Escaping to the countryside?

Mad_maxx · 18-05-2019 10:50PM

Snow Garden wrote: »

What?

Dogs Bay and Gurteen Bay are 2 of the best beaches in Ireland.

There is also Tra Mor, Ballyconneely, Kilmurvey, Coral Strand and Silverstrand.

Takes an age to get out there

Snow Garden · 18-05-2019 10:53PM

Mad_maxx wrote: »

Takes an age to get out there

Not for me.

Silverstrand is 5km from Salthill. Tra Mor is about 20 mins from the city.

18-05-2019 10:57PM

Snow Garden wrote: »

The way I see it, there are many Urban folks that would prefer to live in the countryside. However it's very rare for a Rural dweller to want to move back to the city.

In fairness, the vast majority of people aren't going to get a home of comparable quality in Dublin with the money they'd get from selling their home in rural Ireland. As recently as the 1980s it was still possible to do this. Not now, though.

nice_guy80 · 18-05-2019 11:06PM

Snow Garden wrote: »

What?

Dogs Bay and Gurteen Bay are 2 of the best beaches in Ireland.

There is also Tra Mor, Ballyconneely, Kilmurvey, Coral Strand and Silverstrand.

Inis Oirr beach is fantastic

pinkyeye · 18-05-2019 11:36PM

Jesus H Christ, why has this turned into another rural Vs Dublin thread?

It's not about that. It's about someone considering moving.

I took the jump 4 years ago, from Dublin to rural and there are pros and cons.

PROS:

1. My commute takes 35 minutes each way, this doesn't bother me in the slightest because I know that's what it will take every day. In Dublin you can not predict your commute, could be 35 minutes could be 2 hours.

2. Peace and quiet. I close my door in the evening and I don't have to hear another sound or I can blare my music or television as loud as I like.

3. Cost. Probably should have put this as No. 1 but my rent here is 1/2 of what my mortgage in Dublin was and 1/3 of what my rent would be if I had to rent in Dublin.

4. Look out my window at beautiful views every day which change season on season.

5. Can guarantee the majority of people in my area know my name and would notice if I was missing.

CONS:

1. Internet sketchy at best. This is a major challenge now when most things we rely on day to day are internet based.

2. Have to drive every day more or less.

3. Can't order a takeaway if you're just too bleeding tired to cook.

4. Having a night out requires major planning in terms of how to get there and home etc. if you're having a drink.

5. Nosy neighbours who can take the hump over the slightest hump. I had one asking me what was my problem because I didn't salute her on the road when I'm half blind.

:D

All in all I'd say my ideal world would be a compromise between the two. For example if I won the lotto I'd buy a mansion somewhere like Greystones.

18-05-2019 11:38PM

Snotty wrote: »

Lived and worked in Dublin, Belfast and London, now moved to rural Mayo and its a dream. 10 minutes for a largish town, 15 minute commute in the morning, large house on a acre with views of countryside for miles around. I could earn 3 times more in Dublin but would have less of everything else that makes life worth living.

Would I go back to Dublin, not a chance, Belfast or London, slightly better, but Dublin is a horrible place, full of scum, a sole crushing city with very few redeeming attributes.

At the risk of being pilloried, there are loads and loads of really nice areas in Dublin where 'the scum' are not a visual presence. That house prices often make these areas inaccessible to many people doesn't negate the fact that Dublin has very many lovely, safe areas where a good sense of community exists along with excellent facilities, schools, parks, sea and mountains. There's a lot of need in this thread to justify decisions by denigrating Dublin, when the real problem with Dublin is the cost of accommodation - you will get far better accommodation outside Dublin for the same money. If somebody can only afford to live in Dublin's poorest areas, they will also find a safer community outside Dublin. But for most other people, the greater range of facilities, events, transport infrastructure, etc give Dublin the edge.

