Is Limerick Really THAT bad?

cornbb · 14-01-2007 10:31PM

I was in college in limerick for 6 years and liked the place a lot. UL is fantastic, I really miss the place. There is a fairly big scum element in the city centre but you'd have to be unlucky to get into trouble with them. Plenty of students, hippies etc as well. The locals in general are a good bunch, everyone is a bit pissed off about the city's reputation though, which is fair enough as it's undeserved IMO.

Certain parts of the city are still pretty grim looking but same goes for any Irish city - there has been a massive amount of development in recent years and it's expanding from the river up towards O'Connell St. Both banks of the river look pretty fantastic now.

As for the music scene, its there alright, you might need to look hard for it depending on what you're into. What sort of music are you into OP? If its rock/metal, there are plenty of gigs on and both UL and LIT have active music societies. As for accommodation around UL, its plentiful, generally good quality, and cheap as chips compared to other Irish colleges. Pretty much all of Castletroy is safe enough, not sure what the story is with LIT.

I'd recommend college in limerick for anyone - go for it dude.

Patricide · 14-01-2007 10:47PM

Im into generally Rock indie metal and punk so primarily anything thats played with real instruments and isnt lip synchd.

Glad to hear so many people telling me good things, ill be glad to get out of this scum hole anyway.

cooperguy · 14-01-2007 10:48PM

What you hear is over the top crap, sure the city isnt perfect but you show me a city that is. Iv been going to UL for 3 years now and I havent had a single bad expierience or know anybody that has. I know people from all over the country going to all three of the colleges in Limerick and none of them have had any problems

And as for the "huge" amount of gang violence that one other post was on about, there was much more of it in Dublin than Limerick. You say you are only going by what you hear in the news but you think back over the last 6 months to a year and you will more than likely remember alot more gang violence in Dublin being reported than in Limerick

MarkR · 14-01-2007 11:03PM

rb_ie wrote:

theres more gang related violence there than anywhere else, which I can only presume would also mean that theres more gang activity (i.e robbings/break-ins/etc). Its not somewhere I'll ever be living anyway.

Source? You seem to be the type of person that is the cause for the "stab city" label. By your own admission you've only been there a handful of times, but you were somehow able to gauge in your brief stay the level of gang violence, and then able to accurately take these statistics and compare these against other cities in ireland?

Sweeping generalisations. Is that all you have, or do you have any facts?

Rb · 14-01-2007 11:07PM

MarkR wrote:

Source? You seem to be the type of person that is the cause for the "stab city" label. By your own admission you've only been there a handful of times, but you were somehow able to gauge in your brief stay the level of gang violence, and then able to accurately take these statistics and compare these against other cities in ireland?

Sweeping generalisations. Is that all you have, or do you have any facts?

No, I'm just going by what I've heard on the news over the years. I've heard more about gun related violence in Limerick than any other county.
Again, just going by my watching of the news on the subject.

Is it not common knowledge that there is a significant amount of gang-related feuds/family feuds down there? Or is this something the people of Limerick want to cover up in an effort to rid the place of its reputation?

Oh and it hardly got its "stab city" name from thin air you know.

cornbb · 14-01-2007 11:18PM

rb_ie wrote:

No, I'm just going by what I've heard on the news over the years. I've heard more about gun related violence in Limerick than any other county.

Even Dublin? I'd find that very hard to believe, given the statistics.

Oh hang on, there are no murders in Dublin. Only in Limerick and "gangland" :rolleyes:

Rb · 14-01-2007 11:22PM

cornbb wrote:

Even Dublin? I'd find that very hard to believe, given the statistics.

Oh hang on, there are no murders in Dublin. Only in Limerick and "gangland" :rolleyes:

No, I just haven't noticed it to the same extent.

randylonghorn · 14-01-2007 11:42PM

OP, I've don't think Limerick is half as bad as it's made out to be. That said, if the same course is available in Galway you might want to think about it. Uni is central, city is laid back and easy-going, craic is good. A bit further from home for you, though.

And forget about travelling by train from Tralee to either Limerick or Galway, it's just a pain in the ass.

TerrorFirmer · 14-01-2007 11:44PM

nesf wrote:

No offense but after growing up in Tralee I'd say even the Darfur region wouldn't faze you.

No point reading the rest of the thread, I've been given ample reason to contribute my 'lol' by the very first reply.

Red Hand · 14-01-2007 11:53PM

HavoK wrote:

No point reading the rest of the thread, I've been given ample reason to contribute my 'lol' by the very first reply.

I'd have to agree.:) If you've ever been down the Bulllring, then Limerick is Munchchenland in comparison.

Fast_Mover · 15-01-2007 12:33AM

In college in Limerick atm. Love it there! Great night life..students everywhere..can't wait for semester 2 to start..whooo!
Havn't come across much trouble there at all. Have even walked home from nights out from the city home with friends and all's grand.
People just think of Southhill and Moyross and all the stuff they hear on the news 'ohhh, limerick must be a terrible place'!
I taught in the primary school out in Southhill last year, guess what..im still alive:rolleyes:
Got friends teaching out in Moyross atm..I doubt our college who would let them out there if it wasn't safe.
Besides other cities are just as dangerous..Cork, Dublin..

