How bad is Dorset street?

DynamiteC101

I have been offered a house to rent, located just off Dorset Street The actual address is North Circular Road, but the main street for amenities and on route to town is Dorset street, and it's a 3 minute walk from the house. I know that the north inner city isn't a utopia of safety, and that most area's near the city are a little bit rough. I read the news this morning however, and a Dublin GAA footballer was stabbed in Dorset street in the early hours of this morning.

Yes I have read a news story before about a man being stabbed in Grafton street, so I know that there will always be scumbags in any part of the city/inner city. But how bad is Dorset street in the general scheme of things?

I know there are some places with a really bad reputation - Ballybough, Summerhill spring to mind as being places which most people agree are no go areas.

The landlord needs me to let him know by Monday if I'm taking it or not. Is it just a case of not walking home by my own at night and not 'hanging' around needlessly? Or should I search for a different place? On that note though, I'm trying to find somewhere within walking distance to the city. (I work on the northside).

Strawberry Swan

Yep it aint the prettiest that's for sure. But I think the fact that it's so busy all the time makes it feel more secure for me. I have lived in the area for years and never had any problems. It's so close to town and served well by public transport I'd recommend it.

DynamiteC101

Strawberry Swan wrote: »

Yep it aint the prettiest that's for sure. But I think the fact that it's so busy all the time makes it feel more secure for me. I have lived in the area for years and never had any problems. It's so close to town and served well by public transport I'd recommend it.

Agree, location wise it is perfect. Have walked through it a few times in the past week, as you say it's definitely not the 'prettiest'.

How do you think it compares to Gardiner street or Parnell square?

Galadriel

DynamiteC101 wrote: »

Agree, location wise it is perfect. Have walked through it a few times in the past week, as you say it's definitely not the 'prettiest'.

How do you think it compares to Gardiner street or Parnell square?

I lived on the North Circular (Dorset Street end) for years and had no problems, great location.

Ole Rodrigo

DynamiteC101 wrote: »

I know there are some places with a really bad reputation - Ballybough, Summerhill spring to mind as being places which most people agree are no go areas.

Most people ? As in most people who have never been there you mean ? Or maybe those who just pass through on the way to Croker for a GAA match. As someone who has been living in the general area for over 10 years, its really irritating to hear them being called no go areas. What the area does need is more worldly people. Lets leave the sheltered, gossipy half wits with urbanization issues to the suburbs.

snowey07

I live just off the north circular - a 2 minute walk to Dorset street. Ive never had any bother and walk around in the evening without any trouble. Its a handy spot, walkable to town, lots of Dublin Bike stands, pubs, shops etc

DynamiteC101

ror_74 wrote: »

Most people ? As in most people who have never been there you mean ? Or maybe those who just pass through on the way to Croker for a GAA match. As someone who has been living in the general area for over 10 years, its really irritating to hear them being called no go areas. What the area does need is more worldly people. Lets leave the sheltered, gossipy half wits with urbanization issues to the suburbs.

Sorry if my comment offended you. I've been house-hunting in Dublin for the last month and a half, and I was told to avoid Ballybough and Summerhill. ''No-go areas'' was the wrong terminology to use though, and I apologise for that.

DynamiteC101

snowey07 wrote: »

I live just off the north circular - a 2 minute walk to Dorset street. Ive never had any bother and walk around in the evening without any trouble. Its a handy spot, walkable to town, lots of Dublin Bike stands, pubs, shops etc

Well the truth is, I'm already living in the house, lol! I didn't want to say I had already taken the house, just in case people tried to ease my worries and say ''you'll be grand'' etc. Apologies for my duplicity!

I moved in on Wednesday, and I have walked around the area a few times. It seems a bit edgy, but I'm sure I'll be grand! It's not very comforting though when you hear that a person has been stabbed there in your first weekend living beside it!

Rabo Karabekian

Walk past there to work nearly every day and have never had any hassle. Depending on where I'm coming from on a night out, will walk through there and, again, never any hassle. If you have your wits about you, you should be fine (bar an incredibly unlucky incident).

