Moving to Lahinch

carrieb

Am wondering if there's anyone that has made the move to Lahinch on here? I am seriously considering it...

I'm from Dublin but recently told my job will be gone in March (was on a series of fixed term contracts) - I was working in Sales, large FMCG, was thinking about leaving anyway as I hate it. I am sick to death of the rat race.

I am single, no kids. Own an apt with a friend but it's rented out, I have to top up the rent by €100 per month. The lease in the box, sorry flat that I rent is up in June. There is nothing keeping me in Dublin (apart from friends and family but sure Clare isn't that far!)

The place I'm renting is possibly the cheapest 1 bed in Dublin but it's cold damp, really old etc. I have been looking on daft but it's basically impossible to get anywhere affordable on my own.. Lahinch is somewhere I love and I could afford something lovely there. I'd be happy out to work full time in hospitality or maybe even do something in admin part time and something casual a few evenings per week.

I know Lahinch is hopping during the summer but am wondering what it's like the rest of the year.. I really think that the quality of life and sense of community would be fantastic.

rainbowdash

It seems to be busy all year, at least at the weekends, mixture of people coming in from surrounding villages to socialise, tourists, golfers, hens and stags etc. Pretty dead during the week I would guess until at least March 17th.

Not sure about jobs during the winter, I'd take a guess that weekend work can be got but not much more.

Accomodation should be cheap in the winter, lots of holiday homes available.

Of the tourist parts of Clare Lahinch seems to be the busiest in the winter, the rest of it just dies.

Obliq

I know a few people who lived in Lahinch - work was very hard to find in winter unless you knew someone... they've since moved on though, sorry. Don't want to depress you at all - I definitely think you should move to Clare - great place to live

Ps. A lot of cheap accomodation in winter alright, but mostly holiday lets - meaning you'd have to be out in holiday season. In summer, there's huge competition for cheap places and they're mostly way out of town.

Janrey

I can't really help other than to say that I too am moving to Clare but am not looking for work as am banjaxed retired.For jobs,like has been said,would probably be tough to find something in the winter but maybe easier in summer.Could you commute to Ennis? The responsible part of me sees you are right to check it out whilst the mad side of me would be saying "go for it" and something good will happen.Or else as a half way,move somewhere nearer to Ennis,get a wee job if possible and see where it takes you? I suppose I am just writing to encourage you in your dream

carrieb

Thanks folks.
Won't have a car as van will go with this job & don't have a personal one..
Am trying to google transport to & from Ennis... Wouldn't mind getting bus/train..
I could maybe get a job in Lahinch in the summer & save to buy a little 2nd hand car in the winter to commute to Ennis.. Will look into it.

colm_mcm

Not being funny, but have you considered somewhere closer to home like skerries or somewhere if you like the seaside?

Lahinch is great and all that, I'm from that area, but its not a dream life IMO. it's very quiet during the winter, and working in some job in ennis and trying to work around taking the bus all the time will drive you spare.

You mention trains, have you been to lahinch at all?

Good luck in whatever you do anyway! I know a lot of happy people in lahinch and it might be just the thing you need.

growler

Hi

I've spent a lot of "off peak" time in Lahinch over the years, whether you enjoy it will really depend on how you keep yourself entertained. If you're into surfing / fishing / golf / walking / heavy drinking / painting / writing poetry/ photography etc. you'll be fine but except for the drinking the weather can keep you stuck indoors for a lot of the time.

As said above, rent in the winter / spring is very cheap but will treble or more for the summer months. You'll need a car because you really don't want to be reliant on the buses up there, a round trip to ennistymon to do grocery shopping could take you all day otherwise.

Job wise, it'll be tough I'd imagine, many of the pubs don't even open some days during the week, same with the takeaways and restaurants. I know a fair few there who travel to ennis and limerick for work each day!

Worth mentioning too that a lot of the permanent residents of Lahinch are of the older generation, the place has been hammered by immigration over the years so not too many 20 / 30 / 40 somethings hanging about in the village itself (not too mention the price of housing making it largely unaffordable for most).

Its a beautiful spot, but not everyone can handle the isolation and awful weather.


Good luck

Lady Chatterton

carrieb wrote: »

Am trying to google transport to & from Ennis... Wouldn't mind getting bus/train..
I could maybe get a job in Lahinch in the summer & save to buy a little 2nd hand car in the winter to commute to Ennis.. Will look into it.

If you feel that you're going to be commuting to Ennis on a regular basis, I think that you will need to purchase a cheap secondhand car to make Lahinch work out for you.

Here is the Ennis to Lahinch bus timetable, it's isn't much for a service and there is no train service at all.

Best of Luck with whatever decision you make!

http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1279723383-337.pdf

Obliq

Yeah, growler sounds like someone who's spent time there! The isolation for ya would be my fear - moving to Clare is ace - definitely a good move to go to country from city, but with no car and few job prospects anywhere, I'd suggest somewhere that's a bit less isolated but still close to the coast. Like Gort, or similar?

I'm outside a small village myself - the nearest town with a bank is 8 miles, and the nearest supermarket is a 1/2hr drive. Driving is pretty essential - there are small local bus services (around here there's ECAT - east clare accessible transport), but I don't know about Lahinch area.

