So I got a new laptop.....

cooperguy

I bought a new laptop during the week and it was running Windows 8. This has apps preinstalled for different features one of which being travel. I was scrolling through the different destinations and came across Limerick. I have attached the summary here. I wasnt very impressed with it to say the least!

padma

Very bad, I guess it gives a glowing reference to cork, Dublin etc, telling the sights to see and what to do etc. Nothing about junkies in dublin and the weekly bombs found under cars

bazz26

The laughable thing about that poor piece of lazy journalism is first the reference to Angela's Ashes where they actually filmed most of the Limerick scenes in Cork to make it appear authentic.

Secondly they refer to Limerick as the European Murder Capital of 2008, that might have had some truth 4 years ago but hello this is 2012 the title no longer applies. Criminal gang related murders in the likes of Dublin seem to monopolise our TV screens more these days. Of course that would actually require some investigative journalism instead of what appears to be a copy and paste type article. This is probably why the writer of it works for a third party little known application rather than for a reputable media company.

Being honest I wouldn't give it the spotlight it doesn't deserve.

Berty

Source:

Google Earth Streetview(references to shiny buildilngs)
Angelas Ashes(references to endemic poverty)
Stab City(Slab wtf)(references to Paul Williams)

Just some tripe from a nobody.

I have Windows 8 myself but haven't been through the Apps really. Probably glad I haven't.

h3000

It's no wonder Limerick tourism is hit so hard with crap journalism like that :mad:

cooperguy

bazz26 wrote: »

The laughable thing about that poor piece of lazy journalism is first the reference to Angela's Ashes where they actually filmed most of the Limerick scenes in Cork to make it appear authentic.

Secondly they refer to Limerick as the European Murder Capital of 2008, that might have had some truth 4 years ago but hello this is 2012 the title no longer applies. Criminal gang related murders in the likes of Dublin seem to monopolise our TV screens more these days. Of course that would actually require some investigative journalism instead of what appears to be a copy and paste type article. This is probably why the writer of it works for a third party little known application rather than for a reputable media company.

Being honest I wouldn't give it the spotlight it doesn't deserve.

Well the thing is its not a little known app. This is a featured app in every new PC and Laptop that will be sold in the next few years! I live in Galway these days and checked out what it says. While its a positive article its ridiculously out of date.

Treehorn

First time I heard the term "Slab City". I don't even know what else to say....monumentally depressing read.

Rachineire

Absolute rubbish.

gregers85

Treehorn wrote: »

First time I heard the term "Slab City". I don't even know what else to say....monumentally depressing read.

Slab City??? I've never heard this either!! shocking bad to say the least

Poxyshamrock

It's pretty accurate, I think.

Limerick is a rough city and there's no denying it.

I like Limerick and enjoy living here but it does have its fair share of problems.

L.T.P.

Poxyshamrock wrote: »

It's pretty accurate, I think.

Limerick is a rough city and there's no denying it.

I like Limerick and enjoy living here but it does have its fair share of problems.

Pretty accurate my hole.

Going by that review you'd think Limerick is a complete no-go area which we all know isn't the case.

Limerick's crime problem is no more serious than any other cities', its just the biased Dublin media blowing it out of proportion.

whatdoicare

While I hate to read this awful article, some of it does ring true.
Now, before you decide anything - I'm a big fan of Limerick, an avid collector of the old Limerick Journals and I am very proud of our History, art and culture!

Not so long ago I hosted an American cousin who had never been to Ireland and I thought a great idea would be to bring him to King John's castle via the allocated tourist walk.

I was so ashamed! I hadn't been on the walk since the treaty celebrations about 20 odd years ago and now I remember why! The walk was pretty awful, taking us past homeless people and dodgy looking streets with a casino and scumbags eyeballing us! The footbridge into the Potato market stank of urine and led us past the courthouse where there were scumbags in handcuffs smoking outside!

I had been bigging up my city to him for weeks and I just couldn't apologise enough to him!
When we finally got to the castle the price to get in was pure robbery! I paid it and we did the tour but it wasn't worth the price by a long shot - it was nearly 30 euros for the two of us!

I had planned a whole day of the Hunt Museum, Georgian quarter and there was a poetry session on in the White house pub but instead I got the OH to collect us and bring us to Bunratty Castle, we spent the day there and then I booked us into the céilé night which was about a zillion times better!

My cousin also got to witness at the crossroads of O'Connell and William streets two cars stopped in the middle of the crossroad blocking traffic, a gang of guys jumped out of the cars, ran over to penneys and started pounding the crap out of some guy standing outside before jumping back into their cars and speeding off! WT actual F!