Bepolite

I used to have occation (for work) to be here at 3/4 in the morning. It's like many areas in inner city Dublin, rough as a badgers arse but very little in the way of real danger if you've your wits about you.

kingcobra

I live on Dorset Street and I've never had any trouble around there and I certainly wouldn't fell any more sketchy than I would going down O'Connell Street. Even after nights out you'd get no grief at all as there is barely a sinner to be seen.

GLaDOS

Never had any trouble on Dorset street, though as always keep your wits about you if you're alone at night.

Dord

Just moved from Lower Dorset Street having lived there for 2 years. One word of advice I'll give you - Avoid the street while matches or other events are on in Croke Park. Either stay indoors or head out for the day.

It's generally ok around there although quite dirty (literally) in places. Watch out for the Roma gypsies.

Tombi!

I've lived there/around the area (as in around the corner) since i was born.
It's completely fine, mostly.
Here are the problems: you're going to see drug dealing, stoned/drunk people and groups of loud kids. As in, see them. Not be bothered by them.

Other than having to deal with seeing the above and hearing the kids and how loud a main road is, I wouldn't see a problem. I've walked from one end to the other plenty of times at all hours morning or night and be fine.

All I'd say is because it will make you uncomfortable I think is to avoid walking through blocks of flats or lanes until you're used to the area.

Tombi!

Oh yeah, I forgot: when there are matches (or other major events that'll have the pubs stacked or things like leaving cert results night) stay inside. Get your shopping done early and just don't bother going outside. It's not that you'll be guaranteed trouble it's just, those nights usually will have some sort of trouble like fights. Not that you'd be stabbed or anything but you can understand my point.

alastair

Croke Park matches don't generally lead to hassle, other than congestion, but Bohs-Rovers matches are a different matter. The last (cancelled at 11th hour admittedly - so additional aggro there) fixture was the same night as my windscreen was smashed - probably no coincidence.

chopper6

Parts of it are hairy...dont chain a bicycle anywhere on dorset street unless you want to lose it and that post office in the middle of dorset st is a meeting point for the scum of the earth..avoid it at all costs.

Bepolite

chopper6 wrote: »

Parts of it are hairy...dont chain a bicycle anywhere on dorset street unless you want to lose it and that post office in the middle of dorset st is a meeting point for the scum of the earth..avoid it at all costs.

You've just described pretty much anywhere in Dublin city there though to be fair.

Yer Aul One

chopper6 wrote: »

Parts of it are hairy...dont chain a bicycle anywhere on dorset street unless you want to lose it

You cant chain a bike anywhere in public in Dublin unless you want it stolen, to be fair.

Never lived there but a friend did. When I first starting visiting I felt nervous because the area looked dingy enough. But I actually got well used to it and realised you would be very unlucky to encounter any issues

Tombi!

chopper6 wrote: »

Parts of it are hairy...dont chain a bicycle anywhere on dorset street unless you want to lose it and that post office in the middle of dorset st is a meeting point for the scum of the earth..avoid it at all costs.

Define "scum of the Earth" for me please. I'd love to hear what sort of scum of the Earth you see there.

Yer Aul One

*searches frantically for popcorn

anncoates

ror_74 wrote: »

Lets leave the sheltered, gossipy half wits with urbanization issues to the suburbs.

To be fair, there's nothing more 'suburban' than fetishizing the inner city and abusing people for daring to suggest it might have social issues.

OP: Dorset Street is a good convenient location for town but like any city in any country, you need t keep your wits about you. I lived close enough to there for a few years and it was fine.

alastair

anncoates wrote: »

To be fair, there's nothing more 'suburban' than fetishizing the inner city and abusing people for daring to suggest it might have social issues.

To be fairer - neither Ballybough or Summerhill, for all their social problems (which nobody is disputing) are 'no-go areas'. The OP admitted it was probably the wrong term to use. And there are some frankly hilariously unfounded fears of areas that are simply dumpy looking inner city /working class areas at play.

anncoates

alastair wrote: »

And there are some frankly hilariously unfounded fears of areas that are simply dumpy looking inner city /working class areas at play.

