What's so appalling about Ireland

_blank_ · 25-07-2007 11:26AM #1

Terry wrote:

One of these days there will be a "What's so appalling about Ireland" thread.
I live in hope.

Here you go.

Kintarō Hattori · 25-07-2007 11:28AM

Nothing as far as I can see. Sure it's not perfect, but it is overall a pretty decent place to be.

Slow Motion · 25-07-2007 11:29AM

All these bloody forriners crowding the roundabouts and taking our wimmin !

Oh and YORE MA !!!!

kmick · 25-07-2007 11:32AM

Its pretty damn good compared to a lot of places. Now if we could get the chinese over to disperse the clouds with their olympic rockets we would be suckin diesel.

25-07-2007 11:50AM

Our healthcare system
The way we vote back in corrupt politicians (they are all corrupt but the stupid fcuker got caught)

just to name a couple off the top of my head

Tar.Aldarion · 25-07-2007 11:58AM

The people.

CiaranC · 25-07-2007 12:00PM

Tar.Aldarion wrote:

The people.

:rolleyes:

Duggy747 · 25-07-2007 12:03PM

I don't find this country appalling, myself. Considering how well we are on our lifestyle compared to many other developed countries. Granted, there's people that would turn you off but that's a given everywhere you go!! And our broadband infrastructure is cack, healthcare is cack, public transport is cack. At least RTÉ 2 shows decent wildlife programmes (I never knew ants were cunning lil' fúckers and that Steve Irwin was a loon!!

)

25-07-2007 12:05PM

Our crappy attitudes regarding nearly everything.
Dodgy politicians being re-elected even when we know they are dodgy and voting for them anyway.
The price of housing.
Our 3rd world health system.
This list could go on and on indefinately so I'll stop now.

cance · 25-07-2007 12:05PM

coolsmileygirl wrote:

(they are all corrupt but the stupid fcuker got caught)

:rolleyes:

i suggest you spend more time researching your political facts before making an arse of yourself again.

Karl Hungus · 25-07-2007 12:22PM

I'll never understand how so many Irish people are so utterly self-hating. There's a lot of people on boards who are just not happy unless they're tearing down Ireland and the Irish verbally at every juncture possible. It's starting to get depressing that I can't read a thread on After Hours (Which is a forum that usually causes me to despair for humanity already) without seeing some bull**** about how much we suck, and how we're the worst country in the world, and the worst people out there...

I've been a hell of a lot of places, Japan, Norway, England, Spain, Czech Republic, Romania, France, and a lot more... Trust me guys, we really aren't that bad a country at all. Infact, we're pretty god damn awesome. Sure, we're not as awesome as Japan, but then again, who is?

The fact is, I've been to places that have been far, far worse off than Ireland, and the people still manage to drum up a magnificent amount of pride.

In Ireland, we don't know how good we have it.

Fratton Fred · 25-07-2007 12:23PM

Other than the standard of driving, I think it is definately Irelands lack of a Woolworths.

Tar.Aldarion · 25-07-2007 12:27PM

CiaranC.

;-)

judas101 · 25-07-2007 12:27PM

Karl Hungus wrote:

The fact is, I've been to places that have been far, far worse off than Ireland, and the people still manage to drum up a magnificent amount of pride.

In Ireland, we don't know how good we have it.

amen to that.

there's far too many nay-sayers out there

bugler · 25-07-2007 12:28PM

It's not appalling, but the previous posters have pointed out the drawbacks.

For me, things that make Ireland less attractive then many other countries in terms of lifestyle:

- The Weather.

- The transport. Ok, if you live on the Luas line and it gets you to work in 10 minutes you might think Irish public transport is great. But for the most part Dublin's transport is poor by the standards of European capitals. I was in Madrid recently enough. As far as I can tell their Metro is based on the same template as the Tube in London.

Its coverage of the city is far superior to what we have here, it runs far more regularly at all times than what we have here (every few minutes, missing a train is a non-event, one will be along again in a minute), oh and it's much cheaper too. Our national rail links are also poor. Large swathes of the country are not accessible by rail. It can be a better option to fly. Travelling between Dublin and Limerick a couple of years ago I was on a train that I wouldn't have expected to see in the former Soviet bloc circa 1980. And smoke kept coming into the carriage.