Paulj · 15-01-2007 12:41AM

I spent 4 years in college in UL...best 4 years ever...i'd highly recommend going to college there. Its like its own little student suberb. Nearly everyone living in the area is a student or postgrad. There's often house parties going on etc. I'm now living and working near UCD in dublin and i have to say that i'm really glad i went to college in limerick.

Also there's no shortage of quality, cheap (compared to dublin) accomodation so you wont spend most of your money on rent, leaving much more for drink, going out and other stuff.

There certainly is a scum element in the city but if you live in castletroy you wont bump into them very often. Like a previous poster said, as long as you dont go shouting abuse at randomers in the city centre you should be fine. I'm originally from Tipperary and I have to say that that is certainly worse than dublin and limerick.

As for music in the city there are a good few live band gigs on around, you wont find many big names but you will see some good bands. Check out Dolans Warehouse, also Smyths pub can have some good bands. I hear the Boathouse can have good bands also.

Rb · 15-01-2007 12:57AM

Theres another good point to avoid Limerick, Fast_Mover goes to college there.

Peteee · 15-01-2007 01:21AM

rb_ie wrote:

Theres another good point to avoid Limerick, Fast_Mover goes to college there.

Oh dear, I sniggered!

Anyways, been going to college in UL for the last 3 years. Love the place. Around UL is nice, almost all students.

The city itself isn't the nicest place aesthetically(I always get depressed walking through there) but its hardly full of knifes and gangs cruising around for a drive by.

scojones · 15-01-2007 01:34AM

I've spent 5 years in Tralee, and the rest of my life about 15 mins from Limerick City. Tralee is far worse, trust me. What course are you going to do in Limerick? I did the Software Development course in ITT; great course!

Fast_Mover · 15-01-2007 01:35AM

Peteee wrote:

Oh dear, I sniggered!

:eek: Peteee..im dissappointed in you!!:D

Peteee wrote:

Around UL is nice, almost all students.

Ya, ye got yer own little bubble out there (pubs, nightclub('the lodge'..some great nyt to be had there!!) gorgeous arena, food places, lovely cinema etc..) no need to come into the city at all!

iguana · 15-01-2007 01:44AM

rb_ie wrote:

No, I'm just going by what I've heard on the news over the years. I've heard more about gun related violence in Limerick than any other county.
Again, just going by my watching of the news on the subject.

2005 figures
http://www.garda.ie/angarda/statistics/report2005.html

I thought I'd stick in a few of the main points for those who wouldn't be bothered to download or read through it.

Headline Offences 2005 (these are the biggies, like murder, rape, armed robbery, assault and burglary) per 1000 of population.

Dublin Total; 44,991. Cork Total; 9162. Limerick; 5,717.

Dublin has more than seven and a half times the crime of Limerick per capita. The worst area is Dublin South Central with 9,643. 44% of these crimes happen in Dublin, the southern region which includes Limerick and Cork, as well as Kerry accounts for 16%.

Lets break it down.

Murder

Dublin Total; 27. Cork Total; 3. Limerick; 1.

Per 100,000 people;

Dublin Total; 2.35. Cork Total; 0.66. Limerick; 0.56.

Of these figures 3 murder victims were women, all were killed in Dublin. Dublin had more than 4 times the murder rate of Limerick in 2005. The highest murder rate in the country is in Dublin South Central, with 6.81 per 100k. This accounted for 7 murders, including 2 women, the most murders (10) actually took place in Dublin Western.

Rape and Sexual Assault, per 1k population.

Dublin Total; R; 0.12 / SA; 0.30. Cork Total; R; 0.09 / SA; 0.19. Limerick; R; 0.10 / SA; 0.21.

The worst area in the country for rape was Donegal, per capita and in amount, with .28 and 38 rapes. It was the same for sexual assault with 0.72 per capita and 99 actual. It needs to be said that these are the reported figures. It is estimated that less than one third of rapes are reported to the gardaí.

Robbery & Aggravated Burglary, with Firearms

Dublin Total; 228. Cork Total; 10. Limerick; 19.

per 1k population

Dublin Total; 0.2. Cork Total; 0.02. Limerick; 0.11.

The worst area for these crimes is Dublin North Central with .49 per 1000 people. The highest amount however is Dublin Western with 52 actual. Dublin accounts for 65%, the Southern Region for 8%

Red Hand · 15-01-2007 01:54AM

Good find, Iguana.:) I guess we really do need to hear actual statistics before spouting "what we hear in the news".

Giving purely my opinion, Dublin City centre would be a bit "rougher" than Limerick to me at night-time. As for living here, there are some very good areas and others that are not so good. Dublin I mean.

(And instead of posting in that other thread, I am a culchie from Kerry, and Jackeens will always be second-place in football. Not my opinion but FACT.:) )

Rb · 15-01-2007 04:46AM

Peteee wrote:

Oh dear, I sniggered!

