On the subject of the wifi. You didn't mention its free on all the bus's and most area's in Dublin have free wifi hotspots so even when its not during peak hours it can be very slow. I think 98% of the country has wifi access now so you can get a signal almost anywhere now but speed mostly comes down to your internet provider. Iv superfast 5G in Dundalk where Biden just visited. Dublin is really expensive but once outside it does get amazing cheaper. Anyway I hope you enjoyed yourself and visit again. ❤🤍💙🥰💚🤍💛
Free WiFi on most bus’s and trains. Water is safe to drink from the tap. So there are little things you can save on. Do bring a raincoat ...then maybe you won’t need it ......called Murphy’s law. 😂😂😂
I loved Ireland it’s the most gorgeous place I’ve ever been on earth. I’m coming back again ! My husband only wants to visit Ireland for the rest of his life, it imprinted on our souls
I had to move to Ireland from California with my company during to 80s. I found the culture here so lovely and friendly, and so green. A little backward, but that was good, it reminded me of my childhood (it's changed dramatically since then). I was meant to stay for two years. Well, here I am 40 years later, still in this beautiful country. I loved this place so much, I couldn't imagine going back to the USA.
The Irish are super friendly and helpful. It’s a great country to visit. That “stuck” feeling is universal and even more significant for island dwellers, I think.
@@Ishltf4285 nah Americans under the Bible Belt are very nice patient and well mannered while more North you get more rude not as mannered as the south. The north is also very fast paced while south is kinda go with the flow.
y'all don't know squat I was in foster care 13 years lived just about everywhere in Delaware county pa probably been around more than your mother to bad more people don't have my mindset besides it being a little constitutionalized
..well if you make your way from Cahirsiveen in County Kerry into Kenmare and continue into west county Cork and on to the towns of Clonakilty and Bantry you will experience the best of the south west. Try to do it in good weather though, which is a challenge in itself even in summer! There are nice little beaches along the way. Kenmare is my favourite town. You might be shocked by the people’s accent as well, it’s quite unique.
@@cdunne1620It's not all bleak and lonely, and like the south west, the west has a variety of landscapes. And during the summer there are more flowers & rare plants growing there than at other times of the year. Everywhere can be bleak when it's raining and misty anyway!
As an Indian living in Cor Na Mara it just feels like a heaven.. putting a lovely Irish host on top it is just like a cherry on top.. Overall Irish people are super friendly and polite ❤❤
Well said with your fair and diverse observations. I am 84 years old, Dublin born and bred. For foreign visitors remember that Ireland has an ear based culture....music, songs, conversation and chat, jokes, memories etc whereas the UK and northern and central Europe have a more eye based culture with varied architecture, efficiency in travel etc but relatively much less fun than Irish culture. So be generous if you wish to observe deficiencies in Irish culture. David McCabe Dublin April 2023
I've never heard Irish culture explained like that David. Good on you, very insightful and interesting. I was at the Roscommon v. Dublin football game in Croker last weekend and there was a load of Dubs sitting near us. They were "real" Dubs and the crack and banter was mighty. If you meet a nice Dub (of which there are many) they are truly the Salt of the earth. I actually bumped into the Dubliners years ago in a Hotel in Lyons in France, they were so friendly and as you would expect mighty crack.
I was in Ireland for crazy St Patty's day. People were drunk, yet managers and the police were very polite and friendly. The Irish were also very proud of their Viking roots, they were wearing Viking hats.
German here who lived in Dublin for more than 8 years. The irish people are genuinely the nicest. So outgoing, friendly and generous it almost came as a bit of a shock. Especially as a german where people are nothing like that. Food scene in Dublin was a very pleasant surprise for me, too. Didn´t expect much tbh. Dublin is in my eyes not overly pretty as cities go but it is very charming in it´s own way and there´s beautiful nature and landscapes all around. You don´t even have to go far. Just taking the DART either to Howth or down south towards Bray will already give you a lot of beautiful impressions. There´s a pretty vibrant cultural scene , too. Museums, theatre, art, lot´s of activities, guided tours etc. Downsides I noticed: While the city does generally feel pretty safe you do have to be aware of your surroundings. There are some pretty dodgy areas really close to common ones. Sometimes it really changes from one street to the next. Normally even in dodgy areas people will leave you alone if you mind your own business but I have seen some pretty crazy stuff happening, even during the day. Traffic is really bad during the rushhours. Public transport and road infrasturcture are struggling to cope. My morning commute was about 10km from the south towards the city centre. Took me 45-60 minutes on the bus every morning for those 10k, mostly stuck in traffic. Pricing: Back in 2019 when I left Dublin I honestly didn´t find day to day living expenses to bad. Public transport I found rather cheap compared to Germany, groceries a bit expensive but not too bad. Restaurants quite affordable (especially with early bird deals and thelike) Alcohol quite expensive but not too bad if you go to your local pub instead of the city centre. What was insane back then though was housing prices/rent especially for the "quality" you normally get. In fact that was the main factor for me for eventually leaving the country and heading back to Germany. I had a good time over there and looking back at it I do miss Ireland and especially it´s lovely people. Hope to be back some time.
