What is North Galway really like? (N17 area)

dublin2galway

Hi there,

I am planning on moving to somewhere along the N17 between Claregalway and Tuam (not definite of an area, but possibly Corofin). But, being from Dublin don't really know the area at all yet.

I'd really like to get some honest opinions and advice on the area. Where good, where is dodgy. I've heard a lot of spiel about knacker and trouble filled Tuam and wonder
1. If it is true, and
2. If it is how bad, and :(
3. If true is the surrounding area/towns/villages bad too?:eek:

Also, any other pointers on the area - nicer villages, places to avoid....

Thanks a lot!

sgthighway

Corofin is a nice spot. You'd love it if you were into Gaelic Football because the they live on it. A lot of nice houses down there for sale at the moment. Check out Daft.ie. The only think is the traffic on the N17 especially through Claregalway is heart breaking but they will be a solution in the next few years.
Corofin is a Village and Tuam is a town. Tuam is the fastest town in Ireland.........tuuuuuuuuuuuuaaaaaaaaaaaaaaammmmmmmmmmm

I'll get my coat

ScumLord

If you like your countryside it's alright around the Tuam area. You have all the amenities like swimming pool and gym, more pubs than you can shake a stick at and your not really that far from Galway, even with traffic your looking at 40 minutes.

The biggest drawback with housing is, outside the towns you've nice houses but then you need a car to get around, inside the towns you've got crappy estates thrown up in a hurry.

dublin2galway

Thanks for the feedback guys. Seen a lot of the houses, and have our eyes on one particular one. Just trying to suss out the area befroe we put in an offer. Scary big move etc. etc.

sgthighway - hopefully we will have better jokes when we are down inthe fastest town, wah wah wahhhh!

ScumLord - we both drive so should be fine from that side of it. Mostly just hoping the locals are friendly and not all nutters :mad: and there isn't some mad city sized pig farm or sewage works planned! :eek:

Amimad

How bout a Dublin point of view.
I've been living in Galway 10 years, the city first, then Atherny (Great little Town) & have recently moved out the cuntry side to a place called Lavally, Tuam.

It'll be a culture shock if you've never lived in the counrty side before. Tuam town is fine, a few nice shops, alot of pubs( we're still woking our way through), some supermarkets & a few take aways.

If you like to see cows over your garden fence, then counrty living is for you. A quick tip, get the milk on the way home from work a few miles to the shop is a pain when all you want is a cup of tea.

Good luck with the move
Ami

dublin2galway

Thanks Ami

Yeah, first time living in the country. A bit freaked at the idea, but I am hoping the quality of life will be a bit better. Just a bit freaked I'll pick the wrong area. What was the receptin from locals beign a dub? I lived in Limerick for a few years about 10 or so years ago and was constantly getting grief over being a "f**kin Dublin c**t", or maybe I just was one! lol

Good advice on the milk. Of course couldn't I just milk one of the cows leanign over my wall?

Amimad

Ah D2G,
You will soon learn:D not all cows are for milking :L

Galway natives are great once they get to know you.
I might get in trouble for saying but to start off with they can be Stand offish & even appear snobish but I think they just like to get the measure of you first. In saying that they're not all that way & i have lots of Galway friends.

You'll gain a new skill down here, you'll be able to pick out a dublin accent form across a crowded pub:)

ScumLord

dublin2galway wrote: »

Good advice on the milk. Of course couldn't I just milk one of the cows leanign over my wall?

Of course, if you like very creamy, warm, unprocessed milk. Jayz I remember when our local milkman used to deliver the milk to us in those glass bottles and the cream had settled on the top.

big b

ScumLord wrote: »

Of course, if you like very creamy, warm, unprocessed milk. Jayz I remember when our local milkman used to deliver the milk to us in those glass bottles and the cream had settled on the top.

Aha!! so someone else is "mature enough in years" to remember that too!

