, almost all will be working in Limerick.

Spot on... Mungret had huge issues with infastructure and the lack of serwarge facilities like most towns close to Limerick...

Patrickswell also decreased in the census. The Limerick commuter belt for it's size is hugley expansed for it's size take Cork city for example which is bigger still remains to spread evenly and remain in the county, though bear in mind the county bigger don't get me wrong, But County Limerick itself is growing in dots. I mean look at North Tipp huge growth there, even though there is no huge population centre and is much more rural than most counties in Ireland. Nenagh though in it's urban bouragh is already 7,464??? from 6,110 thereabouts in 02. the total in o2 was 6,425 and the total for Nenagh including the suburbs should be at least 8,000. now that's a huge jump compared to most towns of this size. It's now officially passed out Thurles as N. Tipp largest town by far. Look at Clare? and even North Cork... Limerick is even pushing the population there.... shocking..

Though due to the city cente being empty during the munster match obviously it will have some effect on the figures, but it affected cork city and cork city has being declining for many years.

I'm looking forward to see the results of the suburbs of limerick combined with the city.

Galway has also slowed in growth from something like 14.9% rate in o2 to 9.4% In 06

As a whole Limerick did well considering. I forgot the CSO result's came out....:rolleyes:

mysterious

ellenmelon wrote:

you're grand. everyone is in dodgy moods today with the heat and stuff.

unfortunately it happens all the time..people end up commuting into town and living outside of the city. i cant forsee it changing in the next couple of years really..the TDs up in dublin are so disconnected with whats going on in the rest of the country (hello? i know a lot of people that would disagree with this whole "the country is thriving" thing when they cant afford to buy a house for their kids and are stuck in a wee apartment :mad: ).
changes could be made with the next election if people vote for who will make changes, not for who theyve voted for forever if you get what i mean

The Dubs are well aware at this stage of the population issue in Limerick... Because they won't take action.. it's damaging the city.. not to mention our own county council:rolleyes: ..... Cork si getting a whif of it aswell, but not to the extent where the media are involved. Galway seems to get all right fruit for it to develop with a huge boundary within the city that Cork and Limerick would easily fit into.. Dubs are happy about that, don't know the agenda behind it.

I can honestly say since jobs have picked up in the midwest, Limerick's reputation has hugley improved, the population figures are more understood now than it ever was before. Hopefully with the bo. crisis sorted that can give Liemrick and the Midwest a much needed boost. In migration is lacking behind other regions but has picked up and will since Shannon airpport and all points above are contributing to it. the Next census will (i know to long await) really hot Limerick in a good way:o

Amazotheamazing

The real question is where do the suburbs of Limerick end? Is Sixmilebridge a suburb? Is Newport or even Nenagh? I think we need to move away from the individual county pop and rather a Shannon Region population study.

Amazotheamazing

I don't want to turn this into a Limerick v. Galway thread, but understandably Galway gets increased funding due to fears over a decline in the West and NorthWest population.

Limerick is improving all the time, but too much of it is being driven by business and not enough leadership is being shown our Gov.

mysterious

Amazotheamazing wrote:

I don't want to turn this into a Limerick v. Galway thread, but understandably Galway gets increased funding due to fears over a decline in the West and NorthWest population.

Limerick is improving all the time, but too much of it is being driven by business and not enough leadership is being shown our Gov.

Well agreed there, but that's a strenght in it's self. If the locals and businesses are confident in their city and they are not getting much help from the government. There is obviously optimsim now, where as there were never like that before. Limerick was looked upon as weak, troublesome.. Now the Media are trying really hard to bring Limerick to the Bottom, especially Montrose... I mean they HAD to display Limerick was decreasing.. Sure they wouldn't have highlighted the growth in the last census never mind mentioning the actual total population...

Btw Annacotty is practically swalllowed by limerick city, but will not be included in the CSO total city electorate populations i.e the regional centres totals including the suburbs..... Just goes to show even the official stats is going to be bullcrap...:rolleyes:

Crea

The city boundry really needs to be expanded for the sake of getting resources into the city. When TD's and civil servants looks at the city they see the small population and so don't see that our public transport system needs to be looked at as well as other areas especially lack of schools.
The city boundry is at the Parkway so none of Castletroy or Annacotty is included, most of Caherdavin and beyond is included - not sure about the Dooradoyle/Raheen side. How can these areas not be included? I don't know what the agenda is not to expand the boundry.
The Nenagh, Westbury, Sixmilebridge and Newport debates aren't really valid as they aren't even in the county of Limerick so we can't exactly ask Tipp and Clare for a chunk of their county so we can boost our population.

Amazotheamazing

Westbury may not be in County Limerick, but it's certainly part of Limerick city, therein lies the problem.