Still a good move. I came here 17 yrs ago with just a push-bike and a floor to stay on till I found a place cheap enough to rent. Still here, 2 kids up and a whole community of friends! I would recommend it to anyone, but ya may have to slum it for a bit and see how things pan out. Good luck!

willow tree

Hiya. I would definitely say you'll need a car & expect to spend time in it, that's my experience of country living! My partners from Dublin & I'd lived there half my life before settling in east Clare. All the things I expected to love, I still love.. beautiful scenery, friendly community, no traffic, slower pace of life etc. Great. But I miss my friends loads, too much really & less job opportunity. Anyway I would say with nothing tying you down go for it, regrets are no good & you can easily move back.. but a car is essential methinks! Good luck.

carrieb

Thanks for all the replies. I have been a few times but always drove (used to have a car) that's why I wasn't sure about bus/train situation.
Some very good points I hadn't thought about so thank you again.
I'll do some more research & look at some other places too.
I really just feel there's nothing for me in Dublin (apart from family & friends) The other thing pushing me is I can't afford to live on my own anywhere half decent in Dublin & I really can't be dealing with sharing with randomers.

hollysf

Come down for the spring/summer and see how you get on, the big smoke of Galway is only an hour up the road, move there for the winter if things are awful quiet, no harm in trying! Are you into surfing, great way to meet people there

carrieb

Yeh I was just thinking that I could go there for summer and then move but I really want to get a nice little place to live where I can make myself at home. I'm 32 so not really looking to just drift around.
All of the places I've looked at on Daft are around 400/500 per month with 12 month leases so not looking more expensive for summer HOWEVER leases for just the summer are about 500 per week!
I would love to try surfing, have never done it though.
There's probably other similar places, I've just always had a bit of a gra for Lahinch which is why it popped into my head..

Janrey

To go along with carrieb and her comment about having a grá for Lahinch, sometimes a place just grabs us and gets into possibly our soul, and we are almost destined as it were to be there.For me, Clare is like that and I would resonate with the expression that living there is more a state of mind.But on the other hand,I was talking to one Clare man,living in Dublin who said he would never go back,ever.If he was ever to leave Dublin,it would be for the midlands.Now the midlands would be the last place I'd live,no disrespect ! I also understand how carrieb can feel that way about Dublin and why Lahinch would appeal but as has been said to me, we do need to check it out and not make an rash moves.For example, a move to half way up a mountain,anywhere, would be asking too much of myself when I have only ever consistently lived in an estate, so it is about moderation and some thought.No point in moving to Lahinch with no car and having to get the bus to Ennis every day of the week.The grá and the love soon goes out the window ! Peace and quiet, summer or winter suits me so the dreaded winter is not an issue.In fact I am not sure I would like to live in a town like Lahinch which becomes very busy in summer !!

Zeek12

Maybe give some thought to Ennis as another possible destination. Employment wise it gives you better options, and you'd be within commuter distance of Limerick and Shannon. There are fairly regular buses to and from Limerick/Shannon (though you'd still be better off with your own wheels if you could afford them).
Lahinch is only a 25min drive away.
Rent isn't too expensive; you'd get a decent apartment for about 450 a month.

Paying 500 per week would be insane if you ask me. Lahinch is nice in the summer.....but not THAT nice!!

carrieb

Zeek12 wrote: »

Paying 500 per week would be insane if you ask me. Lahinch is nice in the summer.....but not THAT nice!!

Oh god I agree!! I'm sure it would only ever be a family that are having their actual holiday in Ireland that might do that... That would probably be reasonable if there was 4 or 5 people... I don't think anyone would pay that to actually live there!

Henry Ford III

I say go for it. It's a great spot and even when the weather gets rough (last night was nasty) there's enough to keep you occupied. The natives are pretty friendly. Good communications are vital however - phone and BB.

I reckon a car is a prerequisite however.

The shoulder season is probably my favourite time in Lahinch. March-May and Sept-late Oct. Peak holiday times and Bank Holiday w/e's get a bit too busy.

You'll be able find long term rental property down there I reckon and the prices are actually ok.

haybob

I’d be relatively close to Lahinch too like everywhere there are pro and cons, while it’s easy condemn a place I will try and be balanced.

Pros
Beach
Golf
Surfing
Fishing, very near great fishing and fishing all year
Lots of stuff going on near Lahinch from the matchmaking festival to the Merriman summer school
Loads of Pubs and restaurants
Cons
Expensive
Loads of rental type accommodation that is empty in winter
Known for anti social behaviour on a Friday and Saturday night

Henry Ford III

haybob wrote: »

...Known for anti social behaviour on a Friday and Saturday night

I'm there 2 years at this stage and haven't seen any.

growler

Henry Ford III wrote: »

I'm there 2 years at this stage and haven't seen any.

Don't know how you've missed it, most friday / saturday nights after the disco's close the area around the church, outside o'looneys and the top of the prom are pretty mental (unless it's lashing). Fights, cars being vandalised, people crapping in doorways, puking etc. , usual city centre stuff compressed into a tiny village but without any cops (usually).

Some older friends of mine leave on bank holiday weekends to escape the mayhem!

Its the only downside for me as the noise / shouting and stuff has often woken the baby.

Janrey

Sounds rough, especially as you say if the baby wakes from it.

Henry Ford III

growler wrote: »

Don't know how you've missed it, most friday / saturday nights after the disco's close the area around the church, outside o'looneys and the top of the prom are pretty mental (unless it's lashing). Fights, cars being vandalised, people crapping in doorways, puking etc. , usual city centre stuff compressed into a tiny village but without any cops (usually).

Some older friends of mine leave on bank holiday weekends to escape the mayhem!

Its the only downside for me as the noise / shouting and stuff has often woken the baby.

I think where I live helps tbh. About 2 or 3 mins walk from the church but off the bigger road.

If I'm going for a pint I tend to head out, and go home, a little earlier than the post disco crowd.