Moving over in September, where to meet friendly 30 somethings?

I'm sure someone will be along soon to demand pics!

Start at home - look for a place to live that has likeminded people that you'd feel like hanging out with. I'm sure you'll meet their circle of friends then

Join a club - I think there's a book club on here somewhere - or a sports club, or a musical/drama group, whatever your interests are.

Talk to people - we're a friendly bunch down here, if you say hi we will talk to ya!

Sponge Bob wrote: »

There are some 'friendly' 30 somethings to be found on Buckfast Plaza , most nights when its warm .

Hmmm, not sure that's what she wants.

curlyclaire wrote: »

thanks for that, when I said friendly I genuinely meant friendly as in making friends. Now I know where to avoid!

There's plenty of clubs for whatever you're interested in, sporting or otherwise.
You'll also hopefully have nice workmates you could socialise with too.

I think there's also a website somewhere about volunteer work in Galway, if that takes your fancy.

If you list a few of you interests, I'm sure people could point you in the right direction.

Well for live gigs the Roisin Dubh is the main spot - they have a website with details on upcoming gigs, just google it. For trad there's Taaffe's pub, regularly live bands in other pubs too.

There's quite a few nice restaurants around IMO, probably a thread here about them if you search.

As for theatre, well you won't get the variety of London, but as I'm sure you're aware of, there's the Arts festival in the summer, and there's ongoing plays etc during the year - I'll let someone else guide you on that front as its not really my scene.

Dancing - depends what you mean, there's nightclubs to shake your thing, and there's also dance classes of various types, salsa etc - probably check out the galway advertiser for details, in fact check it for details of anything galway related, from accommodation to classifieds to the property market & the latest nonsense in the city council chambers :rolleyes:

I moved from Oxford just over a year ago, and love it here. I wish you luck and will no doubt bump into you around the place.

We are a friendly bunch in general. and I never find it difficult to chat to people I meet out and about. Just do that and simply talk to people you come across. In shops, at gigs, wherever. I'd second the Róisín as a good venue particularly as you say you like live gigs. Some great ones there and it's virtually impossible not to chat to people in the smoking area for instance. Can be quite young some nights though, just to warn you.

Have fun!!

workaccount wrote: »

Stay away from Castlepark, most of Ballybane and I can't remember the name of the massive housing estate out the headford road. Also some parts of bohermore.

Good places would be the docks, salthill, merchants road, forster court, the green, sailin, and any other new developements that look nice.

Renmore is a nice spot as well...

I would broadly agree with that.

workaccount wrote: »

Why do you want to get out of London? Galway has rubbish infrastructure, rubbish drivers, rubbish weather, rubbish public transport, rubbish public servants....I could probably go on. Just letting you know that's it's far from paradise over this neck of the woods. The road networks are third world compared to the UK. Don't count on getting anywhere easy or fast.

Those specific examples are very accurate. It can be a frustrating place to live at times.

curlyclaire wrote: »

In answer to that question, I have many reservations about moving over, chiefly the weather. Loads of stuff worries me about moving here, I almost got a job there a couple of years ago, and I remember how bad public transport was then. London has a lot going for it, but after spending my entire life here I am very jaded, and living in south London the constant headlines about young people knifing each other, and encountering the same intimidating, amoral attitude every time I sit on a bus or a train, is soul destroying. I know very well that Ireland is far from perfect, I've lived there before, but if the choice is crap weather and lack of decent jobs, as opposed to constant lawlessness & aggression, I'm going to give it a go over there.

I think you are right to give it a shot. I lived in London years ago and I can relate to the 'soul destroying' thing.

I've always thought that London would be a great place to live in...if, you are either financially well off and can afford to live in a really nice area or are young and have less responsibilities or cares (generally).

There is a lot to be said for quality of life and Galway would definitely give you a change of pace, even if its only a temporary move.

I'm not a native of Galway, but have found it to be quite friendly and safe (even the 'rough' areas are relatively harmless, in my experience). It is very small, so you might be able to travel to and from work by foot or bicycle, weather permitting.

Best of luck.

workaccount wrote: »

I can't remember the name of the massive housing estate out the headford road

I think that's probably Ballinfoyle you're on about...

curlyclaire wrote: »

Hi Webbs,

I've decided to just come over next week and see if I can find a job. Can you advise about safe, not too expensive areas to live in near the city centre? Any advice at all would be appreciated actually. In terms of work, I'm happy to do whatever just to get by for now.

I'd agree with the places that work account mentioned, we moved into Rahoon when we first moved here and found it fine we lived off the old Rahoon road (places like Friars Hill, Cruachan Park, Gort Greine, I would avoid Gleann dara and places of the circular road). We had no idea about places to live and found it handy enough, Galway people will probably tell you its a long way from the city center, but you can walk it in about 30mins and is a 5-10min taxi ride for those late nights. but if your like me and my London experience any travel time under an hour is a bonus!

I would agree that Galway isn't perfect and yes the public transport is almost non existent but its a small enough place that taxis are an option and definitely walking most places is great (though Galway people do love their cars so anything more than a 10minute walk and they think your mad LOL).

But the pace of life, the advantages of having the countryside on your doorstep and there is a hell of a lot going on here for a city of this size, has made it a great move for us from Streatham to here.

As for other places no where is perfect - I lived in Switzerland for a while and while on the surface it all seems fantastic, clean on time etc just scratch below the surface and you have a rule obsessed bigotted nation that I would imagine would drive the average Irish person mad within a year!

Claire I hope the move over here goes great and as i said send me a private message if their are other more specific things you want to know

workaccount wrote: »

Why do you want to get out of London? Galway has rubbish infrastructure, rubbish drivers, rubbish weather, rubbish public transport, rubbish public servants....I could probably go on. Just letting you know that's it's far from paradise over this neck of the woods. The road networks are third world compared to the UK. Don't count on getting anywhere easy or fast.

Rubbish infrastructure? No worse than anywhere else outside Dublin. What do you expect for a small city with only 80,000 people - a monorail?

Rubbish drivers? Try living in Donegal for a while... its not that bad here

Rubbish public transport? I don't know where you live, but my bus comes every 15 mins during the day, every 30 mins after 8, and its 99% on time

Rubbish public servants? Generalise much??
Apart from the city council senior management, I've come across a huge number of very good and dedicated public servants here.

Rubbish weather? Yeah fair point, but if you're so negative and you want sunshine why don't you f**k off to Spain?



Claire, don't mind this negative attitude, its not half as bad as this guy would like to make out. Best of luck with your move! I'm sure we'll see you posting lots in this forum when you arrive...