I wouldn't want Sixmilebridge, Newport or of course Nenagh to be part of Limerick, I was asking whether they are feeder towns to Limerick now?

fenris

Limericks declining population is also down to quality of life. I lived in Limerick for a few years and would not go back for a couple of reasons.
Limerick traffic - I find more more frustrating than the N11 in dublin for the simple reason that dublin traffic actually moves granted slowly, on the other hand there is entertainment value in witnessing the traveling community excercise their right to turn the Shannon - Limerick dual carriageway into a piebald and sulky racing strip. Not so entertaining is loose horses on the parkway roundabout.
Accomodation - Dublin prices without the services or amenities
Work as in a non macjob - difficult to get as there is little mobility because a lot of people return, fill up the nice spots, then sit back and coast in semi retirement mode, fair play if you can swing it, but it is a bitch trying to get anything done in that kind of environment
Personal safety - Native Limerick folks never tire of telling you "how it can happen anywhere", but the only place that I have had a motorbike stolen, car broken into, found two scumbags breaking into my house in broad daylight and be told by the cops not to press charges for my own safety, see the aftermath of a chap getting stabbed in the neck with a screwdriver, was limerick. This is not representitive of my experience in other major cities!

Lastly miserable weather for most of the year. Limerick has two weather states, fantastic sun splitting the rocks weather for about two weeks and grey misty rain for the rest of the year.

The social life can be great, there is an excellent selection of places to eat, grand for a visit, but do I want to bring up my kids there - not really

Amazotheamazing

How would you change things Fenris?

I mean the guards are doing heroic work getting crime rates under control, the city centre is virtually being rebuilt (about time too) and there are new amentities being built all the time (ie new sporting facilities, nightclubs, cinema's, shopping centres, river being cleaned up, canal being restored etc ) new roads are being built to relieve traffic problems. We're currently trying to undo mistakes that were made over 30 years ago, and I think we're being somewhat successful. Do you see any improvements whenever you get back? I think it's unfair to compare a regional city like Limerick with Dublin's amenities, but I think we compare well to both Cork and Galway.

I would love to shoot all the sulkie horses though.

fenris

I think Limerick is in an in between state, caught between being a modern city and a country town. The Garda are doing great work, when they are allowed to by the community, my feeling is that there is still the "keep it local / in the family" attitude of a small town but the issues are those of a modern society, the cops are not the enemy, but to do their job they need the consent and participation of the local community. The alternative as practiced in many small and not so small towns across Ireland was "rough justice" by the community. The deal with modern society is that justice and the law enforcement is handled by the appropriate state organs. There is no effective in between state as demonstrated over the last few years.

From a layout perspective, Limerick pretty evenly alternates between "nice" & "nasty" areas. The folks in the nice areas tend to mind their own business, commute, sleep and keep themselves to themselves. Not so much a community as a group of people crashing in the same hotel. This leads to a lack of "buy in" to the locality. So when graffiti starts to appear, scumbags begin to loiter and break ins start,they nod to themselves and decide that it is time to move to Kilaloe, Adare or just not here.

I felt that there was a very strong "somebody should do something" attitude in limerick but riteous indignation never reached the stage of somebody becoming I, or something becoming anything. It is your city, take responsibility, for it, own it, take it back, don't be run out of the place. Just as you get the government you deserve, you also get the community you deserve and are prepared to work for. If you want to live in a modern dynamic city, live like you already are and don't put up with that which drags your city down. This to me is precisely where Limerick differs from Waterford, Dublin, Kilkenny, Cork and Galway. Those cities are to me places you live in, Limerick always had a transitory feel.

Amazotheamazing

In a lot of ways I agree, I've often wondered about Limerick's mentality, whether it's a fundamentally negative place or whether it has negative attributes thrown on it? Sometimes it seems everything new must be knocked, must be destined to fail. There's a lack of faith or optimism about so many things in this city and that's an attitude thats hard to shift.

However I do think things are changing, slowly. The amount of investment in the region is huge, whethers it's the new nightclub in the Cornmarket or the 2 new private hospitals being built, the Opera centre or the Docks, hopefully Limerick is catching up.

limerick_man

Hmmm... I'm finding that the only people to see crime here are those who are involved/see a whole load of it!!!

Amazotheamazing

limerick_man wrote:

Hmmm... I'm finding that the only people to see crime here are those who are involved/see a whole load of it!!!

Actually it's a well known behavioural trait that people are susceptable to suggestion, and some of that is reflected in how people see crime in Limerick. If I tell you that Limerick is a dangerous place, you will bring that preconception when you visit Limerick. Equally Limerick_man, I suspect you have little of the opposite going on, you're so determined not to see crime in Limerick you really don't see some obvious connections.

mysterious

fenris wrote:

Limericks declining population is also down to quality of life. I lived in Limerick for a few years and would not go back for a couple of reasons.
Limerick traffic - I find more more frustrating than the N11 in dublin for the simple reason that dublin traffic actually moves granted slowly, on the other hand there is entertainment value in witnessing the traveling community excercise their right to turn the Shannon - Limerick dual carriageway into a piebald and sulky racing strip. Not so entertaining is loose horses on the parkway roundabout.
Accomodation - Dublin prices without the services or amenities
Work as in a non macjob - difficult to get as there is little mobility because a lot of people return, fill up the nice spots, then sit back and coast in semi retirement mode, fair play if you can swing it, but it is a bitch trying to get anything done in that kind of environment
Personal safety - Native Limerick folks never tire of telling you "how it can happen anywhere", but the only place that I have had a motorbike stolen, car broken into, found two scumbags breaking into my house in broad daylight and be told by the cops not to press charges for my own safety, see the aftermath of a chap getting stabbed in the neck with a screwdriver, was limerick. This is not representitive of my experience in other major cities!