Lastly, the scene when you walk down Coliemore Road in Dalkey, for instance (yes, that's a 7th-century church on the island in the background):

pinkyeye · 18-05-2019 11:41PM

Deleted User wrote: »

At the risk of being pilloried, there are loads and loads of really nice areas in Dublin where 'the scum' are not a visual presence. That house prices often make these areas inaccessible to many people doesn't negate the fact that Dublin has very many lovely, safe areas where a good sense of community exists along with excellent facilities, schools, parks, sea and mountains. There's a lot of need in this thread to justify decisions by denigrating Dublin, when the real problem with Dublin is the cost of accommodation - you will get far better accommodation outside Dublin for the same money. If somebody can only afford to live in Dublin's poorest areas, they will also find a safer community outside Dublin. But for most other people, the greater range of facilities, events, transport infrastructure, etc give Dublin the edge.

Lastly, the 'horrible' scene when you walk down Coliemore Road in Dalkey, for instance (yes, that's a 7th-century church on the island in the background):

Which goes to prove my point above. If I won the lotto I'd definitely live in Dublin.

firemansam4 · 19-05-2019 12:07AM

Some people prefer the city and some people prefer the country, it is as simple as that...

Some of the posts in this thread almost seem like people are trying to convince themselves of why the country or city lifestyle is better.

ToddyDoody · 19-05-2019 12:49AM

I Was VB wrote: »

Ever get tired of city life? I know I have, Currently living in south dublin city centre and working in north Dublin, I’m tired of a hour sitting in traffic each way to get to work, tired of paying €3.50 per hour for parking, tired of little scruffs thinking they are gangsters, tired of junkies, cyclists, not having change out of two pints from a tenner (I know it’s been that way for ages) tired of walking Instagram accounts, tired of people looking down thier nose at people who have a €20 less than them in thier pockets, tired of trials by social media, tired of knocked together houses being sold for €500k just because of the postcode*

so that’s why I want to move to Leitrim, nice and quiet, just a few acres of land and a little cottage, potter around the garden, wake up in the morning to the sound of a cock a doodle doo, instead of a cock in a BMW driving in the bus lane. Get away from city life, just me and the country air, and a few retired freedom fighters and Semtex weapons dumps, get a job in a bar for €250 per week, that’s the dream. Anyone ever do it?**

* I realize most of these problems aren’t exclusively city related.

** probably not going to move to Leitrim or the arsehole of Ireland in the immediate future but thinking about it the last while and I need some inspiration.

I actually did this in Carrick on Shannon during the recession. Except I was job seeking at the time so there was no €250 a week job, just €204 a week at the time. Its ok, I'm now paying the social solidarity levy now myself. As far as what I was doing with my time - philosopher / theologian. (an incredibly busy one at that)

Pretzill · 19-05-2019 01:03AM

I made the move over twenty years ago - I never underestimated beautiful Dublin that's where I was rared but even then I know I wouldn't be able to afford Bullock harbour views in my future. I love the country but it took years to do so. It isn't easy to leave the city you grew up in, despite the traffic etc - it really annoys me that people still can't afford to live where their parents did. The countryside is beautiful though.

OneEightSeven · 19-05-2019 01:19AM

The problem with people living rurally is they want the same services as urbanites do. Some rural dwellers want fibre optic broadband, some want a squad car patrolling nearby to deter burglaries, others object to paying more for their phone/broadband even though it costs more to provide their home with a line because their lines are fed by overground poles on private land, some want a bus stop outside of their driveway so they won't have to pay for a taxi, I'm sure others have complained about an ambulance or fire brigade not showing up in time.

We have a very entitled rural population who just don't comprehend how expensive it is to provide services to one-off houses and how heavily subsidised their lifestyles are. These homes are also breeding grounds for parish pump politicians, like the Healy-Raes who exploit this entitled attitude by beating the "Dublin is neglecting us" drum for their own political gain.

We have a very serious problem with one-off housing in this country and something needs to be done about it, they were banned for all but a "locals only" clause a year ago, but it's too little too late. Eircom rolled out broadband to 350k semi-rural one-off houses, if people want fibre optic internet, they should sell their homes and move to semi-rural one covered by Eircom's rural rollout.

harry Bailey esq · 19-05-2019 04:57AM

A few years ago meself and the brother pooled our cash and bought a derilct cottage on 1 third of an acre. The plan was to get stuck in, get it back to its original beauty. In the meantime the brother decides to do the backpack thing across SE ASIA. Spent the lot on brassers and drink so he sold me his half for 12 grand so he could continue his std filled adventure. Anyways it's mine now. Still derilct and I haven't got the money to get started yet but we plan to use it as a holiday home and when the youngones finishes second level and heads off to college we plan to make if our home for good. It's between Durris and Bantry co. Cork. The views are 'fkkn amazing

19-05-2019 07:38AM

harry Bailey esq wrote: »

Spent the lot on brassers

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=brasser

Are you from North Cork like the site says?

firemansam4 · 19-05-2019 08:09AM

OneEightSeven wrote:

We have a very entitled rural population who just don't comprehend how expensive it is to provide services to one-off houses and how heavily subsidised their lifestyles are. These homes are also breeding grounds for parish pump politicians, like the Healy-Raes who exploit this entitled attitude by beating the "Dublin is neglecting us" drum for their own political gain.

I see this claim being made quite a lot, maybe its true?
But is there any evidence to suggest that rural areas are very heavily subsidised compared to urban folk?
As a poster mentioned earlier a lot of extra costs in bringing services to one off houses are born out by the person building the house at the time,
in a lot of cases people have to pay to get there own fresh water supply and sewage systems.
So maybe there is increased allowance spent on roads or guards to cover rural areas?
I know it costs a lot more to provide broadband to rural areas and think people should accept higher costs associated with that.
Ide be interested to see evedince of rural areas being so heavily subsided.

Mad_maxx · 19-05-2019 08:10AM

OneEightSeven wrote: »

The problem with people living rurally is they want the same services as urbanites do. Some rural dwellers want fibre optic broadband, some want a squad car patrolling nearby to deter burglaries, others object to paying more for their phone/broadband even though it costs more to provide their home with a line because their lines are fed by overground poles on private land, some want a bus stop outside of their driveway so they won't have to pay for a taxi, I'm sure others have complained about an ambulance or fire brigade not showing up in time.

We have a very entitled rural population who just don't comprehend how expensive it is to provide services to one-off houses and how heavily subsidised their lifestyles are. These homes are also breeding grounds for parish pump politicians, like the Healy-Raes who exploit this entitled attitude by beating the "Dublin is neglecting us" drum for their own political gain.

We have a very serious problem with one-off housing in this country and something needs to be done about it, they were banned for all but a "locals only" clause a year ago, but it's too little too late. Eircom rolled out broadband to 350k semi-rural one-off houses, if people want fibre optic internet, they should sell their homes and move to semi-rural one covered by Eircom's rural rollout.

We have always had a ruralistic mentality as a nation, policy in government was always disproportionately concerned with rural voters

meeeeh · 19-05-2019 08:56AM

Mad_maxx wrote: »

We have always had a ruralistic mentality as a nation, policy in government was always disproportionately concerned with rural voters

Because they vote. Why would you bother with someone in Ballymun if they don't vote amd if they do their vote goes to go some fringe party that won't have enough support to threaten the position of others. Pensioners also get more representation for the same reason.

uck51js9zml2yt · 19-05-2019 09:05AM

Eggs For Dinner wrote: »

Rural does not have to mean isolated. I'm surrounded by farmland, up a mountain and 2kms from the N road to the town.

Agreed. Moved from Dublin to country.
30 seconds to N road, 40 minutes to work by car which is 40 km away. A faster commute than 5km in city.

10 minutes to beach. 150mb broadband. 10 minutes to a decent sized town.
Even got pizza delivery to the door.

CelticRambler · 19-05-2019 09:49AM

I Was VB wrote: »

Ever get tired of city life? I know I have ...

... Anyone ever do it?

Yep, 15 years ago. Got fed up trying to raise children in an urban environment - so much time wasted driving them to activities, so many "do not" signs everywhere, so much "stuff" everywhere. Was in England at the time, came back to Ireland for a look (at Dublin) and thought ye'd all gone mad. Figured out I'd have to work till I was 75 to pay a mortgage on a 3-bed semi-D ... so moved to France instead and bought a house with land for cash.

When I visit family in suburban Dublin (the supposed "best of both worlds within easy reach") it confirms that it was the right decision. Their lives are so busy for no apparent benefit.

OneEightSeven wrote: »

The problem with people living rurally is they want the same services as urbanites do.

What services? If you exclude urbanites who want to pretend to be living in the country, most people who "live rurally" are quite happy with not having all the attractions and distractions of an urban environment.

Even so, things are not always as backward as you might accept: I've got fast 4G broadband in the middle of rural nowhere, 9€99 a month (unlimited calls, text, data); my Dublin 16 sister has no mobile signal (coz the residents association objected to having a mast on the estate).

Nekarsulm · 19-05-2019 10:15AM

OneEightSeven wrote: »

The problem with people living rurally is they want the same services as urbanites do. Some rural dwellers want fibre optic broadband, some want a squad car patrolling nearby to deter burglaries, others object to paying more for their phone/broadband even though it costs more to provide their home with a line because their lines are fed by overground poles on private land, some want a bus stop outside of their driveway so they won't have to pay for a taxi, I'm sure others have complained about an ambulance or fire brigade not showing up in time.

We have a very entitled rural population who just don't comprehend how expensive it is to provide services to one-off houses and how heavily subsidised their lifestyles are.

.

The thing is, a lot of the infrastructure is long ago paid for.
The ESB lines are there since the 30's/40's, ( although my mothers home place only got power in the late 50's) and most phone lines since the 1960's.
Roads are mostly 50 years established.

The problems people buying in the country run into are sometimes due to unfamiliarity with basic engineering/science.
They buy a cottage in scenic splendour, but are blind to the fact that its in a hollow, with poor mobile coverage, perhaps with poor drainage, on a steep hill thats inaccessible in frost etc etc.

Its a falsehood to state that rural dwellers want services provided, and dont comprehend how expensive these sre.

In the country, you need line-of-sight to get decent broadband (and a local supplier) and a line of sight of the Astra satellite for TV.
You will be on either a Group Scheme ( local co-op run) or your own spring or bored well.
Group Scheme will cost anything between 150 and 350 a year, a bored well will cost ESB running costs and perhaps a pump engineers call out now and then. If your pump burns out, budget between 700 to a 1000 euro.
If you need to drill a well and set up from scratch, expect to pay anything between 3500 and 5000 euro.
You will have a septic tank. Time will come when attempts will be made to tax both it and your well, but you will probably need to get it emptied every ten years or so.
So what I'm saying is, country living isn't for people who want "all their services provided" for them.
The urban home owner pays these costs in the price of their house, the developer has paid all the Council levies, ESB and eircom and sewage connection costs etc, and passed on the cost.
On the flip side, you have much more freedom and privacy.
A lot depends on your temperment and personality.

gozunda · 19-05-2019 12:07PM

OneEightSeven wrote: »

The problem with people living rurally is they want the same services as urbanites do. Some rural dwellers want fibre optic broadband, some want a squad car patrolling nearby to deter burglaries, others object to paying more for their phone/broadband even though it costs more to provide their home with a line because their lines are fed by overground poles on private land, some want a bus stop outside of their driveway so they won't have to pay for a taxi, I'm sure others have complained about an ambulance or fire brigade not showing up in time. We have a very entitled rural population who just don't comprehend how expensive it is to provide services to one-off houses and how heavily subsidised their lifestyles are. These homes are also breeding grounds for parish pump politicians, like the Healy-Raes who exploit this entitled attitude by beating the "Dublin is neglecting us" drum for their own political gain.
We have a very serious problem with one-off housing in this country and something needs to be done about it, they were banned for all but a "locals only" clause a year ago, but it's too little too late. Eircom rolled out broadband to 350k semi-rural one-off houses, if people want fibre optic internet, they should sell their homes and move to semi-rural one covered by Eircom's rural rollout.

