Things I Dislike About Carlow

inarut

Just thought I might get the ball rolling on this one as it hasn't been brought up here until now.
Having lived around here for most of my life, I can say Carlow is far from the worst place to live and its generally an allright place to be but I always like getting away for some reason and don't think I'll ever settle down here. I was also able to give a visitor a grand tour of the town in 15 minutes last Saturday .. before he decided he wanted to head straight back up the country.

Anyway Some of the Things I dislike:

Town on a Saturday Night/Drink Culture.
The state of the Roads all around the Town centre.
Poor Train Service in the mornings to Dublin.
Lack of Tourist Attractions.
Lack of Industry and Business.
Its Commuter Town Status.
No General Hospital
Some of the People.
That theres not much happening during the week.

Any opinions?

ShayK1

inarut wrote: »

Just thought I might get the ball rolling on this one as it hasn't been brought up here until now.
Having lived around here for most of my life, I can say Carlow is far from the worst place to live and its generally an allright place to be but I always like getting away for some reason and don't think I'll ever settle down here. I was also able to give a visitor a grand tour of the town in 15 minutes last Saturday .. before he decided he wanted to head straight back up the country.

Anyway Some of the Things I dislike:

Town on a Saturday Night/Drink Culture.
The state of the Roads all around the Town centre.
Poor Train Service in the mornings to Dublin.
Lack of Tourist Attractions.
Lack of Industry and Business.
Its Commuter Town Status.
No General Hospital
Some of the People.
That theres not much happening during the week.

Any opinions?

I have and opinion:

1. Town on a Saturday Night/Drink Culture.

You'll get that anywhere in ireland

2. The state of the Roads all around the Town centre.

Apart from tullow street around shamrock square I think the roads are ok. Where area are you talking about?

3. Poor Train Service in the mornings to Dublin.

6:30am, 7:25am. 8:50am and 12:01pm... whats wrong with that?

4. Lack of Tourist Attractions

eeemm I'm not too sure about this one and maybe Carlow town is lacking BUT I'd bet there's plenty in the county of Carlow.

5. Lack of Industry and Business.

That's changing. More and more company/businesses are coming to carlow. Supermarkets we never had before, insurance companies, hotels. Sucks that we lost the sugar factory though

6. Its Commuter Town Status.

meh!! Again like No. 1 above... you'll get that in alot of places.

7. No General Hospital

That sucks ass tbh!!

8. Some of the People.

Agreed but again, not just carlow suffers.

9. That theres not much happening during the week.

Make stuff happen, go swimming, join a club, meet up with friends... organise an astro turf soccer match....if that's what you're into.....

darkbeatz

no proper shopping mall.

dont say fairgreen. its a kip

wheres me jumpa

darkbeatz wrote: »

no proper shopping mall.

dont say fairgreen. its a kip

Its funny how Carlow is billed as a "shopping destination". Theres a Discover Ireland ad on the radio, where Victoria Smurfit says she stopped off in Carlow for some shopping.

Something doesnt fit right here, Victoria Smurfit browsing through Heatons or Sports World or Barratts?! The Fairgreen is fine but how it is put forward as a shopping Mecca, I do not know.

One thing I hate about Carlow is the accent. Not the Carlow accent, but the "town" accent, you know the one, usually accompanied by a baseball cap dangerously close to falling off the back of the head, sounds like the guy is in pain. That one. For such a small county we have wide range of accents.

We have too many phone shops.

All the bars are essentially the same. All the bars insist on playing Dolly Parton, Working 9-5 at least once per hour.

We still have only one nightclub worth visiting. There seems to be a monoply when it comes to bars/nightclubs, with a handful of people calling the shots and making it very hard for others to get started.

The Quinnsworth/Pennys car park, that really gets under my skin, do not enter here unless you are driving a 4x4.

The fact that pedestrians still walk out on to the pedestrian crossings that now have lights on Kennedy Avenue.

The junction at the coach park, not so much the junction but people who cant seem to understand that the green light in front of them is what they should be obeying and not the red light for the other side of the junction.

The fact that the view of the castle in Graigue has now been completely obliterated by soon to be no go area apartments either side of it.

The fact that whenever you tell someone you are from Carlow they say "oh I bet you listen to Richie Kavanagh in The Foundry every Saturday".

ShayK1

wheres me jumpa wrote: »

The junction at the coach park, not so much the junction but people who cant seem to understand that the green light in front of them is what they should be obeying and not the red light for the other side of the junction.

