Nothing to do in Ireland except drink !

Overflow

Does anyone agree that there is nothing much to do in Ireland except head to the boozer, live for the weekend and that's about it.

Dont get me wrong i love heading to the boozer for a good night out, but since i have been living abroad i find when i go home the only thing people seem to center they're life around is going out at the weekend.

When i lived in Ireland of course i did this myself, but since moving to Norway and experiencing their culture, it is very different as you can imagine. They do like drink and go out quite regularly but they are also a very active people, part-taking in tons of other activities. For example we go skiing quite often, or head to the local cross country circuit. Go ice skating on frozen lakes. Go mushroom picking :D, have picnics in the mountains, go on cabin trips, camping on the skerries, or in summertime we go out boating a lot, to the beach, or to the local lakes (which there are millions of) for some swimming, among numerous other things.

Now i know its not possible to go skiing in Ireland or skate on frozen lakes, but in all honesty, what other things do you do beside head to the pub. I personally have found a very active life outside of Ireland and am enjoying it very much and would find it very hard to go back to the 'live for the weekend philosophy'. I may be generalizing a bit here i do know there are very active people in Ireland who dont only live for the weekend. I guess its just my group of mates fall into that category.

Rip it apart, say what you want, just an opinion.

Blackpitts

+1
i'm at home tonite, i'd like to go out but i don't want to get pissed either.
So the only option left is watching telly/dvd... *yawn*

Rory123

I agree. There is very little to do in Ireland, leisure-wise, that doesn't involve spending large amounts of money. Rain or shine.

Rory123

Overflow wrote: »

camping on the skerries

Couldn't do that here! The town is awful rough at throwing-out time!

Overflow

Overflow wrote: »

Now i know its not possible to go skiing in Ireland or skate on frozen lakes, but in all honesty, what other things do you do beside head to the pub.

Cinema, theatre, concerts, etc. Plenty of people go out playing sports and have matches on at the weekends, I hear about it all the time at work. Hill walking, running, cycling, various sports. I'm sure there's a hell of a lot more going on that I have omitted to mention.
Perhaps if you got out of the "there's nothing to do " attitude and genuinely looked for (or gasp, organised) something to do instead you might be surprised.
But of course it's easier to just sit back and moan...

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

There is, but it requires money and (if you don't have a car) organisation. I used to find a lot of people I know where annoyingly lazy when you did come up with something but all they wanted to do was head down the pub. One of the main reasons I left.

Call Me Jimmy

"Wherever you are, life is always going to be what you make of it"

shamblertine

Our weather prevents us from doing much outdoors, its not cold enough for things like skiing, and skating on frozen lakes, but not warm enough and too wet to have picnics on mountains, going to the beach, swimming/surfing etc.

KieranKennedy

That is not true at all really. The number of alternative activities is limited only by your imagination. Just because it is the most common and therefore the easiest activity to pass out meaningless existences, this certainly doesn't mean that there are not alternatives.

Why just tonight I opted out of going out to drink in my old watering hole, instead spending then night at home alone making gnomes out of PVA glue and old news papers. I will then reinact the battle of the bulge, the losing army facing the old familiar punishment, they are, to the last man, stuffed up my ass...

Latchy

Life sounds good up there on Waltons mountain

shamblertine

shamblertine wrote: »

Our weather prevents us from doing much outdoors, its not cold enough for things like skiing, and skating on frozen lakes, but not warm enough and too wet to have picnics on mountains, going to the beach, swimming/surfing etc.

It's too wet to go swimming?
Right so

Sam Kade

Ikky Poo2 wrote: »

There is, but it requires money and (if you don't have a car) organisation. I used to find a lot of people I know where annoyingly lazy when you did come up with something but all they wanted to do was head down the pub. One of the main reasons I left.

A lot of the activities bluewolf mentioned are free.

shamblertine

bluewolf wrote: »

It's too wet to go swimming?
Right so

yeah if its lashing not too many people are going to think "I must go out and have a swim in the sea"

challengemaster

shamblertine wrote: »

yeah if its lashing not too many people are going to think "I must go out and have a swim in the sea"

Hi, welcome to 2009. Swimming pools exist.

