Dublin is Not Boring - Not at All.

minusthebear · 10-03-2014 09:41PM

I suggest getting acquainted with http://www.dublineventguide.com/ to source new things to try.

Red Pepper · 10-03-2014 09:45PM

I always advise tourists to avoid Dublin like the plague (it can be a huge disappointment unless you're an alcoholic) - if possible land at Shannon/Cork/Knock and drive down/up the west coast. The only counties worth seeing are Cork/Kerry/Clare/Galway/Mayo/Sligo/Donegal.

CatLou · 10-03-2014 10:33PM

So, i'm a newbie to Dublin (been living here for less than a year now), and I always find stuff to do. I had some friends already living here but they're mostly boring so I found a lot of things to do.
Some examples of activities I've done/been doing in the city (I'll even have them separated by "free" and "non-free"):

FREE:
- Play basketball in Ringsend park (there are also tennis courts, rugby and football fields, etc)
- Picnic in Ringsend park
- Walk the trails in Howth
- Singing and performing with a choir
- Guided tour of the Black Church Print studio
- Banter talks at The Twisted Pepper
- Science Gallery

... and some more free stuff I'm thinking of doing:
- Coffee Workshop
- The "Dead Zoo"

Non-Free:
- Special cinema sessions at the IFI (Nosferatu, Doctor Who, the IFI also does free sessions)
- Kayaking in the Liffey
- Temple Bar Food Market (it's free if you're not buying anything

)
- Zoo
- Pat Liddy's literary walking tour (during the Book Festival)
- Dublin Bay Cruise from Howth to Dun Laoghaire
- Visiting the Dublin Castle with some friends that were visiting
- Theatre (The Gaiety, The Lir, O'Reilly Theatre)

... aaaand obviously there's a lot more stuff, in the city or an hour away. It's a matter of searching around and getting involved. Someone referred the http://www.dublineventguide.com/ it's a very good resource.

Nope, Dublin is certainly not boring.

Don't Chute! · 10-03-2014 10:43PM

Red Pepper wrote: »

I always advise tourists to avoid Dublin like the plague (it can be a huge disappointment unless you're an alcoholic) - if possible land at Shannon/Cork/Knock and drive down/up the west coast. The only counties worth seeing are Cork/Kerry/Clare/Galway/Mayo/Sligo/Donegal.

Hopefully they don't listen to you.

astonaidan · 11-03-2014 12:19AM

Thing I found about Dublin is that everything is frickin miles apart and not on a Dart/Luas/Bus line, feel like theres always 15/40 min walk to everything

Ranchu · 11-03-2014 12:35AM

ClovenHoof wrote: »

I honestly do not get this idea where people think Dublin as a city is boring and has nothing to do. I have been to cities much larger where one could see and do all that was to see and do in a weekend. There is lots to do in Dublin if you WANT to find something to do.

The problem with the city is the residents would rather spend their weekends in a pub getting all emotional for 'their' beloved British soccer corporations while going 'We, Them and Us' at the giant TV screens knocking back pints as the sum total of their interaction with the city.

There is so much to do and see in Dublin. Not just only in terms of culture, but the city screams history. There are areas you can explore like the Liberties on a Sunday. There is a beautiful range of mountains with a stunning hiking trail which would be the envy of any capital city in Europe and you can get on the Luas at Tallaght...follow the trail over the mountains and get back from the DART on the other end of the trail.

Dublin is not in the least boring.

There's lots of nice things to do in Dublin. You're dead right. I've done most of them several times.

The one thing I don't get tired of is sitting back relaxing in the pub with my mates at the weekend. Even better if there's a match on. Keeps me happy during our miserable autumn, winter and spring. Boring bastard so I am.

The Diabolical Monocle · 11-03-2014 01:26AM

genericguy wrote: »

Can I come too?

Yes. We'll take the spruce moose. Get in.

I said ... get in.

spank_inferno · 11-03-2014 01:49AM

astonaidan wrote: »

Thing I found about Dublin is that everything is frickin miles apart and not on a Dart/Luas/Bus line, feel like theres always 15/40 min walk to everything

It is a pretty spread out city alright.

Makes getting to things tougher.

I lol'd at the suggestion of taking a tram to tallaght & walking to the Wicklow mountains.

The_Captain · 11-03-2014 02:11PM

"I hate Dublin, there's nothing to do but drink"

"Here's a list of things you can do in Dublin"

"But I dont want to do any of those things. I just want to sit in a pub and drink"

I think the problem with Dublin/Ireland in general is that while there's tonnes of stuff to do, getting your mates to go with you is a lot harder.
Compare Dublin to somewhere like London or New York and we'll come off worse, because places like that are cultural capitals of the world with massive wealth and populations to sustain big entertainment businesses.