Lastly miserable weather for most of the year. Limerick has two weather states, fantastic sun splitting the rocks weather for about two weeks and grey misty rain for the rest of the year.

The social life can be great, there is an excellent selection of places to eat, grand for a visit, but do I want to bring up my kids there - not really

quality of life is in fact one of the highest in Ireland. Limerick is more attractive than it was 10 years ago. I being to many places and I've heard french, Americans, and English hearing about Limerick and wanting to go there.. It was always Dub or Galway but now that's changing;)


As for traffic... You see our main street is a national route.. the childer's road carries all traffic south of the city which should of being upgraded years ago. No actual proper circular roads like in other cites. still no tunnel? Public transport is diabolical.
The only positive thing that Limerick considering the amount of cars pass through it a day, is the excellent one way system that keeps the city moving..

It has the most rail lines of any city in Ireland after Dub obviously but only a few is used. It even circulates the city.

Practically all west of Ireland traffic have to cross Limerick at some point over the Shannon which is going to add to any congestion within the city..

As for the weather, your talking complete and utter in your arse(sorry for the language) the WEATHER your starting to think we Live Russia where the weather contrast is extreme. It was baking here today more than Dub.. anyways I don't believe you lived here.....;)

vkid

mysterious wrote:

.. anyways I don't believe you lived here.....;)

Thought exactly the same thing.
Of course there's no crime in Dublin Cork etc.. sure the recent shootings in Dublin didn't really happen at all...:rolleyes: My last visit there was during a guy robbing a double decker bus and going loony around Dublin and before that the hgigh speed gun chase on the M50..
Never seen a sulky race on the Shannon dual c'way and i've travelled it for nearly 20 years. Not saying it didn't happen but its hardly a regular occurence. Honda civics maybe..Hate this kind of ****e from people.

scrattletrap

I had to laugh at the "loose horses on the parkway roundabout" I have lived down the road from the Parkway for the last ten years and haven't seen horses on the roundabout in at least eight years, things have changed (albeit slowly but they have).
The sulkies are still about, but really what harm are they actually doing (I would prefer if they weren't here myself but they aren't doing any harm)

mysterious

fenris wrote:

I think Limerick is in an in between state, caught between being a modern city and a country town. The Garda are doing great work, when they are allowed to by the community, my feeling is that there is still the "keep it local / in the family" attitude of a small town but the issues are those of a modern society, the cops are not the enemy, but to do their job they need the consent and participation of the local community. The alternative as practiced in many small and not so small towns across Ireland was "rough justice" by the community. The deal with modern society is that justice and the law enforcement is handled by the appropriate state organs. There is no effective in between state as demonstrated over the last few years.

From a layout perspective, Limerick pretty evenly alternates between "nice" & "nasty" areas. The folks in the nice areas tend to mind their own business, commute, sleep and keep themselves to themselves. Not so much a community as a group of people crashing in the same hotel. This leads to a lack of "buy in" to the locality. So when graffiti starts to appear, scumbags begin to loiter and break ins start,they nod to themselves and decide that it is time to move to Kilaloe, Adare or just not here.

I felt that there was a very strong "somebody should do something" attitude in limerick but riteous indignation never reached the stage of somebody becoming I, or something becoming anything. It is your city, take responsibility, for it, own it, take it back, don't be run out of the place. Just as you get the government you deserve, you also get the community you deserve and are prepared to work for. If you want to live in a modern dynamic city, live like you already are and don't put up with that which drags your city down. This to me is precisely where Limerick differs from Waterford, Dublin, Kilkenny, Cork and Galway. Those cities are to me places you live in, Limerick always had a transitory feel.

That's because you didn't live there, Dubby.... Judging a place you obviously don't know much about, put a fine judgement on you.... i don't just believe a word you say now! lol but I wish you speak more.... cus the more sh!Te you air. The more idiotic you sound...so fire ahead.

BTw... it's not how bad a place can be but how bad you want to perceive it, and what you make of it, . just because you were boring dosn't mean the city is boring. Your comments are more exaggerating than even Montrose. Maybe you stay to much at home and watchin RTE news and weather. Come down to Limerick today it's better weather than Dubby.



You win the most idiotic comment of the year
THE WEATHER IN LIMERICK... what is this getting too? the rain has a high acidic count than Dublin has or anywhere for that matter.. lol

Amazotheamazing

Think thats way over the top Mysterious. He gave his opinions and backed them up, you can't expect to him to think the same as you.

And Dublin's weather a lot drier than Limerick's, thoguh I think Dublin's weather is drier than most of the country.

mysterious

Amazotheamazing wrote:

Think thats way over the top Mysterious. He gave his opinions and backed them up, you can't expect to him to think the same as you.

And Dublin's weather a lot drier than Limerick's, thoguh I think Dublin's weather is drier than most of the country.

I'm not even to explain to you, how washed out you are... Your from Limerick and you seem to worship him, I may seem way out of line, but you "just know he's didn;t live here" I don't have proof.. dang...

