family moving to galway

terrii

Myself and my family are thinking of moving to galway to work and i am looking for advice on where to live. Ideally i would like to live in salthill (or close by), is this a family friendly/safe area? What are the primary schools like in this area? We have 2 children and wish to rent. I would appreciate any feedback.

biko

Welcome to Galway
Most areas in Galway are fine for kids, the western 'burbs like Knocknacarra especially so.
For accommodation/property you should use Galway Advertiser or www.daft.ie.
Primary schools and mentions previously on boards

seriouslysweet

Salthill lovely, expensive enough though. Lots of families in nearby Knocknacarra but very built up is all.
Schools-wise, get putting names on lists asap is my only advice. We moved back to Galway not long ago and it was a nightmare with schools!

beardybrewer

seriouslysweet wrote: »

Salthill lovely, expensive enough though. Lots of families in nearby Knocknacarra but very built up is all.
Schools-wise, get putting names on lists asap is my only advice. We moved back to Galway not long ago and it was a nightmare with schools!

A lot of people I know who have moved to Galway since the bust have gotten good deals in Salthill so have a thorough look. As a backup Knocknacarra is a massive suberb of 14,000 with many, many family friendly estates. And the best part is we're just a 5 minute drive to Blackrock or Silverstrand.

Mrs OBumble

Salthill has a beach, swimming pool, church, GAA club, a park, lots of schools, pubs and hotels, casino or two, and a games arcade place. Serious lack of community / non-commercial facilities though: the Mother-and-baby group meets in a pub, ffs.

Knocknacarra has two supermarkets (one with for-hire community rooms above it), a church, a couple of national schools, GAA club with a big park. A community centre has been approved/funded finally, I think building is due to start soonish. Far less facilities than you'd expect for an area that size. Oh ... and very few jobs in the area or on the same side of the river.

ErnieBert

JustMary wrote: »

Salthill has a beach, swimming pool, church, GAA club, a park, lots of schools, pubs and hotels, casino or two, and a games arcade place. Serious lack of community / non-commercial facilities though: the Mother-and-baby group meets in a pub, ffs.

Knocknacarra has two supermarkets (one with for-hire community rooms above it), a church, a couple of national schools, GAA club with a big park. A community centre has been approved/funded finally, I think building is due to start soonish. Far less facilities than you'd expect for an area that size. Oh ... and very few jobs in the area or on the same side of the river.

Building has commenced beside the GAA club.

terrii

Thanks for all the info. We still don't know what we are doing but at least now I have a few ideas.

McTigs

To my mind, west of the river (Bushypark, Dangan, Newcastle, Salthill, Knocknacara) provides a better quality of life, especially for families.

Unfortunately, most of the work is on the east of the river.

I live in salthill and work on the tuam road. They only way i've managed to square that circle is to commute by bike.... otherwise you'll spend half your day getting to and from.

leonidas83

McTigs wrote: »

To my mind, west of the river (Bushypark, Dangan, Newcastle, Salthill, Knocknacara) provides a better quality of life, especially for families.

Unfortunately, most of the work is on the east of the river.

I live in salthill and work on the tuam road. They only way i've managed to square that circle is to commute by bike.... otherwise you'll spend half your day getting to and from.

I would agree with this post OP, if you are working on the east side of the city and living on the west (Knocknacarra,Salthill) expect very long commutes and a struggle to make the most straightforward of journeys from there.

Salthill is a nice place to live but Galway has alot more to it than just one place. There is much better value in other parts of the city if you look around

gaeilgegrinds1

I wouldn't live in Knocknacarra. We've lots of friends there and they said the teenagers have taken over, lots of gangs hanging around and causing bother. One friend had her car keyed after asking them to leave outside her house, she has two small kids and they couldn't sleep.
Nicest estates on the other side are any of the Dangan ones, Tudor Lawn is lovely, Clifden Drive...avoid Cherry Pk and Hazel, too many students. We used to live there and LOVED it, have since moved to the country. You've walks by the river, the track and it's all walking distance to the city.

Little My

gaeilgegrinds1 wrote: »

I wouldn't live in Knocknacarra. We've lots of friends there and they said the teenagers have taken over, lots of gangs hanging around and causing bother.