- Healthcare. This has been done to death. Suffice to say, why is the Health Service of a supposedly dynamic and wealthy country sub-par? I'm lucky I haven't been seriously ill, nor has anyone close to me (well since my grandparents died some time ago). My sister was in hospital for appendicitis recently enough though - I didn't like what I saw.

- Yobbishness / skangerism. Of all the urban places in Ireland I've lived, the only place in which skangerism didn't seem to be a daily feature was Galway. There are rough parts of Galway, but it doesn't really seem to translate to the core experience of the town. At least it didn't for my years there.

Dublin is a different story of course. On my daily central Dublin walk (Top of O'Connell St down to Grafton, on to Harcourt St) I regularly see the vomit being washed off the street as I get to work. I always see junkies waddling around the place, panhandling, vagrants...the only thing I don't see is prostitution.

All capital cities have these problems. But not all cities have them on their main thoroughfares like we do here.

If I could add one more thing, probably related to the above, it is the overly dependent manner of our culture on alcohol and drinking.

How can the above be factored into surveys, or lists of how much we're all earning and all worth? They can't really, and they're not.

Slow Motion · 25-07-2007 12:30PM

Karl Hungus wrote:

In Ireland, we don't know how good we have it.

Some of us do ! I could list all the things that piss me off as others have above but I think those things could be found in almost any society ! I love living here, I've been abroad and there are some places I wouldn't mind living in for a while but I will always end up back here. Why ? The people for the most part are decent, goodnatured and humourous. The last couple of months excluded the wether isn't too bad ! There are lots of interesting places to see and things to do ! We know how to have a bit of craic even when things are tough. Despite all the negativity we hear (a lot on AH) we generally do care about others and want to help, so to sum up I would rather be Irish and living in Ireland than be someone else somewhere else ! FACT ! END OF...!

nice1franko · 25-07-2007 12:32PM

"good ole ireland :rolleyes: we can't do anything right can we ha ha ha ha"

The fukcing self deprecation is what does my head in.

If we'd the floods that england just had half the country'd be tutting "they couldn't organise anything, bit of rain and the place is in bits" or if joe o reill had got off... there'd be people moaning that the justice system in ireland is a joke etc

EVERY SINGLE COUNTRY has its good and bad points. Strange and stupid things are done in other countries too.

If rte balls something up then give out to rte and don't quip "good ole ireland" and think you're the clever cnut.

Overall, it's a great country and it's improving all the time so if you don't like it then do something about it, pi$$ off or shut up.

edit - rant over... I love the place and have travelled a lot and lived in 3 other countries. First day back from america and was having brekkie at a pub. too many of us were cramped onto a little circle table and i went to cut a saussie and the plate flipped onto the ground. a man comes over with his son (about 4 i'd say) taps me on the shoulder and says he wants to say something to ye... little fukcer pipes up "do ye want a hammer?" where else would you get that?

edit edit - and I, for one, like that we drink too much.

lightening · 25-07-2007 12:33PM

Karl Hungus wrote:

I'll never understand how so many Irish people are so utterly self-hating. There's a lot of people on boards who are just not happy unless they're tearing down Ireland and the Irish verbally at every juncture possible. It's starting to get depressing that I can't read a thread on After Hours (Which is a forum that usually causes me to despair for humanity already) without seeing some bull**** about how much we suck, and how we're the worst country in the world, and the worst people out there...

At last, a voice of reason. We have never had it better, brilliant cities, amazing countryside, stunning activities, cash, amenities... Get off the couch, get out there and see it. You should see other parts of the world, I have been to parts of India, America, Vietnam amongst others. You havent a clue what a sh*thole is. Dublin, Cork, Belfast, Sligo... Amazing places, you just need to get up off your arse and do things.

Karl Hungus · 25-07-2007 12:34PM

Slow Motion wrote:

Some of us do !

Ah yeah, I'm just making some sweeping statements here, I know there's a good few who don't buy into this "National Masoccism" for want of a better term.