Anyways, been going to college in UL for the last 3 years. Love the place. Around UL is nice, almost all students.

The city itself isn't the nicest place aesthetically(I always get depressed walking through there) but its hardly full of knifes and gangs cruising around for a drive by.

Fast_Mover wrote:

Peteee..im dissappointed in you!!

Don't let her disappointment with you phase you, shes just hyper-sensitive.

InFront · 15-01-2007 05:10AM

Post by Iguana was quite interesting. Per 1000 people, Limerick certainly looks like a far safer place than Dublin by all accounts.

I went through the report and the only area I could see that Limerick came out worse than anyone was in the section for "overweight vehicles", where one out of every seven offenses in the state were detected (102/ approx 700 offenses) in Limerick. Even that appears to me the work of a rather over-zealous Garda than a significant worry for the people of Limerick.

Very interesting statistics, Dublin is, statistically, by far the most dangerous place in the country.

thelordofcheese · 15-01-2007 08:02AM

Went to UL for four years, plus a little extra hanging around the summer after my final exams, it's alright. It's neither a crime ridden wasteland, nor the greatest place ever.

If you're going to go somewhere go there for the course itself, you'll probably have a great time regardless of where you go, so just pick something based on what you want to do, as opposed to the nightlife and other concerns like that.

Also, if you go to UL, be prepared to love and hate it in almost equal amounts.

sioda · 15-01-2007 11:07AM

From Limerick and have lived all over the city and did stints in LIT and large scale drinking in UL have to say Limerick is a great up and coming student city with a class nightlife and good pubs and gigs.

As a previous poster said UL has a huge campus with great faciities.

But I found LIT to be a freindlier place probably due to the size.

Either way come to Limerick you dont understand post pub food till you've had a souperchip from the chicken hut

jester77 · 15-01-2007 12:12PM

Limerick is grand. If you want trouble you can find it but it's generally safe. I went to college there for 4 years and saw no more trouble there than anywhere else I lived, apart from a mini riot one night. If I recall correctly clubs were closed for a while after that! Lot of scumbags around the center but they are harmless. Great college night life and a great place for spending some time, don't be put off by the media stories. It's a very small few people that's causing that trouble and it's just between themselves.

Dragan · 15-01-2007 12:26PM

limerick_man wrote:

Nah, theres two rough estates Moyross (which is by LIT) although surrounded by Limericks most expensive area where houses have been known to sell for up to €4m.
And Southhill, which is pretty much the same side of the city as UL, also crammed between Raheen (or 'Waheen' as scum cleverly call it) and Castletroy, areas both generally considered middle class or whatever.

You forgot to mention the Island, which which would be best avoided at night time in fairness.

I lived in Moyross for about a year and never had any hassle, and i was living in Greval park at the time.

Limerick is what you make it, as pointed out steer clear of the well known trouble spots and you'll be fine.

Oh yeah, and avoid a nightclub called The Market.

sioda · 15-01-2007 12:35PM

Dont worry the Market is closed at the mo

scojones · 15-01-2007 12:41PM

Not to be confused with The Corn Market. Nice bar.

5starpool · 15-01-2007 01:09PM

Limerick is fine. I had a great time there for 7 years, all spent either in UL or else working in the Technological park. If you are going to UL and living in Castletroy, then you have very little to worry about, as it is a self contained area really. I never really had any hassle inthe city either, except to say that Limerick bouncers are the biggest shower of w@nkers ever. That is all.

jester77 · 15-01-2007 01:17PM

sioda wrote:

Dont worry the Market is closed at the mo

That place must be closed more often than it's open. In the 4 years I lived there I can't count how many times it closed and re-opened... and it was still sh*t!

Dragan · 15-01-2007 01:40PM

5starpool wrote:

I never really had any hassle inthe city either, except to say that Limerick bouncers are the biggest shower of w@nkers ever. That is all.

Ha ha, i used to do doors in Limerick, can only say i agree.

shane86 · 15-01-2007 01:50PM

iguana wrote:

2005 figures
http://www.garda.ie/angarda/statistics/report2005.html

I thought I'd stick in a few of the main points for those who wouldn't be bothered to download or read through it.

Headline Offences 2005 (these are the biggies, like murder, rape, armed robbery, assault and burglary) per 1000 of population.

Dublin Total; 44,991. Cork Total; 9162. Limerick; 5,717.

Limerick has what, around 70,000 people and nearly 6000 serious offences.

The Dublin Garda area (which includes nearby areas like Maynooth afaik, its effectively the same boundary as the 01 phone region) has about 1.3 million, but only 7 times more serious crime? But about 15 times the population?

Dunno why Limerick folks get so excited when the crime is brought up. Its a rough place, and it seems to have an even bigger level of low down scum than other places (burning children, shooting children, gang wars sparked by schoolyard fights between kids, Dublin has its problems but kids are seldom involved)

IIRC wasnt there a case where a grandmother drove a car as her son commited a drive by? We Dubs just cant compare

Yous is G`z

Is Limerick Really THAT bad?

Comments