Sabbatical in Ireland - Dublin or countryside?
 

My family and I are traveling to Ireland for my sabbatical trip from Feb - April 2013. We have three kids (ages 5, 9, 12) who will be going with us and attending school there. I may be traveling between Dublin and Limerick but will mainly be stationed in Dublin. We plan on buying a car while there so transportation won't be an issue.

Our goals are for our entire family to experience Irish culture and "live" there as a native (not a tourist). With three kids, is it better for us to experience Ireland making Dublin our home or an outlying smaller town? On the one hand, a "city" experience in Dublin would be neat for all of us. On the other hand, there might be nothing like a small Irish village...

Suggestions?

You might want to consider somewhere like Nass or Kildare being outside Dublin but with good links into the City and by the M7 Dublin - Limerick motorway. I admit to being a Culchie (derogatory term for those outside Dublin) but would think that being outside of the city would be culturally different, As they say there is Dublin and then the rest of Ireland.

It depends on what type of experience you are looking for.

Ireland is a small country and Dublin, while a city, is not a very big one. I would not reco staying in the city center with 3 kids, but think the nearby suburbs would work - giving you much more access to culture and activities while also living in a house with a yard.

I know nothing about elementary/middle education in Ireland and one of the first things I would look for is the availability and cost of good schools - preferably ones that can keep your kids on track with their own schools (unless you are going to home school).

Small town Ireland can be pleasant to visit but living there is another matter.It takes years to adapt, not months. The mindset is very different from the cities. You may be a novelty at first, but don't expect to fit in. People are still very cautious of "blow-ins". You need to make a special effort to blend in; speak softly, don't dress loudly, don't demand, expect to wait, and forget ever getting annoyed to get what you want. Add that days are very short in winter and picture yourself there on rainy days, and it can quickly look very bleak and depressing. Limerick has the advantage over Dublin that it is easier to get around and places you at gateway to the West, where you can experince local culture to your hearts content on day trips. Galway is an even better place to do this; beautiful town, near the ocean and mountains, and people very pleasant. Dublin is a great city, but will take some time to know, and get around. While day trips can be made to other parts of Ireland it is further removed. Of the three, I would recommend Galway as a city with local cultural flair, and small (medieval layout) enough to feel at home quickly. With recent improvements to the road system, if driving Dub/Lim, they can be reached 1.5hrs/3hrs respectively. Oranmore might be an additional option, moving you closer to Dub and Lim but on outskirts of Galway with enough local/city savvy that you wouldnt be ostricized.

...if Dublin is your base, stay south of the city. Depending on your budget there are several great suburbs. Chose one near a train station. Driving in to the city is for the mentally insane. Find Dalkey on a map, or utube a video, and look at the towns/burbs going north into the city. Dalkey is like no other suburb you will find. If you can afford it, I would look no further. Close to Dublin, with beautiful narrow streets, local feel ,and freindly open minded people. Near the coast and home to musicians such as Enya, and members of U2. Good luck!

"<i>Add that days are very short in winter . . .</i>"

Here we go again. (folks post this sort of thing all the time) You are going Feb-April. The days will not be short. Days are short in the dead of winter - Dec. But they get longer quickly. By March there is 12 hours of daylight whether you are in Dublin or Los Angeles. And by April - there are more hours of daylight in Ireland than in most parts of the USA. That is <i>not</i> to say daylight hours will be filled w/ sunshine :)

If it was me and only staying for 3 months, I'd probably stay in Dublin and <u>not</u> have a car. Your commute to Limerick will be faster/easier by train. Plus buying and then having to sell a car will be a hassle. I'd just rent cars when taking a family weekend trip/excursion.

Hi
We went last year and saw most of Ireland thanks to my wife's ambitious planning. I would concentrate on southern and western Ireland. Dublin is just another big city. We rented a car and drove and the highlight of the trip were the Irish people.

Reading the answer from Joe_Malone1 it is clear the concept that Dubs think we a bunch of Rednecks outside the M50 ring, Where did Galway come from? I live out here (so must be a nice redneck) and it is not ideal for Dublin with some Limerick requirements, the other way around perhaps but a 2 1/2 commute along the M6 for a family man is daft.

Thank you to everyone for the replies! I appreciate all the varying advice. In our current plans we are shooting for DunLaoghaire/Dalkey area - our kids have been accepted to schools, it's close to the train w/ "easy" access to Dublin, seaside, and seems to have a lot to offer.

That's fine and on easy routes for Dublin and Limerick.