The downside was that pesky birds would peck through the top & have a creamy breakfast.

back on topic, unless you're a complete d*ckhead, you'll find County Galway a pleasant & friendly place to live. Good luck, OP.

dublin2galway

Amimad wrote: »

You'll gain a new skill down here, you'll be able to pick out a dublin accent form across a crowded pub:)

It's everyone picking mine out I am more worried about!

Gone sale agreed there Thursday so hopefully will not fall through, and we will be down there in the new year....discovering what you can do with cows other than milk them (eat them?)

dublin2galway

big b wrote: »

Aha!! so someone else is "mature enough in years" to remember that too!

The downside was that pesky birds would peck through the top & have a creamy breakfast.

back on topic, unless you're a complete d*ckhead, you'll find County Galway a pleasant & friendly place to live. Good luck, OP.

Yep, found it pleasant and friendly so far. If I change my mind it's a bit late now. Still, looking good. cant wait now...

Amimad

d2g,

agreed there Thursday

Fingers crossed;)
Let us know how you get on,& where the new house is.
Merry Christmas & Good luck.
Ami

Mars Bar

Pity I didn't read this earlier...I'm a Tuamie and live on a road full of knackers if I'll be honest and have never had one bit of trouble at all from them.

How you getting on?

dublin2galway

Thanks everyone for the advice. We are back to the drawing board. A right pain as we had our heats set.:(

People selling to us didn't follow their planning permission so we can't buy that house. We are back looking. Heading down Saturday to look at 3 places - one in Hedford beside lough Corrib, one a little outside Claregalway and one near Corofin.

Any pointers on those locations?

Also saw one the far side of Tuam, but figure (even thought it's lovely) the traffic between Tuam and Claregalway would make it a killer comute to Galway.

Jaden

I'm a Dub, living in Galway for just over 10 years now. I'm settled here with two young kids. We're living off the N17 (actually between Headford and Belclare).

Tip number one: You're a Dub, and you always will be, get used to it. Wear the blue with pride, but you will take stick for it.

Galway is easily the most clannish part of Ireland (It's called the city of tribes for a good reason). That aside, they're an easy enough bunch to get on with, and all my Neighbours are blow-ins - they're virtually no natives living within a stone's throw of me.

Tuam isn't a bad spot at all, and vastly improved since I first came here. In fact, I find it preferable to Galway city.

As for specifics on the places you mentioned. Anywhere near the Corrib is probably way overpriced, as is Corofin, but it's a nice place. Headford isn't a bad spot either (I'm about 4 miles from it), but as with anywhere outside Dublin, if the town/pub/shop isn't walking distance to your house, then you may as well be in the middle of nowhere. One mile away is the same as five miles away - you still have to get into a car to get there. Bear this in mind.

My commute in to work is getting slower, but 25-30 minutes for 17.5 miles from my house into Parkmore isn't bad.

Anything else I can do, just post back or PM me.

dublin2galway

Jaden wrote: »

I'm a Dub, living in Galway for just over 10 years now. I'm settled here with two young kids. We're living off the N17 (actually between Headford and Belclare).

Tip number one: You're a Dub, and you always will be, get used to it. Wear the blue with pride, but you will take stick for it.

Galway is easily the most clannish part of Ireland (It's called the city of tribes for a good reason). That aside, they're an easy enough bunch to get on with, and all my Neighbours are blow-ins - they're virtually no natives living within a stone's throw of me.

Tuam isn't a bad spot at all, and vastly improved since I first came here. In fact, I find it preferable to Galway city.

As for specifics on the places you mentioned. Anywhere near the Corrib is probably way overpriced, as is Corofin, but it's a nice place. Headford isn't a bad spot either (I'm about 4 miles from it), but as with anywhere outside Dublin, if the town/pub/shop isn't walking distance to your house, then you may as well be in the middle of nowhere. One mile away is the same as five miles away - you still have to get into a car to get there. Bear this in mind.

My commute in to work is getting slower, but 25-30 minutes for 17.5 miles from my house into Parkmore isn't bad.

