Where to live for one year?

Fl4vio

Hi, I'm a student from Switzerland and I will be studying at NUI May. for the upcoming two semesters.

I don't know if I should rather look for an accomondation in Maynooth or somwhere around or inside Dublin and go to the university by train. Maybe someone has already made some experiences and could share them with me.

For my situation: I already finished my obligatory hours (I finished the 5th year) so I will be studying more because of interest in culture and country than in universitary matters...Anyway. Maybe Maynooth is a good starting point for exploring the whole country (and not just Dublin) or would you recommend Dublin, because Maynooth is too small and too universitary?


Thank you for any information.

pisslips

Well I'd recommend maynoooth for a few reasons.
First of all if you've any interest in going to any of your lectures you'd be better off in Maynooth.The fact that they're not obligatory probably means, if your like me, that you will gradually go to less and less and eventually just waste a year of your life because there's no pressure.

Also, the best way of exploring a country and its culture is through it's people.It would be much easier for you to meet people of similar interest and understanding in a college environment.College people are generaly more open and have a lot more spare time than people under working constraints.

You'll find that the students in Maynooth are from all over the country.From the most rural areas to the middle of Dublin.If you join a club or society, you can meet these people of common interest and find out usefull information about interesting things.These things are all much easier to do if your actually living in Maynooth.

There is a train from maynooth to the centre of dublin that takes 35minutes to an hour depending on which train you take.

Finally, accomadation is probably cheaper in Maynooth than most 'nice' places to live in Dublin.
And then there's the facilities that the college offers such as free gym, library, swimming pool.....first years....

eamoss

I agree with pisslips people in Maynooth are from all over the country and you will have a better chance to get to know them if you are living in Maynooth.

Like everyone in my class commutes to uni and most of them hate commuting. Its costs €5.10(i think) for a return ticket from Dublin Connolly and you will be doing that 5 times a week that is €25.50 then add that to your accommodation and you are paying a minimum of €50 more a week by living in Dublin.

Like for me commuting wasnt an option becasue I live too far away but if I did I wouldnt have been albe to go to soccer training(big thing for me) or head out as often as I do.

If I was you I would live in Maynooth but I can see why you would be attached to live in Dublin.

Fl4vio

Thank you,

I think I'll look for a place to live in maynooth. Seems to be the better way to make a non-dublin-centred stay in Ireland.

So by the way...if anyone wants to sublet his flat or room for one year and thus be sure to have it back than please reply...I'm would be very thankful (although I'm checking daft.ie daily).

Enemy Of Fate

pisslips wrote:

First of all if you've any interest in going to any of your lectures you'd be better off in Maynooth.

I haven't even gone there yet, and I'm already planning on skipping any Tuesday morning lectures, so I can watch American TV from the night before!Yay Heroes and Prison Break!!

Rozabeez

Oh no, my commute is going to suck. The option of bus or train....and...and the whole 10 minutes travelling. The horror

That said, I'll probably miss a few.

lemansky

Seeing as I live in Maynooth I guess I'll have to....walk.....the horror of it all is just too much!Thos elong daily commutes...a nightmare:D

pisslips

I'm a self proffessed expert in missing lectures...although many many students claim this.
And yet every year, during exams you say,''right, I don't even need to study, just do homework and go to lectures like every other sane person''

Going into final year now and I'm still saying the same thing....I've a feeling ,I'm in for some hardship.

In fact you could skip all your lectures, if you just did assignments and tutorials, your just as likely to get 100%.
Not very likely mind but just as likely.

And living on campus is an absolute disaster, always plenty of like minded wasters to have fun with, fantastic though.

brianthebard

pisslips wrote:

I'm a self proffessed expert in missing lectures...although many many students claim this.
And yet every year, during exams you say,''right, I don't even need to study, just do homework and go to lectures like every other sane person''

Well, it is possible to do that, but you can get a good 2.1 if you put in even some effort-half the time I was studying, I really wasn't, and I still did good.

mazdafarl

I would recommend living in greenfield, its the best place to soak up the maynooth culture right in the middle

thebman

lol, I wouldn't recommend Old Greenfield that's for sure.

Pop down and visit the culture there during the day and you'll see why.

I'd recommend Parklands and Castle Dawson to live. The two nicest houses I stayed in during college were in these housing estates. They will leave you with a bit of a walk to the college (like 15-20 minutes) depending on whether you are at the entrance to the estates or not so getting a bike might be a good idea.

Lidl and Aldi do cheap bikes because of all the students and there is a bike shop near KnB music shop in the town centre (can't miss it).

Use http://www.daft.ie to find accomodation as it is a great website. I found all my accomodation through this website. If you can get on campus accomodation take it though as you'll have a great time on campus.

If you do come to Maynooth, join some clubs and socs to get to know people. The canoeing and kayaking club and fencing club are great clubs, full of sound people who will invite you out for a pint afterwards.