Compare Dublin to somewhere like Denver or Birmingham for relatively similar population/wealth and we come out streets ahead

pundy · 11-03-2014 02:27PM

Holsten wrote: »

Public tennis courts, squash courts, basketball courts, astroturf pitches, driving ranges, skate parks, outdoor gyms, rockclimbing walls, rental boats, paintballing areas, vollyball courts, more outdoor cinemas, drive in cinemas, table tennis tables, outdoor chess sets, etc..

Stuff similar to these.

eh... everything you mentioned above is in dublin.

FTA69 · 11-03-2014 02:30PM

Funnily enough I live in London which is one of the biggest cities in Europe and probably the most vibrant. Guess what, every week I have to listen to people say how sh*t it is and how there's nothing to do and how bored they are etc etc. You can get stuck in a rut wherever you are, whether that be Dublin, New York, London or wherever else.

Dublin offers more than most places in the world in terms of culture, variety, music and outlets. If people put themselves out there, took up a new hobby or sport and made the effort to suss out new activities then maybe they'd be a bit happier. Life doesn't have to be a cycle of working and getting p*ssed in the same venues.

I'm sure Dublin offers plenty for people who could be bothered finding it.

Podge_irl · 11-03-2014 02:59PM

onemorechance wrote: »

Is the Phoenix Park utilised as much as it could be?

It's about the same size as Central Park in New York; it should be a central part of life in Dublin, for locals and tourists.

Actually it's about twice the size of Central Park. Which is part of the problem as there is no public transport through the park.

Santa Cruz · 11-03-2014 03:33PM

Red Pepper wrote: »

I always advise tourists to avoid Dublin like the plague (it can be a huge disappointment unless you're an alcoholic) - if possible land at Shannon/Cork/Knock and drive down/up the west coast. The only counties worth seeing are Cork/Kerry/Clare/Galway/Mayo/Sligo/Donegal.

Have you ever travelled around this country? The Glens of Antrim, The Antrim coast, south via the Mourne Coast and on through the Cooleys in Co. Louth.

I'd say that the tourists regard you as the village idiot.

Ray Palmer · 11-03-2014 04:37PM

From my experience most people who complain about Dublin never do anything in the city.

Regularly I go to the many museums in Dublin and the theatre. There are comedy, music, poetry etc... that people just don't go to. Then you have all the outdoor sports and activities people don't take part in such as sailing, windsurfing, kite surfing, mountain walks, country walks etc.... You can join a team sport football, basketball, cricket, rugby, touch rugby etc...

The reality is many people won't do any of these and would prefer to be in the pub or just go shopping. Like most things it is what you make of it.

Birroc · 11-03-2014 05:02PM

I lived in Dublin for many years and have many fond memories even if most of them involve a pub. I think it is very much a young person's city.

However I have to say that the center of Dublin let's it down bigtime. O'Connell Street (and surrounds) is just an awful place and just sucks the enthusiasm out of me whenever I visit. It is full of scumbags and drug dealers and car/bus fumes. The buildings are dreary, I could go on etc...

As a first impression, O'Connell Street would ruin the city for many I am sure.
When are they going to clean it up?

dd972 · 11-03-2014 05:13PM

Birroc wrote: »

However I have to say that the center of Dublin let's it down bigtime. O'Connell Street (and surrounds) is just an awful place and just sucks the enthusiasm out of me whenever I visit. It is full of scumbags and drug dealers and car/bus fumes. The buildings are dreary, I could go on etc...

As a first impression, O'Connell Street would ruin the city for many I am sure.
When are they going to clean it up?

Good post, People who left in the 80's are still wondering that when they come back, my guess is ...erm ..never?

I have an inverted relationship with London, City Centre is great but the outskirts suck big time whereas with Dublin I love the Clontarf's, Howth's and Sandymount's but would happily give the middle the Hiroshima treatment.

Ray Palmer · 11-03-2014 05:14PM

Birroc wrote: »

I lived in Dublin for many years and have many fond memories even if most of them involve a pub. I think it is very much a young person's city.

However I have to say that the center of Dublin let's it down bigtime. O'Connell Street (and surrounds) is just an awful place and just sucks the enthusiasm out of me whenever I visit. It is full of scumbags and drug dealers and car/bus fumes. The buildings are dreary, I could go on etc...

As a first impression, O'Connell Street would ruin the city for many I am sure.
When are they going to clean it up?

To most visitors they don't see that. It is a massive wide Georgian street and very interesting to those unfamiliar with it. They also don't recognise the drug dealers as they don't look like dealers where they are from.

Compared to many other cities O'Connell Street is something to envy.

Walking around Madrid main streets I found the abundance of prostitutes very off putting. The disabled beggars weren't a good sign either. Dublin rates very highly to tourists.

Electric Sheep · 11-03-2014 05:37PM

Ray Palmer wrote: »

To most visitors they don't see that. It is a massive wide Georgian street and very interesting to those unfamiliar with it. They also don't recognise the drug dealers as they don't look like dealers where they are from.

Compared to many other cities O'Connell Street is something to envy.

