How rural is too rural?

Hooked

I lived in Limerick city up until 2 years ago... I'm now 45. Work, family, the local, the lads... were all a mile away (in town).

Wife wanted to move to "the country" and I had 2 rules. 1. 15/20 mins away. MAX! 2. I get a garage! LOL

2 years in and I couldn't be happier. We are 15-18 mins from the city... I actually travel home for lunch 2 or 3 times a week. Once you settle somewhere, the travel is the last thing you think of. Now, saying that. I have a local pub, shop, garage and we both drive. So we don't 'feel' rural.

Just some food for thought.

cnocbui

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121655060#Comment_121655060

My water is great, better tasting than I ever had from any mains.

Neowise, taken 8m from my front door, you would need to drive an hour or more out of Dublin to even begin to see it.

Street lights are a curse, but you are welcome to them and your opinions.

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121655383#Comment_121655383

Exactly, both have their advantages.

That's why the gentry had their townhouses and country seats. 🙂

John_Rambo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121655162#Comment_121655162

And well worth it pal.

Back on topic, the op is asking about two rural locations, which one do you think will be more suitable?

listermint

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121656098#Comment_121656098

Whichever one makes him happy. Assuming he doesn't have a dart outside and a bicycle lane..

awec

I think if you grew up in a town or city and you're used to independence, you're used to spur-of-the-moment decision making, you like walking for food or drinks and you're used to having things to do then rural life may be a bit of a shock to the system.

I grew up in a very large town so was always used to options, my wife grew up in the country. My in-laws live about 15 minutes outside Ennis. It's in a village that has like 2 pubs, so it's not totally barren, but it's still a struggle. We've went down numerous times for a week or two when the house has been empty for a change of scenery, and once the initial "oh this is nice and quiet" wears off, which takes a few days, you start to realise just how boring it is.

You can walk in to one of the pubs, but you need to walk home early because it's really too dangerous to walk the roads in the dark. Forget about taxis. Fancy some chips? Forget about getting food delivered. Want to do something other than the pub? Good luck.

Literally every single aspect of your life needs to be planned out. When you have kids you'll become a taxi service.

It's not for me but if you're the sort of person who keeps to themselves, doesn't really go out much and values quiet over independence and socialising then you might find it works for you.

Victor

If you are without a car, how stuck will you be? If you have children, how do they get to school, activities?

Was there power cut locally last night (Storm Isha) / tomorrow (Storm Jocelyn) night?

Ezeoul

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121655553#Comment_121655553

I couldn't care less who wants to live rurally, but IMO, saying you "pity" someone who lives where there is mains water and street lights (and in your latest post, upgrading them to "a curse") is still a ridiculous thing to say.

I personally wouldn't envy anyone the hassle of needing to have a septic tank :)

listermint

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121656541#Comment_121656541

Just to squash this entirely.

A good septic tank install is hands off entirely. Literally zero. And without the cost of having to Rod your neighbours drain which feeds into yours and the next house and the next house and you being the end of the run getting caught out with everyone else's wet wipes.

Any idea how much professional rodding costs?..

Naked Lepper

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121651943#Comment_121651943

yeah but nobody in dublin suburbs drives into o connell st to buy a loaf of bread.

Ezeoul

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121656603#Comment_121656603

No idea and I've never had need to know. I have lived in my suburban house for 27 years, and have never come across that issue.

I've also never had to pay for a septic tank to be emptied either, which I believe is a couple of hundred euro every 2 years or so?

Just to quash this entirely, this was started by someone saying they think those who live "where there are street lights and mains water are to be pitied" and I still say that is ridiculous thing to say.

Live where you want. But those of us who live in such places are not in any need of any "pity".

SouthWesterly

I used to work 30km away in Killarney. Took me 30 minutes door to door.

listermint

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121656672#Comment_121656672

You'd be wrong. Septic tank emptying is only if it's broken. Might have to empty one every ten years.

Properly designed is properly designed.

I never said anything about pity so don't reference me in such a response. I work in Dublin often.

I enjoy the trappings of not living in it.

listermint

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121656628#Comment_121656628

Neither do I. I drive the same distance in less time to get bread now. Than I did in Dublin which took longer due to traffic/lights take your pick.

thomas 123

Great Chinese and chipper in new market and Fergus!

elperello

Just on the bread run.

I know a lot of people who live in the country.

I visit their houses and get the odd cup of tea.

In general they don't run to the shops every day.

A big shop once a week in a town and pick up a few bits during the week when on another errand.

Some even use Tesco 🚚 delivery.

Oh and the air fryer has replaced the chip shop 😊

Ezeoul

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121656773#Comment_121656773

You may not have said it, but you jumped in on that conversation.

That's not what I've read about septic tanks, but I'll take your word for it. I would still prefer not to have the hassle of one, even every ten years.

I live 16kms outside Dublin city centre and can count on one hand the number of times I've been there in the last five years. I can also drive ten minutes away from my house in the other direction and be in a rural landscape very quickly.

I think its the best of both worlds, strictly in my opinion.

listermint

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121656863#Comment_121656863

For you it is grand. For me as a dublin carrying passport holder it isn't my jive. Family still there, couldn't get what we wanted in Dublin for less than 1.4 million 🤷‍♀️ expensive tastes 😁

Ezeoul

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121656879#Comment_121656879

Well, that is what is comes down to.

Different strokes, for different folks.

RichardAnd

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121655139#Comment_121655139

You'll forgive me the hyperbole, which I thought was rather obvious. However, you must understand that for someone raised in a city, moving to a country house is a dramatic change and can feel very remote, even if you are ten minutes from ennis.

GSBellew

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121651922#Comment_121651922

Funny thing, I love the lack of street lights in the country and look forward to being away from them again, why would you want to have an artificial light illuminating your window that you have to block out at night?

SouthWesterly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121656378#Comment_121656378

I grew up in Dublin and moved to where I've sheep in my field and chicken at my back door. I've to drive into town but only if the wife doesn't have the car. ( We downsized from 2 to 1). We haven't looked back and dread our trips to Dublin

rolling boh

You are not to get an unanimous answer to this both sides have valid points I would think about the renting if possible for a year and see if works out for you .

SharkMX

Too rural is - Anywhere where you cant get public transport at least hourly to any town or village within 20km. Not just one main town.

listermint

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121658725#Comment_121658725

So nowhere in this country then...

SharkMX

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121658766#Comment_121658766

Maybe when when Eamo realizes exactly what decent public transport means.

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121658780#Comment_121658780

You may not have heard about this initiative.

https://www.transportforireland.ie/tfi-local-link/

SharkMX

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121662156#Comment_121662156

I have indeed. My uncle in Carlow uses it. On a Tuesday if he books the Friday before. This is not what people have in mind when they ask for proper public transport.

SouthWesterly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121658725#Comment_121658725

I've to drive 4 km in the opposite direction of my nearest town to get the bus to the town

Town is 7k from me. I can be parked up in 7 minutes. I would never say I'm too rural.

SteM

Do you have children or plan to have children? That might sway my decision on where to live tbh. We have friends living up on an acre of land in the middle of nowhere but they're forever driving their kids to school, football practice, Irish dancing etc. Also, none of their school friends live locally so they have to do drop offs for have them over too.