Rory123

shamblertine wrote: »

yeah if its lashing not too many people are going to think "I must go out and have a swim in the sea"

Yeah try getting dried in the rain!

Rory123

challengemaster wrote: »

Hi, welcome to 2009. Swimming pools exist.

To me a swimming pool is about as exhilirating as Seven Seas Cod Liver Oil Capsule.

unreggd

I agree with the OP

Yes, theres some stuff to do, but not much, either because of weather or money

Also, people's attitude is a big thing, they're all wasters over here!

I dont drink at all, but Im the one who hasta drag people out to town!

Cinema's close too early, and so does Leisureplex now, but its gone crappy anyways


But if everyones a waster and just wants to stay in all the time, nothing will ever happen

hooers!

shamblertine

challengemaster wrote: »

Hi, welcome to 2009. Swimming pools exist.

Read my post again. I was talking about outdoor activities.

Agamemnon

KieranKennedy wrote: »

Why just tonight I opted out of going out to drink in my old watering hole, instead spending then night at home alone making gnomes out of PVA glue and old news papers. I will then reinact the battle of the bulge, the losing army facing the old familiar punishment, they are, to the last man, stuffed up my ass...

LMAO! Film it, put it on YouTube and post the link.

There are plenty of non-pub-related things to do in Ireland, it's just that most people can't be bothered. I generally prefer pubs and clubs myself, but I go cycling, surfing, camping etc., when the mood takes me. We may be a drink-mad country but we're a sports-mad country as well. There are sporting organisations to cater for every taste all over Ireland and no shortage of countryside to explore.

Rory123

Agamemnon wrote: »

There are sporting organisations to cater for every every taste all over Ireland and no shortage of countryside to explore.

Agree about the countryside bit but I bet there is no sporting organisation that caters for people who aren't into organised sports!

poisonated

I dont think that it is that there is nothing other than drinking but rather that the people you associate with prefer to go out for a drink.Maybe not.Ask them if they want to:
go to the beach
go paintballing
go to the cinema
go to a museum
go to a gig
or just go to a church
all great craic!

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Sam Kade wrote: »

A lot of the activities bluewolf mentioned are free.

True, but they also tend to require the use of a car! Or good weather and a few people who aren;t opposed to being dragge out of a pub.

Whosbetter?

Intresting.

Was in the States in 2001.
Coast to coast trip in a Jeep.

Towns the size of Carlow having maybe 1 or 2 pubs!!:eek::eek::eek:

There's a diff attitude over there.

Ice Cream Social anyone???!!

Rory123

poisonated wrote: »

I dont think that it is that there is nothing other than drinking but rather that the people you associate with prefer to go out for a drink.Maybe not.Ask them if they want to:
go to the beach
go paintballing
go to the cinema
go to a museum
go to a gig
or just go to a church
all great craic!

go to the beach...OK that's free, but not great out of summer
go paintballing...€€€
go to the cinema...€€€
go to a museum...OK, if you live in a city
go to a gig...€€€
or just go to a church.. wouldn't be seen dead involving myself with any organised religion


This is not an issue in other, even poorer, EU countries.

Agamemnon

Rory123 wrote: »

Agree about the countryside bit but I bet there is no sporting organisation that caters for people who aren't into organised sports!

Ah, then you haven't heard of W.O.E., the **** Organisation of Eire. It facilitates those of us who love the solitary sport of speed ****. I am free to tug myself vigorously in the privacy of my own home, while W.O.E. send me e-mails with tips on things like technique, diet, cleaning up and foreskin first aid. I can't understand why we were turned down for a National Lottery grant; they'll be sorry when I take home gold from the Onanist Olympics, the bastards. :mad:

syklops

Overflow wrote: »

Does anyone agree that there is nothing much to do in Ireland except head to the boozer, live for the weekend and that's about it.

