Marcusm wrote: » It might be true of the breadth of US craft brewery but it's mightily undermined by the depth of the crap which predominates.
John Mason wrote: » Do not tell people you are irish unless you were born here. I frikken hate mercians who do this. idiots
amber69 wrote: » As you are American my advice to you would be to speak less and listen more, go for it and best of luck.
TheBrewMeister wrote: » It's a shame that the Irish feel that way about us "Yanks." Considering, for some of us, our families fled; starving and cold to some unknown land; losing their children and loved ones along the way only to get here, be conscripted into the army to fight alongside slaves against an "enemy" they knew nothing about, or a cause they knew nothing of. It's a shame you treat your "Yank" brothers and sisters with such disdain.
TheBrewMeister wrote: » But other than that, this is an opportunity to travel and get out of this freezer.
TheBrewMeister wrote: » Don't worry, I'm not coming to build electric plants or new roads... I make beer.
Meangadh wrote: » Jesus the way some of ye are going on about the West of Ireland and the smaller towns and cities you'd swear we were living in a grossly underdeveloped country. Sure, it might not have the array of facilities that Dublin or a large city in the States might have, but most places in Ireland have the main facilities people need. Rural places in most other countries are far more isolated than here given that Ireland is so small. And the sense of community in a lot of the smaller places here more than makes up for any lacking there may be. One thing I would say OP is get yourself a decent car and get used to driving over here- the roads can take practice for those perhaps used to driving on bigger roads. Whilst I said already that most places have the facilities you'd need, for anything you don't have at your immediate disposal, public transport isn't great here and a car really is essential. Good luck with the move if you decide to come- like anywhere we have our fair share of idiots but for the most part Irish people are great.
K.Flyer wrote: » Sure its a "country" half an hour, its a bit like the "country mile".
Reindeer wrote: » OP will learn quickly that travel times won't be anything like what he thinks they would be for looking at the map or google...
Legs.Eleven wrote: » Also be vigilant of foreigners from wealthy first world countries who have the choice to leave and work elsewhere but choose to stay and make it out like they hate the place when they mustn't really as they're still here.
gufnork wrote: » meh, a lot of the time they stay more because it'd be too much upheaval to up stakes and move again than it is to stay and make the best of it. I wouldn't fancy trying to move my four little furry guys back over to England for example. You don't have to love a place to remain there. Having said that, I'm aware of how much it p!sses people off when foreigners slag off the place so I for one try and reign in the slagging as much as possible.
Legs.Eleven wrote: » Well then that's their problem, isn't it? There's plenty of things I don't like in Spain but if I actually hated it here, I'd leave. Fact of the matter is, there's more stuff keeping me here than not. If you can't be bothered bringing a few animals a couple of hundred miles away (which is not a big deal, let's face it) and you hate the place, then either you're extremely lazy and lacking any getup and go whatsoever (and really doesn't allow you to complain about the Irish having a similar attitude) or you actually like more about the place than you care to admit and are joining the "chronic moaning ex pat brigade" which I've witnessed everywhere I've lived and have partook in on more than one occasion till I told myself to cop on. If someone asks me for advice about moving to Spain (and they have many times through Boards), I'll tell them objectively what the story is and won't let my own personal experiences and emotions get in the way of that. If he has kids and a family or has no other option but to be there, I understand but otherwise it speaks volumes about the person making the comments. Plenty of positives about Ireland too and I'm sure you can admit to that. You have to take the rough with the smooth wherever you go. No, you don't have to love a place to stay there but if you stay in a place and you hate it and you have the option of leaving, then you're an idiot.
gufnork wrote: » Well if they actively hate the place then fair enough, but it's not always practical for a person to just decide to leave. The cats were just one single example. And that's nothing to do with not being bothered but more the fact that cats are notoriously bad at travelling. I'm not saying its not do-able, I'm just saying it's not always as easy as deciding to leaves and then going.
Legs.Eleven wrote: » The Aussie has been posting over the years and hasn't written one positive thing about the country. Almost every post he's written in AH has been a criticism of some sort. He gives the impression he hates the place. I can take constructive criticism but when it simply comes across as spite or childish "revenge" (knowing you're going to get the backs up of Irish posters on an Irish message board) or even trolling (not saying that's what it is), then I have no time for it. If I posted all the things I hated about Spain on a Spanish message board mentioning nothing positive whatsoever, I have an agenda and I think it's fair to say it'd reflect worse on me than those I'm complaining about. Moaning ex pats can be found everywhere and should be avoided at all costs - they'd suck the life out of you.
gufnork wrote: » no argument from me there. To be fair though, I probably moaned just as much about my own country when I lived there. It just gets noticed a lot more when/if I do the same thing here.