OMFG Thats so annoying!!

wheres me jumpa

ShayK1 wrote: »

OMFG Thats so annoying!!

I feel your pain.

Nalz

"Eh lad............whats the scenario!"

Ah its not that bad. Can think of but wont mention 10 towns worse off then Carlow.

"Goin Foundry man?"

Every town has its ups and downs.

"Ah man got queaaaaaaaaaaaare wasted, ah lad was sh'it faced"

Im proud to be from Carlow

"Gottta smoke lad?"

SpitfireIV

wheres me jumpa wrote: »

The fact that the view of the castle in Graigue has now been completely obliterated by soon to be no go area apartments either side of it.

[rant]

That has been one of my major gripes about living in Carlow, I live in Graigue and thus pass the castle on a daily basis when going to/coming from town. There has never anything much been done, or made of the castle, ok, a couple of years back they did some landscaping around it, put in some plaques, information points etc. But vandalism has taken care of those. Instead of a nice lawned family area with a great view of the castle, they stick in a multi story building, blocking the view.

The castle is sourrounded by chinese, or thai (not sure what they are) restaurants, why wasnt there ever a visitor centre put in there? A fecking museum or something? (god knows we're waiting long enough for a museum here and there still seems to be no major effort being made to get the new one up and running!).

Ok, there's not much of the castle left, but it has an emmence amount of history behind it and there could be more made of it! I think Victor Hadden put it best:

"So Carlow turned its back on its castle. Even the little houses that encroached upon it looked the other way. But the western wall with its two flanking towers, gazes out hollow eyed towards the green fields of Slieve Margy.........and dreams of other days."


[/rant]

foggy_lad

ah here carla is a great little town lad, but fairgreen was a complete mistake it is full of skangers and going to end up a worse kip than the "mall" where pennys is.

stick-dan

lack of proper mens shops!!!

oh and lack of book store,bump bump!!:D:D

wheres me jumpa

The lack of shops that stock Cannelloni tubes is begining to get to me also.

shenanigans1982

My main one would be the cinema and the fact that only certain movies get a release here....and the fact that it doesn't sell buttered popcorn but that aint just a Carlow thing.

fitzyshea

carlow is not that bad other places are alot worse. Things have changed in Carlow in the last 10 years - for the better and I think things will contine to get better. But I defo HATE the roads and all the roundabouts!!!!!

inarut

wheres me jumpa wrote: »

Its funny how Carlow is billed as a "shopping destination". Theres a Discover Ireland ad on the radio, where Victoria Smurfit says she stopped off in Carlow for some shopping.

Some good shops but definitely not enough to bring the masses down the country for a days shopping. But if we had a really good bookshop??????

One thing I hate about Carlow is the accent. Not the Carlow accent, but the "town" accent, you know the one, usually accompanied by a baseball cap dangerously close to falling off the back of the head, sounds like the guy is in pain. That one. For such a small county we have wide range of accents.

Bugs me more than anything else really. Usually steer well clear of those quare savage sounding people.

We have too many phone shops.

And hairdressing and beauty salons. They seem to be all over the place. Carlow's a mecca for that though:)

The fact that pedestrians still walk out on to the pedestrian crossings that now have lights on Kennedy Avenue.

Hate the stop-start-stop driving on that stretch of the town. Really do. Arggh!

The fact that the view of the castle in Graigue has now been completely obliterated by soon to be no go area apartments either side of it.

Scandallous in every way. Completely removes any remaining views of the castle which is now surrounded by apartments and takeaways.
To much advance office developments now in the town anyway. Just have to hope they're eventually occupied I guess.

Just back to the earlier points I made at the start of the thread, Carlow with a population of 25,000 is Ireland's largest town outside the Greater Dublin area without a General Hospital. Kilkenny is still only a 30 minute drive away if theres an emergency... The "punctuality" of the Dublin trains in the morning ensured myself (over a 3 year period) and many other commuters made regular calls saying "I'm late for work". Still Needs some improving there- "Not there yet but we're getting there" as Irish Rail quite rightly said. With the other points- location and infrastructure have hindered the ability to attract significant industry/business to the town in recent years. Again things may yet improve with companies moving to the town, the annual supply of graduates from the IT and the bypass etc.