I would imagine it depends on the area or estate, Knocknacarra is a big area.

Some Knocknacarra areas are lovely with no problems, and some have some problems. But you will find that everywhere. In general, Knocknacarra is pretty good.

gaeilgegrinds1

I've friends in four very different parts, bar the part furthest out near the park, it all seems to have problems. Sure there are damn all facilities there. Very badly planned and thought out.

ErnieBert

I am living in Knocknacarra for almost 11 years. I was initially cautious, but have settled in well now. My kids wouldn't leave it. I have never witnessed any crime in my neighbourhood whatsoever.

It is well serviced by public transport and there are 2 very large supermarkets. Also, two of the best sports clubs are in the general area too. Salthill Knocknacarra GAA Club and Salthill Devon FC are two well run organisations who are part of the fabric of the area.

It's a pity there is no cinema on this side of the river though.

gaeilgegrinds1

I didn't say crime assuch,just teens bored. I suppose keying a car is crime though. Most have small children that I know and just said the teens are not well monitored.

doubleglaze

There is very little anti-social behaviour by teens or other parties in Knocknacarra compared to other parts of the city, .

It is possibly the safest part of the city.

seriouslysweet

My friends in Knocknacarra hate is, there's nothing for teens to do and lots of rented houses with people who don't care much about the area where they live. I much prefer living in Claregalway, my cousins live in Dangan and they've loads to do if it's cityliving you like. I think every area has good and bad things though.

beardybrewer

I've heard of a few people being intimidated. Generally after telling a group to move on from sitting on a wall, car, etc. As other poster said, mostly bored teens and there are a lot of great kids in the area.. surprisingly good, polite kids. Like anywhere, you get a few bad ones in the mix. The population of knockncarra is 14K so there is relatively feck all there for such a large population. Yes, there are in fact a few clubs and a community centre finally being built but it isn't nearly enough to keep that many kids occupied.

Birroc

Most estates in Knocknacarra are relatively new and were snapped up by first time buyers in the late 1990s and early 2000s. As a result it now has an inordinate amount of young bored teenagers. The situation will approve as the estates 'mature'. Having said that I do feel the west side of Galway is the best even though most of the jobs are on the east side. The bridge traffic has improved during the recession though.

CowboyTed

I live in Oldfield which after living in many places in Galway is my Favourite... Very close to Joyces Supermarket and various shops, short walk to the pub... Town is a tenner in a taxi...

Walk the prom almost every evening... Barna Woods is a nice walk too (about 5 min in Car)...

Knocknacarra is quite big and were you live in it will decide on what you have close by... Anywhere close to Joyces has the most mature estates...

Mrs OBumble

newkie wrote: »

I've heard of a few people being intimidated. ... The population of knockncarra is 14K so there is relatively feck all there for such a large population.

I've heard the same - and the bit I've highlighted explains why this happens, that's an enormous amount of people for the facilities there.

I also don't get the "west is better" thinking either. Give me Ballyloughane Beach over the prom any day. Barna Woods is nice, but easy access to the motorway to just about anywhere else is very handy. And I'd rather commute once a week to the woods than five day a week to work.

fishy fishy

what is it exactly that they are putting in up at the park/barna woods. Are they putting a swimming pool in?

Also, are there plans for a traveling community estate in place right beside Barna Park around the estate of Woodlawn/Lismore.

I've heard this recently but not quite sure if it is accurate.

Knocknacarra overall is a very pleasant place to live, with all the amenities on hand.

Birroc

JustMary wrote: »

I've heard the same - and the bit I've highlighted explains why this happens, that's an enormous amount of people for the facilities there.

I also don't get the "west is better" thinking either. Give me Ballyloughane Beach over the prom any day. Barna Woods is nice, but easy access to the motorway to just about anywhere else is very handy. And I'd rather commute once a week to the woods than five day a week to work.

Not sure where that beach is but I have to say that the Prom is a superb amenity. I took it for granted in the past but I try to walk/run it as often as I can now. Lots of nice cafes, coffee shops and hotel along it these days too. I know many people that walk it on a daily basis. Great to see all the people fishing for mackerel lately. On the other hand I rarely go to Barna woods, must check it out again.