Countryside life or City life.

freshpopcorn · 07-07-2017 11:17PM

I live in the middle of the country side just off the old Dublin road and it's easier to find my house than it would be to find a house an estate in our local town. I've supermarkets, shops, sports clubs, woods, swimming pool all within under ten minutes of my house. I'm about 30 minutes away from all the other major retailers. I've a large garden and nobody living on top of me. I really enjoyed where I grew up for the most part. I did the city thing for a while and was really looking forward to it but all the shops/cinema/etc lost their sparkly for me after a bit.

gizmo81 · 07-07-2017 11:21PM

Mr_Muffin wrote: »

I've always been a city guy but as I get older the countryside becomes more and more appealing.

For me, I hope to enjoy both - a large scenic house in the country for every day living with a weekend pad in the city.

I agree, I feel it's an age thing for me too.

On an unrelated matter, Was that you that won the Euromillions tonight?

07-07-2017 11:30PM

freshpopcorn wrote: »

I live in the middle of the country side just off the old Dublin road and it's easier to find my house than it would be to find a house an estate in our local town. I've supermarkets, shops, sports clubs, woods, swimming pool all within under ten minutes of my house. I'm about 30 minutes away from all the other major retailers. I've a large garden and nobody living on top of me. I really enjoyed where I grew up for the most part. I did the city thing for a while and was really looking forward to it but all the shops/cinema/etc lost their sparkly for me after a bit.

Im 6 mile away from Aldi and Supervalu and im 16 mile away from a Lidl. Im 30 mins from Semple Stadium and Nowlan Park. I am near motorway to Dublin, Cork, Limerick. Waterford and Carlow are less than an hour away and Kilkenny and Clonmel are less then half an hour. Swimming pools, Cinemas are also very near..... Sure what more could i ask for?? Im currently involved in a campaign for a Tipperary greenway. If this comes to our area it could be huge.

We could do with more jobs in this area granted and more public transport but it has real potential. I just couldnt see myself living in Dublin or any city for that matter. The shoe just doesnt fit

Chuchote · 07-07-2017 11:33PM

I'd go for country life every time, except that in Ireland the facilities are not sufficient - terrible transport (I'm not talking about going to the local town for groceries, the bike is fine for that if it's 15km away, but about anything further), little choice of schools, get a heart attack and you're dead if you don't have the consideration to have it within office hours, education you have a choice of the parish priest's place or… nothing, find a job and you are at the mercy of local politics because there's no other job in your trade within 50km. In the most basic requirements - health, education, employment - rural Ireland is failed and has failed.

07-07-2017 11:43PM

Chuchote wrote: »

I'd go for country life every time, except that in Ireland the facilities are not sufficient - terrible transport (I'm not talking about going to the local town for groceries, the bike is fine for that if it's 15km away, but about anything further), little choice of schools, get a heart attack and you're dead if you don't have the consideration to have it within office hours, education you have a choice of the parish priest's place or… nothing, find a job and you are at the mercy of local politics because there's no other job in your trade within 50km. In the most basic requirements - health, education, employment - rural Ireland is failed and has failed.

Couldnt have said it better.

I think the GAA clubs and county boards could be doing more too rather than just filling their own boots. Rather than simply whinging about who is available to line out for the village at for the weekend they could perhaps stop being so tunnel visioned and view the bigger picture. They can become ambassadors for real change.

Corkgirl18 · 07-07-2017 11:50PM

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

I've always been curious about this kind if assertion. I grew up down the country but I don't really agree with it.

I suppose I had a fantastic childhood living in the country and I want that for my children. We always had animals, grew our own fruit and veg, went on nature walks and cycles for hours, learning about all the different trees and flowers and the like. My area had a great sense of community too.

Others, like yourself, might not have any interest in this. Each to their own

Solomon Pleasant · 07-07-2017 11:51PM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I absolutely agree with your post except this last sentence.

There is potential there for rural ireland but it requires people to get up off their arse and fight for it. The greenway movement in particular has the potential to bring tourism and an economic boost to rural areas.

I agree with the need for better planning. I think we need to be more innovative with rural housing but unfortunately, the politicians are happy to fuel this latest property bubble. It is that bit harder to draw multinationals to rural areas but the likes of MSD, Boston Scientific, Abbott are located in rural towns and hinterlands so it can be done.

Interestingly i was up in Dublin recently for a job interview. It took me over an hour to get a bus across town to Dublin 2 from Heuston. It was literally crawling up the quays, bumper to bumper traffic. I dont know how ye live like this. facilities are all very well and good to have but i think you cant beat being part of a community of people who look out for one another.

