Moving Out Of Dublin

Panic Stations · 23-09-2020 5:57pm #1

I was in Donegal last week and was with friends up there and couldn't get over the price they were paying for rent on a house that's bigger and nicer than ours here in Dublin.

Literally paying 40% off what we're paying.

I started looking into house prices around the area and it's crazy what you can get for the money in comparison to Dublin. I know this isn't anything new but really opened my eyes a little.

It's really made me think about relocating elsewhere in Ireland and get a house with smaller mortgage repayments.

Has anyone else done the same and if so how do you feel about your decision in terms of finances and quality of life?

brisan · 23-09-2020 6:00pm

Panic Stations wrote: »

I was in Donegal last week and was with friends up there and couldn't get over the price they were paying for rent on a house that's bigger and nicer than ours here in Dublin.

Literally paying 40% off what we're paying.

I started looking into house prices around the area and it's crazy what you can get for the money in comparison to Dublin. I know this isn't anything new but really opened my eyes a little.

It's really made me think about relocating elsewhere in Ireland and get a house with smaller mortgage repayments.

Has anyone else done the same and if so how do you feel about your decision in terms of finances and quality of life?

Will you get work in Donegal
If you are WFH will that continue till you retire ?
If WFH will you have to go to the office once or twice a week
If it works for you go for it

circular flexing · 23-09-2020 6:17pm

brisan wrote: »

Will you get work in Donegal
If you are WFH will that continue till you retire ?
If WFH will you have to go to the office once or twice a week
If it works for you go for it

100% this. The other thing to think about is while WFH might be allowed in your current job, if you decide to change jobs you might be more limited. Not all companies are going to 100% WFH forever.

brisan · 23-09-2020 6:21pm

Panic Stations wrote: »

I was in Donegal last week and was with friends up there and couldn't get over the price they were paying for rent on a house that's bigger and nicer than ours here in Dublin.

Literally paying 40% off what we're paying.

I started looking into house prices around the area and it's crazy what you can get for the money in comparison to Dublin. I know this isn't anything new but really opened my eyes a little.

It's really made me think about relocating elsewhere in Ireland and get a house with smaller mortgage repayments.

Has anyone else done the same and if so how do you feel about your decision in terms of finances and quality of life?

One other point
There are reasons why property in Donegal is cheaper than Dublin
You get nothing for nothing ?
Jobs , Hospitals , entertainment, museums , galleries , transport etc are all much easier to access in Dublin

bobbyy gee · 23-09-2020 6:22pm

it depends were you work
also if they shut the border due to brexit
it will be harder to travel less work and houses will get cheaper

awec · 23-09-2020 6:37pm

If you grew up rurally, and know what life is going to be like then it could work for you, depending on your work situation.

If you grew up in Dublin or any large town really it will be a big shock to the system IMO, and usually these things are a one way ticket as making the move in the opposite direction is much harder.

DesperateDan · 23-09-2020 7:13pm

Apart from work, I would just look at your social life. If you got out often, heading to different pubs / restaurants across the city every week or even a couple of times a month that is almost wiped out moving to somewhere like Donegal.

Sure you can go out to the 15 local pubs around you or the 5 local decent restaurants, but that will get tiring very quickly if you are used to having a constant stream of new places around you.

In my neck of the woods (Westmeath/Longford) there's only about 3 restaurants I would actually sit down and pay decent money to eat in, and they've all been there for 15 years with the same menu! I also find it difficult because I have to drive everywhere and would be too far for taxis, so drinking with partners is practically out of the question

inthenip · 23-09-2020 7:18pm

brisan wrote: »

One other point
There are reasons why property in Donegal is cheaper than Dublin
You get nothing for nothing ?
Jobs , Hospitals , entertainment, museums , galleries , transport etc are all much easier to access in Dublin

Jobs, That's it really. Dublin is an unmerciful kip. You think Dublin is the only place with hospitals, museums, entertainment and galleries and transport?

