Changes in Ireland over the last 15 years

Johannes Scotus

Hi,

I would like your opinions about something.

I left Ireland about 15 years ago, right after the leaving cert.

I lived in different places around. Am now living in Brazil.

I will go back next year with my wife and we plan to stay there about 3 or 4 years. I`m worried about the reverse culture shock.

In what ways do you think Ireland has changed since I was there.

Thanks

Gordon

Moved to.. erm.. Afterhours. Not a PI.

El Weirdo

Gordon wrote: »

Moved to.. erm.. Afterhours. Not a PI.

Good... We can expect to see some excellent answers so then...

I'll begin:

Its shit. Stay where you are...

Jimbo

^ It's still full of begrudgers anyway

brousuka

Johannes Scotus wrote: »

Hi,

I would like your opinions about something.

I left Ireland about 15 years ago, right after the leaving cert.

I lived in different places around. Am now living in Brazil.

I will go back next year with my wife and we plan to stay there about 3 or 4 years. I`m worried about the reverse culture shock.

In what ways do you think Ireland has changed since I was there.

Thanks

The changes are huge from 15yrs ago! some bad, some good. I think the biggest change is in peoples attitudes - no longer the laid back, easy going type of thing, it's all cut throat now and material things like houses and cars and possesions have to be better than the next. All in all getting a bit plastic.

Suaimhneach

If you are coming to Dublin... its bigger, faster, louder, and probably seems meaner. But the things that one loves about the city are still here, you just gotta look a bit harder.

ScumLord

We moved it south and painted it purple.

Caoimhín

You cant buy a house within 100 miles of where you work unless you earn 60billion a year. You will end up like the rest of us doing a 35 hour a week commute to a job you hate, then home to a fat wife who only watches british soaps and eats icecream. You will never see the hateful little sh*ts you will call kids, and all the while you will hear rubbish about how the celtic tiger made us all happy and fabulously wealthy.

Bros123

caoibhin wrote: »

You cant buy a house within 100 miles of where you work unless you earn 60billion a year. You will end up like the rest of us doing a 35 hour a week commute to a job you hate, then home to a fat wife who only watches british soaps and eats icecream. You will never see the hateful little sh*ts you will call kids, and all the while you will hear rubbish about how the celtic tiger made us all happy and fabulously wealthy.

Try and think of the BAD points though........

ejmaztec

You have to have cars that are roadworthy now. Gone are the days when you used to slow down by driving your rusty old heap of sh1t into the front of a nearby shop.

Captain Darling

ejmaztec wrote: »

You have to have cars that are roadworthy now. Gone are the days when you used to slow down by driving your rusty old heap of sh1t into the front of a nearby shop.

Same roads, but twice or more, the amount of cars on them.

Jimbo

After centuries of alcoholism, drinking has become socially unacceptable in Ireland

gurramok

15 years, so 1993 you last seen the place.
Well, its more mutlicultural with all sorts milling around, not much dereliction since you left as they have been replaced by niche apt & office blocks.

And oh yeah, you have to drive a '08 car serviced by debt to fit in

caobhin wrote:

You cant buy a house within 100 miles of where you work unless you earn 60billion a year. You will end up like the rest of us doing a 35 hour a week commute to a job you hate, then home to a fat wife who only watches british soaps and eats icecream. You will never see the hateful little sh*ts you will call kids, and all the while you will hear rubbish about how the celtic tiger made us all happy and fabulously wealth

Post of the month as its so fluppin true?

Terry

I'm fifteen years older.

Also begrudgery has hit an all time high. Everyone is disillusioned. You can buy a house for less than last year. unemployment is rising again after dropping for most of the past fifteen years.

You pretty much fúcked up and missed out on the good years.
Unlucky.

MooseJam

The Roma are here now

Degsy

You wont recognise a lot of irish women.They now wear sunglasses on thier heads at night,talk a bizaare, faux-american patois and carry cups of 4 euro coffee around with them.Blokes in their early 30's now wear suits,have thier(thinning) hair teased up into spikes on top and talk constantly about home ownership,how much money they're making(usually **** all)and how they happily wear moisturiser.

Degsy

The roads are also clogged with human filth driving monster vehicles that are intended for use on a farm,going no further than the primary school,the cashpoint or taking up three parking spaces in tesco.

brousuka

In all fairness lads and lassies it's better than the oul' bleak 80's and early 90's. It's good to see a bit of flash around - or is it?

DonJose

I left Ireland in 1991 when unemployment was 15% :eek: Lived abroad for 15 years and returned in 2006. Unless you are earning 6 figures, don't come back, you'll never have the same lifestyle as abroad. A car will cost you three times more in Ireland and don't get me started on property, its so poorly built you have hear your neighbour fart 2 doors down. I came back to put the kids through school and college, everyday I wonder if I made a mistake coming back

andrew

ITT: whining and generalisation!

You kinda missed the Celtic Tiger btw

Degsy

andrew wrote: »

ITT: whining and generalisation!

You kinda missed the Celtic Tiger btw

There was no Celtic Tiger..it was a myth perpetrated by business interests,banks,the media and the government.

flanum

Postman Podge that used to be on the Den with Zig and Zag..? well hes now a late night chat-host with his brother Rodge.

oh and watch out for the big pointy stick on Oconnell st in Dublin.

ejmaztec

flanum wrote: »

oh and watch out for the big pointy stick on Oconnell st in Dublin.

That reminds me - nobody's mentioned the drugs...............

tramoredude

Everyone who has posted in this thread thus far is a depressing bastard

Ireland is awesome, Welcome Home!