Your even reacting to his comment about the weather,:rolleyes: it was about stab city... it's now about the weather wake up Am.... He didn't back up anything, I pointed that out in my response, if I was less impaitient I would have laughed it off. I know for a fact some of his comment were laughed at by others too.

mysterious

vkid wrote:

Thought exactly the same thing.
Of course there's no crime in Dublin Cork etc.. sure the recent shootings in Dublin didn't really happen at all...:rolleyes: My last visit there was during a guy robbing a double decker bus and going loony around Dublin and before that the hgigh speed gun chase on the M50..
Never seen a sulky race on the Shannon dual c'way and i've travelled it for nearly 20 years. Not saying it didn't happen but its hardly a regular occurence. Honda civics maybe..Hate this kind of ****e from people.

Vkid did you hear about the bomb scare at Dublin Airport the other week.. jeez that's scary... is'nt that near Dublin?? the weather in Dublin is overcast... :mad:

Amazotheamazing

mysterious wrote:

I'm not even to explain to you, how washed out you are... Your from Limerick and you seem to worship him, I may seem way out of line, but you "just know he's didn;t live here" I don't have proof.. dang...

Your even reacting to his comment about the weather,:rolleyes: it was about stab city... it's now about the weather wake up Am....

Try again in english?

Love the way you try and show Limerick isn't an aggressive, unfriendly place by being both aggressive and unfriendly.

I'm serious in my criticisms of Limerick, this time last year I posted we were at the beginning of a 10 year plan to turn this city and it's reputation around. A year on and I think definate progress has been made but we're still far off the mark in loads of ways.

vkid

Sure Michael O'Leary reckons its Beiruit! Wouldn't be far off.:D
I really think though that if the present Dail representatives for Limerick/Clare are voted back in next election, the people of the region have only themselves to blame for inaction. The current boom in the Shannon region is being generated by private enterprise for the most part(and it is booming, probably more than any other city outside Dublin, there is cranes everywhere!).
But the current TD's have done very little for the region in general. The boundary extension is only one example of things that have been left fester while our representatives should be putting the pressure on. Don;t think thats happening. This area has so much more potential that is yet to be realised and it can;t all be left to the private businessman. The Wester rail corridor is another and so is the spur link to Shannon Airport. People have to stand up and be heard in this. If Limerick was that bad there would be no private enterprise investment (or not at least at the current amazing rate of change in the region.. I know I've voted FF for years but never again because imo they have abondoned cities like Limerick/Waterford and to an extent Cork in favour of the Greater Dublin Area bollox. They also seem to have a penchant for Galway but sure I suppose it has to be well served for the tent at Race Week. They only way for change to happen is to vote for change!

Don;t want to get all political on ye but its true. Pity the poor TD that calls to my door looking for a vote. It really angers me that the focus of the government is on GDR...as usual..we pay tax too.

ellenmelon

even if something was done about the boundary extensions/housing/jobs/public transport (which is dire) etc i would never live here again. never ever ever. im sorry, but i think its a big pile of ****e really in my opinion.
i honestly cannot see what tangible improvements have been made or will be made in the next few years. we're in the 21st century and it reminds me what the town of a similar size that i was born in, was like 10 years ago. it could be a great place but its taking too long to get there.
im moving back to new zealand and my limerick boyfriend is coming with me, and im sure ill be back for visits but wild horses couldnt drag me back to live.

Amazotheamazing

Is the problem Limerick or Ireland or missing NZ ellen? Sounds like a long way to go if you just dislike Limerick.

Tangiable improvements, made or coming.

City Centre bypass and pedestrianisation

Main Drainage

Shannon Tunnel

Western Rail Corridor and Atlantic Motorway

New Stadia, from rugby to greyhound racing

Canal Bank Restoration

New City Centre (ie Opera Centre, Bedford Row Centre, proposed redevelopment of Arthurs Quay

New Docklands

UL Medical, Commerce and Arts facilities proposed.

One campus Art College on Clare street.

I expect all the above to have significant impact on Limerick and it's surrounding region.

ellenmelon

disliking limerick..and in fact most of ireland.nice place to visit but not a fan of the place living wise. i would've been home sooner but other things kept me.

all of the things that you listed are valid, but a lot of them wont make a difference to me personally (especially bloody greyhound racing)
those things should've been put into action a long time ago.as i said earlier its 2006 not 1986. a few buildings will make the place look nice but there are still flaws in the general infrastructure here. for example i never ever want to get sick here as irish hospitals are dismal and i could never make a living here even if these proposals go ahead.
and drainage? that makes me want to stay why ?

Amazotheamazing

ellenmelon wrote:

disliking limerick..and in fact most of ireland.nice place to visit but not a fan of the place living wise. i would've been home sooner but other things kept me.

all of the things that you listed are valid, but a lot of them wont make a difference to me personally (especially bloody greyhound racing)
those things should've been put into action a long time ago.as i said earlier its 2006 not 1986. a few buildings will make the place look nice but there are still flaws in the general infrastructure here. for example i never ever want to get sick here as irish hospitals are dismal and i could never make a living here even if these proposals go ahead.
and drainage? that makes me want to stay why ?