No go area is a bit exaggerated but the area has more social issues than an equivalent middle class areas.

I grew in the former so it wouldn't bother me but some people are worried by visible street life in working class areas especially if they're not from that kind of place and are just looking for honest advice so as such, it's no use ridiculing them. Especially not going to the point of insulting them from some supposed streetwise perspective.

jpc1

some mad scobes walking around all times of the day, just go look outside the dublin supporters bar

alastair

anncoates wrote: »

No go area is a bit exaggerated but the area has more social issues than an equivalent middle class areas.

It's more than a 'bit exaggerated' - it's at odds with the reality of the areas.

anncoates wrote: »

I grew in the former so it wouldn't bother me but some people are worried by visible street life in working class areas especially if they're not from that kind of place

Sure - but that's not anything like a 'no go' scenario.

anncoates wrote: »

and are just looking for honest advice so as such, it's no use ridiculing them. Especially not going to the point of insulting them from some supposed streetwise perspective.

Is the honest reading of the ridicule of the notion that Ballybough and Summerhill are 'no go' areas, that some form of 'fetishizing' of the inner city is at play?

chopper6

Brutal Deluxe wrote: »

Define "scum of the Earth" for me please. I'd love to hear what sort of scum of the Earth you see there.

Professional dole scroungers,ex prisoners,drug dealers,theives,lunatics and drug addicts.

Often all in one.

anncoates

alastair wrote: »

Is the honest reading of the ridicule of the notion that Ballybough and Summerhill are 'no go' areas, that some form of 'fetishizing' of the inner city is at play?

Calling people 'half wits from the suburbs' in response to an inaccurate but relatively harmless opinion would suggest so, yes.

camz09

I've walked here for three years coming from drumcondra to mountjoy for college. It's fairly safe for a young asian woman so I'd say it's not that bad. Never had problems, even anything close to a dodgy encounter.

alastair

anncoates wrote: »

Calling people 'half wits from the suburbs' in response to an inaccurate but relatively harmless opinion would suggest so, yes.

Don't see it myself. I'd go as far as to say you're as guilty of hyperbole, as the poster you're criticising.

Tombi!

chopper6 wrote: »

Professional dole scroungers,ex prisoners,drug dealers,theives,lunatics and drug addicts.

Often all in one.

And tell me, why have I never encountered them? I go there quite often.

anncoates

alastair wrote: »

Don't see it myself. I'd go as far as to say you're as guilty of hyperbole, as the poster you're criticising.

Ironically, a lot of the time, it's actually suburban blow-ins (students and professionals) to those areas that are the most vicious in their criticism of other suburbanites adjudged to be not as street as they are.

alastair

anncoates wrote: »

Ironically, a lot of the time, it's actually suburban blow-ins (students and professionals) to those areas that are the most vicious in their criticism of other suburbanites adjudged to be not as street as they are.

The poster you directed the comment at has apparently lived in the area 15 years. And importantly, they were responding to an outright mischaracterisation of the areas. But that's supposed to be 'fetishizing' by a 'blow-in'? Okay.

anncoates

alastair wrote: »

The poster you directed the comment at has apparently lived in the area 15 years. And importantly, they were responding to an outright mischaracterisation of the areas. But that's supposed to be 'fetishizing' by a 'blow-in'? Okay.

Didn't say they weren't from the area. Don't particularly care. It's possible to counter negative perceptions about the area in a positive way though.

iDave

Live in Drumcondra and have often walked up and down it. For the most part its ok but was attacked along with a friend on a Sunday night walking back from O'Connell St 18 months ago. I'd recommend using public transport or a taxi if your have to go from one end to the other at night.

alastair

anncoates wrote: »

Didn't say they weren't from the area.

Other than claiming they held 'suburban' attitudes?

anncoates wrote: »

Don't particularly care. It's possible to counter negative perceptions about the area in a positive way though.

Sure it is. It's also possible to dispute ridiculous notions about areas without, being guilty of, eh, "fetishizing the inner city".

anncoates

alastair wrote: »

Sure it is. It's also possible to dispute ridiculous notions about areas without, being guilty of, eh, "fetishizing the inner city".

