Student Residences

quacks

Hi, I'l be heading here in September and just wondering which ressidence accommodation ye would recomend, I know I'm leavin it late.

Anyway, will be in 1st year and from what I hear I understand corrib villiage is generally the place for first years. However I'm dropping out of my current college so I've already done the whole 1st year party thing and don't realy want to repeat it so any suggestions as to which accommodation is best? Any info' would be great.

Black_Knight

Check the "I got accepted" Thread here. Its similar to yours.
Ive a small list of places here

Coiribe village is really only for 1st years, mainly for first years who just want to party, as you said.

Gort na Coiribe, Cuirt na Coiribe are both student accomodation for the slightly more mature students. A few 1st years, mostly 2nd or 3rd years. Its more expensive then houses or apartments but its student accomodation. Cuirt is well kept from what ive heard and seen, nothing missing or broken from the apartments when you move in etc.
Gort can have a tendancy to be a bit of a cowboy job as regards how clean they are in September. Some cups or plates might be missing, the odd bit broken or not working, thank the previous tennants. Gort from what ive seen suffers from alot of damp issues, mould appearing on the walls, on the windowsills etc. Horrible to think about, thank the contract builders for that!

After that theres Menlo appartments, they have a number of student living there, its a bit further out then cuirt or gort, maybe an extra 500 meters, but at 8.50am when its raining slightly, 500 meters can easilly be the difference between going to college, or staying in that lovely warm bed!

If your new to Galway, and new to NUIG then renting and sharing an apartment or house with others might not be the best idea, or easy to find. 1st years generally dont get houses or apartments, but perhaps because you are a 2nd time 1st year you might get in with some 2nd years. If you do go down the route of a house or apartment, the link I have above covers the best places IMO to look.

Any questions, just ask
:pac:

Toto Wolfcastle

I can tell you where not to go: Dunaras.

It's 15 minutes walk from college, which was fine for me, but then you add in the black mould, the slow internet, and the various other problems we've had. (I have a long list if anyone is interested!) If you do end up there if there is nothing else, ask to be in the apartments that are separate to the main part. It's quieter.

But try not to end up there!

C-J

For first year, corrib village is the best option. I made all my best friends there, and decided to live there even though my friends from home were living in a private house- best decision I ever made!!

quacks

Thanks for the replies, don't know a sole in Galway so here is pretty much the only place I can get useful info from (the sites' blurbs are all pretty similar).
If anyone has anything more (however small) to add please do.

edit: janeybabe- might well end up there, is it really that bad?

Peleus

if i dont get my first choice, i might end up there for engineering. Should i be looking for accomodation now or can i just leave that till August? I really don't feel like looking for accomodation now for somewhere i may not be goin to. would it be hard to get some in August?

Black_Knight

Peleus wrote: »

if i dont get my first choice, i might end up there for engineering. Should i be looking for accomodation now or can i just leave that till August? I really don't feel like looking for accomodation now for somewhere i may not be goin to. would it be hard to get some in August?

Yes it will. August is going to be a hectic time. The best you can do is to put yourself on waiting lists in student accomodation. If someone who has a room doesnt go to galway, the freed up room goes to the next on the waiting list.

sallyally

i lived in dunaras this year and i have to admit i loved it! the apartments are much nicer than any of the student villages iv visited with cuirt being an exception! we went the entire year without an inspection, so no worries about annoying managers. Parties are not a problem, the security don't mind at all and never really intrude. Also, the village itself is a nice size so you get to know the majority of your neighbours pretty well, which is always a plus! I realise that the location is far from perfect but believe me the walk becomes the norm with time!

Toto Wolfcastle

sallyally wrote: »

the security don't mind at all and never really intrude.

That's all well and good but I lived in the apartments right next to the Oaks hotel and security rarely came down. At one point there were people kicking our door in and banging our windows at half 3 in the morning and we had no numbers for security. I was about to call the Gardai when they stopped. And after that it took over a week to give us the security numbers because he had to make sure he gave us the one that actually got through to the security guard on duty. He ended up just giving us a few.

brianthebard

Black_Knight wrote: »

Yes it will. August is going to be a hectic time.

I've only tried a few places but I keep being told to wait until August, is that normal?

Black_Knight

Some people wait, I dont like to. I prefer not having to rush it.

brianthebard

yea but if landlords and accommodation
agencies aren't showing places what do you do?maybe it was just the people i've called so far?Posted via Mobile Device

Supermanscat

Here dont mind that talk about waiting! I got a house in Dun Na C this time last year so start lookin now if i was you

Toto Wolfcastle

Ya, I suggest not waiting until August. Loads of places are full at this stage so you need to get yourself on waiting lists, which will start to fill up. Then, if you're lucky, you'll get a cancellation when CAO offers come out. If you wait until August you probably have little chance of getting the place that you want.