Parts of Limerick had 80% unemployment in the 1980's, the country was poor, really really poor actually, we're really only catching up now and I've no problem saying of the 4 big cities Limerick is furtherest behind, catching up fast though. People forget than when Southill or Moyross were built, literally nothing was provided for the residents, it takes years to undo that kind of neglect. Very often in those areas it's a street by street job to improve the whole area.

The main drainage is an interesting one, a generation ago you could swim in the Shannon (well parts of the Shannon) near to the city. One effect of the main drainage will be to make that possible again. Imo, it's already made the river alot cleaner but it will take years for the damage to be undone.

2 new private hospitals are being built in Limerick, and hopefully UL will get a medical school very soon so things are changing.

Arathorn

This isnt very P.C but when ever I walk around town especially william street area it always strikes me just how ugly the people are (en masse). Im not saying im an oil painting myself but I try and look presentable/respectable. Too many unwashed slobs around, if they dont care about themselves how will they care about the city. I know Cork, Dublin etc has the same but Limerick stands out to me for this, maybe its the negative attitude people talk about twisting there appearance. What was this thread about again??

Amazotheamazing

Interesting theory, I always felt the same about Galway (and God help me) the Northside of Dublin, guess you'll see fugly's anywhere.

1huge1

fenris wrote:

I think Limerick is in an in between state, caught between being a modern city and a country town. The Garda are doing great work, when they are allowed to by the community, my feeling is that there is still the "keep it local / in the family" attitude of a small town but the issues are those of a modern society, the cops are not the enemy, but to do their job they need the consent and participation of the local community. The alternative as practiced in many small and not so small towns across Ireland was "rough justice" by the community. The deal with modern society is that justice and the law enforcement is handled by the appropriate state organs. There is no effective in between state as demonstrated over the last few years.

From a layout perspective, Limerick pretty evenly alternates between "nice" & "nasty" areas. The folks in the nice areas tend to mind their own business, commute, sleep and keep themselves to themselves. Not so much a community as a group of people crashing in the same hotel. This leads to a lack of "buy in" to the locality. So when graffiti starts to appear, scumbags begin to loiter and break ins start,they nod to themselves and decide that it is time to move to Kilaloe, Adare or just not here.

I felt that there was a very strong "somebody should do something" attitude in limerick but riteous indignation never reached the stage of somebody becoming I, or something becoming anything. It is your city, take responsibility, for it, own it, take it back, don't be run out of the place. Just as you get the government you deserve, you also get the community you deserve and are prepared to work for. If you want to live in a modern dynamic city, live like you already are and don't put up with that which drags your city down. This to me is precisely where Limerick differs from Waterford, Dublin, Kilkenny, Cork and Galway. Those cities are to me places you live in, Limerick always had a transitory feel.

that has got to be the biggest load of crap ive ever heard

what did you do go around to everyones house and do a questionnaire

mysterious

Amazotheamazing wrote:

Try again in english?

Love the way you try and show Limerick isn't an aggressive, unfriendly place by being both aggressive and unfriendly.

I'm serious in my criticisms of Limerick, this time last year I posted we were at the beginning of a 10 year plan to turn this city and it's reputation around. A year on and I think definate progress has been made but we're still far off the mark in loads of ways.

Ok... I'll speak english, even though I don't have time.



This is agressive... F*** YE LIMERICK IS NOT BAD, I'LL I'LL KIC....

Now this is sense.
I'm not going to take false opinions of someone who blackened the city in every way by bringing personal "stuff" into it.

Secondly I don't believe the guy who claimed what Limerick was anyway, hes just looking for a reaction, the greatest load of nonsense i've ever heard in this limerick thread, to be frank. I mean Limerick is bad because of the weather, now I could go on, but, that would put me to an idiotic level that he's on, so I'm not out of line, if anyone is out of line it's him, feeding negativety like the media, he's doing EXACTLY what the media does, suppose hes looking for attention too.

Thirdly, I don't believe people easily over the Net especially ones like this...:rolleyes: I mean I was laughing quite naturally to the guy comments;


Limerick is a city with problems, yes "we" might be far off the mark in other ways, yes get over it, This is like the same scenrio as if your on the bus and someone is chatting on the phone, and the guy pipes up we're on the bus... the rest on the bus sigh "we know"

no one here is denyng Limerick has a problem, if not problems,your adding to the problem by taking him litterly. Piping up the way he did, is also causing problems,Some stuff hes says i hear from Dubs all the time. He dosn't fool me. Should I just agree for the sake of him, no I don't think so.


The thread ends with, it's not as bad as what the "guy" made it out to be, he just wanted to start a rant here, from old beliefs that the media circulate..

P.s I'm having a cup of tea, and quite relaxed.

mysterious

Amazotheamazing wrote:

Interesting theory, I always felt the same about Galway (and God help me) the Northside of Dublin, guess you'll see fugly's anywhere.