While there may be some potential for rural Ireland, the potential for the more urbanised regions is far greater and government expenditure and annual fiscal policy will focus heavily on urban areas, not rural ones. Any considerable rural development will take a serious effort on behalf of an entire community and I can't see enough people willing to sacrifice time, effort and money to make it happen on a consistent enough basis that would allow a rural outback to thrive. Certainly, my own rural community is slowly approaching it's end, the natural result of eras of emigration and economic stagnation.

I'm not sure if the current housing situation could be considered a bubble. For a bubble to happen, there's always a few vital ingredients, one of which is cheap or easy credit. This simply isn't the case in Dublin. It is, however, a complete mismatch of supply and demand which threatens to hammer working and middle class people. I think it's incredibly essential that the government create other sizeable economic centres outside of Dublin. Ireland is at the point of its development where it must diversify and expand, Dublin simply isn't enough.

It's funny that you mention the community aspect, I work in the local shop and would be familiar with a large part of the so called "community". I personally haven't experienced the kind of community feel that would lead me to believe that it's tight knit. I found the college community to be much welcoming, less cynical and more approachable all round. The feeling of togetherness in rural Ireland is, in my view, very much overstated.

Nekarsulm · 08-07-2017 12:06AM

If you are going to live in the country side, you must have a car.
If you grew up there, you more than likely learned to drive from 14 onwards.

On the subject of cost of services, don't forget that if the Doc on Call or the ambulance is on a call 30 miles away, there is usually no alternate cover in place, so its not like there is an impressive fleet of paramedics fo pay and multiple appliances to man and maintain.

08-07-2017 12:11AM

Solomon Pleasant wrote: »

While there may be some potential for rural Ireland, the potential for the more urbanised regions is far greater and government expenditure and annual fiscal policy will focus heavily on urban areas, not rural ones. Any considerable rural development will take a serious effort on behalf of an entire community and I can't see enough people willing to sacrifice time, effort and money to make it happen on a consistent enough basis that would allow a rural outback to thrive. Certainly, my own rural community is slowly approaching it's end, the natural result of eras of emigration and economic stagnation.

True, but it will take citizens to stand up and say enough is enough. As i said, i do believe the greenway movement is one such movement that can benefit rural ireland but it needs new industry also and innovation. You cant underestimate rural ireland by your assumptions. It does need a leader to inspire people into action though.

Solomon Pleasant wrote: »

I'm not sure if the current housing situation could be considered a bubble. For a bubble to happen, there's always a few vital ingredients, one of which is cheap or easy credit. This simply isn't the case in Dublin. It is, however, a complete mismatch of supply and demand which threatens to hammer working and middle class people. I think it's incredibly essential that the government create other sizeable economic centres outside of Dublin. Ireland is at the point of its development where it must diversify and expand, Dublin simply isn't enough.

With house prices rising i can only assume there is demand to justify these rises? Absolutely agree with the rest, we must go beyond Dublin. Services are under huge pressure and roads are full up there.

Solomon Pleasant wrote: »

It's funny that you mention the community aspect, I work in the local shop and would be familiar with a large part of the so called "community". I personally haven't experienced the kind of community feel that would lead me to believe that it's tight knit. I found the college community to be much welcoming, less cynical and more approachable all round. The feeling of togetherness in rural Ireland is, in my view, very much overstated.

Depends on which community you go to . I probably wouldnt say it about my own area tbh but little Loughmore formed a Co-op to save the local shop. There is many other villages that are inspiring not neccessarily within the Republic but rural nonetheless. Slaughtneil in Derry is one such parish. Competing in hurling, football, camogie. the locals joined together to save post office and shop, and the area is trying to be recognised as a gaeltacht area

paudgenator · 08-07-2017 12:16AM

I grew up in a small town and moved to Dublin at 18. Have lived in various cities since then (apart from a stint of 2 years back in my home town with small kids to be near family) and definitely prefer city living.

listermint · 08-07-2017 12:20AM

Just moved out of Dublin recently, I'm a city lad for me entire existence but had no qualms about getting away from it. Bought a house with sea views beside a large enough town its peaceful the view is fantastic my garden would fit four houses on it and I've no neighbours overlooking me or running up and down stairs or playing music at three am when your just not feeling it.

Would I go back, not a chance.

Unless you handed my some millionaires house in Dalkey or somewhere where people are not on top of you.

Chuchote · 08-07-2017 12:34AM

Nekarsulm wrote: »

If you are going to live in the country side, you must have a car.
If you grew up there, you more than likely learned to drive from 14 onwards.