Panic Stations · 23-09-2020 8:26pm

I work for myself and pretty much can work anywhere as long as I have Wifi and a laptop.

I currently live in South Dublin and would say I've been in Dublin City Centre maybe 3 times in the past 12 months (Obviously Covid had an influence on this)

Even the area I'm in at the moment I wouldn't eat out in or go down to the local pub mainly because it's not great for that sort of thing.

The appeal behind Letterkenny is the fact that it still has that nice local "towny" feel about it and it also has all the good shops, restaurants and pubs in.

Littlehorny · 23-09-2020 8:42pm

If you are sure that you can guarantee staying self employed till retirement age then that's good because I work with a few people from Donegal and they travel to Meath and house share down here for a few nights a week because every job up there is minimum wage.
Also they will tell you when the weather is good it's a beautiful spot but when the weather is bad....it's very bad!
So you will have to face way worse weather at times and a lot more of it.

DesperateDan · 23-09-2020 8:45pm

Panic Stations wrote:

I currently live in South Dublin and would say I've been in Dublin City Centre maybe 3 times in the past 12 months (Obviously Covid had an influence on this)

For me you would be mad to continue living in Dublin in that case, unless you have some other reason to stick around like a tonne of friends or very close family. You can buy an amazing property in somewhere like Donegal and pay a tiny mortgage while city dwellers continue to pay over 2k a month for a small (but nice) box.

Glenomra · 23-09-2020 8:52pm

Limerick City-South east Clare area. great place to live.

DubCount · 23-09-2020 9:00pm

It basically comes down to a lifestyle choice. You get cheaper housing, shorter commutes and maybe more community spirit. You also get less choice of shops, theatres, restaurants etc.. Rural Ireland would not be my choice. I've always been wary of the level of acceptance you get from being "a blow in", and the restriction on what new job opportunities might arise etc. That said, some people would not have it any other way. Certainly, I would rent before buying in a town to get a real feel of what living there on a wet January morning was like.

irishguy · 23-09-2020 9:12pm

We were thinking a similar thing recently, but moving to Galway and working remotely. Has more going on than Donegal, but is also a good bit more expensive. Work would be the main reason to stay, since we had kids living in the city has lost its appeal and we make little use of it. Value space more these days and a few good pubs/restaurants, for the very few times we get out.

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater · 23-09-2020 10:47pm

Donegal getting a bit of flack in here from people who probably have never been there. Beautiful county, nice people, plenty going on. If employment isn't going to be an issue going forward, you'd be hard pressed to find a nicer (or cheaper) part of Ireland.

OP mentioned Letterkenny, in which case things like socialising, broadband access, housing, schools etc are all just as accessible as they are in Dublin, with a smaller pick of course.

The only big downside is that it is obviously very remote from the rest of the country and if you want to get anywhere, you pretty much have to have access to a car. If this isn't an issue for you, go for it!

franglan · 23-09-2020 10:55pm

DubCount wrote: »

It basically comes down to a lifestyle choice. You get cheaper housing, shorter commutes and maybe more community spirit. You also get less choice of shops, theatres, restaurants etc.. Rural Ireland would not be my choice. I've always been wary of the level of acceptance you get from being "a blow in", and the restriction on what new job opportunities might arise etc. That said, some people would not have it any other way. Certainly, I would rent before buying in a town to get a real feel of what living there on a wet January morning was like.

I honestly don't think being a "blow-in" would be a problem in most Irish rural towns. Once you are sound in Clonakilty, you are sound in Clones and will soon fit in.

circadian · 23-09-2020 10:56pm

I'd love to move to donegal myself. I'm from Derry originally but have always had a soft spot for Donegal. Getting a suitable job there hinders me doing it but I'd certainly be interested.

As others have said, it'll be a bit of a culture shock if you're used to large cities, Letterkenny has pretty much everything you need and Derry is just down the road.