Dont get me wrong i love heading to the boozer for a good night out, but since i have been living abroad i find when i go home the only thing people seem to center they're life around is going out at the weekend.

When i lived in Ireland of course i did this myself, but since moving to Norway and experiencing their culture, it is very different as you can imagine. They do like drink and go out quite regularly but they are also a very active people, part-taking in tons of other activities. For example we go skiing quite often, or head to the local cross country circuit. Go ice skating on frozen lakes. Go mushroom picking :D, have picnics in the mountains, go on cabin trips, camping on the skerries, or in summertime we go out boating a lot, to the beach, or to the local lakes (which there are millions of) for some swimming, among numerous other things.

Now i know its not possible to go skiing in Ireland or skate on frozen lakes, but in all honesty, what other things do you do beside head to the pub. I personally have found a very active life outside of Ireland and am enjoying it very much and would find it very hard to go back to the 'live for the weekend philosophy'. I may be generalizing a bit here i do know there are very active people in Ireland who dont only live for the weekend. I guess its just my group of mates fall into that category.

Rip it apart, say what you want, just an opinion.

Your really barking up the wrong tree, asking about outdoor activities, on an internet forum!

Why are you not out enjoying the outdoor activities Norway offers tonight OP?

I went canoing during the summer. It rained all day and did not matter in the slightest. Once you wet and cold but enjoying yourself, it does not matter what the weather is like.

Rory123

Agamemnon wrote: »

Ah, then you haven't heard of W.O.E., the **** Organisation of Eire. It facilitates those of us who love the solitary sport of speed ****. I am free to tug myself vigorously in the privacy of my own home, while W.O.E. send me e-mails with tips on things like technique, diet, cleaning up and foreskin first aid. I can't understand why we were turned down for a National Lottery grant; they'll be sorry when I take home gold from the Onanist Olympics, the bastards. :mad:

Oh my God! I am chairman at my local. What chapter are you in? We used to have a secret handshake but that was put to a stop with all this kerfuffle over STDs.

zAbbo

No complaints on the activities, Hill walking instead of drinking - great idea, except there is very little to do after 10pm in Ireland, apart from pubs.

Where are the late opening cafe's? or anywhere to provide something for those who don't want a drink?

If even a small amount of money was put into providing alternatives instead of constant advertising on the perils of drink(know the one that's one to many - I've had enough) - this government might actually have made a real difference to both our society and culture.

Of course, providing Irish people with real alternatives to alcohol would be a disaster for the tax income for the government right now, but the opportunity was there like so many other initiatives which could have led our society over the past 20 years.

We have such a high cinema going public, that it's obvious there's a market for those who want entertainment outside the drinking culture - it's so odd we don't have a late opening alternative.

Latchy

The scandinavians always did outdoor activities better than the Irish anyway .At £8 or more a pint could you blame them ?

syklops

Rory123 wrote: »

go to the beach...OK that's free, but not great out of summer
go paintballing...€€€
go to the cinema...€€€
go to a museum...OK, if you live in a city
go to a gig...€€€
or just go to a church.. wouldn't be seen dead involving myself with any organised religion


This is not an issue in other, even poorer, EU countries.

Because they give ski equipment away for free in Norway do they?
In LA surf boards are tax deductible I suppose.
There is one thing worse than being lazy. Thats being tight, and pretending to be lazy.

Tech3

I agree with the op. If were not out drinking were either on the laptop or stuck in front of the tv all night.

Agamemnon

Rory123 wrote: »

Oh my God! I am chairman at my local. What chapter are you in? We used to have a secret handshake but that was put to a stop with all this kerfuffle over STDs.

I am the Grand Imperial Wizard of all the combined Munster Chapters, Lodges, Portaloos and Occasional Circle Jerks. IMO you should still use the secret handshake: a few STDs will build up your immune system and nothing spices up a good speed **** like the danger of your knob coming off in your hand.

minidazzler

Get a fcuking Hobby. There is alot more to do in Ireland than drink. Join a club, or get a hobby, just stop spouting on and open your eyes.

