Making new friends in Dublin? Is that too much to ask for?

Douliciouse

Hi there ,

I am 27 f from Egypt , here on a short visit , hubby just got relocated here from Egypt with his job and all and i just joined him for a visit.

My 1st thoughts that flashed in mind about Dublin , Were beautiful city all green and clean everyone seems healthy and all. But i still get the vibe that i am the weirdo in the city i get lots of looks maybe i am weird lookin as well and i feel a bit down i am a very out going person and friendly to the utmost but once i got here i feel like people are very into their lives and no time to smile back !

Don't get me wrong people here seems very nice and decent as i mentioned i guess its me who is facing some issues

Any tips of how to make new friends ! I was thinkin of break dancing with a chicken suit on in the middle of the street i am that desperate .

Cheers

Ash.J.Williams

Breakdancing in a chicken suit would work!

Douliciouse

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

Breakdancing in a chicken suit would work!

I will make sure to take pics of that then

TrueDub

You don't say how long you're here for, but how about joining a club, or getting involved in an activity you enjoy?

For instance, you can meet people through exercise classes, dance classes, language lessons, pottery, wine-tasting, art appreciation, badminton etc. etc.

Doing a google search on the area you're living in and the activities you enjoy doing might give you a start.

Danjamin1

Have you thought about joining a club or something? Probably the easiest way to meet new people. I moved abroad for 18 months and met people through going to a bar, but it took effort to get to know anyone.

Oink

Well if you're only here for a short visit as you say, you might not have time to actually get to know people. How long are you staying?

Ash.J.Williams

Douliciouse wrote: »

Hi there ,

I am 27 f from Egypt , here on a short visit , hubby just got relocated here from Egypt with his job and all and i just joined him for a visit.

My 1st thoughts that flashed in mind about Dublin , Were beautiful city all green and clean everyone seems healthy and all. But i still get the vibe that i am the weirdo in the city i get lots of looks maybe i am weird lookin as well and i feel a bit down i am a very out going person and friendly to the utmost but once i got here i feel like people are very into their lives and no time to smile back !

Don't get me wrong people here seems very nice and decent as i mentioned i guess its me who is facing some issues

Any tips of how to make new friends ! I was thinkin of break dancing with a chicken suit on in the middle of the street i am that desperate .

Cheers

Irish people can be fairly standoffish until you speak to them ....then you cannot shut them up!!

dubbie82

Welcome to Dublin.
Try the meetup.com groups in Dublin. They have lots of activities and a lot is free and you don't have to sign up and commit to anything like if you join a club etc.

Maybe if you tell us a bit about your interest we might be able to point you in a direction...I don't think we have a breakdancing chicken community here but you could always start one :-)

uch

I suggest to try your Local Library Notice board, you'll find plenty of free activities there from Language/conversation circles to Yoga classes and lots in between.

Seve OB

Pub

best place to meet any Irish person..... but go into the less swanky ones, and go during the day.

Try, Grogans, Bruxelles, Keoghes, Bleeding Horse, Nearys, Sheehans, to name but a few.

Oh and PS, don't forget to wear your dancing chicken suit PMSL

BMJD

few scoops?

stargazer 68

stevieob wrote: »

Pub

Try, Grogans, Bruxelles, Keoghes, Bleeding Horse, Nearys, Sheehans, to name but a few.

Oh and PS, don't forget to wear your dancing chicken suit PMSL

BMJD wrote: »

few scoops?

OP is from Egypt so I would imagine the pub is out - I could be wrong! Meetup.com is a great site. Lots of activities and outings.

Pawwed Rig

There are often meet ups organised on various boards forums. Goto one of them. It is not unusual to know nobody in advance and you will be more than welcome.

Mr Simpson

Dovies wrote: »

OP is from Egypt so I would imagine the pub is out - I could be wrong! Meetup.com is a great site. Lots of activities and outings.

Let the OP say that for themselves rather than us presuming

Rachiee

I think its nearly impossible to meet friends in a pub in Dublin. When people go out to a pub they normally go with a group of mates and are totally involved in their own conversations, if a stranger approaches they'll maybe talk for 10 mins and that's it. Meetup. Com or a group or class is a much better option. People will socialise afterwards and are generally looking to meet friends too.

gugleguy

OP, what social networks are you on? facebook, twitter etc. If so put your facebook link here...

Mr Simpson

gugleguy wrote: »

OP, what social networks are you on? facebook, twitter etc. If so put your facebook link here...

OP, I would strongly advise against doing this. Once personal information is on the internet, its hard to remove.