Anyway rant over. The good things about the town - maybe set up another thread like this one http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=86502
For me its some of the bars, choice of restaurants, shopping, leisure facilities, short walking distance everywhere and some nice residential areas and walks.
All in all a good place to live but some things as above just constantly annoy me.

eddiehead

The cinema pisses me off tbh, not much else, its a nice town in fairness, there are tonnes more places up and down the country that are much worse. I live in Tullow, so maybe I just dont spend enough time in Carlow town to be sick of it:D.
I do wish the foundry had some competition though, its packed most weekends and especially on bank holidays and the like, it does be rediculous. I remember there a few months back I was playin poker in Dublin and when talking to some of the lads I mentioned I was from Carlow, to which one of them asked "Were ya in the Foundry last night, quare savage isnt it?!":mad:, ****in smartar$e.

By the way, is Carlows "quare" equivalent to Cork's "Like" at this stage? We seem to be fairly well known for it.

mcaul

wheres me jumpa wrote: »

The lack of shops that stock Cannelloni tubes is begining to get to me also.

That will be addressed in 3 weeks.:D

Special Days - Gift & Gourmet Emporium

Opening July 28th approx. @ former Eason premises.

xual

I've lived here 30 years man and boy.. Its the people I know that make it for me.. With out them its a pure waste of a spot.. Seriously besides eating, bowling or cinema there is nothing to do at night except drink your gee off!!!!

Not good

shenanigans1982

xual wrote: »

Seriously besides eating, bowling or cinema there is nothing to do at night except drink your gee off!!!!

Not good

Is the bowling alley still there?....I thought it had been replaced by a gym.

eddiehead

shenanigans1982 wrote: »

Is the bowling alley still there?....I thought it had been replaced by a gym.

Theres bowling in the dome in any case

wheres me jumpa

mcaul wrote: »

That will be addressed in 3 weeks.:D

Special Days - Gift & Gourmet Emporium

Opening July 28th approx. @ former Eason premises.

Im gona hold you to that btw!

PM sent also.

inarut

Back to the original thread. Theres not enough live music or any comedy nights along with a theatre in the town. Even if it was only occasional entertainment....

ShayK1

there most definately is occassional comedy gigs in carlow.
Tommy Tiernan was here, d'unbelievables were here... I'm sure somebody can mention a few more

wheres me jumpa

ShayK1 wrote: »

there most definately is occassional comedy gigs in carlow.
Tommy Tiernan was here, d'unbelievables were here... I'm sure somebody can mention a few more

Yes we do have occassional gigs. Id much prefer a dedicated venue which can attract regular gigs. Castlebar is a great example of a small town that can drag in big names regularly.

Tom10

So ya i've been in carlow 3 years now, and i really don't have too many complaints other than its a small enough town. But seriously thats no real complaint, i mean that town is what it is.

But a few things that do wreck my head,

The traffic lights that replaced the perdestrian crossings - i mean why of why did they do this, it has just meant that the traffic has gotten worse along that street rather than improved it. People still treat it like a pedestrian crossing and you get stopped at both traffic lights regularly which is infuriating.

The cinema - oh my god, a ****hole and a half. never get any movies and when you do to see the one you want the popcorn is ass!!!

The roads in the town center are really bad, with a lot of one way streets, dodgy as hell parking and people pulling out of parking spaces along the road without actually giving a crap if a car is coming or not.

Midweek entertainment that doesn't involve drinking til u fall of chairs with students that still use the "verb" PARTY ON.

Finding a pub that shows munster matches on a tv that you can see!

The fact that scraggs have improved as a pub soooo much yet the people that go there still treat it like the craphole that it used to be.

So ya thats way too many complaints, it really isn't that bad but i do wish it was just a little bigger haha

aynon

in relation to the lights on lower barracks street(cant remember the proper name so lower barrack street it is then) it was to address the safety concern brought up by many drivers, my self included, but in private, not to the council. in accordance with the rules of the road, every pedestrian is breaking the law by making you stop suddenly, i know there was a letter writen on behalf of all driving instructors in carlow as this was putting off new drivers. to the point where they may actually hit someone if the emergancy instructor break hadnt been there....

the cinema-
what happened to the one openin in phase 2 in fairgreen. its sometimes on the map thingie at the front of the main centre. sometimes not...petition any one? or any one want to go halfies on opening a new one?

the sugar factory-
(moment of silence....)did any one notice that they finally took down the iconic towers the a month or two back. it sad to see all those jobs gone and the smell during the campaign. but there is no doubt that they were pumpin sh1t into the river, as a rower, just after the campaign you'd get a foam forming on the water, lovely town magnet.

will there be a grand opening of that shop? cheese and wine reception? **moochy moochy**

slimjimmc

No Karting track anywhere near, anyone remember there used to be one on the outskirts of Castlecomer?

