I have a job interview in Dublin next week (at Dublin City University), so I was wandering if any current or former Dublin-based dopers had any useful info to share, such as
[ul] • cost of living
• quality of life
• good areas/areas to avoid
• schools (I have 12 year old)
• is there anything I can do to get a feel for the place in the brief time I’m there (just a couple of days) ?
[/ul]
Haven’t lived in Dublin for about 6 years, and much has changed in that time. It used to be dirt-cheap to live there,now aparantly housing costs a lot.
The area around DCU is fairly nice, it is close to a couple of different areas ranging in spectrum from very nice to very un-nice, but the general area it is in is middle-class. Five minutes in any direction will bring you to basically any sort of area you want from highly desirable to highly undesirable.
On the schools issue, I would strongly suggest steering clear of both public schools and religious schools. That doesn’t leave you with enormous options, but as I say, it is strongly advised.
That’s all I have for you right now 
I’ve lived in Dublin for 7 years as an English ex-pat, and will give you my opinions. Others may differ:[ul][]Cost of living: fairly high - inflation’s rampant. General staples such as supermarket shopping are about 50% higher than the UK. Rents comparable with North London. The two things that are noticeably cheaper than the UK are cigarettes and petrol, but you lose that on the ridiculous level of car insurance.[]Quality of life: this is a mixed bag. Social life is fantastic. There’s a very good work ethic, which mixes achievement and socialising very well, and there’s a relaxed attitude to life. People are generally friendlier than at home. That’s why I’m still here… Dublin itself a total mess with regard to infrastructure, cleanliness, etc. The Corporation can’t seem to do even simple things right. The healthcare system is fucked up too, with anyone but the very poor having to pay through the nose (though if you’re in the university you’ll probably get it free-ish), although health standards are generally high.[]Good/bad ares: there are too many to list in brief. The cliché is that the Southside is nicer than the Northside, but there are good and bad areas in each. Dublin Dopers could possibly compile a list for you. I’ve just recently moved to a ‘bad’ area and haven’t had any trouble, save a stolen bicycle. Petty crime such as car theft and burglary is high, but I think the city is relatively safe re. violent crime.[]Schooling: haven’t a clue, sorry, don’t have sprogs.Feeling from a couple of days: I think you can, though I have to say I hated the place at first; it reminded me of a small, run-down provincial British city. But it grew on me over the months; depends on the weather when you visit, too.[/ul]More later.
I’ve not lived in Dublin, but my husband has for his whole life. We’re also hoping to move back sooner than later. If you’re only there on a temporary post, you won’t have to worry about the obscene house prices. My in-laws live in Dublin but not in Dublin City (Templeogue) and their house is now valued at approximately 400,000Euros. They bought it for 28,000Euros, 20 years ago.
Rents can be obscene, too. If you move further out, it’s not so bad. If you’re going there as a visiting lecturer, the university should offer you some support.
In general, I find Dublin to be more expensive as most of the US. It’s probably in the same range as Manhattan or the expensive parts LA in terms of grocery prices, etc.
If you are planning on living in Dublin, you can probably skip getting a car. The insurance prices are about three times what we pay in Paris.
As far as schools go, there are two international schools in Dublin that go from K to grade 12. Depending on how long you plan to stay, that might be a better option for you.
Sir Doris,
I live near enough to DCU and the following area’s are within a 15 minute Bike ride:
Artane
Glasnevin
Finglas
Whitehall
Beaumont
Marino
Drumcondra
Coolock
there are plenty of good schools in all these areas. If you need any more info or help please feel free to mail me.
Well, I don’t live there, and never have. In fact, I’ve only been there once, although I’m going back for a long weekend later in the year.
So, my experience is limited, and I can only sum Dublin up like this: Best. Pubs. In. Europe. 
Thanks to everyone for their responses. I checked out a couple of accomodation rental websites and it is indeed extremely expensive, which is something for me to think about.
Since it would be positively rude of me not to visist a pub while I’m there, would anyone care to make a recommendation? I could test my hypothesis that Guiness is a perfectly acceptable drink in the right setting.
