Modern day Ireland

superreds12

Let me start by saying that I was born in Ireland and grew up there until the age of 19, at which I was offered a job abroad which I accepted. Its been almost eight years now since I left and I must admit it’s the best thing I could ever have done. I just wanted to asked people’s idea on what they think of the present day Ireland as I myself after seeing so much of the world have grown to really detest the place. Here are just a few things that really annoy me about Ireland, would people here agree?


The scanger element with so many people just happy to sit on their ass, have a baby, get a free house and live off the government
The pure scumbags who hang around town, its just doesn’t feel safe to walk the streets late at night in town (Dublin) anymore.
Everything is totally overpriced, I mean 5 euro for a pint of beer, cigarettes, food etc.

I am Irish but I must admit that sometimes I am a bit embarrassed by the attitude of many Irish people when it comes to race and sexuality. Remember we are supposed to be the friendliest nation in the world, however it seems every time I’m home the racism just seems to be getting worse.

The reason I am asking people’s opinion on this is because as I said I have been away for so long and from the outside this is now my perception of Ireland.

Roadend

I hate that arial font has been banned in modern day Ireland

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Modern Ireland is an oxymoron.

SheroN

Ikky Poo2 wrote: »

Modern Ireland is an oxymoron.

The same **** in a different jar.

AnonoBoy

superreds12 wrote: »

The pure scumbags who hang around town, its just doesn’t feel safe to walk the streets late at night in town (Dublin) anymore.

How do you know if you've been away for 8 years?

Dublin now is actually the safest place in the world. Women and OAPs can walk the streets at any time of night with absolutely no fear of assault or robbery.

The government has done wonderous things with the city - no more litter, very little crime and people greet total strangers warmly on the street as if they were long lost brothers. It's a great place to live.

Lobelia Overhill

I came home 17 years ago and in that time I've watched the charm vanish and be replaced with harshness ...

me-skywalker

superreds12 wrote: »

................ Here are just a few things that really annoy me about Ireland, would people here agree?

The scanger element with so many people just happy to sit on their ass, have a baby, get a free house and live off the government
The pure scumbags who hang around town, its just doesn’t feel safe to walk the streets late at night in town (Dublin) anymore.
Everything is totally overpriced, I mean 5 euro for a pint of beer, cigarettes, food etc.

I am Irish but I must admit that sometimes I am a bit embarrassed by the attitude of many Irish people when it comes to race and sexuality. Remember we are supposed to be the friendliest nation in the world, however it seems every time I’m home the racism just seems to be getting worse.

The reason I am asking people’s opinion on this is because as I said I have been away for so long and from the outside this is now my perception of Ireland.

are you being racist towards irish people?

i think its pathetic that these are your perceptions and your embarrassed?
there are pro's and cons to every city and country and every country has there hang ups but i wouldnt say its as bad as you think...

do you think every second person is a scumbag or skanger and a bum? the reason you see these ppl out on town is because they dont have jobs and when your in town during the week the majority of the population is working....

Terry

Lobelia Overhil wrote: »

I came home 17 years ago and in that time I've watched the charm vanish and be replaced with harshness ...

Money does that.

Blazer

Nothing like a recession to bring racism out.
Especially in the older generation....even my old fella has surprised me with his comments about polish etc.
I ask him "what about all those lazy Irsh fcuks who sit on their holes doing nothing and scamming the dole".. at least the polish are coming over here and working.. he sees my point then of course..until the next thing happens..

Even in the pub I heard all the dole scroungers bitching about the foreigners...I feel absolutely sickened by it..

superreds12

I am not saying every Irish person is like this all am I saying is that there are too many Irish people like this!

Carroller16

Mathew Reilly wrote: »

Nothing like a recession to bring racism out.
Especially in the older generation....even my old fella has surprised me with his comments about polish etc.
I ask him "what about all those lazy Irsh fcuks who sit on their holes doing nothing and scamming the dole".. at least the polish are coming over here and working.. he sees my point then of course..until the next thing happens..

Even in the pub I heard all the dole scroungers bitching about the foreigners...I feel absolutely sickened by it..

Totally agree. My owfella is coming out with random stuff bout foreigners lately. I've never heard him like this before.