Generalise much? We seem to have a serious problem with self appointed experts on all things rural with large potatoes on their shoulders. But there you go.

nice_guy80 · 19-05-2019 12:17PM

OneEightSeven wrote: »

The problem with people living rurally is they want the same services as urbanites do. Some rural dwellers want fibre optic broadband, some want a squad car patrolling nearby to deter burglaries, others object to paying more for their phone/broadband even though it costs more to provide their home with a line because their lines are fed by overground poles on private land, some want a bus stop outside of their driveway so they won't have to pay for a taxi, I'm sure others have complained about an ambulance or fire brigade not showing up in time.

We have a very entitled rural population who just don't comprehend how expensive it is to provide services to one-off houses and how heavily subsidised their lifestyles are. These homes are also breeding grounds for parish pump politicians, like the Healy-Raes who exploit this entitled attitude by beating the "Dublin is neglecting us" drum for their own political gain.

We have a very serious problem with one-off housing in this country and something needs to be done about it, they were banned for all but a "locals only" clause a year ago, but it's too little too late. Eircom rolled out broadband to 350k semi-rural one-off houses, if people want fibre optic internet, they should sell their homes and move to semi-rural one covered by Eircom's rural rollout.

Errr, no. People in the countryside usually have to pay double for everything
Want good internet? That'll be a box or satellite on the house then an extortionate price every month
A lot of houses in rural Ireland are on group water schemes that actually had or have to fund the installation and maintenance of the supply
Want to build a house? Council will charge you €15,000 development levy just in case in future the road outside your house needs resurfacing
We've no mains gas supply
No public transport
Generally you don't see your neighbours as they are so busy driving everywhere as the local shops have closed due to Aldi and Tesco in the bigger towns

I still feel sorry for people in Dublin who look down their noses at rural Ireland

meeeeh · 19-05-2019 12:39PM

Nekarsulm wrote: »

The thing is, a lot of the infrastructure is long ago paid for.
The ESB lines are there since the 30's/40's, ( although my mothers home place only got power in the late 50's) and most phone lines since the 1960's.
Roads are mostly 50 years established.

The problems people buying in the country run into are sometimes due to unfamiliarity with basic engineering/science.
They buy a cottage in scenic splendour, but are blind to the fact that its in a hollow, with poor mobile coverage, perhaps with poor drainage, on a steep hill thats inaccessible in frost etc etc.

Its a falsehood to state that rural dwellers want services provided, and dont comprehend how expensive these sre.

In the country, you need line-of-sight to get decent broadband (and a local supplier) and a line of sight of the Astra satellite for TV.
You will be on either a Group Scheme ( local co-op run) or your own spring or bored well.
Group Scheme will cost anything between 150 and 350 a year, a bored well will cost ESB running costs and perhaps a pump engineers call out now and then. If your pump burns out, budget between 700 to a 1000 euro.
If you need to drill a well and set up from scratch, expect to pay anything between 3500 and 5000 euro.
You will have a septic tank. Time will come when attempts will be made to tax both it and your well, but you will probably need to get it emptied every ten years or so.
So what I'm saying is, country living isn't for people who want "all their services provided" for them.
The urban home owner pays these costs in the price of their house, the developer has paid all the Council levies, ESB and eircom and sewage connection costs etc, and passed on the cost.
On the flip side, you have much more freedom and privacy.
A lot depends on your temperment and personality.

I think that's realistic enough assessment. Our internet is far from great but we can have Netflix and similar. OH had to do some work to manage that but this type of projects are stres relief for him and last time he had nothing to do potting shed appeared on the side of the garage.

(We don't do much potting.)

It really does depend what sort of life suits you but if you live more ruraly you have to accept that there are things you'll have to do yourself.

Oasis1974 · 19-05-2019 12:48PM

Wasn't there a house recently on Daft located in the countryside. The most amazing thing I ever saw the lavatory was in a little shed outside the house itself? Apparently it was done on purpose not sure I'd believe that.