Supermanscat

Well said Janey! Oh and more advice, if you think your really lucky to get an apartment in centrepoint then just ask why? Alot of my friends were boastin about how they got this place called centrepoint.
Its AGES away from the college.
Its a ten min walk, 5 minutes crossing over with a lama and then scaling a mountain for fifteen mins:D
Ah no but it really is very far away! So stay clear!

brianthebard

Cheers lads and ladies, I'll get on the to the uni they might have an accommodation list I can check out.

Toto Wolfcastle

brianthebard wrote: »

Cheers lads and ladies, I'll get on the to the uni they might have an accommodation list I can check out.

Call them, don't e-mail them. It took them 2 months to reply to my e-mail last year! Having said that, the woman in there is great at sorting any problems with accommodation, and will give you advice about where to look.

vetmed2012

I am an American student and will be coming to Galway for the next Spring semester. Basically all the study abroad advisors say that Corrib Village is the only place students who are there for only one semester can stay. Is that true. It will be my last semester in college, so I am a bit worried about staying with only 1st years as I am a bit beyond the party phase of my life. Any suggestions? I'm not at all interested in staying with other abroad students cuz i want to meet cool Irish students!!

Another side note...Anyone have any experience or info about the Equestrian Club on campus?

Black_Knight

Gort na Coiribe take on American students who come over for just one semester.

http://www.gortnacoiribe.com/

Then at christmas when they leave head back stateside, they are replaced by another batch of Americans.

Best give Gort a call/email and see what they say.

PS. Its nicer then coiribe village, but its student accomodation, it has its faults, thin walls, damp here and there etc

TheInvisibleFie

'Lived' in Corrib Village this year and I have to say that if you are an international student don't bother. Every single one that I talked to hated it. Most of the people there are 17/18 and living away from home for the first ttime. There are parties all the time during the week and at weekends it was desolate. Now having horrible snobby was more of a problem to me than the other asapects but I would say it just wouldn't be enjoyable. It's hassle getting friends in after seven/ eight in the evening.

To anyone who thinks they need to go to Corrib Village to make friends: have a bit more confidence in yourself.

Squeeonline

janeybabe wrote: »

I can tell you where not to go: Dunaras.

It's 15 minutes walk from college, which was fine for me, but then you add in the black mould, the slow internet, and the various other problems we've had. (I have a long list if anyone is interested!) If you do end up there if there is nothing else, ask to be in the apartments that are separate to the main part. It's quieter.

But try not to end up there!

15mins my hole. I lived in Lisdonagh and had a couple friends in Dun Aras. It would take me 25mins to get to the Arts Millennium. so unless you know a way to get to the college faster than I did, i dont know how you managed it. (I walked.... I know it only takes 10mins to cycle but its a bitch home up the hill)

DO NOT GO TO EITHER LISDONAGH OR DUNARAS, without a car anyway. The appt are nice but so far from the college. If you have friends going to galway, rent a house which is what Im doing now.

You have to remember that most of the time you will be walking home in torrential rain and gale force winds. Its only nice coming up to the summer exams.

Toto Wolfcastle

Squeeonline wrote: »

15mins my hole. I lived in Lisdonagh and had a couple friends in Dun Aras. It would take me 25mins to get to the Arts Millennium. so unless you know a way to get to the college faster than I did, i dont know how you managed it. (I walked.... I know it only takes 10mins to cycle but its a bitch home up the hill)

Well it took me 15 minutes but I'm a fast walker.

Squeeonline

I can almost understand 15mins there, but its atleast 25 home uphill, unless you are fairly fit which Im not!

It does feel like an eternity when the weather is bad though...

Bijoux

Peleus wrote: »

if i dont get my first choice, i might end up there for engineering. Should i be looking for accomodation now or can i just leave that till August? I really don't feel like looking for accomodation now for somewhere i may not be goin to. would it be hard to get some in August?

Look now!


I lived in cuirt in first year and its lovely, as is Gort....they are both quieter than Corrib but are still good craic!

You're too late for either at this point though, I would try Menlo or renting privately.

oneofakind32

http://www.nuigalway.ie/accommodation/student_residences.html
Just looking on the website, there seems to be alot more options available for student residences then I was aware of. They are are all still ridiculously priced compared to the GMIT side of town. A house in the newcastle area is always the cheapest most convienient bet IMO

lalalalal.. I don't have accommodation.. la la la la la....... Im screeeewed!!!!!

Black_Knight

Deleted User wrote: »

lalalalal.. I don't have accommodation.. la la la la la....... Im screeeewed!!!!!

Theres still time to get accomodation. If you put some effort in you can easilly* still get one.