Mr.Lizard

Modern Ireland is dead and gone. It's with O'Bama in the grave.

mike65

Todays mayhem in lil old Ireland

A 64-year-old publican has been found dead in his premises in Daingean near Tullamore in Co Offaly.

He was found tied to a chair by one of his two sons at around 7.30am this morning.

Gardaí say he was the owner of the pub and lived on the premises on Main Street in Daingean.
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The man was a widower and the father of four children.

He had been working in the area for more than 30 years as a publican.

The death is being treated as suspicious and Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis is due at the scene this afternoon

A gang of up to seven men is being sought following an attack in Dundalk, Co Louth.

At around 9.40pm last night, the gang entered a house off Avenue Road and stabbed one of the occupants several times in the legs.

Gardaí believe a number of shots were also fired during the attack.

Two men are being treated in hospital following an attack in Co Tipperary.

One man was shot and another stabbed at Glen Court, Emly, at around 3.30pm yesterday.

The first man received stab wounds to the back and the second was shot in the leg.
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Both are being treated in hospital and their injuries are not believed to be life threatening.

In a follow up operation gardaí stopped a car in Limerick city and arrested five men in their 20s.

Hells Belle

gosh I'd like to live where you do superreds12, no crime, everyone lovely, every one working....is it only in your head maybe?

dublinario

I yearn from a simpler time, when toothless simpletons would bare-knuckle box a heifer in the village square, for nowt more than a gallon of moonshine. A time when the womenfolk would parade their solitary tooth (called chomper) in front of the toothless men, sending them into a frenzy of public masturbation. Ye Olde Ireland, where have you gone?

superreds12

I do visit Ireland once or twice a year to visit my family and I find it strange the short memories that so many people have. It wasn't so long ago that the Irish where the Polish of the world travelling everywhere and anywhere where there was work in order to support their families. As soon as the tied turns and people are coming to our country to find work people suddenly have a problem with it.

Puddleduck

That happens in every country. Seriously, a few bad apples and the whole bunch is rotten apparently.

Terry

I know a few people who had the crap kicked out of them in St. Stephen's green on Paddy's day.

Paddy's day 1989.
Apparently the scum element isn't new.

me-skywalker

superreds12 wrote: »

I am not saying every Irish person is like this all am I saying is that there are too many Irish people like this!

too many doesnt justify a broad sense of defamation! look at the crime and anti-social activity of other european countries and the social underbelly in the other major cities you'll find its alot worse than here. you dnt get greeted with hugs and tip of the hats here but there is a sub-concious respect to live amongest each other.

there is a social 'need' for these people and their behaviour as a balance to the rights and wrongs and human nature and the order of life. clearly if there was no bad eggs their wouldnt be a moral outrage or self-ego, self-rightous greater than tho attitudes which can affect society even worse than the less off.

LaMer

I don't think Ireland has a problem with racism, we're in good shape compared to some European nations in respect to right wing and extremist groups, I don't even think we have any credible parties campaigning for immigration control. How the downturn changes that will be interesting to see.

And I wouldn't think Ireland is unsafe, again much better shape in regards to other european nations.

mp3guy

Anyone who thinks Ireland is good should really take a trip to Scandinavia, they know how it's done.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

mike65 wrote: »

Todays mayhem in lil old Ireland

A 64-year-old publican has been found dead in his premises in Daingean near Tullamore in Co Offaly.

He was found tied to a chair by one of his two sons at around 7.30am this morning.

Gardaí say he was the owner of the pub and lived on the premises on Main Street in Daingean.
Advertisement

The man was a widower and the father of four children.

He had been working in the area for more than 30 years as a publican.

The death is being treated as suspicious and Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis is due at the scene this afternoon

There are parts of the country where this woudl almost qualify as natural causes!

listermint

mp3guy wrote: »

Anyone who thinks Ireland is good should really take a trip to Scandinavia, they know how it's done.

Is that beside Narnia?

Rsaeire

LaMer wrote: »

I don't think Ireland has a problem with racism, we're in good shape compared to some European nations in respect to right wing and extremist groups, I don't even think we have any credible parties campaigning for immigration control. How the downturn changes that will be interesting to see.

And I wouldn't think Ireland is unsafe, again much better shape in regards to other european nations.

So what you're essentially saying is because we don't have neo-nazi's, the country cannot possibly be deemed racist?

Ireland is racist, it's been like this for years and it has been getting worse the more foreign nationals come into the country. I am not saying it is right to be racist towards anyone, including foreign nationals, I am merely giving one reason as to why it is currently this way.

markok84

Ikky Poo2 wrote: »

He was found tied to a chair by one of his two sons at around 7.30am this morning.

so they know that one of his two sons tied him to the chair at around 7:30....

Quazzie

Ikky Poo2 wrote: »

There are parts of the country where this woudl almost qualify as natural causes!

He was strapped, hands tied to a chair. Nought natural about that.

Initial reports suggest it was a robbery that went wrong.

stovelid

Apparently people were assaulted in Ireland in the 90s, 80s, 70's and 60's too.

lightening

superreds12 wrote: »

Let me start by saying that I was born in Ireland and grew up there until the age of 19

So you have lived in Ireland for one year of your adult life.

superreds12 wrote: »

its just doesn’t feel safe to walk the streets late at night in town (Dublin) anymore.

Rubbish, its perfectly safe, I have been doing it more or less every weekend for the last 12 years.

superreds12 wrote: »

Everything is totally overpriced, I mean 5 euro for a pint of beer, cigarettes, food etc.

Excellent value to be got in town, particularly with food, open your eyes (and your mind), give up the smokes, you will be able to afford more.

superreds12 wrote: »

this is now my perception of Ireland.

Its a perception, a completely skewed one.

LaMer

Rsaeire wrote: »

So what you're essentially saying is because we don't have neo-nazi's, the country cannot possibly be deemed racist?

Ireland is racist, it's been like this for years and it has been getting worse the more foreign nationals come into the country. I am not saying it is right to be racist towards anyone, including foreign nationals, I am merely giving one reason as to why it is currently this way.

Eh no, but if you read my post we're in better shape, and don't have a problem with racism like other nations have, simple as. We have low instances of racially motivated crime, foreigners can get the same job as Irish people do, and we have liberal immigration laws and no group seems set to change these laws.

Lobelia Overhill

Trinny. wrote: »

Money does that.

Yeah I suppose that is the "problem" ... 17 years ago 'town' was 2-3 miles away and had nothing in the line of facilities, but everyone would smile and say "hello".

Now the town is on our doorstep, there are cars roaring up and down the road day and night, no one looks at you - unless you know them. People are treating me as a foreigner and being rude to me in shops etc. There's a gang of school kids who keep shouting at me in town and tried to follow me up the road the other day ...



Yeah yeah, I know, piss off somewhere else then ...

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

lightening wrote: »

Excellent value to be got in town, particularly with food, open your eyes (and your mind), give up the smokes, you will be able to afford more.
.

Where? When ever I head back, I wind up paying 50% more for food that struggles to get to the same quality as most places on the continent. And that's nearly everywhere, it's not isolated.

Black Swan

Oh, another rant thread, this time about home? OK, here are a couple more things to add to your complaint list...

Guinness! Why do they have to make it so grand at St James Gate, huh? All we have to drink in the States is mass processed swill called Bud or Miller's.

KerryGold! Once you have tasted it, what they call butter in the States tastes like axle grease.

Mr.Lizard

Yeah but we were comparing Ireland with good countries, not the United States.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

markok84 wrote: »

so they know that one of his two sons tied him to the chair at around 7:30....

Quazzie2002 wrote: »

He was strapped, hands tied to a chair. Nought natural about that.

Initial reports suggest it was a robbery that went wrong.

This was a tongue-in-cheek comment about crime levels. There are times when I am just a little too subtle...

lightening

Ikky Poo2 wrote: »

Where?

Do I have to lead you around the city by the hand? Keep an eye on the blackboards, look out for the early birds. Four of us ate for €42 in Market Bar on Saturday, we were stuffed. Head to the Asian places Northside, you will get even cheaper along with pitchers of beer.

All excellent food. There will be exceptions where the food does not originate in the country it is eaten in, but you would have to be a moron to moan about that.... IE; Ibearian meats taste better and are cheaper in Spain, Alaskan king crab is fresher in Alaska. You can't beat Irish lamb though!!!

markok84

Ikky Poo2 wrote: »

This was a tongue-in-cheek comment about crime levels. There are times when I am just a little too subtle...

mine was a tongue in cheek comment about the poor sentence structure of RTE.ie's online editor.

But that doesn't really matter, yes crime levels are after escalating and things are ridiculously expensive now, that'll change though. This down turn might be a good thing, put a few people in their place. (not people that bought houses in the last 5 years, are now in negative equity and don't have jobs though, I feel sorry for ye)

Quazzie

Ikky Poo2 wrote: »

This was a tongue-in-cheek comment about crime levels. There are times when I am just a little too subtle...

I've always said we sarcasm tags [sarcasm][\sarcasm]

Kipperhell

Did the OP say where he was?

I can't think of any western country that has not got the exact same issues we have in Ireland. The chances are that in your new life abroad you fail to recognise the same types of things. The price of things is really the biggest issue

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

lightening wrote: »

Do I have to lead you around the city by the hand? Keep an eye on the blackboards, look out for the early birds. Four of us ate for €42 in Market Bar on Saturday, we were stuffed. Head to the Asian places Northside, you will get even cheaper along with pitchers of beer.

All excellent food. There will be exceptions where the food does not originate in the country it is eaten in, but you would have to be a moron to moan about that.... IE; Ibearian meats taste better and are cheaper in Spain, Alaskan king crab is fresher in Alaska. You can't beat Irish lamb though!!!

Been to market bar - very small portions last time I was there. Can do four for 42 all over Berlin. Fair comment about the Irish lamb.

Paddy Samurai

superreds12 wrote: »

I do visit Ireland once or twice a year to visit my family and I find it strange the short memories that so many people have. It wasn't so long ago that the Irish where the Polish of the world travelling everywhere and anywhere where there was work in order to support their families. As soon as the tied turns and people are coming to our country to find work people suddenly have a problem with it.

Yep its the "Goldilocks syndrome" .
When you have a giant bowl of porridge that you can't eat by yourself,your willing to share with the visitors.
But when there's fcuk all porridge in the bowl , it's time for the guests to fcuk off home and get their own.

Paddy Samurai

Blue_Lagoon wrote: »

Guinness! Why do they have to make it so grand at St James Gate, huh? All we have to drink in the States is mass processed swill called Bud or Miller's..

You should move to ireland ,we have a great range of American beers from the following breweries:
Sierra nevada
Brooklyn
Anchor
Goose island
and my favourite from boston the Sam Adams range.
Your right! though bud and millers are puke!.

big b

Paddy Samurai wrote: »

Yep its the "Goldilocks syndrome" .
When you have a giant bowl of porridge that you can't eat by yourself,your willing to share with the visitors.
But when there's fcuk all porridge in the bowl , it's time for the guests to fcuk off home and get their own.

and that post is called bullsh*t syndrome.

I was in Britain during the 80's. Things weren't too great then jobwise, but there were still plenty of Irish getting a living there.
And signing on when they couldn't.

magick

we were the toilet attendent that won the lotto, got too rich too fast.

I still love my country and think its a great place to live in, however yes their are a few things that annoy me, skangers, prices but instead of complaining about them try and actually do something about them.

Skangers, try to aviod, when not possible confront. Speaking from experience they will always back down.

Prices, shop else where, even try the internet (now i know its not possible to get everything off the internet, but where possible).

magick

Paddy Samurai wrote: »

You should move to ireland ,we have a great range of American beers from the following breweries:
Sierra nevada
Brooklyn
Anchor
Goose island
and my favourite from boston the Sam Adams range.
Your right! though bud and millers are puke!.

Except the Sam Adams winter ale, its completely tasteless, otherwise they do decent beers.

Highsider

I'll be honest i've travelled throughout the world 12 years of my life worked,loved,lived in a variety of countries and certain parts of this country are shameful. I find myself more and more in despair with the state of our justice system,our school system,our banks,our public service,transport,social welfare system and many more problems that i could think of. Don't even get me started on our health service.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Highsider wrote: »

I'll be honest i've travelled throughout the world 12 years of my life worked,loved,lived in a variety of countries and certain parts of this country are shameful. I find myself more and more in despair with the state of our justice system,our school system,our banks,our public service,transport,social welfare system and many more problems that i could think of. Don't even get me started on our health service.