My cousin said nothing about it all but it was pretty evident that he was shocked and horrified! If that's what he witnessed what the heck have other tourists witnessed!! We spent the week he was with us doing as many tourist things as we could but sadly, the majority was outside Limerick! It was a crying shame! I was very ashamed to be a Limerick lady that week!:(

padma

sure, what do you care? what do i care?

whatdoicare

padma wrote: »

sure, what do you care? what do i care?

Well done. It's like you nearly had an original thought there...but not quite :rolleyes:

Obviously I do care, or else I wouldn't have taken the time to write the post.

padma

whatdoicare wrote: »

Well done. It's like you nearly had an original thought there...but not quite :rolleyes:

Obviously I do care, or else I wouldn't have taken the time to write the post.

Ah now, come on, it wasn't personal. Your American cousin want to see a bit of the old country, sure take the good with the bad. Every city in the country has this stuff going on. I was in Dublin on Monday, the amount of people in a bad situation there walking the streets, Homeless, smack heads etc, yet it has a high turnout of tourists. Truth be said Dublin can be intimidating with the amount of sirens going off all day, due to muggings and street fights,

whatdoicare

padma wrote: »

Ah now, come on, it wasn't personal. Your American cousin want to see a bit of the old country, sure take the good with the bad. Every city in the country has this stuff going on. I was in Dublin on Monday, the amount of people in a bad situation there walking the streets, Homeless, smack heads etc, yet it has a high turnout of tourists. Truth be said Dublin can be intimidating with the amount of sirens going off all day, due to muggings and street fights,

Well, that is Dublin's problem - they had a huge problem with Temple bar, when I lived there 15 years ago it was a no go area and they turned it around and worked with local businesses to clean it up and now they can boast of the majority of Ireland's tourism visiting there.

Limerick is our problem, we need to stop making excuses and come up with some real solutions. We have a bad name but it's bad reviews on websites and word of mouth from returning tourists that's going to reinforce that.
Tourists can't give us a bad review based on a rumour - they give us reviews based on their experiences and if they have a bad one - which my cousin did - then that's what's going to be said to their friends and relatives.

We need to make real changes to the city walkway. King John's needs a huge overhaul. There needs to be more festivals, more shops, restaurants and live music. We need to stop blaming a bad rep and fix the problems!

There's some small changes already coming - the walkway along the water - although it's awkward and hard to get to but it's something. There's going to be a river boat on the shannon. We are a river city and we don't utilise it half as much as we could do! We need to be proactive here.

How about looking at it like that instead of saying "Ah,sure, it's Dublin's fault! What are we to do!" It's not Dublin's problem or fault - it's our problem and our fault.

padma

whatdoicare wrote: »

Well, that is Dublin's problem - they had a huge problem with Temple bar, when I lived there 15 years ago it was a no go area and they turned it around and worked with local businesses to clean it up and now they can boast of the majority of Ireland's tourism visiting there.

Limerick is our problem, we need to stop making excuses and come up with some real solutions. We have a bad name but it's bad reviews on websites and word of mouth from returning tourists that's going to reinforce that.
Tourists can't give us a bad review based on a rumour - they give us reviews based on their experiences and if they have a bad one - which my cousin did - then that's what's going to be said to their friends and relatives.

We need to make real changes to the city walkway. King John's needs a huge overhaul. There needs to be more festivals, more shops, restaurants and live music. We need to stop blaming a bad rep and fix the problems!

There's some small changes already coming - the walkway along the water - although it's awkward and hard to get to but it's something. There's going to be a river boat on the shannon. We are a river city and we don't utilise it half as much as we could do! We need to be proactive here.

How about looking at it like that instead of saying "Ah,sure, it's Dublin's fault! What are we to do!" It's not Dublin's problem or fault - it's our problem and our fault.

Well, what I'm saying to you is, that your review that you gave this city for anyone who searches it tells it all, the same negative press that destroys this city is what you just gave it in your post.

whatdoicare

padma wrote: »

Well, what I'm saying to you is, that your review that you gave this city for anyone who searches it tells it all, the same negative press that destroys this city is what you just gave it in your post.

Well, none of it was lies - it was a real review. Should I have lied and said "Oh, my cousin came here and he had a marvellous time! It's just a strange coincidence that we spent his time here in Clare and Galway!"?

You can big up the city with all the lies you want but if the reality is different then it's a complete waste of time. People aren't going to come to Limerick and tell their friends that they had a great experience if they didn't!

padma

The fact of the matter is, YOU felt ashamed of where you come from. YOUR shame then led to not showing your cousin the Georgian quarter and bringing him to the White House bar. You left off bringing him to Adare to settle in Bunratty. Blanked out Limerick because YOU got embarrassed. Wrote your review and here we are discussing what You think about this city and the Shame it has led you to feel. What you think about this city is fair from your point of view and you are entitled to that view, which you share with the App on the new Windows 8.

