Cork vs. Dublin (compared with London)

herezbex

I'm American (lucky to also hold an EU passport) and work in construction management. I worked in London for several years, then NYC, and am now thinking about Ireland for my next project. Would appreciate any opinions of Cork vs. Dublin re: cost of living, quality of life, etc. Which you prefer and why? Also, if you've lived/worked in London, would appreciate any comparisons. And FYI, I'm the type of person who prefer walks with my dog and drinks at the pub to dirty streets and drunken Saturday nights (but not always )! Appreciate your opinions, Rebecca

AARRRGH

You do know the Irish construction industry is ****ed at the moment?

dc69

herezbex wrote: »

I'm American (lucky to also hold an EU passport) and work in construction management. I worked in London for several years, then NYC, and am now thinking about Ireland for my next project. Would appreciate any opinions of Cork vs. Dublin re: cost of living, quality of life, etc. Which you prefer and why? Also, if you've lived/worked in London, would appreciate any comparisons. And FYI, I'm the type of person who prefer walks with my dog and drinks at the pub to dirty streets and drunken Saturday nights (but not always )! Appreciate your opinions, Rebecca

Dublin is better

Dudess

Hi Rebecca,

Well it's all a matter of opinion really. Dublin's population is over a million and a half (including much of the commuter belt) while Cork's population is about 200,000. Yet once you don't have to deal with Dublin's horrible suburban sprawl, it's quite navigable. The city centre is not that huge - it's pretty compact. I'm from Cork, lived in Dublin. After a while I felt there wasn't much of a difference in certain respects - going to the same pubs all the time, same shops. It's not like London or New York where you'll always be discovering new stuff. Dublin is a great city though - vibrant and youthful. But not everyone agrees - some say they find it dreary, oppressive and unfriendly. Still though, it's conducive to dog walking and there are nice pubs. It's near the sea too. But it has horrendous traffic problems and the cost of living is quite high.

Cork rents are so much lower, the traffic isn't even a fraction as bad (I start work at 9.15 and leave at 8.45 or 8.50. I live seven or eight miles from work - it's sweet!) The country and seaside are so accessible. It has similar shops to Dublin, great restaurants. Life is easier because of everything being so much closer together. But it's small. And while there's a great buzz on weekend nights, there wouldn't be as much happening there as in Dublin. It's a friendly, warm place though. Even when I was sick to the back teeth of it and just had to move away, I still loved coming home at weekends. I couldn't imagine myself living in Dublin now - but I visit it fairly often.

Heisenberg.

This post has been deleted.

eth0_

I would advise you to investigate your options thoroughly before moving, OP. As someone else has said, the construction industry in Ireland is f*cked now, people are being laid off daily.

Maybe try and get a job on one of the government projects like building a new motorway or the new Luas tram lines. Might offer more job security than working for a property developer

nesf

The Scientist wrote: »

There's only 3/4 visible cranes in the City Centre.

*looks out window*

I count 5...

herezbex

Thanks for your opinions! Dublin is likely where I'd work. (Plus I have better contacts there.) Funny you counting the cranes. When I was in London in Feb, the skyline was littered with them, yet they said there were no jobs there, either (there were, of course). Best, Rebecca

nesf

herezbex wrote: »

Funny you counting the cranes. When I was in London in Feb, the skyline was littered with them, yet they said there were no jobs there, either (there were, of course).

Yeah, I missed two earlier, I can see seven.

The thing is, I can also see the rolling hills and fields, and tell tillage from grazing from the fourth storey window, and I'm in the city centre proper here. In London, I wouldn't see much from a fourth storey window, Cork being a fly speck of a village in comparison to it.


If you've better contacts in Dublin, it's an easy call really. I'd only advise coming down to Cork, looking for jobs in construction if you had contacts here. Dublin has many many times the population of Cork after all.

estebancambias

Ok OP I'm going to tell you something. I lived in New York City at a young age and also London.

I never liked London. The only thing I liked about it was the large amounts of people and the wide range of mixes. Now I'm not saying London is not a great place, but this is just my own opinion.

New York was great and if I ever have to(out of need) I might move back there again.

On to Dublin, I think the place is great, and only getting better. One aspect of Dublin sometimes I don't like is that at times the streets can be empty...and non vibrant...normally early around 9am.

The Goverment has also seemingly copied some LA like design just throwing up new settlements when ever it needs be, instead of increasing the size of city within its current confines. What is this called urban sprawl or something?


I would fully support you moving here, and believe you should give it a shot...but advice try move here at first during summer weather to give you a good first impression.;)