The weather can be absolutely brutal in that part of the country but if you enjoy storm watching you'll see plenty there. When the weather is good it's spectacular, an endless supply of amazing beaches and coastline to enjoy.

tastyt · 23-09-2020 10:58pm

Letterkenny is a big town , like naas, newbridge, Athlone, Clonmel, mullingar, portlaoise.

These places are not the wilderness, plenty of amenities as regards sport and entertainment, loadsa places to eat and drink, and property prices less than half of decent Dublin areas ( apart from Naas possibly )

Add to this most are a short drive to nice countryside, mountains, lakes etc.

Obviously they are not perfect and have there own social issues but nothing compared with Dublin. If you can work from anywhere and you don’t have huge family or social circle ties you’d be mad not to give it a try

awec · 23-09-2020 11:11pm

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater wrote: »

Donegal getting a bit of flack in here from people who probably have never been there. Beautiful county, nice people, plenty going on. If employment isn't going to be an issue going forward, you'd be hard pressed to find a nicer (or cheaper) part of Ireland.

OP mentioned Letterkenny, in which case things like socialising, broadband access, housing, schools etc are all just as accessible as they are in Dublin, with a smaller pick of course.

The only big downside is that it is obviously very remote from the rest of the country and if you want to get anywhere, you pretty much have to have access to a car. If this isn't an issue for you, go for it!

Can we please get some perspective here? While I am sure Letterkenny has schools and some form of broadband, and it has houses, let's not pretend that a medium sized town has these things as accessible as the capital city.

Smouse156 · 23-09-2020 11:12pm

You have little to lose by renting there for a while to check it out. Many people in Dublin are there for work and don’t actually want to live there.

Me & family looking at relocating up there next year and non of us want to go. Hoping WFH will be permanent to avoid the place. It’s just such an unbelievable rip off

inthenip · 23-09-2020 11:17pm

awec wrote: »

Can we please get some perspective here? While I am sure Letterkenny has schools and some form of broadband, and it has houses, let's not pretend that a medium sized town has these things as accessible as the capital city.

The only thing Dublin has going for it is jobs are plentiful. That's about it.

Its an overpriced Kip.

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater · 24-09-2020 3:33am

awec wrote: »

Can we please get some perspective here? While I am sure Letterkenny has schools and some form of broadband, and it has houses, let's not pretend that a medium sized town has these things as accessible as the capital city.

I've mentioned 4 fairly basic necessities that any medium sized urban area can offer. Don't presume that they are less accessible or of inferior quality because they are not situated in the capital city.

NSAman · 24-09-2020 4:01am

awec wrote: »

Can we please get some perspective here? While I am sure Letterkenny has schools and some form of broadband, and it has houses, let's not pretend that a medium sized town has these things as accessible as the capital city.

Errr why?

I moved out of a major city to live in the middle of no where. Would never change it. How many times a year do you go to museums? How many nights a week do you eat out?

I have a home in the west of Ireland too as well as a place in Dublin. Where do I prefer to call my principal residence? The west.. more choice of places to eat properly, better quality of life, people have time for each other. Although I live 5000 miles away, when I get back home, the neighbours know and it circulates in town immediately ... the smoke in the chimney is a give away.

Security and community and people who actually give a damn about their neighbours is paramount for me. It’s the same where I live here...everyone knows everyone. When someone needs assistance there is always someone there.

Do I know who lives next door to me in Dublin...errr.. nope... did I know who lived beside me in the city here? Errrr. Nope!

inthenip · 24-09-2020 9:13am

Good thing about rural towns and villages is that if there is 100 people in the pub, you will know all of them by name.

You don't get that in Dublin.

Mr Hindley · 24-09-2020 9:21am

inthenip wrote: »

Good thing about rural towns and villages is that if there is 100 people in the pub, you will know all of them by name.

Just to demonstrate how it really is different strokes for different folks - I know that sounds really appealing to most people, but it would do my head in

The anonymity of living in a big city certainly has its down sides, but for some of us, it has its own appeal also!