For me I couldn't care less what anyone thinks of Limerick, This is a fantastic place and I've been bringing people from all over the world here for years and they get to experience a small Irish city with a deep cultural past and to hell with the begrudgers.

whatdoicare

padma wrote: »

The fact of the matter is, YOU felt ashamed of where you come from. YOUR shame then led to not showing your cousin the Georgian quarter and bringing him to the White House bar. You left off bringing him to Adare to settle in Bunratty. Blanked out Limerick because YOU got embarrassed. Wrote your review and here we are discussing what You think about this city and the Shame it has led you to feel. What you think about this city is fair from your point of view and you are entitled to that view, which you share with the App on the new Windows 8.

For me I couldn't care less what anyone thinks of Limerick, This is a fantastic place and I've been bringing people from all over the world here for years and they get to experience a small Irish city with a deep cultural past and to hell with the begrudgers.

Well, that's great, I love my city and it let me down - what was it? The city was having a bad day that day? Rubbish!

Our Tourism is just crapola, people bypass Limerick to get to Adare or Clare.

Adare is not Limerick city, Adare have their own tourism and it's fine and healthy. I did in fact bring my cousin to Adare and it was fabulous!

The fact of the matter is that Limerick is not doing well. Tourists are telling us with their feet. We need to change this instead of getting defensive and saying "I'm alright jack! Limerick is beautiful in my eyes!" It doesn't matter what my or your opinion is. The opinion of the tourists is what matters here, they're the ones bringing in the revenue. Surely you can see that?

Marsden

whatdoicare wrote: »

Limerick is our problem, we need to stop making excuses and come up with some real solutions.

What about renaming it "hug city".

Seriously though, its easy to end up in the wrong part of Limerick. First time I went I visited King Johns Castle and went for a walk around afterwards across the bridge. It did seem a bit run down, lots of closed shops etc.

When I went back the next time I got to see the rest of the place and really enjoyed it.

whatdoicare

Marsden wrote: »

What about renaming it "hug city".

Seriously though, its easy to end up in the wrong part of Limerick. First time I went I visited King Johns Castle and went for a walk around afterwards across the bridge. It did seem a bit run down, lots of closed shops etc.

When I went back the next time I got to see the rest of the place and really enjoyed it.

Well, that's the problem isn't it, your first impression was a bad one but you gave it a second chance but other tourists usually only get one chance and it sticks with them and they pass that impression on.

Also, awwwww hug city!

CiaranMT

Did no-one else spot the bit about Rathkeale?

Dante

When you Google 'Slab City Limerick' this thread is the first hit, what a total spoofer. I mean, if he's going to pull nicknames for the city out of his arse, he could have at least come up with something a bit more interesting such as 'Slut City' or 'Cape Clunge'.

I know that I for one would certainly prefer reading this on my Windows 8 travel app, "...a problem so serious that the Irish who once wryly dubbed it 'Stab City' have now started calling it 'Cape Clunge'.

sioda

whatdoicare wrote: »

While I hate to read this awful article, some of it does ring true.
Now, before you decide anything - I'm a big fan of Limerick, an avid collector of the old Limerick Journals and I am very proud of our History, art and culture!

Not so long ago I hosted an American cousin who had never been to Ireland and I thought a great idea would be to bring him to King John's castle via the allocated tourist walk.

I was so ashamed! I hadn't been on the walk since the treaty celebrations about 20 odd years ago and now I remember why! The walk was pretty awful, taking us past homeless people and dodgy looking streets with a casino and scumbags eyeballing us! The footbridge into the Potato market stank of urine and led us past the courthouse where there were scumbags in handcuffs smoking outside!

I had been bigging up my city to him for weeks and I just couldn't apologise enough to him!
When we finally got to the castle the price to get in was pure robbery! I paid it and we did the tour but it wasn't worth the price by a long shot - it was nearly 30 euros for the two of us!

I had planned a whole day of the Hunt Museum, Georgian quarter and there was a poetry session on in the White house pub but instead I got the OH to collect us and bring us to Bunratty Castle, we spent the day there and then I booked us into the céilé night which was about a zillion times better!

My cousin also got to witness at the crossroads of O'Connell and William streets two cars stopped in the middle of the crossroad blocking traffic, a gang of guys jumped out of the cars, ran over to penneys and started pounding the crap out of some guy standing outside before jumping back into their cars and speeding off! WT actual F!

My cousin said nothing about it all but it was pretty evident that he was shocked and horrified! If that's what he witnessed what the heck have other tourists witnessed!! We spent the week he was with us doing as many tourist things as we could but sadly, the majority was outside Limerick! It was a crying shame! I was very ashamed to be a Limerick lady that week!:(

It was nowhere near 30 euro and king Johns is getting a huge refurb. Get your facts straight