Seve OB

Dovies wrote: »

OP is from Egypt so I would imagine the pub is out - I could be wrong! Meetup.com is a great site. Lots of activities and outings.

last time I was in a pub I could have sworn they served things other than booze such as food, tea coffee, minerals

Rachiee wrote: »

I think its nearly impossible to meet friends in a pub in Dublin. When people go out to a pub they normally go with a group of mates and are totally involved in their own conversations, if a stranger approaches they'll maybe talk for 10 mins and that's it. Meetup. Com or a group or class is a much better option. People will socialise afterwards and are generally looking to meet friends too.

Yea, but if you read what I said.... during the day, become a regular, get to know people that way... not weekend nights out!!

stargazer 68

stevieob wrote: »

last time I was in a pub I could have sworn they served things other than booze such as food, tea coffee, minerals

You are right however if - and I say IF - the OP is Muslim she cannot go into the pub at all as alcohol is served there. Now that depends on how liberal she is but only the OP can decide that.

Seve OB

Dovies wrote: »

You are right however if - and I say IF - the OP is Muslim she cannot go into the pub at all as alcohol is served there. Now that depends on how liberal she is but only the OP can decide that.

pretty much rules out any kind of social life so

Arbiter of Good Taste

With all due respect, going to a pub on your own is not really the best place for any young woman - Muslim or otherwise - to make friends. Unless, of course, it's a certain kind of "friend" they are after.

- classes/courses - night classes seem to be good.
- join a gym and go to the classes (you're not going to meet someone if you spend all your time alone on the treadmill). Go to the same classes, you'll find the same people go time and time again
- yoga and pilates - a nice small class so you get to know the people
- hill walking clubs seem to be a hive of social activity
- can you get a dog? Dog owners attract other dog owners
- cyclists seem to be a pretty sociable bunch
- also running clubs

Find out what other expats do. I know loads of expats through my job and they all seem to have a great social circle.

Pawwed Rig

Dovies wrote: »

You are right however if - and I say IF - the OP is Muslim she cannot go into the pub at all as alcohol is served there. Now that depends on how liberal she is but only the OP can decide that.

And you cannot eat meat on Fridays, should stone adulterers and never eat pork if - and I say IF - you are Christian.

Why bring religion into a simple thread? What the OP will and won't do is up to her, not on your interpretation of what a muslim should and shouldn't do.

stargazer 68

Pawwed Rig wrote: »

Why bring religion into a simple thread? What the OP will and won't do is up to her, not on your interpretation of what a muslim should and shouldn't do.

Nowhere have I said what she should and shouldn't do! People on here are suggesting that she goes to the pub to make friends - I am simply pointing out that it may not be an option for her exactly the same way as others are pointing out that it is!

Mr Simpson

I'm not going to say this more than once. People can make any suggestion they like, it's up to the OP to come back and say what they would like to do. It's not up to any other poster to speculate and drag this thread off-topic

Ash.J.Williams

stevieob wrote: »

pretty much rules out any kind of social life so

does it now?

Arbiter of Good Taste

Volunteer work?

Agent Smith

Dovies wrote: »

OP is from Egypt so I would imagine the pub is out - I could be wrong! Meetup.com is a great site. Lots of activities and outings.

Public houses also sell non alcoholic Drinks....

Chucky the tree

A young female should go to the pub during the day in a effort to make friends - as terrible suggestions go that has to be up near the top.

FloatingVoter

Breaking dancing in a chicken suit. I think you'll be fine. Dublin is a very unfriendly town to make proper friends in. However, pubs are fine during the day. Plenty of people having a few beers will be up for a chat. The problem in Dublin and elsewhere in Ireland is making deeper friendships.
Just go in, be yourself, talk to the people behind the bar and before you know it you'll be losing money on the Grand National thanks to the expert gambler sitting beside you.
Just don't go home with him (unless you really want to).

MissPink

Completely agree, Dublin is a hard place to make good friends. Have tried exercise groups, gym, meetups, and I've met/chatted with some people, but it seems most people in gyms/exercise groups are only there for the exercise, not for the social aspect, which is disappointing!

I'd love to meet some good friends, but am finding it hard! In my mid-20s and am in a very happy relationship, but looking to meet new friends, outside of our common group!

maryishere

Join a club.

if you have a hobby or sport or interest? Whenever I move to a new city that's what I do.

JuliusCaesar

I'll second, or third, MeetUp.com - it is hard to break into already existing social groups in Dublin, and MeetUp seems to have really got going here in Ireland due to the amount of people coming in to the country from abroad. Now it's got so many groups that the Irish are joining in droves. Good fun and easy to find interesting stuff to do.