Degsy

ejmaztec wrote: »

That reminds me - nobody's mentioned the drugs...............

Yeah.Ya cant get any apart from coke which is shiite.

daisy123

Glenroe was cancelled and Pat Kenny does the Late Late Show and Gay Byrne is now chairman of the Road Safety Authority. People think the Coronas make good music.

Degsy

No irish people work in shops anywhere anymore.

RobertFoster

There's very little, if any, white dog poo around anymore.

Judging by this thread, there's a lot of pessimists who have become more vocal in the last 15 years. I blame the internet.

Degsy

RobertFoster wrote: »

There's very little, if any, white dog poo around anymore.

Judging by this thread, there's a lot of pessimists who have become more vocal in the last 15 years. I blame the internet.

Oh yeah,the internet.That wasnt around 15 years ago.

Xavi6

Flamboyant gays and emos are everywhere.

daisy123

Also, British games are now played in Croke Park :eek:

Mr. CooL ICE

OP, what were your reasons for leaving in the first place? Did you just want more opportunities, or...?

towel401

15 years ago this was a nice country, nice and quiet, the people were all laid back. now all they care about is their expensive house. they can't fix anything themselves anymore. most people can only do one thing: their job. if a lightbulb needs changing, they order someone over the internet to come and change it.

Ireland is now a *real* european country, where the law and money has invaded into every aspect of a person's life. With real european people who only talk to their own little group of friends and don't associate with anyone else unless they are drunk on 5 euro pints.

Sherifu

15 years ago people had no cash but they were happy. Or something.

flanum

http://www.twowindows.com/blog/images/500x500imiss1993.gif

ejmaztec

You can't park anywhere for free and there are more traffic wardens than pubs, even in the middle of nowhere!:(

GirlInterrupted

Sherifu wrote: »

15 years ago people had no cash but they were happy. Or something.

Eh, no, not as far as I remember anyway. 15 years ago people complained about having nothing, now people complain about others having too much. 15 years ago emmigration was a reality for many, now it's immigration, and we still complain. 15 years ago we looked and behaved like we expected less than other Europeans, possibly because we were used to having less, now we expect more, and why not. Sure it's not perfect, but life's improved in my opinion.

cotwold

Well the famines over.

f1dan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhaZvkhHV0M&feature=user

ART6

Whatever it's bad points, Ireland is still a lot better country than many others even in Europe. Try living in the UK for a while to get an appreciation of Irish residency.

Oswald Osbourne

The Irish women are better looking these days cos they have to make more of an effort to keep up with the foriegn talent.

RATM

You can no longer get a packet of crisps and a Mr.Freeze for less than 25pence.

Irish women have manipulated Darwinian evolution and now emit a radiant orange glow from all parts of their body.

GirlInterrupted

caoibhin wrote: »

You cant buy a house within 100 miles of where you work unless you earn 60billion a year. You will end up like the rest of us doing a 35 hour a week commute to a job you hate, then home to a fat wife who only watches british soaps and eats icecream. You will never see the hateful little sh*ts you will call kids, and all the while you will hear rubbish about how the celtic tiger made us all happy and fabulously wealthy.

So, is this your present or your future we're talking about here?:)

Nolanger

• People are generally more polite
• There's less Irish working in the pubs/supermarkets/corner shops
• Young people look happier and more confident
• The privately-owned cinemas are gone and have been replaced by multiplexes
• Women appear more attractive but are mostly from abroad
• There's better street lighting at night
• More people eat meals at tables in the street
• There's lots of internet cafes
• There's more private 3rd-level colleges
• There's less video/DVD libraries
• There's more taxis
• Mobile phones are everywhere
• Virgin Megastore, Dunkin Donuts, Our Price, 7/11 are all gone

arse..biscuits

Macaroon bars are tiny now.
The green bit of a tangle twister is a paler green.
Spoons dont break as easily.
Cook books have pictures of people in them.

beautiation

In the last 15 years I've noticed that people's voices have gotten a lot less squeaky and their command of English has improved considerably. However, it's a lot harder to find a personal charioteer to bring you around the place free of charge, and people are a lot more reserved about stripping you naked in the toilets and performing the necessary services. If this rate of deteriotation continues for the next 15 years I dread to think what this place'll be like when I'm 32.

andrew

Nolanger wrote: »

• Virgin Megastore, Dunkin Donuts, Our Price, 7/11 are all gone

I freaking loved dunkin' donuts! When the hell will krispy kreme get their act together and open up a shop here :mad:

ejmaztec

All the bacon and cabbage fast-food restaurants are gone as well:(

r3nu4l

DonJose wrote: »

everyday I wonder if I made a mistake coming back

Ah crap! That's not what I want to hear!

RobertFoster wrote: »

There's very little, if any, white dog poo around anymore.

Excellent, time to book the flights home :pac:

ART6 wrote: »

Whatever it's bad points, Ireland is still a lot better country than many others even in Europe. Try living in the UK for a while to get an appreciation of Irish residency.

Tell me about it! I've been home four weekends this year and to be honest I've never felt more alive. Coming back to England is like coming home to the mundane! These people just don't know how to have the 'craic'. It really does exist folks!!

Papercut

Wow! Why is everyone so Cynical??

Ireland has definately improved and gotten better over the last 15 years...Look around...and yes I know some one is going to turn around and point out problems....but what country doesn't have its problems?

What happened to the Proud Spirit associated with being Irish?

Tir gan teanga, tir gan anam

ejmaztec

Also, people are a lot more cynical than they were fifteen years ago:cool: