Moving to Galway...

dreababyluxe

Hi,

I'm moving to Galway in the next few weeks with my boyfriend and we're searching for somewhere to live at the mo'. I'll be studying up there and hopefully working part-time and he works abroad quite alot so I want to avoid moving into a dodgy unsafe area if I'll be home alone quite a bit (unless we end up sharing).

Galway, in comparison, does seems like a safe enough city but I'm sure it has its fair share too. Can anybody tell me if there are areas we should avoid while looking for accommodation?

Much appreciated.

NR04

i lived in galway for three years and i actually cannot think of any bad areas

loser2old4board

Hopefully people will tell you the better areas to live in rather than giving areas that already have a bad name a worse name.
The other things you need to consider are location in relation to where you will be studying / working because traffic is an issue.
Also rent/house prices.
If you are studying in GMIT maybe try Renmore / Ballybane areas.
If NUIG try newcastle area. If you want to live near the sea, then Salthill. Other people with more local knowledge will give you more info
based on your answer to above.
Welcome to Galway. It's a great place to live.

gaeilgegrinds1

Well depends are ye studying or working?

Mrs OBumble

loser2old4board wrote: »

Hopefully people will tell you the better areas to live in rather than giving areas that already have a bad name a worse name.
The other things you need to consider are location in relation to where you will be studying / working because traffic is an issue.
Also rent/house prices.
If you are studying in GMIT maybe try Renmore / Ballybane areas.
If NUIG try newcastle area. If you want to live near the sea, then Salthill.

loser2old4board is almost spot on there.

Especially the advice about being near where you're studying - although is your partner travelling to/fro a lot, or is he just away for long spells? If he's travelling a lot, then he'd probably prefer to be on the east (GMIT) side of the city rather than the west (NUIG, GTI).

But there is just one little correction I'd like to make, in a very "don't make it worse" way:

If you are studying in GMIT or want good airport access, maybe try Renmore / Roscam / Doughiska areas.

There are perfectly nice, safe parts of Ballybane. But there are some that are just a little teeny-tiny bit not-so-nice, if you get my drift.

NR04

ohh ya i do agree with some of ballybane being bad, ESPECIALLY since that new pub opened at the ballybane shopping centre, its got awful rough since that opened.

bubbaloo

My hubby and I moved here a few years ago and had many of the same questions.
There is a weekly newspaper called the Galway Advertiser which will become your bible! It has everything from property to jobs, cars, news stories (including crime stories with area names mentioned !!) etc.
You can read it on www.galwayadvertiser.ie .
We also spent a weekend in Galway before moving here, just driving around looking at areas close to town, jobs, college etc.
Good luck with it.
We would never look back! We love it!

biko

Older threads on the same topic

Read this first
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055961146

then
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=115086
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055705784
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=210531
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055442642

More http://www.google.ie/search?q="Moving+to+Galway"+site:boards.ie

NUIG_FiannaFail

<nope, biko>

dreababyluxe

Thanks for all your feedback I'll be studying in GTI, which is around the Father Griffin Road area. Ideally I would like to find somewhere near there but I don't mind using public transport if required to get there and back daily (don't drive).

I've been up to Galway a few times in the past few weeks, just one overnight stay, and I love it up there. It's got a feel of its own, its almost like being in a different country when you compare it to some of Ireland's other towns and cities. Such a beautiful, atmospheric place. Going up again on Thursday and really looking forward to it.

And bubbaloo, discovered the Advertiser on my last visit. Have mainly just been using the website for recruitment and accommodation listings but have also read some articles on local events, businesses etc. It's a really good paper! How often is it published? Loving Galway Now magazine too!

dreababyluxe

Nevermind my questions about the advertiser, followed biko's first link and found that the website gets updated every Wednesday at 3pm and is released on Thursdays!

Mrs OBumble

dreababyluxe wrote: »

Thanks for all your feedback I'll be studying in GTI, which is around the Father Griffin Road area. Ideally I would like to find somewhere near there but I don't mind using public transport if required to get there and back daily (don't drive).

Consider the inner city or Claddagh, then.

I would say consider Mervue or Salthill to be on the bus-routes for GTI, but you can see my other thread about bus-cuts etc: right now, we don't know if/when these routes may change.

DRakE

says
hey immigrants, beat it! county's full!

DRakE

DRakE wrote: »

says
hey immigrants, beat it! county's full!

Pádraic Ó Conaire was an immigrant in England.

gaeilgegrinds1

Claddagh is your only man so IMO. I'll forward on a few links to you. Oh, and welcome!

Mrs OBumble

DRakE wrote: »

says
hey immigrants, beat it! county's full!

Ahh, get back in ya museum, blockhead!




OP ... welcome to Galway, this forum isn't usually so after-hours-ish, honest!

dreababyluxe

What's with the O'Conaire post about immigrants saying the country's full??? Don't get it, do you think I'm one?... I'm 100% Irish born and bred.... Maybe I just didn't get it but had to confirm just in case

Appreciate all your welcomes and help so far, thanks. Heading up there tomorrow for the day!

dreababyluxe

Oops. Misread the county as country, anyway why shouldnt I "immigrate" there?? I'm moving there to do a college course, my boyfriend is employed by an international company so don't see how either of us would be a burden on the city's economy/workforce, if anything we'll be the opposite....

dec25532

You will be very welcome. Seems like you are mature enough to realise that Galway city can be very cliqueish depending where you live and socialise. Good luck with the move.

dreababyluxe

Hi all, we spent a few days up in galway recently getting familiar with the city and surrounds and I'm happy to say we found a beautiful apartment in knocknacarra, which I know is a bit out but suits us fine. And I also got my course

Do any of you know anything about the CITYDIRECT buses which pass by the stop on cappagh road, and/or if there's any other bus stops (eg bus eireann city services) nearby that also serve the city centre or even better any that serve father griffin road (for GTI) ?

crocadile dunde

Starting a course in GTI in 2 weeks time, moving down from Dublin havent found a room yet anybody know of places around Fr Griffith Rd area please cant wait to move to galway.:)

dreababyluxe

I literally stalked the pages of the galway advertiser online, along with daft.ie and rent.ie before finding my apartment.

My best advice is to just ring everyone, including those who don't list their price or put up photos, and also remember, some landlords/ladys are willing to negotiate, within reason, so don't be put off entirely by price. Finding somewhere near father griffin road was difficult enough for me too, but galway does seem to have a good network of bus services so consider you should maybe consider that an option. Best of luck with your course!

Mrs OBumble

dreababyluxe wrote: »

Do any of you know anything about the CITYDIRECT buses which pass by the stop on cappagh road, and/or if there's any other bus stops (eg bus eireann city services) nearby that also serve the city centre or even better any that serve father griffin road (for GTI) ?

I can't remember details (don't spend much time on that side of the city), but here are some route maps:
33
34

I don't think BE get near Cappagh Rd, check their maps at 2w and 2d

dreababyluxe wrote: »

or even better any that serve father griffin road (for GTI) ?

You may be interested in route 1k ... except it only runs on Sundays!

bonzodog2

AFAIK the closest Bus Eireann get to Cappagh Rd is Ballymoneen Rd. the 2 and 4 service go past Joyce's and turn down Ballymoneen Rd at the church on the way back into town.