MissPink

maryishere wrote: »

Join a club.

if you have a hobby or sport or interest? Whenever I move to a new city that's what I do.

Joined a book club - full if 40 year old mummies and 60 year old grannies!! No offence, but I'm more than half their ages!
At exercise classes/gym, I find people to be a but focused on the exercise rather than socialising, which is fair enough!

Chucky the tree

MissPink wrote: »

Joined a book club - full if 40 year old mummies and 60 year old grannies!! No offence, but I'm more than half their ages!
At exercise classes/gym, I find people to be a but focused on the exercise rather than socialising, which is fair enough!

Exercise classes are terrible way to meet people tbh. They're set up in a way that limits interaction and generally people go their for the sole reason of exercising. Join a sports team if you want to find something more social.

crisco10

Chucky the tree wrote: »

Exercise classes are terrible way to meet people tbh. They're set up in a way that limits interaction and generally people go their for the sole reason of exercising. Join a sports team if you want to find something more social.

Meetup.com has a few running groups that are incredibly social. A bit of a run while chatting if you wish then straight to a local cafe for tea and buns and a natter.

Don't have to commit to teams as such...

MissPink

crisco10 wrote: »

Meetup.com has a few running groups that are incredibly social. A bit of a run while chatting if you wish then straight to a local cafe for tea and buns and a natter.

Don't have to commit to teams as such...

That sounds great, will look into the running clubs because I'm a member of a few other meet up groups

John_Rambo

Arbiter of Good Taste wrote: »

Volunteer work?

This. Met lots of life long friends through volunteer work when I worked weird hours in the city. Found it very easy to meet friends and very very good for hooking up for both men and women, a very healthy hidden singles meet up scene.

MissPink

John_Rambo wrote: »

This. Met lots of life long friends through volunteer work when I worked weird hours in the city. Found it very easy to meet friends and very very good for hooking up for both men and women, a very healthy hidden singles meet up scene.

Have just had a quick google there and there seems to be some opportunities in my area. Thanks so much

goiko

MissPink wrote: »

Completely agree, Dublin is a hard place to make good friends. Have tried exercise groups, gym, meetups, and I've met/chatted with some people, but it seems most people in gyms/exercise groups are only there for the exercise, not for the social aspect, which is disappointing!

I'd love to meet some good friends, but am finding it hard! In my mid-20s and am in a very happy relationship, but looking to meet new friends, outside of our common group!

I just emailed you

Happy_out

Hi all, this is my first time on this site - I am moving back to Dublin in September and am trying to see what is the best way to meet new friends! I am early 40 and single and most of my friends have moved abroad or are living outside Dublin or the usual, married with kids and really only want to socialise with others married with kids which is understandable! I know all the clubs, exercise classes options but am not really into that - would prefer to meet for a drink, go to some gigs, comedy clubs, theatre etc! Not sure if this is the right place to see what the options are but you can but try lol )))

Happy_out

I agree exercise classes are for people into exercise - they come do their squats and are gone lol! I think it's easier to meet people when you're abroad rather than in your own home town

Tuisceanch

As other posters have mentioned and I have experienced ..Meetup.com is a great way to associate with people with whom you have a shared interest which may or may not provide the basis for forging real friendships. The 'Dublin Free Hiking' group is a very nice,supportive and sociable group but you need to be fit and interested in hiking. Great way to get to appreciate the beauty of the landscape that surrounds you in Dublin and further afield. Even if you don't get to socialise with anybody outside of the organised events you can still enjoy the friendship afforded to you during the event.

stmol32

Douliciouse wrote: »

.....Any tips of how to make new friends ! I was thinkin of break dancing with a chicken suit on in the middle of the street i am that desperate .:)

There is a small but significant Egyptian community in Dublin a evidenced here
http://www.rte.ie/news/player/2013/0708/3559600-egyptian-community-protest-in-dublin/

If you wish to connect with them then maybe you could try this :
http://www.internations.org/ireland-expats/egyptians

HOWEVER...AND I CAN'T STRESS THIS ENOUGH, I know my people and if you did break dance with a chicken suit on in the middle of the street and announced it ahead of time on boards you would not only make friends in Ireland you would go down in this country as a legend.

Seriously, we would be telling our grandchildren about you as an oul' Dublin character and you would never have to buy a pint for yourself ever.

--LOS--

Would you be interested in boardgames at all, you don't have to know how to play them beforehand, usually in a pub, so you can meet people, have a drink if you want. My friend goes to these all the time and has met loads of people, there's a good mix of male/female and people from different countries.