Villain

slimjimmc wrote: »

No Karting track anywhere near, anyone remember there used to be one on the outskirts of Castlecomer?

Kiltorcan isn't that far away

ShayK1

There was an indoor track in Newbridge too. Long time ago now though.
Kiltorcan is great craic!! I'm gonna have to head down there again soon.

ShayK1

aynon wrote: »

in relation to the lights on lower barracks street(cant remember the proper name so lower barrack street it is then)

Kennedy Ave?

Nightshiftguy

wheres me jumpa wrote: »

The junction at the coach park, not so much the junction but people who cant seem to understand that the green light in front of them is what they should be obeying and not the red light for the other side of the junction.

QUOTE]

That really does my T*ts in .. how stupid are some ppl.. they stop... And 4 or 5 cars behind them beeping away and they still dont move.. god put a copper on the corner for te day and give each of tem points for blocking a road..

wheres me jumpa

Another junction that drives me crazy is the turn for Aldi off the Dublin road. When you turn right (from Kilkenny) or left (from Dublin) on to the road down to Aldi/Woodies, there is a fupping pedestrian crossing right on the junction. Which means if you are turning with a row of cars and a pedestrian crosses in front of you, the row behind you is likely to smash into you.

Whoever designed this layout for the pedestrian crossing has clearly never drove a car.

aynon

shayk1 wrote:

Kennedy Ave?

FO lol

two little niggily things annoy me, barracks street, not only for the really weird red light thing, but, this might just be me, the bus park.
yes it has 3 lanes. why is that nobody understands the road markings. i have been there when there has been a few close calls with cars and buses. 2 of the lanes are exits, one only for entrance(the one right at the pet shop door.) i have actually seen some cars going up the furthest one from that, the one right beside the bridge.

another one is the woodies entrace, driving out of there, can be seriously dangerous. they even but down new road markings, extreamly clear. but people still insist on coming in the out lane(inuedo?) its particularly off putting for newlearner drivers. 3 drivings schools use woodies car park as HQ. i myself was nearly hit in my instructors car when i started learning there a while back when i was on like my 3rd lesson

Milktrolley

wheres me jumpa wrote: »

Another junction that drives me crazy is the turn for Aldi off the Dublin road. When you turn right (from Kilkenny) or left (from Dublin) on to the road down to Aldi/Woodies, there is a fupping pedestrian crossing right on the junction. Which means if you are turning with a row of cars and a pedestrian crosses in front of you, the row behind you is likely to smash into you.

Whoever designed this layout for the pedestrian crossing has clearly never drove a car.

Would pedestrians use the crossing at all if it was put more 'out of the way'? It'd be safer alright but human nature dictates where these things go

Honey-ec

My main gripe is the absolute pig-ignorance of a significant minority of people parking in the Fairgreen car park. Disabled spaces are constantly being used by people with no permits, yet the car park "attendants" do nothing. What the hell are they there for? Also, the general inability of some people to park full-stop - do you really need to take up two spaces???

They also badly need to put a second exit from the car park over by the loading pay rather than funnelling everyone out the same one.

lotdpd

roundabouts in carlow... how many of them is there in carlow?

and you can include the overabouts haha the ones which are white circles of paint....

wheres me jumpa

Milktrolley wrote: »

Would pedestrians use the crossing at all if it was put more 'out of the way'? It'd be safer alright but human nature dictates where these things go

Extend the barriers further down the road and they would have to. Similar to a roundabout near the Fairgreen, its annoying having to walk down the road to cross but it is much safer.

aynon

Honey-ec wrote: »

My main gripe is the absolute pig-ignorance of a significant minority of people parking in the Fairgreen car park. Disabled spaces are constantly being used by people with no permits, yet the car park "attendants" do nothing. What the hell are they there for? Also, the general inability of some people to park full-stop - do you really need to take up two spaces???

They also badly need to put a second exit from the car park over by the loading pay rather than funnelling everyone out the same one.

this point was vindicated, my mother, who is disabled with a permit, a car beside her with no permith, had a €50 fine on the window

foggy_lad

pedestrianise more streets in carlow and bring in night-only deliveries in the town centre and it cuts out all the congestion and makes the town safer for everyone

aynon

have you seen the tullow street at night, and have you driven down it
its more dangerous! image the amount of delerie related accidents that will happen in the town

Honey-ec

aynon wrote: »

this point was vindicated, my mother, who is disabled with a permit, a car beside her with no permith, had a €50 fine on the window

It would actually make my day week to witness that!

wheres me jumpa

I can remember working in Woodies years ago and this woman asked me to carry out some shelving she bought. Now this is a mid week night, the car park is literally empty. She had the choice of all the parking spaces close to the store. But she still parked in a disabled spot, simply because it was a fraction closer! She actually explained how this was the closest spot!