Walking around Madrid main streets I found the abundance of prostitutes very off putting. The disabled beggars weren't a good sign either. Dublin rates very highly to tourists.

How were you able to recognize them? Were you not blinded in the same way tourists in Ireland are suddenly unable to recognize a drug dealer or junkie?

Ray Palmer · 11-03-2014 05:49PM

Electric Sheep wrote: »

How were you able to recognize them? Were you not blinded in the same way tourists in Ireland are suddenly unable to recognize a drug dealer or junkie?

No it was pretty easy to tell. Generally the way they were talking to the men and what they were wearing. The hookers are about during the day there and at night you can tell where you are by the type of hooker about. Men one place, young men another, older woman over there, foreign woman on that street etc... Plus they were offering to have sex with me for money

Believe it or not what you see as a scumbag junkie or dealer is not how they look everywhere else. I have seen tourists ask junkies for directions tons of times obviously not aware. You see a track suit might make people think they are into sport.

A good friend of mine didn't recognise junkies when he came over. They just don't look the same as in the US. Believe me or don't

Alun · 11-03-2014 05:58PM

spank_inferno wrote: »

I lol'd at the suggestion of taking a tram to tallaght & walking to the Wicklow mountains.

Well, it's not strictly the Wicklow Mts., but the Dublin Mountains Way does actually start or finish (depending on which way you're doing it) in Tallaght, in the Sean Walsh Park, only a stone's throw away from where the Luas Red Line finishes, so not quite as lol-worthy as you might think.

Boldberry · 11-03-2014 06:00PM

Holsten wrote: »

Do attractions have to cost so much? I don't think so.

My point was that the Phoenix park is terribly under used, it's just open fields for the most part.

I'm sure I could find you an example of a park in an area with a lower population than Dublin which has much more to offer.

Off you go then.

11-03-2014 06:04PM

For Forks Sake wrote: »

Monorail!

I hear those things are awfully loud.

Jonny Blaze · 11-03-2014 06:21PM

The Diabolical Monocle wrote: »

Paintball karting.

Its a mix between paintball and go karting.
Then when you're finished theres a huge climbing wall to a titty bar at the top.
Exit on the other side by abseil or bungee.

I would have gone with 'kartballing'...

Cienciano · 11-03-2014 06:23PM

Holsten wrote: »

Public tennis courts, squash courts, basketball courts, astroturf pitches, driving ranges, skate parks, outdoor gyms, rockclimbing walls, rental boats, paintballing areas, vollyball courts, more outdoor cinemas, drive in cinemas, table tennis tables, outdoor chess sets, etc..

Stuff similar to these.

LOL, all available in dublin. And to reply like you did to beks101:

sport, sport, sport, sport, sport, sport, gym, sport, boats, paintballing, sports, cinema, cinema, sports and chess.
Wow, riveting :pac:
And when you say "outdoor chess", you know you're really scraping the bottom of the barrel. My dream is to play outdoor chess in Dublin, but it just can't be done. There's absolutly no way that can be done :pac:

Birroc · 11-03-2014 06:37PM

Ray Palmer wrote: »

To most visitors they don't see that. It is a massive wide Georgian street and very interesting to those unfamiliar with it. They also don't recognise the drug dealers as they don't look like dealers where they are from.

Compared to many other cities O'Connell Street is something to envy.

Walking around Madrid main streets I found the abundance of prostitutes very off putting. The disabled beggars weren't a good sign either. Dublin rates very highly to tourists.

You would want to have you eyes closed not to see it. It is rampant! Last time I was there I saw multiple deals happening in 2 doorways and once with 2 Gardai walking right by (looking at the clouds...)

I would imagine even Dubs avoid O'Connell St.

OldMrBrennan83 · 11-03-2014 06:42PM

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spank_inferno · 11-03-2014 06:58PM

Patww79 wrote: »

I'm 4 months living in it now and I must say, I'm hating it and realising why I left it in the first place.
Now I wouldn't call it a kip or anything, as I think it's just me it doesn't suit and that most people do like it. I just find it too busy on foot, rude people (compared to outside the city), and just a real loss of ordinary folk around.

What are "ordinary folk"?

Are Dublin natives by implication extraordinarily?

OldMrBrennan83 · 11-03-2014 07:13PM

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Legs.Eleven · 11-03-2014 07:21PM

Electric Sheep wrote: »

How were you able to recognize them? Were you not blinded in the same way tourists in Ireland are suddenly unable to recognize a drug dealer or junkie?

They're on one fairly long street slap bang in the very centre and they're extremely easy to spot. I hate walking down that street.

Birroc · 11-03-2014 07:38PM

Patww79 wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

It's a particularly dreary city in Winter but you are coming into Spring/Summer now so it should improve. I was like you when I moved there first and even though I had a few good fun years, I was glad to move back west. I just couldn't raise a family there. Imagine coming home to listen to that accent and an Arnotts jersey!! :eek:

Dublin is Not Boring - Not at All.

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