[size=-2]*This is not a guarantee[/size]

I've been looking for the past few days (I know I know, I left it pretty late) and I can't find anything. The most annoying thing is that, like everyones saying to get the galway advertiser on wednesday when it comes out.. But I can't cuz im going to a gig... ahh.. what to do..

Amazing band.. vs.. accommodation.

Black_Knight

Muse is it? Because quite frankly if its anything short of muse then you should be getting accomodation! and giving me the tickets!

Best you can do is get the advertiser online and ring all the numbers the next day and hope you get one still available.

Squeeonline

I managed to get student accom in Lisdonagh like a week after the CAO offers came out. I knew i had gotten enough points by far, but i was too lazy to go and sort stuff out. A 4 hour bus to Galway from Dublin was my biggest obstacle.

All is not lost. Yet. Just get a move on. Ring around, look in the Advertiser (online every wednesday). Dont be afraid to call places even based on a 10word description and ask some questions. These are things I wish i did.

Black_Knight

Black_Knight wrote: »

Muse is it? Because quite frankly if its anything short of muse then you should be getting accomodation! and giving me the tickets!

Best you can do is get the advertiser online and ring all the numbers the next day and hope you get one still available.

Yep.. tis the unmentionable band! SOOOOOOOO EXCITED!

But.. thinking of selling my tickets.. cuz like.. I kinda need to live somewhere..

Black_Knight

Its ok, i give you permission to go to muse. Theres always next weeks advertiser. And daft too.

Issac Hunt

I want to go to Muse

Most amazing gig i've ever seen last time they were here.

On the plus side, i got a place in cnoic an oir

granted, it took me 8 hours of rejections to get it but hey, its all good

sock.rocker*

i have two muse tickets on my locker next to me.. nd im not goin. burn.

witnessmenow

There's alot of you Mentioning something that Can't be talkeD about

Black_Knight

True witnessmenow. Its my bad. Woops.


Everyone shut up and get back on topic.... Thank you, come again

Squeeonline

But we arent Mentioning Companies that "must not be nameD", simply an excellent band that is playing soon. This is no different to a thread in the music section IMO.

However I like to toe the line...

I think you should sell them (at face value obviously) or give them to someone who will go. By having the tickets and not going you are denying two people (or one obese person) a chance to see Muse.

Issac Hunt

sock.rocker* wrote: »

i have two muse tickets on my locker next to me.. nd im not goin. burn.

damn you to hell!!! :mad: lol

Chris_533976

Corrib is for First Years.

I was a year in Dun Aras. Its not too bad. Could be better, could be worse. Ask for one of the apartments near the hotel (and an upstairs one) if possible. Usually you have postgrads down that end who by and large are quiet.

Toto Wolfcastle

Chris_533976 wrote: »

Corrib is for First Years.

I was a year in Dun Aras. Its not too bad. Could be better, could be worse. Ask for one of the apartments near the hotel (and an upstairs one) if possible. Usually you have postgrads down that end who by and large are quiet.

That's also where at least 4 apartments had problems with damp and mould last year. I'd stay clear.

Casper89

OK I'VE A BIG PROBLEM!!!! I'm five points short of my course, so i'm waiting on second round offers and possibly appeals, so now i have to send Corrib Village back the form saying i didn't get my course cos you've only 3 days after 1st round offers before you lose your 700e deposit:(
so now i've lost my accomm, but am determined i'll get my course so i've to go looking for new accomm in galway, but i'm scared that at this stage any accomm available now would be too far away from campus?? like i know i wouldn't be able to pay for transport all year!!!! does anyone have any idea if they'd be any decent accomm left now??! i live in kerry and searching over the net is so stressful and confusing!!!!

Issac Hunt

Issac Hunt wrote: »

I want to go to Muse :(Most amazing gig i've ever seen last time they were here.On the plus side, i got a place in cnoic an oir

Yeah.. you missed an AMAZING gig.
...eh.. cnoic on oir is soooooooo far away! I hope you enjoy those early morning walks in the rain! Muhahahaha!

Casper89 wrote: »

OK I'VE A BIG PROBLEM!!!!! does anyone have any idea if they'd be any decent accomm left now??! i live in kerry and searching over the net is so stressful and confusing!!!!

Eh.. Ive tried all student residencies and theyre all booked up. Your best bet is private accommodation.. look on daft.ie. If you're looking on your own, theres plenty of houses available! It'l be grand! Don't worry so much!

Casper89

Deleted User wrote: »

Yeah.. you missed an AMAZING gig.