Agreed on that, I mean take it another way, some parts of Limerick is like D4 with a prenounced posh accent. Willams street stands out because it's sadly one of our prime streets.

mysterious

1huge1 wrote:

that has got to be the biggest load of crap ive ever heard

what did you do go around to everyones house and do a questionnaire

haha glad you agree 1huge1.... lol he's lived in all the cities, and observes the "feelings" I've being to Waterford and i like it but I didn't live there so I don't know what it "feels" like.. but if you want to know you know who to ask..:rolleyes:

fenris

Wow I go away ot the UK for a couple of days and the wesht goes mad!

First I am not a dub, I just work there, I have both lived in Limerick and spent the better part of 8 years traveling to and from Limerick. You are entitled to disagree with me, fair play to you, at least you have an opinion and a bit of passion about Limerick.

The original question was why is Limerick losing population. I outlined my feeling as to the main reasons from my view point. That viewpoint is one of an outsider, who met a girl who was studying in UL, traveled up most weekends for 5 years, changed job to move to Limerick, lived in Limerick, socialised in Limerick and was constantly rained on in Limerick. I am no longer living in Limerick, I visit Limerick on ocassion, but I would not move back there with my family (yep married that girl eventually), for the reasons outlined.

If you want to bring up the population, you need people who are prepared to live in Limerick and reproduce i.e. make more people instead of just practicing (as enjoyable as that is). If you population is dropping you need to figure out why people both native of Limerick and blowins like me work there for a while and then move away. There is no problem getting people to go to Limerick, just a problem getting them to stay there. Moving is a pain in the arse, you do not do it unless you feel you have to. I have visited some interesting placed, would go back to most, but would not bring up my kids there. Also for the population to drop, native Limerick people have to move out, If you cannot keep the people who were born and bred in the place, how do you expect to attract and retain people who have to leave the place where their families and friend are, and relocate to Limerick?

I personally found the weather was much wetter than Waterford, Cork or Dublin because to me Limerick weather is constant overcast, light rain, sporadic showers, whereas the othe cities weather is more regular, when it rains it rains for a day instead of light rain and patchy showers for a week. Same amount of water, just more miserable to live through. When I moved to Limerick in early 1999 it rained every day for the first two months. Granted when the weather is good Limerick is fantastic, but those two weeks of sunshine carry a heavy price in terms of the rest of the year.

Yes everywhere has its problems and issues, the difference is Limericks issues are outweighing the benefits derived from the current enhancements programme to the extent that you are losing population. Getting angry at me will not change that, you votes for your politicians, you put up with your scumbags, you give the Gardai the level of support you deem appropriate, your city your responsibility.

Fair play for having a go at me, at least you care and don't exhibit the same apathy that has gripped the rest of your cityfolk. Now instead of directing it at people who have been driven from Limerick by a tolerance for a level of crime beyond what I deem acceptable in a modern society, try looking out for some of the things I mentioned, don't turn away when you see them, do something about it.

mysterious

fenris wrote:

Wow I go away ot the UK for a couple of days and the wesht goes mad!

First I am not a dub, I just work there, I have both lived in Limerick and spent the better part of 8 years traveling to and from Limerick. You are entitled to disagree with me, fair play to you, at least you have an opinion and a bit of passion about Limerick.

The original question was why is Limerick losing population. I outlined my feeling as to the main reasons from my view point. That viewpoint is one of an outsider, who met a girl who was studying in UL, traveled up most weekends for 5 years, changed job to move to Limerick, lived in Limerick, socialised in Limerick and was constantly rained on in Limerick. I am no longer living in Limerick, I visit Limerick on ocassion, but I would not move back there with my family (yep married that girl eventually), for the reasons outlined.

If you want to bring up the population, you need people who are prepared to live in Limerick and reproduce i.e. make more people instead of just practicing (as enjoyable as that is). If you population is dropping you need to figure out why people both native of Limerick and blowins like me work there for a while and then move away. There is no problem getting people to go to Limerick, just a problem getting them to stay there. Moving is a pain in the arse, you do not do it unless you feel you have to. I have visited some interesting placed, would go back to most, but would not bring up my kids there. Also for the population to drop, native Limerick people have to move out, If you cannot keep the people who were born and bred in the place, how do you expect to attract and retain people who have to leave the place where their families and friend are, and relocate to Limerick?

I personally found the weather was much wetter than Waterford, Cork or Dublin because to me Limerick weather is constant overcast, light rain, sporadic showers, whereas the othe cities weather is more regular, when it rains it rains for a day instead of light rain and patchy showers for a week. Same amount of water, just more miserable to live through. When I moved to Limerick in early 1999 it rained every day for the first two months. Granted when the weather is good Limerick is fantastic, but those two weeks of sunshine carry a heavy price in terms of the rest of the year.

Yes everywhere has its problems and issues, the difference is Limericks issues are outweighing the benefits derived from the current enhancements programme to the extent that you are losing population. Getting angry at me will not change that, you votes for your politicians, you put up with your scumbags, you give the Gardai the level of support you deem appropriate, your city your responsibility.

Fair play for having a go at me, at least you care and don't exhibit the same apathy that has gripped the rest of your cityfolk. Now instead of directing it at people who have been driven from Limerick by a tolerance for a level of crime beyond what I deem acceptable in a modern society, try looking out for some of the things I mentioned, don't turn away when you see them, do something about it.