TheBrewMeister wrote: » It's always been my dream to live there, maybe not forever, but I'd like to stay for a few years at least. I'm of Irish decent - not typical "American Irish" decent where everyone says "I'm like .25% irish" - I mean, I'm 100% Irish decent; family was from Castlebar, and this job would be about 30 mins from there. No one in my family has been back since the 80's and I was too young to go then, so this is an exciting opportunity for me.
Legs.Eleven wrote: » Fair enough. People don't like hearing outsiders criticising their country, it's true but when it's constant, you kind of want to tell them to **** off home (I'm specifically referring to immigrants that have a choice to be where they are, not those who have no choice - often they're the ones that are treated the worst and have more to genuinely moan about). Many things are undeniably bad in Ireland and if a foreigner wanted to complain about those constructively, I can take it on board...it's nice to mix it in with a bit of positivity too though.
Reindeer wrote: » By the same token, our OP is about to get an ear-full of what is wrong with America from a lot of Irish. Oh sure, at first they'll be pleasant. But, once they get to know you, you'll then start to learn what they think of the US.
Caonima wrote: » Castlebar is a kip. Move to Dublin instead. Much friendlier people. And my arse plays the banjo.
JustAThought wrote: » I'd DEFINATELY try & take a 3 month lease before committing to anywhere -thou that might be hard. Castlebar is hardly a metropolis -does the " cinema" still open? Half an hour outside castlebar has me reaching for my smelling salts -where is that -Louisberg????? Can you not live in a proper town like Galway " city " & commute??? I say this in ALL seriousness. Seriously -look at this as an option. Very excited for you - delighted your wife is so thrilled : ) tell her to make no strong comments & to join the ICA -she'll be in the thick of it then & get to know & meet everyone!!! How are the kids for GAA!!? If you don't let them join that and pick a sport that suites you might as well stay put!!! : ) Welcome! ( nearly!) Look in the GALWAY forum. Only cheerleaders for Mayo live in the Mayo forum -they're as bad as the Sligo lot . -a Jackeen.
the_syco wrote: » You mean 15 miles... on the motorway? on a regional road? on a regional road behind a tractor? on a regional road behind a tractor which is following a funeral? on a regional road behind a tractor which is following a funeral on a Sunday? :pac:
Reindeer wrote: » In other words - have gone native.
Legs.Eleven wrote: » I'd be as critical of those, don't get me wrong and I can see the usual suspects posting on here and have posted on threads arguing a futile battle against them. I cringe when I hear this anti-American bollocks. My brother-in-law is American and has lived in Ireland for years and he got it in the neck from certain types of Irish till he eventually exploded one day (he went beserk, but his foot down and took no more **** from people...and he won the battle!). He's very settled in Ireland now and is happy. He made the country his own but had to deal with a lot of stupidity on the way. I will say though, unfortunately there's that sentiment all over Europe right now. I hear it from the locals here in Madrid here all the time. I do think the Irish look up to America though and I think a lot of "hating" is resentment stemming from jealousy....but not all of it.
Legs.Eleven wrote: » You think hating the place you live in and doing nothing about it is specific to the Irish?
mannika wrote: » Does anyone have any actual useful advice for this guy?? like about schools, public transport, tax.... As opposed to bashing ireland and america??? Ireland is a great place to raise kids they will need a thick skin but they will be fine. It rains most of the time but I'm sure you'll be able to afford shoes, coats and probably a car. My advice, do it and get out and see as much of Ireland as you can. Despite the negative crap on here its a great place and would move back in the morning if i could get a decent job. best of luck
Reindeer wrote: » I've put by foot down on some occasions, but always with a velvet sock. I'm no nationalist. I live here after all. I am as critical of my former country as anyone in Ireland. But sure there is a massive amount of ignorance regarding the US on these boards. However, for the most part, when folks see I am not fighting FOR the US, but simply explaining how I see things, it's usually better received. Ireland is an easy place for me to live, though. Some Americans may have some issues. I'm used to corrupt and incompetent government, so my only real issue with Ireland is the shower unit. They are the sum of all evil. OP, you will learn to hate these things. I am going to do whatever is within my power to have them banned. Otherwise, I'm good.