Yet it's OK to call people gossipy suburban half-wits for a relatively innocent comment?

Live by the sword...

alastair

anncoates wrote: »

Yet it's OK to call people gossipy suburban half-wits for a relatively innocent comment?

Live by the sword...

Sounds like you're agreed that you're both guilty of hyperbole then.

anncoates

alastair wrote: »

Sounds like you're agreed that you're both guilty of hyperbole then.

If this kind of pedantic circuity is so important to you then let's just say we are .

alastair

anncoates wrote: »

If this kind of pedantic circuity is so important to you then let's just say we are .

I'm just a bit hung up on honesty - sorry if that's too pedantic for you.

GLaDOS

Cut out the bickering guys, it's dragging the thread off topic

chopper6

Brutal Deluxe wrote: »

And tell me, why have I never encountered them? I go there quite often.

They're queing there and congregating there every morning or at least every morning that dole is being paid out.

I'll take a pic of them next time i'm passing.

bmm

Takeaways being open at 5am is the problem here , not the area.

Tombi!

chopper6 wrote: »

They're queing there and congregating there every morning or at least every morning that dole is being paid out.

I'll take a pic of them next time i'm passing.

Dole is handed out every day, BTW. Except Sundays since it's not opened there.
So you've asked every person there their business and found out everyone you asked is some sort of scum of the Earth is it?

Or are you completely exaggerating there and it's just a group of people that you don't like the look of?

usersame

These threads always turn into"I lived in said rough area and never had a bother therefore it's 100% safe for everyone"

I worked in the mater, the fact is Dorset street and surrounding areas have serious social issues, including drugs, violence, alcohol abuse and organised crime. For the average person it's safe enough with common sense being used ,but I wouldn't let my mother walk down the street after about 6pm. The walk from town can be bad too.

You'll definitely see a lot of trouble up there. The gardai are whizzng around a lot and there's junkies hanging around.

what part exactly is it? What's the closet shop/pub

chopper6

Brutal Deluxe wrote: »

Dole is handed out every day, BTW. Except Sundays since it's not opened there.
So you've asked every person there their business and found out everyone you asked is some sort of scum of the Earth is it?

Or are you completely exaggerating there and it's just a group of people that you don't like the look of?

I've heard various of them discussing "thier business" including two who were discussing a near fatal assualt on a security guard in the Square and i assure you they are not nice people.

Tombi!

chopper6 wrote: »

I've heard various of them discussing "thier business" including two who were discussing a near fatal assualt on a security guard in the Square and i assure you they are not nice people.

So? That's two of them. I've seen people dealing drugs in some of the areas around there, that doesn't mean every person that passes by that area is scum.

drumswan

Brutal Deluxe wrote: »

So? That's two of them. I've seen people dealing drugs in some of the areas around there, that doesn't mean every person that passes by that area is scum.

What if they are wearing sportswear though? Or talking in uncouth accents?

Yer Aul One

drumswan wrote: »

What if they are wearing sportswear though? Or talking in uncouth accents?

I snapped two lads outside the Post Office on Dorset earlier. You were right about the sportswear. Too afraid to get closer to hear them speak

chopper6

Brutal Deluxe wrote: »

So? That's two of them. I've seen people dealing drugs in some of the areas around there, that doesn't mean every person that passes by that area is scum.

I didnt say they were..i said scum congregate outside and inside that post office.

And for the record there's plenty of undesirables the length and breadth of dorset st,it would not be one of my favourite places and that includes the canal banks.

SMJSF

I live about 200 feet from Dorset Street, and unless you just love the smell of weed, gypsy beggars, people shouting, beer cans everywhere, a lot of noise from traffic from 7.30am-9am, and from 3pm-7.30pm, the sirens of Gardaí cars and ambulances every 5 minutes....
you'll just love it!!
after a while, you'll just get used to seeing and hearing everything, nothing surprises or stuns you anymore... as I say - "that's town for you!!"

Not trying to put you off. But that's what its really like.