Ok...

Crime

and weather..

Please tell me more..

Have you lived in Waterford? which you seem to have the experience to say all the above towns in Ireland have a better transitory feeling:rolleyes:

In fact Limerick is drier than cork.. but you know all the regions so, to come up with a pessismistic view of this city. the weather, still goes back to my point...

Crime is not extravagant, and your words really do exaggerate it... Limerick has being overshadowed by the government so blatantly in the last few years,

Cork and Galway are cities Limerick is'nt, as you said it's a village, with no transitory feeling and almost everyone is scared out of thier wits of getting stabbed. Oh it's stressful.

fenris

I have lived in those towns and to me and they have a better feeling, I only claim knowledge of the places I have been.

Weather is a natural event, Limerick gets the worst weather straight in off of the atlantic, by the time weather systems cross the country they have lost a lot of their rain, Limerick is the first port of call, then there are mountains, then there is Cork and Waterford. rain falls, there is less left by the time it crosses the south east. Much as I would like to get credit for the weather, it is a fact of life, so I deal with it. I want to live somewhere with better weather so I move to where the weather is better, simple really.

I have not exagerated my experience of crime in Limerick. If anything I have minimised it down to a few pertinant examples. You tolerate a level of crime that most other parts of the country would not put up with. People stoping their cars to help kick a Garda half to death is not normal behaviour.

The only stabbing I refered to was a chap getting a screwdriver stuck in his neck and paralysed for the better part of two years for the grevious crime of being a student while we were boarding a bus outside termites.

I do feel that having a motorbike stolen, a car broken into, and finding two uninvited guests who turned out to be armed robbers out on bail trying to decide if my video and TV was worth the effort of robbing, a little excessive , at least it is excessive to non natives of Limerick, you may view this as normal and just local colour. For me it was too much, maybe I am being a tad over sensitive. May be I should have just voted for the nice chap who told us that our street would be "protected" if he was elected, maybe I just misunderstood the whole democracy and civil society thing.

Development is great, you build it we come, we get robbed, assaulted, told we are whinging when we mention the fact, they you wonder why we leave and raise our families else where.

The question was, why is Limerick losing people, I am sorry that you don't like the answer, and prefer to come up with more comforting answers. Bad press explains people not going to Limerick, but when people are actively leaving the place, you have to look at the hard truths closer to home, or just dismiss them and go back to whining about the rough deal that you get from the politicians you elect. Maybe if we voted for the guy who could "protect for free" rather than the chap we bought groceries from at the milkmarket things would have been different, but that would not be my idea of a nice place to raise a family.

ellenmelon

Amazotheamazing wrote:

Parts of Limerick had 80% unemployment in the 1980's, the country was poor, really really poor actually, we're really only catching up now and I've no problem saying of the 4 big cities Limerick is furtherest behind, catching up fast though. People forget than when Southill or Moyross were built, literally nothing was provided for the residents, it takes years to undo that kind of neglect. Very often in those areas it's a street by street job to improve the whole area.

The main drainage is an interesting one, a generation ago you could swim in the Shannon (well parts of the Shannon) near to the city. One effect of the main drainage will be to make that possible again. Imo, it's already made the river alot cleaner but it will take years for the damage to be undone.

2 new private hospitals are being built in Limerick, and hopefully UL will get a medical school very soon so things are changing.

there is no difference between the private hospitals and the public hospitals. they are both rotten to the core with shocking middle and upper management and a lot of poorly trained staff. i do not see any improvements being made. the state of irish hospitals is why my mother (a nurse for 20 years and who just finished training as a midwife) moved away from limerick after only 3 years (the move was originally permanent) to australia to work. the work environment is pretty effed up (ward sisters or whatever they are called here outrageously abusive),a lot of wards are lacking basic facilities (including basic bandages and kits to clean wounds) and teaching methods and general practice (mainly in the maternity hospital) that are stuck in 80s.both hospitals that my mum worked in (regional and maternity) are two of the filthiest hospitals that she has ever worked in. women that are HIV+ sharing bathroom facilities with woman who arent (i dont need to go into details about giving birth and bodily fluids) but that would never happen anywhere else.

my dad, who was admited with severe gall stones was in a hospital bed for three days before he saw a doctor. he was then discharged and an appointment was made for an operation 2 months later which just wasnt good enough. in australia, at the hospital where he worked, he was there 2 weeks and he had the operation free of charge, as it was a state hospital and they treat their employees well. irish and limerick hospitals have no respect for patients or staff lower down in the food chain.

as for the new medical school? UL needs to get its act together before it even thinks of opening a medical school.there are a lot of qualms about it. my mum did her midwifery training through UL and came out with qualifications that make her pretty much a glorified obstetric assistant (which she was about 15 years ago when she worked on maternity wards as a new nurse). she now has to work in a hospital for 2 years in australia or new zealand before she can set up a practice of her own. because they didnt teach the students what they needed to know.

there are so many more horror stories about limerick hospitals.

god forbid in the two months before i left that i got so ill i had to go to hospital. i would rather fly home sick than go near an irish hospital.

mysterious

fenris wrote:

I have lived in those towns and to me and they have a better feeling, I only claim knowledge of the places I have been.