Anything else I can do, just post back or PM me.

Thanks Jaden. Some good points there. May take you up on the PM offer whn I have more Qs.:)

Amimad

D2G,
A simiular thing happened with the house we were after last year, but we did find a great house in the same location.
We had a good experince with two auctioneers, both showed us numerous properties on Sats which was great.
We ended up buying in Lavally, Tuam from Sherry Fitzgerald, Mannion, Kevin there was great,(he even left us a bottle of wine for xmas).
David Moggan is very good in the locality aswell.
Both have websites, so give them a look.
Bring you digital camera, it'll help later to remind you what you looked at.
Have a look at anything in you price range, you never know what you might find:)
Good luck with the hunt

Ami

dublin2galway

Amimad wrote: »

D2G,
A simiular thing happened with the house we were after last year, but we did find a great house in the same location.
We had a good experince with two auctioneers, both showed us numerous properties on Sats which was great.
We ended up buying in Lavally, Tuam from Sherry Fitzgerald, Mannion, Kevin there was great,(he even left us a bottle of wine for xmas).
David Moggan is very good in the locality aswell.
Both have websites, so give them a look.
Bring you digital camera, it'll help later to remind you what you looked at.
Have a look at anything in you price range, you never know what you might find:)
Good luck with the hunt

Ami

Thanks Ami

Yes, dealt with Kevin at one point. Very nice guy. Overall actually had no probs so far with auctioneers. Had one who was 0% intersted but that was fine as we weren't mad about the house.
Good idea with digital camera. Do auctioneers mind you taking pics? Had thought of that a while back when we first looked but thought they'd say no. I guess if you dont ask etc...!

Mars Bar

However, if you do go with Corofin you can cross back towards Turloughmore and Cregmore to Carnmore and voila! no Claregalway!

Jaden

mars bar wrote: »

However, if you do go with Corofin you can cross back towards Turloughmore and Cregmore to Carnmore and voila! no Claregalway!

Until it rains.....

dublin2galway

Yeah, and it never rains in the West! :rolleyes:

We went to see one place out near Craughwell and couldn't even get to it the roads were so flooded. It could have been lovely, but I'd have had to fork out for a boat as well as everything else...:D

Mars Bar

True I suppose...

serfboard

dublin2galway wrote: »

Yeah, and it never rains in the West! :rolleyes:

Was talking to a woman from Dublin one time and she said this: "People told me I'd miss my friends, the shops, the cinema but I didn't miss any of it. Mind you, one day it started raining and it didn't stop for 6 weeks!"

Better get used to it

BTW, I'm Galway city born and bred, moved to Tuam 5 years ago. Now living on an estate with Irish, Polish, Lithuanians, Pakistanis, Blacks, Whites, Travellers and even people from Dublin and apart from the odd "singer" walking back from the pub at 3 in the morning on a Fri/Sat, it's one of the quietest places I've ever lived.

Tuam is a grand little town, it's got (almost) everything you'd want, and it reminds me what Galway used to be like, with people having a bit more time for you here.

Good luck if/when you do move.

dublin2galway

serfboard wrote: »

Was talking to a woman from Dublin one time and she said this: "People told me I'd miss my friends, the shops, the cinema but I didn't miss any of it. Mind you, one day it started raining and it didn't stop for 6 weeks!"

Brilliant! lmao

Yeah, defo moving. And not ruling Tuam out at all. Only reason we might not go for it is distance from Galway for work. Hard to find a house at the moment too - nothing new coming on the market.

KMSL

!!!!!! DON'T BUY YEAT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's a buyers market out there know. Try going energy efficent if possible. You will not be sorry.

Any questions don't hesitate to ask

galwayrush

dublin2galway wrote: »

Brilliant! lmao

Yeah, defo moving. And not ruling Tuam out at all. Only reason we might not go for it is distance from Galway for work. Hard to find a house at the moment too - nothing new coming on the market.