Go on - what's wrong with the health service?!

j1smithy

superreds12 wrote: »

Let me start by saying that I was born in Ireland and grew up there until the age of 19, at which I was offered a job abroad which I accepted. Its been almost eight years now since I left and I must admit it’s the best thing I could ever have done. I just wanted to asked people’s idea on what they think of the present day Ireland as I myself after seeing so much of the world have grown to really detest the place. Here are just a few things that really annoy me about Ireland, would people here agree?


The scanger element with so many people just happy to sit on their ass, have a baby, get a free house and live off the government
The pure scumbags who hang around town, its just doesn’t feel safe to walk the streets late at night in town (Dublin) anymore.
Everything is totally overpriced, I mean 5 euro for a pint of beer, cigarettes, food etc.

I am Irish but I must admit that sometimes I am a bit embarrassed by the attitude of many Irish people when it comes to race and sexuality. Remember we are supposed to be the friendliest nation in the world, however it seems every time I’m home the racism just seems to be getting worse.

The reason I am asking people’s opinion on this is because as I said I have been away for so long and from the outside this is now my perception of Ireland.

So where have you been living eh? London, New York, Paris, Los Angeles? The problems you describe do exist in Dublin, but they are not unique to Ireland. In fact they exist in every western democracy, sometimes to a lesser extent, more often to a greater extent than here.

Ireland has its social problems, as does every other place. However I suggest you take off your rose tinted specticles and analyse your adopted homeland the same way you do Dublin. After you do, you'll likely find that Dublin compares well. Your attitude is not unique to returned emigrants in my experience. Its like they expected everyone to be driving clapped out austins and cutting turf when they come back, like some sort of living museum for themselves. They wanted to complain at how backward we are. But when they see the progress we made, they have to complain about something else... That Ireland has lost something not tangible like its "charm" or has new problems. I am happy that the country went through the changes it did, even if it meant adopting some of the problems other places have too. Modernisation should not be the preserve of other countries!

Electric Sheep

j1smithy wrote: »

So where have you been living eh? London, New York, Paris, Los Angeles? The problems you describe do exist in Dublin, but they are not unique to Ireland. In fact they exist in every western democracy, sometimes to a lesser extent, more often to a greater extent than here.

I've lived on three continents, in several different countries. I have never encountered the particular quality and quantity of scumbags that seem to be the norm in "Modern Day Ireland". It's truly astounding. They are also remarkably ugly, even if you try to picture them with a more flattering haircut.:p

Purple Gorilla

Well Ireland has the 8th Lowest homicidal rate in Europe and has one of the lowest rates in the world.

I'd like to think we're ok We're the friendliest European country for 2 years running and that's a survey by actual tourists, the most impartial of us all.

lightening

Ikky Poo2 wrote: »

Been to market bar - very small portions last time I was there. Can do four for 42 all over Berlin. Fair comment about the Irish lamb.

Yeah, been to Berlin a few times, lots of lovely places, great city, but certainly not without its problems.

The portions are huge in Market Bar, we got 2 fish pies, a meatball dish and a chicken and chorizo skewer dish along with an extra cheese dish, there was the usual salad and olives too. There are many many more places you can do four for €42 Euro in Dublin. The thing is, you have to get out in to the city, walk around, keep your eyes open, read the boards, look at the menus, get out of the car...

Again, I am in Dublin city centre almost every weekend and I find it very friendly.

The scumbag element is in most big cities, but with a bit of streetwiseness, some cop and some confidence you will avoid trouble. I was once touched 12 years of living in the city centre, walking in and out every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. It was a failed mugging in Ringsend.

Acacia

It has its advantages like everywhere else, I guess, but there does seem to be a lot of corruption here and there's something of a Banana Republic vibe about the place. It seems to be stuck in some sort of time warp. Poverty and emigration and terrorism are all back again it seems, like they never went away. To tell the truth, I love it here, but at the same time , I can't wait to live somewhere else for awhile.