Most miserable and grim towns and villages in Ireland

Daisy78 wrote: »

Ah come on, good schools, like how bad would things have to be before you would judge the standards of a place on the quality of the local schools? As a country we have pretty decent educational standards which can be found across all towns and cities in the country. You often see references to accessibility to “good schools” as a selling point for houses of new developments but you’ll find that in most places here. It’s not like London, where your options are private schools which cost a fortune in yearly fees or local government run schools which are breeding grounds for young offenders. I think we set the bar way too low here, if all it takes to make some happy is a local Super Value and a Gael scoil then they most be easily pleased.

valoren wrote: »

Youghal. Simply because it has so much potential. There are towns in Ireland which are sh*t holes but they have nothing going for them so it’s expected. Various factors make Youghal ostensibly the worst. There is absolutely no investment there which could easily posit it as the Kinsale of the East. You have the beach, the marina and none of it is developed. The rejuvenated local cinema was an example of what it could be but surrounding it are decaying reminders of the towns former days. The Perks complex, alluded to as Pripyat-like in an earlier post, exemplifies the problems and inertia of the town. It's akin to protectionism to the detriment of direct investment. A decrepit Arcade beside a once humming Factory that’s been abandoned for decades. There is nothing modern about it nor the town itself which is a shame. No McDonalds, Starbucks, Costa etc, places which would be jammed during the season. There are no branded outlets there beyond the four main supermarkets. The remains of the old Hilltop Hotel remain exposed as well. An ugly eye sore. The Ironman race was held last year and, in a symbolic way, it lashed on the day whereas both days either side of it was gorgeous. It couldn't even catch that break. The Greenway will be welcome there and it should cultivate a reputation as Triathlon town if the Ironman becomes a mainstay in a way Tenby in Wales was rejuvenated with the race established there. Promoting the place as a boating/yachting destination would also help. The place just seems so insular with an isolated mindset that it is extremely frustrating and that is what makes it the worst town.