Lots of new houses where i live, Lackaghmore / Turloughmore area, 11 miles from Galway. selling for about 420 K upwards now, but it is a buyers market.

dublin2galway

galwayrush wrote: »

Lots of new houses where i live, Lackaghmore / Turloughmore area, 11 miles from Galway. selling for about 420 K upwards now, but it is a buyers market.

Yeah, actually looking at one over there this weekend.

Decided to log/blog our adventure buying down there so it can help anyone else trying to move to Galway from Dublin (or anywhere I guess!)

http://movegalway.blogspot.com/

galwayrush

dublin2galway wrote: »

Yeah, actually looking at one over there this weekend.

Decided to log/blog our adventure buying down there so it can help anyone else trying to move to Galway from Dublin (or anywhere I guess!)

http://movegalway.blogspot.com/

I like the area, close to Galway, plenty of local shops.

dublin2galway

galwayrush wrote: »

I like the area, close to Galway, plenty of local shops.

Yeah, perfect distance for what I'm looking for. Just need to check the houses. Trying a few other towns/villages about the same distance too.

CowboyTed

dublin2galway wrote: »

Yeah, perfect distance for what I'm looking for. Just need to check the houses. Trying a few other towns/villages about the same distance too.

Headford, Carlistrane, Shrule, Kilconly, Annaghdown areas you can get into Galway up the Curragh Line which has alot less traffic. Check out Dermody Auctioneers (Ian) 093 52655. You'll be in Galway alot quicker. Headford is a good smaller than Tuam. But is a lovely town...

Carlistrane and Kilconly are just north of Tuam... Annaghdown is the best close to the lake and Galway. Lovely village which is about 10 miles from Galway.

Monivea is also lovely and you can also skip alot of traffic...

The important question, where are you going to be working in Galway...

dublin2galway

Well, after the last house falling through at a late stage I am waiting until we get the keys for this one, but looks like we have a house now in Turloughmore.

So, now I have dived in, anyone want to tell me about my new locality? :-)

Ted - working from home so will avoid the commute. (for the start at least - until the loneliness drives me nuts:eek:)

BTW - thanks to everyone who has been giving me advice here over the last few months. It's been really helpful and is greatly appreciated.

D2G

CowboyTed

dublin2galway wrote: »

Well, after the last house falling through at a late stage I am waiting until we get the keys for this one, but looks like we have a house now in Turloughmore.

So, now I have dived in, anyone want to tell me about my new locality? :-)

Ted - working from home so will avoid the commute. (for the start at least - until the loneliness drives me nuts:eek:)

BTW - thanks to everyone who has been giving me advice here over the last few months. It's been really helpful and is greatly appreciated.

D2G

Great place to live.. Hurling area.. Good back road into Galway threw Carnmore Cross... Great back road to Dublin threw Mountbellew and bog road...

dublin2galway

Cool. May be asking you more specifics on the shortcuts when I move down. Hear the main routes can be a bit slow.

CowboyTed

dublin2galway wrote: »

Cool. May be asking you more specifics on the shortcuts when I move down. Hear the main routes can be a bit slow.

The one from Dublin is easist... Athlone, Take Tuam Road, Until you get to the big bridge in ballinforan, a half to 3/4 a mile after that take a left( there is one just after the bridge skip that one and take the next).

You go along and striaight road across a bog road (its a good road but known locally as the bog road). You will land yourself in Mountbellew. Right through the village straight on thru Moylough. Stay on the main road for about 5 miles afterwards (sign post to Galway or Tuam).

After 5 Miles you'll come to a cross (horselip cross). See a signpost to Galway to the Left. Take it. Straight on for about tops 10 miles and your home...

This should take 45-50 min from Athlone... Booting it I have made Galway in an hour this way... It is actually quicker way from Athlone to Galway than the main route...

dublin2galway

Thanks Ted!