Eh.. Ive tried all student residencies and theyre all booked up. Your best bet is private accommodation.. look on daft.ie. If you're looking on your own, theres plenty of houses available! It'l be grand! Don't worry so much!

private...that would be fair expensive yeah?! mam is gonna KILL me!!:pac:
are they houses near enough campus?? i'll check daft thingy now, thanks:)

Casper89

for crying out loud, they all seem to be looking for 'professionals' and mature students:(

Squeeonline

Casper89 wrote: »

OK I'VE A BIG PROBLEM!!!! I'm five points short of my course, so i'm waiting on second round offers and possibly appeals, so now i have to send Corrib Village back the form saying i didn't get my course cos you've only 3 days after 1st round offers before you lose your 700e deposit:(
so now i've lost my accomm, but am determined i'll get my course so i've to go looking for new accomm in galway, but i'm scared that at this stage any accomm available now would be too far away from campus?? like i know i wouldn't be able to pay for transport all year!!!! does anyone have any idea if they'd be any decent accomm left now??! i live in kerry and searching over the net is so stressful and confusing!!!!

Ok I think i can help you here a little. If i remember correctly, you dont actually lose all of your deposit. For most student places you lose 100€ after that date but you get the rest of it back. They call it "administration fees" or some load of bull. Hold on to Corrib for now. Altnough i never lived there and hated the place when i visited, it really depends who you get in with and who you are near.


When searching for accomm on any other website, googleearth/maps is your friend. You really want to be within 10/15 mins walk (and dont trust the times on website - they lie like ****.)

i.e roughtly 10/15 walk to eyre square from quad. Roughly 10mins walk from Concourse to Dunnes westside. You'd want to be within that circle. So look in Newcastle, Shantalla area(sp?). anything near the hospital is good.

Also check out the college website. I think its updated now. Dont be afraid to ask here - http://www.bebo.com/Profile.jsp?MemberId=4467555692 -- or here http://www.sin.nuigalway.ie/boards/index.php

people should be happy to help you.

As for transport... As long as you arent out in Bearna or Knocknacarra or really far east you wont need transport. I have never even thought about looking for a month/longer ticket for the buses.

From my experience, landlords are far more likely to take you on (providing you are looking for an entire house as was my case) if you have friends ready to join with you.

As for single rooms, i dont have any experience there yet. We are taking on one girl into our house as one of our friends dropped out but another friend is organising it as i am out of the country til september.

You dont need to stress, but you do need to work and put some effort into looking. Dont be afraid to call numbers and ask about the accomm. The Galway advertiser (out online every wednesday - paper every thursday) is great for ads but they can be very short. Just ring and ask for more details. You wont know until you ask. You could be passing up the dream house because the description was short.

You could also do what i did in my first year and ring up load of places and ask to see them all on a certain weekend. Have a time table of when you are viewing the houses. I ended up living in Lisdonagh appts anyway, but it was nice to see what the market is like. You know, comparing prices and quality.

Jayus, this post was longer than i thought it would be. Happy hunting.

english4490

sallyally wrote: »

i lived in dunaras this year and i have to admit i loved it! the apartments are much nicer than any of the student villages iv visited with cuirt being an exception! we went the entire year without an inspection, so no worries about annoying managers. Parties are not a problem, the security don't mind at all and never really intrude. Also, the village itself is a nice size so you get to know the majority of your neighbours pretty well, which is always a plus! I realise that the location is far from perfect but believe me the walk becomes the norm with time!

how long does it take you to walk into campus??

Squeeonline

english4490 wrote: »

how long does it take you to walk into campus??

I lived in Lisdonagh last year, would take between 25 and 30 mins so a couple mins less for Dun Aras. Not recommended. Going home is up hill too. Horrible in wet weather (quite frequent in Galway) as cars splash you all the way home cos the road is so bad.

QueenOfLeon

Anyone got any opinions on what its like to live in corrib village in first year? Hoping to head there in september and kinda want to get an idea from other students what its like! And is there much difference between corrib village and galway student residences?:D

Squeeonline

Anne-Marie!! wrote: »

Anyone got any opinions on what its like to live in corrib village in first year? Hoping to head there in september and kinda want to get an idea from other students what its like! And is there much difference between corrib village and galway student residences?:D

God help you.

I heard CV has an 80% failure rate from first years. You wont sleep properly. Read the rest of this thread properly. I've already outlined quite a few things and I dont want to repeat myself because of someone being lazy.

xOxSinéadxOx

Is there anywhere decent left that isn't booked out? and I should put my name on a waiting list for places shouldn't I?

Squeeonline

Havent a clue to be honest. I applied in late august and still got Lisdonagh.

I'd throw your name down on a few lists. Worst comes to the worst, you lose a couple hundred euro from deposits (its a scam) but you get some where nice.

So many people wont get the points they need for their course. A lot of people also use Galway as a back up plan to Dublin universities (not cos NUIGs bad, but because they live in dublin) and want to have accomm sorted if they dont get the 600 pts they need for med in trinity.

The sooner you put down your name, the earlier in the queue you are.