Rory123

syklops wrote: »

Because they give ski equipment away for free in Norway do they?
In LA surf boards are tax deductible I suppose.
There is one thing worse than being lazy. Thats being tight, and pretending to be lazy.

I am not tight, I am anything but tight. I am an apprentice cabinet maker that broke my boll0ocks working for the last 3 years since I left school. Working between 45 and 60 hours a week. First year way under minimum wage, second year on minimum wage, third year marginally better than minimum wage. I lost my job 4 weeks ago and I now cannot even get a job in a fu*king sweet shop.

DO NOT TELL ME I AM TIGHT.

Paulj

If they had passed the bill for the cafe-bar thing it may have help matters but of course that didn't get through the Dail :rolleyes:

Creamy Goodness

ahh feck off,

*swigs whiskey*

syklops

Rory123 wrote: »

I am not tight, I am anything but tight. I am an apprentice cabinet maker that broke my boll0ocks working for the last 3 years since I left school. Working between 45 and 60 hours a week. First year way under minimum wage, second year on minimum wage, third year marginally better than minimum wage. I lost my job 4 weeks ago and I now cannot even get a job in a fu*king sweet shop.

DO NOT TELL ME I AM TIGHT.

Jeeze Jouise, take a chill pill.

Oh sorry are they too pricey?

Zillah

One word: Quasar.

But what about evening/night activities? It's all well and good saying 'go hillwalking' - I'm not going to do that on a Saturday night. There really isn't much else to do other than drink in Ireland on a weekend night that isn't really pricey. I agree on the point about late night cafes, they're a great idea. There's one in Rathmines I always used to go to - it was great sitting having a coffee or tea at 3am, being able to have a relaxing chat instead of sitting in a crowded pub. I don't understand why the likes of Starbucks and other cafes close at 10 or 11 or even as early as 7pm! I think if they stayed open late, people would use them. I've often gone to the pub because there was nowhere else to go other than McDonalds!

Gummy Panda

I knew a norweigan couple. They complained there was nothing to do in Norway except drink. Also most men were lets say anti-social for lack of a better word. They also said suicide was high among young males. Don't know how true this is but thats what they told me.

You might be doing all that stuff to experience Norweigan culture. I did a lot of cool tourist stuff in Ireland when my australian brother in-law was over. Wouldn't have bothered or thought about it if he wasn't here.

Latchy

I think it might also the drinking culture in Ireland has alienated a lot of people as in ,if your not drinking then your missing out on good coversation /craic when the reality is that most drunks dont remember ( or want to remember) a good intelligent conversation anyway . Why ? because it involves somebody probably telling some home truths, which may interfere with actually listening / agreeing / drinking / so it goes on and on :P

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

There are tons of things to do here, you don't even have to use your imagination. What interests you OP? I don't think there is a lot to do for the lazy though.

Does everyone drink for free or something? Drinking is one of the more recreational things to do, and you could forget half the night anyway.

Paintball
Skiing
Go Karting
Golf
Pitch and Putt
Crazy Golf
Go to the beach
Swimming
Gym
Horse Riding
Martial arts
Fishing
Boat Hire
Sailing
Surfing
Canoeing
Visit various gardens
Quad biking
Walking trails
Hill walking
Rock climbing
Wall climbing
Join a club (Sport)
Shooting
Hunting
Archery
Museum
Historical tours
Dance clases
Yoga/Pilates
Cycling
Bird watching
Orienteering
Scuba Diving
Water Skiing
Squash
Tennis
Badminton
Fencing
Chess club
Lan parties
Astronomy
Pottery
Wood working
Gardening
Pool
Snooker
Bowling
Table Tennis

I can go on and on and on... You just need to get off your arse, do some research and find something you like... It's not that hard... really.

xOxSinéadxOx

I think it's cos it's just habit and people aren't bothered to think about anything else. It's just what they do. Plus if you decided to do something else you'd most likely be doing it on your own

Red Sleeping Beauty

There's nothing to do in any western capitalist country but drink!
It's not unique to Ireland

Húrin

Iamxavier has made a great list there. There are also plenty of opportunities for getting involved in community life, or charitable organisations such as the St Vincent de Paul.