Will give that a try on my next trip.

galwayrush

dublin2galway wrote: »

Well, after the last house falling through at a late stage I am waiting until we get the keys for this one, but looks like we have a house now in Turloughmore.

So, now I have dived in, anyone want to tell me about my new locality? :-)

Ted - working from home so will avoid the commute. (for the start at least - until the loneliness drives me nuts:eek:)

BTW - thanks to everyone who has been giving me advice here over the last few months. It's been really helpful and is greatly appreciated.

D2G

Excellent, what part of Turloughmore? i'm in Lackaghmore, about a Mile from Lackagh Village.I love it here, good friendly neighbours and plenty of local shops.(My next door neighbour is from Dublin .)

dublin2galway

Good lord - not again!!!:eek:

House fell through again, for same reason as last one. :mad::mad::mad: Good God - just give me one person who is selling a house honestly without any hidden minefields or 24 rotting corpses behind the fridge!

Well, at least with viewing so many last week we have some to fall back to. I think headford is the next highest on the list. Any thoughts?

Mars Bar

serfboard wrote: »

Was talking to a woman from Dublin one time and she said this: "People told me I'd miss my friends, the shops, the cinema but I didn't miss any of it. Mind you, one day it started raining and it didn't stop for 6 weeks!"

Better get used to it

BTW, I'm Galway city born and bred, moved to Tuam 5 years ago. Now living on an estate with Irish, Polish, Lithuanians, Pakistanis, Blacks, Whites, Travellers and even people from Dublin and apart from the odd "singer" walking back from the pub at 3 in the morning on a Fri/Sat, it's one of the quietest places I've ever lived.

Tuam is a grand little town, it's got (almost) everything you'd want, and it reminds me what Galway used to be like, with people having a bit more time for you here.

Good luck if/when you do move.

I wonder do I know ya?

serfboard

mars bar wrote: »

I wonder do I know ya?

Don't think so - I am not now, nor have I ever been, a sham. I'll always be a blow-in (not that I mind that too much).

And my description of originally being from Galway and moving here fits quite a few people. Since I've moved, I've met quite a few "refugees"

CowboyTed

dublin2galway wrote: »

Good lord - not again!!!:eek:

House fell through again, for same reason as last one. :mad::mad::mad: Good God - just give me one person who is selling a house honestly without any hidden minefields or 24 rotting corpses behind the fridge!

Well, at least with viewing so many last week we have some to fall back to. I think headford is the next highest on the list. Any thoughts?

Hard Luck... try Ian at dermody.ie.. He can at least tell you what's available and he works heavilly in the Headford, Carlistrane, Shrule area... HE spent his time in Dublin so he'll know your story..

Jesus your having a hard time of it...

dublin2galway

CowboyTed wrote: »

Hard Luck... try Ian at dermody.ie.. He can at least tell you what's available and he works heavilly in the Headford, Carlistrane, Shrule area... HE spent his time in Dublin so he'll know your story..

Jesus your having a hard time of it...

Thanks for the recommendation, but we have gone sale agreed on yet another one so hopefully won't need it! Headford area this time. Hopefully will get some luck with this one.

So, looking to be in Galway starting life as a blow-in Galwegian in May :-)

BubbleWrap85

There's also a route through Corrandulla, nearly exact same mileage without the stress of Clare Galway! So traffic isn't a problem!!! Tuam is nearly as bad sometimes now anyhow!

Mars Bar

BubbleWrap85 wrote: »

There's also a route through Corrandulla, nearly exact same mileage without the stress of Clare Galway! So traffic isn't a problem!!! Tuam is nearly as bad sometimes now anyhow!

I second that!
Although people are now wide to the Curraghline...does be kinda heavy alright.

dublin2galway

I thought I'd write a follow up note now I am well settled in the West.

It's about 6 or 7 months now since we left Dublin and moved into our home outside Headford.

Overall: love it. Best thing I ever did in my life.