Nekarsulm · 19-05-2019 12:58PM

Oasis1974 wrote: »

Wasn't there a house recently on Daft located in the countryside. The most amazing thing I ever saw the lavatory was in a little shed outside the house itself? Apparently it was done on purpose not sure I'd believe that.

Who was the comedian who had a spiel about the Irish during the "building boom"?
He had a line about en-suites and patios and 1000 euro Aussie barbecues.

"When I was growing up, we shat in a loo outside, and cooked and ate in the kitchen.
Now we want to be able to shīť in every bedroom, and in the hall, and eat and cook outside"

19-05-2019 12:59PM

OneEightSeven wrote: »

The problem with people living rurally is they want the same services as urbanites do. Some rural dwellers want fibre optic broadband, some want a squad car patrolling nearby to deter burglaries, others object to paying more for their phone/broadband even though it costs more to provide their home with a line because their lines are fed by overground poles on private land, some want a bus stop outside of their driveway so they won't have to pay for a taxi, I'm sure others have complained about an ambulance or fire brigade not showing up in time.

We have a very entitled rural population who just don't comprehend how expensive it is to provide services to one-off houses and how heavily subsidised their lifestyles are. These homes are also breeding grounds for parish pump politicians, like the Healy-Raes who exploit this entitled attitude by beating the "Dublin is neglecting us" drum for their own political gain.

We have a very serious problem with one-off housing in this country and something needs to be done about it, they were banned for all but a "locals only" clause a year ago, but it's too little too late. Eircom rolled out broadband to 350k semi-rural one-off houses, if people want fibre optic internet, they should sell their homes and move to semi-rural one covered by Eircom's rural rollout.

Another piece of absolute garbage from start to finish.

AlekSmart · 19-05-2019 01:10PM

CelticRambler wrote: »

Yep, 15 years ago. Got fed up trying to raise children in an urban environment - so much time wasted driving them to activities, so many "do not" signs everywhere, so much "stuff" everywhere. Was in England at the time, came back to Ireland for a look (at Dublin) and thought ye'd all gone mad. Figured out I'd have to work till I was 75 to pay a mortgage on a 3-bed semi-D ... so moved to France instead and bought a house with land for cash.

When I visit family in suburban Dublin (the supposed "best of both worlds within easy reach") it confirms that it was the right decision. Their lives are so busy for no apparent benefit.

What services? If you exclude urbanites who want to pretend to be living in the country, most people who "live rurally" are quite happy with not having all the attractions and distractions of an urban environment.

Even so, things are not always as backward as you might accept: I've got fast 4G broadband in the middle of rural nowhere, 9€99 a month (unlimited calls, text, data); my Dublin 16 sister has no mobile signal (coz the residents association objected to having a mast on the estate).

Absolutely the best post of the thread !

Bravo

Greyfox · 19-05-2019 01:26PM

I Was VB wrote: »

Ever get tired of city life?

No, never will, I could never live outside Dublin as I would miss is too much. I get bored easily and would prefer an endless choice when it comes to eating out and pubs and I prefer not having to talk to my neighbours. Also I don't drive so country living will never be for me.

Nekarsulm · 19-05-2019 01:41PM

An interesting point from Greyfox.
The requirement to have your own transport and the on-going cost of it is a burden which can be eliminated from the city dwellers budget.
Although they will have to plan their workplace etc in accordance with existing bus and tram/train routes.

As public transport never covers its costs, it is a considerable subsidy to the urban dweller.

Daisy78 · 19-05-2019 02:02PM

mariaalice wrote: »

Also if the op thinks there is no social snobbery in the countryside they are mistaken.

It’s ten times worse in the countryside than it is in the city. I’ve never encountered the type of oneupmanship in Dublin or other cities than I did in the country. And over ridiculous things too.

Plumbthedepths · 19-05-2019 02:29PM

Nekarsulm wrote:

"When I was growing up, we shat in a loo outside, and cooked and ate in the kitchen. Now we want to be able to shÄ«Å¥ in every bedroom, and in the hall, and eat and cook outside"

I sh*t in the ensuite, only sheets that get ruined are the sheets of loo roll.

Escaping to the countryside?

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