Overflow wrote: »

Does anyone agree that there is nothing much to do in Ireland except head to the boozer, live for the weekend and that's about it.

Dont get me wrong i love heading to the boozer for a good night out, but since i have been living abroad i find when i go home the only thing people seem to center they're life around is going out at the weekend.

When i lived in Ireland of course i did this myself, but since moving to Norway and experiencing their culture, it is very different as you can imagine. They do like drink and go out quite regularly but they are also a very active people, part-taking in tons of other activities. For example we go skiing quite often, or head to the local cross country circuit. Go ice skating on frozen lakes. Go mushroom picking :D, have picnics in the mountains, go on cabin trips, camping on the skerries, or in summertime we go out boating a lot, to the beach, or to the local lakes (which there are millions of) for some swimming, among numerous other things.

Complete nonsense. Most of what you describe doing in Norway can be done here as well. There are a lot of people who do nothing but drink at the weekends, but there are also a lot of people who do the other things that you long for.

shamblertine wrote: »

Our weather prevents us from doing much outdoors, its not cold enough for things like skiing, and skating on frozen lakes, but not warm enough and too wet to have picnics on mountains, going to the beach, swimming/surfing etc.

Not true. It doesn't rain that much more here than elsewhere in Northern Europe.

Rory123 wrote: »

Agree about the countryside bit but I bet there is no sporting organisation that caters for people who aren't into organised sports!

Think about that for a minute.

Sam Kade

Rory123 wrote: »

I am not tight, I am anything but tight. I am an apprentice cabinet maker that broke my boll0ocks working for the last 3 years since I left school. Working between 45 and 60 hours a week. First year way under minimum wage, second year on minimum wage, third year marginally better than minimum wage. I lost my job 4 weeks ago and I now cannot even get a job in a fu*king sweet shop.

DO NOT TELL ME I AM TIGHT.

45 to 60 hours a week is nothing, I often worked 100 hours a week.

Rory123

Fair play to you.

Rory123

Húrin wrote: »

Think about that for a minute.

Help me out here Húrin.

Armin_Tamzarian

I would tend to agree with the OP, based on personal experience.
It's strange but when I lived in the UK this problem didn't exist.

For a start any activities I wished to participate in were closer at hand but this wasn't the main thing.

The main thing was the receptivness of other people to me joining in these activities.

I've found alot of clubs I've tried to get involved with in Ireland have been ridiculously parochial.
By turning up as a complete outsider, not knowing anyone in these clubs, I was treated almost like an undesirable.

In the UK when I got involved in such activities, i.e. rock-climbing, golf, shooting, I found people at these clubs to be extremely enthusiastic, welcoming and helpful.

The other problem is expense, in comparison to other coutries the cost of participating in alot of such activities in Ireland is disproportionatly dear.

On returning to Ireland I made renewed efforts to get involved in some of these activities that I had taken up but I was met with phones that didn't answer, e-mails that didn't receive replies and a general feeling of disinterest on the part of people who I spoke with about getting involved with their clubs.

"And you say you don't actually know anyone in the club?" was a typical question...

Call Me Jimmy

Rory123 wrote: »

go to the beach...OK that's free, but not great out of summer
go paintballing...€€€
go to the cinema...€€€
go to a museum...OK, if you live in a city
go to a gig...€€€
or just go to a church.. wouldn't be seen dead involving myself with any organised religion


This is not an issue in other, even poorer, EU countries.

Seeing as we are talking about alternatives to drinking which costs money, why is money an issue for other activities?

Latchy

Call Me Jimmy wrote: »

Seeing as we are talking about alternatives to drinking which costs money, why is money an issue for other activities?

No such thing as a free lunch .