Good: peaceful, slower life, less stress than Dublin (think noise, beggers, junkies, boy racers, half of romania sticking the big issue in your face, bus fumes, commute to work). Space - LOTS of it. Friendlier people. No commute.

Bad: Very isolated so lack of human interaction, pub is too far to walk and obviously can't drive so have not had a pint in 7 months:eek:. Rains a lot. Scary roads.

I'd like to thank all the folks here who gave (and continue to give) me so much advice and info on Galway, but in the threads and PMs. Thanks!

happyoutscan

dublin2galway wrote: »

I thought I'd write a follow up note now I am well settled in the West.

It's about 6 or 7 months now since we left Dublin and moved into our home outside Headford.

Overall: love it. Best thing I ever did in my life.

Good: peaceful, slower life, less stress than Dublin (think noise, beggers, junkies, boy racers, half of romania sticking the big issue in your face, bus fumes, commute to work). Space - LOTS of it. Friendlier people. No commute.

Bad: Very isolated so lack of human interaction, pub is too far to walk and obviously can't drive so have not had a pint in 7 months:eek:. Rains a lot. Scary roads.

I'd like to thank all the folks here who gave (and continue to give) me so much advice and info on Galway, but in the threads and PMs. Thanks!

No pints for seven months!!! My God man that must be rectified. There is a pub in Cloughanover (couple miles out the Galway road from Headford) called Campbell's Tavern. Great people, great vibe and a good pint. As for music this place is special, he gets in the likes of the Saw Doctors, Duke Special etc etc etc and the locals are crazy about music so their is always a session of sorts on the go. I'd highly recommend for your first Headford pints, arranging a taxi should be no problem. Whereabouts in Headford are you?

happyoutscan

Just found this, it may be of some use to you.

http://www.headfordonline.com/

dublin2galway

happyoutscan wrote: »

No pints for seven months!!! My God man that must be rectified. There is a pub in Cloughanover (couple miles out the Galway road from Headford) called Campbell's Tavern. Great people, great vibe and a good pint. As for music this place is special, he gets in the likes of the Saw Doctors, Duke Special etc etc etc and the locals are crazy about music so their is always a session of sorts on the go. I'd highly recommend for your first Headford pints, arranging a taxi should be no problem. Whereabouts in Headford are you?

Yeah, definitely got to rectify the pints situation! I've heard Cambells is the best place about. Will try to get over there soon. I presume you can drive over and grab a taxi back? - Will they have numbers at the bar or should I take down one of the ones in Joyces?

Live out the Greenfields side of town, just near Claran church.

tred

dublin2galway wrote: »

I thought I'd write a follow up note now I am well settled in the West.

It's about 6 or 7 months now since we left Dublin and moved into our home outside Headford.

Overall: love it. Best thing I ever did in my life.

Good: peaceful, slower life, less stress than Dublin (think noise, beggers, junkies, boy racers, half of romania sticking the big issue in your face, bus fumes, commute to work). Space - LOTS of it. Friendlier people. No commute.

Bad: Very isolated so lack of human interaction, pub is too far to walk and obviously can't drive so have not had a pint in 7 months:eek:. Rains a lot. Scary roads.

I'd like to thank all the folks here who gave (and continue to give) me so much advice and info on Galway, but in the threads and PMs. Thanks!

have u being down to greenfields for a pint at all?

ManFromAtlantis

and north galway isnt far from the promised land.

dublin2galway

Sadly not yet. Although it's my nearest. I was down there on Friday and the whole place seems locked up for Winter. The only sign of life was a very old collie who seemed to think my car was a sheep!

tred

dublin2galway wrote: »

Sadly not yet. Although it's my nearest. I was down there on Friday and the whole place seems locked up for Winter. The only sign of life was a very old collie who seemed to think my car was a sheep!

Call down there saturday evening. Its really only busy in summer. There is also Murphys pub in kilbeg. Only open a few hours in the evening and weekends, but a great pint of guinness. If u can get a designated driver for an hour, well worth a visit.