In the city centre you’ve got a choice of very modern mega-pubs, old-geezer traditional pubs, trendy designer pubs, fake ‘oirish’ bicycle-on-the-wall pubs, and some silly theme pubs too. I’m into the old geezer pubs myself, the best of which IMO is Ryan’s of Parkgate Street, which fulfills for me all that is great about Dublin pubs - great antique woodwork, wonderful staff, good beer, relaxed attitude, and to boot, it also does really nice food (most Irish pubs don’t make the effort). The Gravediggers in Glasnevin is also great for very very old world ambience. IMO the best Guinness to be had is in Mulligan’s of Poolbeg St.
Sir Doris,
As a scientifically minded bunch, we would be ignoring our mission statement of Fighting Ignorance if we DIDN’T test your hypothisis.
Please schedule a time and we will select the pub… er… lab.
As a researcher who favours empirical methods, I think it only right to that I employ primary research methods, rather than relying on secondary data, so that sounds a good idea
I arrive this Sunday late afternoon/ early evening. So 8.00pm-ish? I’m booked into the Skylon (?) which I assume to be near DCU, and is hopefully handy for the city centre?
As a researcher who favours empirical methods, I think it only right to that I employ primary research methods, rather than relying on secondary data, so that sounds a good idea
I arrive this Sunday late afternoon/ early evening. So 8.00pm-ish? I’m booked into the Skylon (?) which I assume to be near DCU, and is hopefully handy for the city centre?
it is indeed close to both.
I shall mail you my cell phone number. I will be in Galway that afternoon, but hope to be back in the city for about 8pm or so. We can plan from there.
Something else that you should consider Sir Doris is that the weather in Dublin will be less clement than “sunny Bournemouth”. Dublin is much further north and is colder and wetter than you’re used to.
get the number 16 outside the skylon it will dump you nicely in town. hee hee, Skylon is like 5 mins from my house. Oh, wait, sorry my mams house of course (doh, gotta get used to the fact that I havent lived there in nearly 10 years).
If he want’s “old worldy” feel, take him to the small bar at the Brazen Head and let him have ‘just the one’. Was in a place on D’Olier street last I was home, but can’t remember the name which means I obviously had a good time and the drink was grand.
BTW, the best sources for accommodation finding are www.daft.ie (stupid name, I know, but it’s really a good site) and the Evening Herald.
Thanks everyone.
I shall take an umbrella and something warm, just in case.
Look forward to hearing from you, Twisty. I will let myself detox for 48 hours in preparation for the experiment.
Crap I’ll still be in Galway Sunday night. have a good time and I’ll probably hook up with you at some stage if you do make the move
Oh and good luck with the interview.
Shame. I’m around until Tuesday evening, so maybe some other time?
yeay! dublin!
rents for a basic 2 bed flat are about $140 per week in a studenty type of area.
stay away from ballymun.
(i’m at Trinity so i’m not so sure about DCU in itself, but it has a very good reputation)
you can get the bus to DCU from O’Connell street, i think it’s the stop near the GPO, should cost 1.05 each way.
the social life is fantastic.
avoid Parnell Square and areas with a lot of corpo housing. Dolphin’s barn isn’t so good.
try to live near to a DART stop or on a bus route.
the best areas are Blackrock, Drumcondra, Donnybrook, Ballsbridge and Malahide.
if you can’t afford a house there you could consider sending your kids to school there.
in general the schooling standard is MUCH superior to a Uk state school, and for many of the better private schools like Belvedere, Dominican College, Gonzaga, Christs Hospital, Alexandra College you’ll find it cheaper and better than a Uk private school.
lots of my classmates went to irish state schools, and no-one thinks they were short-changed as regards to education.
if you don’t mind the religion, go for a school with that ethos, they usually have better exam results. they’re more easy going on the theology than you might imagine.
i think you kids would thank you for NOT sending them to an international school, you want them to fit in, and not to be foreigners abroad, right?
they could probably get out of learning irish, but they might enjoy it.
get a good health insurance policy and you’ll be fine as regards to that.
bring jumpers. it’s cold.
i too like ryan’s, but it’s not so handy for college, so i tend to drink in our pavillion bar or in one of the bars off grafton (M J O’Neill’s and the Thing Mote are nice for drinks, and Reynauds is good for cocktails) if i’m feeling classy.
it’s a great place to live, i can feed myself, buy books and go out on a budget of 70 euros a week so i don’t think it’s that bad if you economise.