Plants are green because of the amount of rain they get, no rain, plants die. I was kinda of shocked the times I've been to the Mediterranean, it looks like a barren desert. Ugh give me the green green grass of Wales any day. (even if it's a pain in the butt to have to mow the lawn every 5 minutes. :)
@@RobG001haha yes. I remember a south french guy came in brittany . He said to me " what the fuck i have cut the weeds in spring and its again there ". Yes u need to cut that 3 times why people plant grass .
@@dudester788 ..did you know that the people around Syria call their grandmothers Nana, in Ireland (south) they call their grandmothers the same. There is some interesting history in the origin of the Irish being from the Middle East
I visited Ireland in the 80's, 90's, and 2013.....Mom is from Drumshanbo. I'm not trying to insult anyone when I say that I noticed that in 2013 there were many more obese Irish folks than my previous visits. (In 1988, my brother and I were amazed at how slim and attractive everyone was). The food options got "better" each time I visited. In 2013 I thought that the options were about as good as anywhere in the world. Processed food is creating health issues all over the western world and obesity in the US is at epidemic proportions ......."More options" are slowly killing us. BTW, I think that Ireland still is MUCH healthier than where I live in New Jersey, and the US in general. (Disney world makes me sad at the state of our health as a country) Ireland is great and I cant wait to bring my kids there....hopefully in a year or two.
But I think the traditional protein and carb diets in Ireland have something to do with obesity. I found there were plenty of fresh vegetables this visit which lead to a healthier diet for everyone.
I grew up visiting Ireland in the summers to see my grandparents home and see extended family. Flew to Dublin hopped in our rental cars drive straight to south Armagh for 3 weeks. The furthest we would go was Newry and that was the big city in Ireland for us. We stayed at the foot of slieve gullion it was honestly some of the fondest memories of my life so far. It is also quite a unique area of Ireland. The first summers in the late 90s and 2000s british patrols and helicopters all over. I never realized until I was older that that wasn’t common outside that little corner of Ireland. Now the area is peaceful and no more British spy towers and is seriously such an overlooked part of Ireland. An untouched gem
What a beautiful and nostalgic connection to Ireland @seanbrennan4356! It's amazing how places hold memories and become part of our fondest experiences. Thanks for sharing your unique perspective 🍀✨
Kristin I must say that I enjoyed your observations about Ireland. You pay good attention and described them well. I hope that all goes well for you now and in the future.
i advised a friend on visiting ireland from the US, it seems the majority of US tourists do dublin, cliffs of moher, giants causeway. now im not knocking those places their grand, but their is so much more. I told him to travel dont spend the entire time in dublin and just seeing those sights, get some different photos than everyone else you know, he agreed so i arranged a day of tours around my area in the sw of county cork, what was planned to be 1 day around the area turned into 3 and he changed his plans, as typical irish things happen the first night we got invited to a village meal where a different american man and his wife were visiting, they had lived here for a good while but had to return to the US, so as soon as he found out my friend was american and a ex serviceman we ended up with a meal and a sing song after a day of mountains, coastlines, castles, ruins and hill forts from 4500bc, the 2nd night we ended up in a lock in at the local pub till 3am, his last unplanned day with us was spent recovering and some very close local sites and a huge sunday roast with my family. its been about 6 years since his trip and he wants to come back here again, it was the best part of his trip and he says it was better than the other places he went by miles. i would advise anyone to travel to different places than the usual, if you want to see what ireland is like outside of the tourist traps, by all means do a bit of the tourist things but dont make that your sole visit, your missing out on so much more.
Sensible advice( and the same could apply to many country's around the world) and my family are from Cahirciveen,Kerry,so Dublin's o/k for a couple of days( and I've done it,drank a lot of Guinness without even visiting the factory!!)but u have to move on& experience different things& explore the other Counties&this way u really will get an feel of the country!..p.s And u have to apply some sensible discipline,& restraint because each time u step into a Irish 'Boozer' before u realize it you've sank a Bucket of Guinness&f##k goes the sightseeing!
@@TravelingwithKristin And from my experience,the more u visit Ireland,the more u are inclined to want to go back..The food has been good for many yrs(very fresh,straight off farms) but now there's a big Organic thing going on,which was quite easy for them to embrace,so Menu's have become far more expansive and varied!. So u just have to decide is it 'People or places'? If that's ur thing.. I go for people!