I have noticed the misuse of spaces in the Fairgreen also. People seem to think, just because their husband stays in the car that they can take up a reserved space. Driving around by the door of Tescos is something I just can not do anymore. The amount of people who just park in the way there is freaking annoying.

aynon

Honey-ec wrote: »

It would actually make my day week to witness that!

it did, mine!

aynon

wheres me jumpa wrote: »

I have noticed the misuse of spaces in the Fairgreen also. People seem to think, just because their husband stays in the car that they can take up a reserved space. Driving around by the door of Tescos is something I just can not do anymore. The amount of people who just park in the way there is freaking annoying.

i think it was funny, i was walking through the car park a couple months back, while the parking attendant doing his walk around, and the above point happened, this is what happened.

women with husband in the drivers seat, park in the third disable spot.
woman hops out, husband stays in car.
attendant goes over and ask woman where is her permit or disabled person.
" oh im only going in for a second.."
"dont care if your in for 2 seconds, or 2 hours, your not disabled, a disabled person needs that spot, GET OUT!"


thank you attendant!

stick-dan

awh kewl well done attendant, bout the the lazy and ignorant minority of carlow were shown what's right....

I'mamuppet

It does my nut the way they've laid out the cones so you have to drive by the main entrance if you go into fairgreen. Every bloody car has to stop in the middle of the road to drop someone at the door.
Hate to burst your buddle about the fines but they actually cant force you to pay it as the private companies cannot get access to your details from your reg to chase you for payement. Only the council can do this. Basically you can just chuck it in the bin. Fair play to the warden for moving yer one from the disabled spot.
Didnt they put lights up at Aldi and the take them down again? That whole fairgreen aldi area is a disaster if its a saturday and its raining.

patrickc

I'mamuppet wrote: »

It does my nut the way they've laid out the cones so you have to drive by the main entrance if you go into fairgreen. Every bloody car has to stop in the middle of the road to drop someone at the door.
Hate to burst your buddle about the fines but they actually cant force you to pay it as the private companies cannot get access to your details from your reg to chase you for payement. Only the council can do this. Basically you can just chuck it in the bin. Fair play to the warden for moving yer one from the disabled spot.
Didnt they put lights up at Aldi and the take them down again? That whole fairgreen aldi area is a disaster if its a saturday and its raining.

the lights are still at aldi well if you mean the ones back from it at pizza hut?

aynon

I'mamuppet wrote: »

It does my nut the way they've laid out the cones so you have to drive by the main entrance if you go into fairgreen. Every bloody car has to stop in the middle of the road to drop someone at the door.
Hate to burst your buddle about the fines but they actually cant force you to pay it as the private companies cannot get access to your details from your reg to chase you for payement. Only the council can do this. Basically you can just chuck it in the bin. Fair play to the warden for moving yer one from the disabled spot.
Didnt they put lights up at Aldi and the take them down again? That whole fairgreen aldi area is a disaster if its a saturday and its raining.

they can, actually, they are paid, by fairgreen, but licenced by the council.so bam!

inarut

Lets revive this thread! One of the things I can't stand is the lack of things to do in Carlow during the week. Have been travelling Europe for the last 4 weeks and have never been bored for a second. Carlow just seems to be about friday and saturday nights and if you're not that kind of person go elsewhere i think..........

shenanigans1982

This aint just a Carlow thing, everywhere in the country is about friday and Saturday nights. There are just no alternatives to pubs.

inarut

+1. If your not into long weekends, friday and saturday nights along with the late night takeway and taxi home, you don't belong in this country. Just seek alternatives and maybe emigrate just like me! Life is better on the other side!!!

iamhunted

wheres me jumpa wrote: »

Yes we do have occassional gigs. Id much prefer a dedicated venue which can attract regular gigs. Castlebar is a great example of a small town that can drag in big names regularly.

to be fair to carlow, and you know this yourself jumpa, but when there was gigs both in the music factory for the bigger names and the underground for the smaller names (fight like apes, ham sandwich, hybrasil etc) no-one from the town bothered going which meant the gigs where scrapped. unfortunate but if the town wont support live music then theres no way anyone is going to bother putting on gigs.

thats my gripe about carlow - theres nowhere to catch a good live band outside of the covers **** in the foundry