LoonyLovegood · 24-09-2020 9:22am

I'm moving from Dublin to the midlands, and I can't wait for lockdown to be over to do it. My quality of life will be better, and there's good transport links if I change jobs and need to be back in Dublin for work. It's a no brainer, I never could have afforded to buy in Dublin, but I can have my own house there.

Panic Stations · 24-09-2020 9:30am

My other half is from Donegal and we have friends up there so social life isn't going to be an issue.

We both have access to cars and she's a nurse so can pretty much work anywhere where there's a hospital.

I'm just fed up paying ridiculous rent prices in Dublin especially in an area where I don't really go out in.

The only real things that's holding me here is family and friends (whom I'm seeing less and less of).

Letterkenny is fairly well developed to be fair to it. Nice little town center with retail parks around it so not shortage of shops and food/drink.

Wouldn't be arsed with museums. haha.

JohnnyChimpo · 24-09-2020 10:01am

NSAman wrote: »

Errr why?

Do I know who lives next door to me in Dublin...errr.. nope... did I know who lived beside me in the city here? Errrr. Nope!

I know all the 20-ish neighbouring families on my quiet cul-de-sac in Dublin city centre, at least in passing. The day after we moved in our next door neighbour's 11yo kid made us a map of the whole street where he wrote in everybody's name, it's still up on our fridge. The day of the move itself, there was a street party going on so we got a warm welcome.

The point is, your anecdotes don't really do much more than reinforce a conception of a rural-urban divide which I've found to be pretty illusory in my experience.

Also, this same topic will continue to be debated in circles eternally to no productive outcome - some people prefer city living, some people prefer country living, some people appreciate the benefits of both, and some very sheltered people cannot imagine a mode of living distinct from the one they currently inhabit. SUch is life, I don't think either rural or urban dwellers would be well-served by a unanimous opinion on this

JimmyVik · 24-09-2020 10:07am

Give me decent broadband and a reasonable sized town within 20 minutes drive and im happy as Larry ... as long as I never have to change job.Once you have to change job and must work from Donegal your pool of available jobs drops. Now you might get one now, but if there is a recession you will be unlikely to get a telecommuting job that pays well if at all.

El Tarangu · 24-09-2020 10:09am

Panic Stations wrote: »

My other half is from Donegal and we have friends up there so social life isn't going to be an issue.

We both have access to cars and she's a nurse so can pretty much work anywhere where there's a hospital.

I'm just fed up paying ridiculous rent prices in Dublin especially in an area where I don't really go out in.

The only real things that's holding me here is family and friends (whom I'm seeing less and less of).

Letterkenny is fairly well developed to be fair to it. Nice little town center with retail parks around it so not shortage of shops and food/drink.

Wouldn't be arsed with museums. haha.

Sounds like it could be a good move so, OP.

One thing to bear in mind that hasn't been mentioned: if you have kids, living in Dublin would mean that when they go to university, you would more than likely not get stuck with paying accommodation costs for them when they went to college, whereas if you lived in Donegal, you almost definitely would.

Ush1 · 24-09-2020 10:16am

NSAman wrote: »

Errr why?

I moved out of a major city to live in the middle of no where. Would never change it. How many times a year do you go to museums? How many nights a week do you eat out?

I have a home in the west of Ireland too as well as a place in Dublin. Where do I prefer to call my principal residence? The west.. more choice of places to eat properly, better quality of life, people have time for each other. Although I live 5000 miles away, when I get back home, the neighbours know and it circulates in town immediately ... the smoke in the chimney is a give away.

Security and community and people who actually give a damn about their neighbours is paramount for me. It’s the same where I live here...everyone knows everyone. When someone needs assistance there is always someone there.

Do I know who lives next door to me in Dublin...errr.. nope... did I know who lived beside me in the city here? Errrr. Nope!

Probably because you don't live there?

There is plenty of community in Dublin but it helps if it's your PPR.

Moving Out Of Dublin

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