On the subject of cost of services, don't forget that if the Doc on Call or the ambulance is on a call 30 miles away, there is usually no alternate cover in place, so its not like there is an impressive fleet of paramedics fo pay and multiple appliances to man and maintain.

And yet most country people don't live *that* far from the shops, the pub, etc. Really a lot of journeys could be cycled - and will be, as we realise that oil is running out.

freshpopcorn · 08-07-2017 12:46AM

Chuchote wrote: »

And yet most country people don't live *that* far from the shops, the pub, etc. Really a lot of journeys could be cycled - and will be, as we realise that oil is running out.

I'd say the government will have to really increase the cost of fuel to make people choose the bike. In the country the car is so much handier than a bike.

08-07-2017 12:46AM

Chuchote wrote: »

And yet most country people don't live *that* far from the shops, the pub, etc. Really a lot of journeys could be cycled - and will be, as we realise that oil is running out.

In terms of vehicles, we are not thinking outside the box either. We do have an ageing population with no proper public transport in place and public transport is becoming less and less viable. Surely to god in this day and age there should be something cost effective in place to shuttle people between small towns?

freshpopcorn · 08-07-2017 12:53AM

Deleted User wrote: »

In terms of vehicles, we are not thinking outside the box either. We do have an ageing population with no proper public transport in place and public transport is becoming less and less viable. Surely to god in this day and age there should be something cost effective in place to shuttle people between small towns?

I have no idea to be honest.
When I went to college. I could get a bus and a shuttle bus to the college. It worked out cheaper and faster by bus and most people would still choose the car and this is why the services are being cut nobody is using them. The only people I met on the bus were generally OAP's on their day out. They'd get the bus up in the morning coming back down again and go up again.
A local bus started in my area to bring people to local towns and it doesn't seem to be used either.

Solomon Pleasant · 08-07-2017 12:54AM

Deleted User wrote: »

True, but it will take citizens to stand up and say enough is enough. As i said, i do believe the greenway movement is one such movement that can benefit rural ireland but it needs new industry also and innovation. You cant underestimate rural ireland by your assumptions. It does need a leader to inspire people into action though.

I don't really underestimate rural Ireland by assumptions. I just know that the majority of people who want to achieve their ambitions usually leave the more rural areas. University is the obvious example. Yes, there are ITs in rural (and urban areas), but universities tend to locate themselves in centralised urban regions. If that trend continues, will there be enough people to effect change? In particular, the people who are usually most capable of effecting change are those who incidentally also have the potential to attend university. What will rural Ireland do when it's finest, most talented young people have left? I might also add that many graduates don't just plan on leaving rural regions, but Ireland itself. This is one of the primary factors which has resulted in the degradation of rural Ireland, if it doesn't stop then how can rural Ireland really progress?

Deleted User wrote: »

With house prices rising i can only assume there is demand to justify these rises? Absolutely agree with the rest, we must go beyond Dublin. Services are under huge pressure and roads are full up there.

Personally , I could not justify the paying the current house prices. I think they are outrageous and a lot of people who buy now will regret it. But yes, the current prices are in line with what people are willing to be, so broadly speaking they are justifiable. To me, it's madness but Ireland's relationship with property has always been a question of madness.

Deleted User wrote: »

Depends on which community you go to . I probably wouldnt say it about my own area tbh but little Loughmore formed a Co-op to save the local shop. There is many other villages that are inspiring not neccessarily within the Republic but rural nonetheless. Slaughtneil in Derry is one such parish. Competing in hurling, football, camogie. the locals joined together to save post office and shop, and the area is trying to be recognised as a gaeltacht area

The happenings in Northern Ireland are of little interest to me, but I recognise your point. My own community is certainly not a generalisation of all Irish communities and I cannot claim it to be otherwise. I always found rural areas to be less accepting of outsider, less tolerant of change and less willing to accept differences in others. I'm sure that can't be said of every rural Irish community but I have a nagging suspicion that it's true for a surprisingly high percentage of them.

meeeeh · 08-07-2017 12:55AM

I could live in city but unfortunately houses that I would consider acceptable go for millions so I don't think that is an option at the moment.

I think we are lucky in a way. We have our own business and commute to work is 5 minutes and not much traffic. Local school is good and has very few challenging kids. Bigger supermarkets are about 10 minutes away, smaller shopping is done on the way home/ to the bank/ during lunch break. We need to drive and need two cars but we don't need to spend much time in the car. Hospital is 10 minutes away and ok for emergencies. House is quiet, when the dog starts barking at night the first thought is bloody fox/rabbit/cat/deer and not break in.

However if the business went under or if we couldn't drive or if someone actually broke in then we would be in a lot more voulnerable position than living in a city. It's all relative.

seachto7 · 08-07-2017 01:02AM

What's the waiting time for an ambulance in the city v country?

How many ambulances does rural Ireland have available at any one time v Dublin or Cork or Limk city etc?

How do we fare out compared to other countries on this ?

08-07-2017 01:32AM

Solomon Pleasant wrote: »

I don't really underestimate rural Ireland by assumptions. I just know that the majority of people who want to achieve their ambitions usually leave the more rural areas. University is the obvious example. Yes, there are ITs in rural (and urban areas), but universities tend to locate themselves in centralised urban regions. If that trend continues, will there be enough people to effect change? In particular, the people who are usually most capable of effecting change are those who incidentally also have the potential to attend university. What will rural Ireland do when it's finest, most talented young people have left? I might also add that many graduates don't just plan on leaving rural regions, but Ireland itself. This is one of the primary factors which has resulted in the degradation of rural Ireland, if it doesn't stop then how can rural Ireland really progress?

Personally , I could not justify the paying the current house prices. I think they are outrageous and a lot of people who buy now will regret it. But yes, the current prices are in line with what people are willing to be, so broadly speaking they are justifiable. To me, it's madness but Ireland's relationship with property has always been a question of madness.

The happenings in Northern Ireland are of little interest to me, but I recognise your point. My own community is certainly not a generalisation of all Irish communities and I cannot claim it to be otherwise. I always found rural areas to be less accepting of outsider, less tolerant of change and less willing to accept differences in others. I'm sure that can't be said of every rural Irish community but I have a nagging suspicion that it's true for a surprisingly high percentage of them.

Firstly, thats a really good point with the universities. Perhaps if the Technical university movement came in then it might attract more students to those colleges?
As you said though, there is a brain drain of the best and brightest. We leave too much up to politicians though. There comes a time when the backs are to the wall where citizens have to emerge and demand more, just as the gay rights movement did, just as the farmers do, just like the repeal the 8th campaigners. Rural ireland has to march on Dail Eireann. We cant just expect the lowrys and healy raes to throw us the odd bone here and there and be happy with it. Our grievances go beyond that.

08-07-2017 01:36AM

seachto7 wrote: »

What's the waiting time for an ambulance in the city v country?

How many ambulances does rural Ireland have available at any one time v Dublin or Cork or Limk city etc?

How do we fare out compared to other countries on this ?

We once waited 2 and a half hours on our road while a couple of us attended to a man who crashed his motorbike back in 2012
9pm of a Sunday evening in Summer time.

Last summer of a Saturday night (or Sunday morning to be more exact) in late july, a lad collapsed on the street 1 mile away in the local village. Chap was high on drugs but had been assaulted earlier in the evening with a tyre iron. Ambulance seemed to take no length (from either Kk or Clonmel) but that was one o'clock in the morning.

On average though i dont know.

Nekarsulm · 08-07-2017 07:53AM

Chuchote wrote: »

And yet most country people don't live *that* far from the shops, the pub, etc. Really a lot of journeys could be cycled - and will be, as we realise that oil is running out.

Cycling is certinly one possibility for those who love it, but for the lifestyle we in Ireland follow it isn't practical.
Even with the local town being only 3 miles away, it's pretty hard to do a weekly shop and bring it home on a bike.
Add kids to the equation and it's simply not safe enough to cycle to all the activities they typically participate in on a day to day basis.
When oil runs out we will have bigger problems than getting to the shops/creche/scouts/ballet class etc, food transport costs will rise so much that we won't have any money left over for any of the above activities anyway!

Nagnata · 08-07-2017 08:16AM

Both have good and bad points but I think the good outweighs the bad in the country. I grew up in the country side but spent almost half my in cities. You have a far better lifestyle in the country and it's a better place to raise a family. If you live within 20-30 minutes of a decent size town or small city it's ideal as you'll have the best of both worlds. There is most likely a small town or village nearby if you need milk, a pint or anything like that. When you're in your 20s city life is good but it gets old

08-07-2017 08:27AM

Solomon Pleasant wrote: »

I don't really underestimate rural Ireland by assumptions. I just know that the majority of people who want to achieve their ambitions usually leave the more rural areas. University is the obvious example.

I don't agree, for example I grew up in a rural area about 30 mins drive from a university and I lived at home and drove in and out as did the majority of my friends all doing science and finance courses. I continued my studies in another universality which I did have to move for (but that was the recession too when jobs were hard to get) and have worked in the same city for a few years living in the subarbs but now that settling down time is approaching I'll be moving back home, building a house, finding a job in the city 30 mins away and commuting. Most of my friends never left the area and are well established in good jobs (many in multinationals) in the city or surrounding big towns none commuting more than an hour from their rural homes.

To answer the threads question, living in a city/subarbs is nice for a while but having grown up in the countryside I couldn't imagine settling down anywhere else. I think people imagine rural areas are all totally in the middle of nowhere hours from anything which is not really the case for the case a lot of the time. If you were blindfolded and brought to where I'm from you would think it's the middle of nowhere but hop in the car and it's less than 10 mins to the local decent sized town and less than 30 mins to the closest city.

As for those talking about cost makes me laugh, rural people are the only ones paying for their water, paying for their own sewage, providing all their own transport etc etc.

DoozerT6 · 08-07-2017 09:07AM

Country living is fantastic for young children, but for teenagers...it can get boring, especially during school holidays. It's something to bear in mind if you're considering moving your family to the countryside. I know, for myself looking back, sheer boredom and being stuck at the house caused me to have more arguments with my mother than I would have liked about doing housework, etc. Of course this was back in the 80's/90's, before sky tv and broadband, but still - would you want your teenagers staring at a tv screen, or gaming all day because of lack of anything else to do, or anybody close by to do stuff with?

"But there's loads to do in the country!!" well in some places there is, but if you live there and live close to anything interesting, you've probably been there, done that a million times. For instance, I daresay if you lived in Disneyland, after a lifetime it would cease to be wonderful and magical, and would just be your back yard, full of loud people littering the place.

HOWEVER!! After a looong time living in a city, I am considering a move to a small town. Not the countryside, but someplace out of the city with room to breathe.

Chuchote · 08-07-2017 09:08AM

Are country people more old-fashioned than city folk? I notice everyone in this thread using miles, which I have to count on my fingers to convert to kilometres nowadays…

08-07-2017 09:21AM

DoozerT6 wrote: »

Country living is fantastic for young children, but for teenagers...it can get boring, especially during school holidays. It's something to bear in mind if you're considering moving your family to the countryside. I know, for myself looking back, sheer boredom and being stuck at the house caused me to have more arguments with my mother

Suppose that's the difference between being from the county and moving out there. By the time I was 10 I was spending all day 6 days a week going between two family farms outside from morning till night, by my early teens I was being allocated my own jobs to to, driving tractors etc etc. I spent the full school year dreaming about the summer and being out on the farm for 3 months absolutely loved it.

DoozerT6 · 08-07-2017 09:27AM

Johanna Nice Mole wrote: »

Suppose that's the difference between being from the county and moving out there. By the time I was 10 I was spending all day 6 days a week going between two family farms outside from morning till night, by my early teens I was being allocated my own jobs to to, driving tractors etc etc. I spent the full school year dreaming about the summer and being out on the farm for 3 months absolutely loved it.

Not everybody who lives in the countryside is a farmer though.

08-07-2017 09:35AM

DoozerT6 wrote: »

Not everybody who lives in the countryside is a farmer though.

That was my point, families who are originally from the county tend to have farms or have farms in the family whereas those who move out to the country don't.

That said I still had no problem meeting up with friends etc and hanging out like people do in the city hop on the bike or walk to a friends etc there are lots of neighbours in most rural areas now so no need to be bored.

DoozerT6 · 08-07-2017 09:44AM

Johanna Nice Mole wrote: »

That was my point, families who are originally from the county tenndto have farms or have farms in the family whereas those who move out to the country don't.

I'll rephrase: not everybody who GREW UP in the countryside is a farmer. Most people from around my home had regular jobs locally, they just bought (or in very few cases, built) houses in the countryside, outside the local small town. The vast majority of people I knew who grew up in the countryside did not come from farming families. Their parents were teachers, or had office jobs, or had manual (non-farming) jobs. I think I went to school with ONE girl who's parents were farmers.

The Backwards Man · 08-07-2017 09:58AM

myshirt wrote: »

No. Look how much it costs to get services to these people. Hospitals, ambulances, fire trucks, road networks, schools, primary care centres, broadband, electricity. It is too much and not possible, and thus these people are at more risk than we want them to be.

Girl on the radio the other day living right in the backarse of Donegal, lost her mother, a hit and run. Really sad stuff. Amongst many things that went wrong, the granting of planning permission for that house was one.

So where exactly should their house in the fifth largest town in Donegal located a few hundred yards from a two bay ambulance station have been built?

And it wasn't a hit and run either.

I hate this type of tabloid shìtposting, I really do.

Countryside life or City life.

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