Karl Hungus · 25-07-2007 12:37PM

lightening wrote:

At last, a voice of reason. We have never had it better, brilliant cities, amazing countryside, stunning activities, cash, amenities... Get off the couch, get out there and see it. You should see other parts of the world, I have been to parts of India, America, Vietnam amongst others. You havent a clue what a sh*thole is. Dublin, Cork, Belfast, Sligo... Amazing places, you just need to get up off your arse and do things.

I may have underestimated the posters on AH.

Seems there's hope yet.

Slow Motion · 25-07-2007 12:39PM

Karl Hungus wrote:

"National Masoccism"

I like it ! I may use this against my mates the next time they are bitching over their pints ! With your permission of course

Karl Hungus · 25-07-2007 12:41PM

Slow Motion wrote:

I like it ! I may use this against my mates the next time they are bitching over their pints ! With your permission of course

Yeah, feel free.

Just don't be a dope like me, and spell it wrong.

Masochism tbh.

Aye, it's a good one though. I can just imagine leaning over the table in the pub and saying "You're a bunch of nationally masochistic goobers is what you are!"

Dragan · 25-07-2007 12:41PM

I love this country, i truly do.

I honestly cannot understand people who bang on about how crap everything is. I just don't see it myself.

Your life is what you make it, so make it enjoyable folks.

thelordofcheese · 25-07-2007 12:44PM

lightening wrote:

At last, a voice of reason. We have never had it better, brilliant cities, amazing countryside, stunning activities, cash, amenities... Get off the couch, get out there and see it. You should see other parts of the world, I have been to parts of India, America, Vietnam amongst others. You havent a clue what a sh*thole is. Dublin, Cork, Belfast, Sligo... Amazing places, you just need to get up off your arse and do things.

hey now, i'm all for being positive, but lets not get crazy here

but seriously, having thought about it, i reckon it's got to be the public transport (mostly in dublin) thats the worst thing about home. When it's quicker to walk an hour to work than take the bus, you know something is really broken.

The worst part being that i've no idea how you'd fix it, dublin seems to have been designed so that everything grinds to a halt if there is more than 10 cars on the roads.

Red Hand · 25-07-2007 12:50PM

Tsk! Call yerselves Irish??

As America has "God bless America!" as their national phrase, I propose "Goddamn Ireland!" for the National malcontents.:)

Blitzkrieger · 25-07-2007 12:51PM

cance wrote:

i suggest you spend more time researching your political facts before making an arse of yourself again.

We're sure you're an angel.

And Bertie did nothing wrong.

Pigs fly.

Hell is frozen over.

Real have won the Champions League.

Karl Hungus · 25-07-2007 12:53PM

thelordofcheese wrote:

The worst part being that i've no idea how you'd fix it, dublin seems to have been designed so that everything grinds to a halt if there is more than 10 cars on the roads.

If I was in charge, I'd hire a load of Japanese engineers, and build a NEW capital. Those guys know how to build a city like no others.

lightening · 25-07-2007 12:59PM

thelordofcheese wrote:

dublin seems to have been designed so that everything grinds to a halt if there is more than 10 cars on the roads.

Dublin was designed in medieval times, as was London, Milan and Athlone. We have beautiful ancient buildings, narrow streets and amazing sights and sounds. If this doesn't suit the odd SUV driver, I don't really mind. Traffic is part and parcel of city life, even in new cities like Sydney.

zuutroy · 25-07-2007 01:03PM

Yeah, I think all the Ireland haters haven't spent significant amounts of time anywhere else. I've spent almost 10% of my life living in other countries, and seriously....Ireland's not that bad, in fact its very good.
If I could have the job I have here for the same money in Dublin I'd be back tomorrow.

Terry · 25-07-2007 01:06PM

Dragan wrote:

I love this country, i truly do.

I honestly cannot understand people who bang on about how crap everything is. I just don't see it myself.

Your life is what you make it, so make it enjoyable folks.

Damn right.

People need to take responsibility for their own shortcomings.

Karl, well said.

lightening · 25-07-2007 01:07PM

zuutroy wrote:

If I could have the job I have here for the same money in Dublin I'd be back tomorrow.

An honest, brave thing to say. Very hard to say you would rather be somewhere other than where you choose to be. Chances are you will probably get the same money sometime.

What's so appalling about Ireland

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