Weather is a natural event, Limerick gets the worst weather straight in off of the atlantic, by the time weather systems cross the country they have lost a lot of their rain, Limerick is the first port of call, then there are mountains, then there is Cork and Waterford. rain falls, there is less left by the time it crosses the south east. Much as I would like to get credit for the weather, it is a fact of life, so I deal with it. I want to live somewhere with better weather so I move to where the weather is better, simple really.

I have not exagerated my experience of crime in Limerick. If anything I have minimised it down to a few pertinant examples. You tolerate a level of crime that most other parts of the country would not put up with. People stoping their cars to help kick a Garda half to death is not normal behaviour.

The only stabbing I refered to was a chap getting a screwdriver stuck in his neck and paralysed for the better part of two years for the grevious crime of being a student while we were boarding a bus outside termites.

I do feel that having a motorbike stolen, a car broken into, and finding two uninvited guests who turned out to be armed robbers out on bail trying to decide if my video and TV was worth the effort of robbing, a little excessive , at least it is excessive to non natives of Limerick, you may view this as normal and just local colour. For me it was too much, maybe I am being a tad over sensitive. May be I should have just voted for the nice chap who told us that our street would be "protected" if he was elected, maybe I just misunderstood the whole democracy and civil society thing.

Development is great, you build it we come, we get robbed, assaulted, told we are whinging when we mention the fact, they you wonder why we leave and raise our families else where.

The question was, why is Limerick losing people, I am sorry that you don't like the answer, and prefer to come up with more comforting answers. Bad press explains people not going to Limerick, but when people are actively leaving the place, you have to look at the hard truths closer to home, or just dismiss them and go back to whining about the rough deal that you get from the politicians you elect. Maybe if we voted for the guy who could "protect for free" rather than the chap we bought groceries from at the milkmarket things would have been different, but that would not be my idea of a nice place to raise a family.

So your saying you lived

In Cork
Waterford
Galway
Dublin
and Limerick naturally enough. Fair enough IF you have your view on how bad Limerick is, but it's not fitting in with the facts entirely.

Limerick from My recollection, is a bit further inland from the Atlantic and sheltered more than Cork Or Galway, It has the Moutains in north Kerry and some in west Clare to sheilds some of the winds and rain. Then if your right then, is Galway drier? I would like a response.

Your trying to compare climate of a country which is redicously small, and the example you are mentioning are places less than a 100 miles in distance:eek:

Did you ever see light in this city. My BIG ISSUE is no matter what is good or bad about a place, if someone projects a negative image on it, it only feeds it. People wil have it in the back of their minds, and expect the worst and the result will bound to be also negative. Like the Media..

It's getting a bit tiresome, that Limerick is getting this plaque over and over, I mean I personally believe that some of the bad stuff that goes on is triggered by sterotyoing, because it's only adding fear, paronia, a transitory feeling as you described etc...

why did you feel more positive or whatever in Waterford. I would like you to answer me this. I'm looking forward to your response on it. describe to me the feeling... lol

Man your have opinion, but I'm sorry I just don't believe in all you say, cus I believe the negativity plays a major role in your decisions about the place, I'm also aware that you are only adding to the negativity. that is mosty in the past if it were true. I mean of course bad things can happen, but sorry to cut your short it happens in the other regions too. go to the crime poll, there on this this thread and see for yourself. your perception on Limerick has changed even if it were bad, because the fact is Limerick is the safest out of the cities you mentioned overall, some things limerick need work on, not denying that.
Limerick has short of Gardai staff for a long time however of recently the Gardai have being given a good record in Limerick. IMO I feel safer in Limerick than I do In Dub. Now If I was in a rough area in either of the cities I would'nt naturally. You must not forget for the size of this city and the surroundings. THere is only one garda station! or well two another small base in Roxoborough. There is not enough gardai in this city to be honest. They have being begging for a base at Castletroy due to the time it takes for the Gardai to arrive at destination. Crime figures are improving in Limerick, is there anything wrong with you saying this. Could I ask you were living in a rough area of Limerick as this could be apart of the reasons to your experiences.

The weather thing is petty.. I will find the facts for it. Cus the last day I was in Limerick it was baking. Though we live in Ireland too.

When I respond you add more negativity why is this?;) am i missing something here.

Cus if not I'll quote it..

Limerick Dude

Fenris is just giving his opinion. He did not like living in limerick for various reasons, why cant anyone accept that ffs. Get over it.

nazthing

fenris wrote:

I have lived in those towns and to me and they have a better feeling, I only claim knowledge of the places I have been.

The question was, why is Limerick losing people, I am sorry that you don't like the answer, and prefer to come up with more comforting answers. Bad press explains people not going to Limerick, but when people are actively leaving the place, you have to look at the hard truths closer to home, or just dismiss them and go back to whining about the rough deal that you get from the politicians you elect.

It's not a given that the population decrease is due to "fear of knackers" as it might have been in your case. Seems this thread has derailed into the same "too many scumbags" rehash you can find all over the board, which is unfortunate.