Coming from a "Yank", who owns a Flat in Dingle, I can confirm that buying food, both organic and not, at the grocery stores, cost Much less than in the US! I was disappointed to hear you say you spoke to 1 person about mental health issues and that was enough research to make it sound as though it's a real problem here? Come to the Dingle peninsula if you'd like to experiance "old Ireland"! National Geographic says that it's one of the most beautiful places on the planet! Mind yourself and All the Best!☘️
@@melloncolliemedb I think mental health is a significant problem throughout the western world (including US) In Ireland, I think we are more open about it now. I also think the pandemic has caused additional problems.
Mental Health has always been bad in Ireland... We just didn't see it because we shut people away or they took the boat abroad. It's the lack of vit. D is a major concern and the lack of good well trained councillors now that we don't institutionalise and medicate people up to the eyeballs
You are so very welcome to the Emerald Isle Kirsten and I hope you have a ball. A couple of things.. 1. I'm not sure who you met that said we all have mental health problems but honestly we are generally a happy, hard working, honest race of people. I'm sure we do have people with mental health issues as does any society but by and large, we're fairly sane. 2. Yes, Dublin is at least 30% more expensive than the rest of the ROI on everything. So get out to the countryside. 3. Broadband is fantastic where I am, rural ROI but in some parts it may not be as fast. 4. The ROI's economy is booming. We have almost zero% unemployment. There's huge opportunity to make something of yourself. In the ROI of today, "if you can dream it, you can do it.' 5. It's not all peaches and cream though, we have a dreadful health service and a housing crisis mainly due to self serving politicians. 6. And yes, in 1840, the population was about 8m. However, we suffered a famine in the 1840s due to the potato crop being affected by blight. The British government who governed our country at the time, neglected its Irish citizens to such an extent that one million died of starvation and just under 2 million emigrated. It has taken until the mid 1990s to recover from the horror of The Famine and British rule. We are steadily trying to make progress.
@@frugalferg Many of the highlanders were driven from their land to make way for sheep farming in Scotland. In the past the population is thought to have been 10,000 but it's certainly not that way now.
You should travel more outside Dublin. The scenery is spectacular particularly in the south west and west parts of the country. Thank you for promoting our wonderful little country and its people.
Hey Kristin, glad that you are enjoying Ireland! Interesting comments and thoughts regarding your visit. We've been to Dublin and Belfast twice in the past 8 months (have a daughter going to grad school in Belfast) and have enjoyed our time in both cities. Along with the street signs, we have found it interesting to hear both tram and train stops announced in both Irish and English. We agree with your thoughts about the expense but didn't have any issues with internet speed but agree completely with the food scene. Following a vegan diet, we found plenty of delicious places in Dublin (and think that there were even more options in Belfast) to eat and drink. Enjoy the rest of your time in Ireland!!
Thank you, David! Did you happen to see my video with the Belfast locals? Also very nice people. Glad you were able to find lots of vegan options in Dublin as well!
I find it strange to hear an American complaint about prices. Was in Florida 4 years ago and paid $15 for a beer which you’d never pay in Ireland. US much more expensive especially with compulsory tipping.
So glad you're enjoying Ireland. You're very welcome! I have never shared a taxi with a stranger though.....😂 Think we have the same mental health issues as any other developed country. Life certainly isn't all sunshine and rainbows! We are improving in our attitude to mental health though. I hope you continue to enjoy being in Ireland. It's not perfect but it's home. 😊😊
This 73 year old American has never even heard of an accident caused by an electrical socket in a bathroom. My Dutch husband insists they are dangerous.
@@barbarawarner4645 Make sure you and your husband aren't having an argument while you are taking a bath. He could throw the hair dryer into the tub while you're soaking. I saw that on an episode of Columbo once. Be very suspicious if he brings the toaster into the bathroom because he says he wants to make toast.
It’s because the electrical current is much higher in Europe than I the U.S. 120 vs 220 or 240. Not having a plug in the bathroom is pretty common in all the European hotels where I’ve stayed.
@@jeannineking9036, this is a myth. 120V is equally deadly as 220V. But you would need to pour water into the socket and stay in the puddle to get hit. Even then it would probably immediately overload and turn off, so you would be fine. This is just a tradition and outdated regulations to not put sockets in the bathrooms in Ireland and UK.
From Dublin and enjoyed your video Just two thing you touched on. I would like to explode the myth about raining all the time particularly from the US. I does not rain all the time. We get as much sunshine as any other northern hemisphere country, but it rains unexpectedly, you could have 3 days of brilliant sunshine and all of sudden you will wake up to pouring rain!! Having said that, the climate is very temperate all year round, never gets too hot or too cold. Snow once every 5 years!! The second is plugs in the bathroom!!! Water and electricity do not mix well and should never be seen within as asses roar of each other.
Just got home (to Australia) after my first visit to Ireland. Best holiday ever. Expensive? Yes but for locals wages are commensurately high. Hope to be back there to see what I missed this time.
Fair play on noticing such accurate and unique details. Most of the time when I watch videos like this they're just people making inaccurate generalisations from one incident or just saying something generic that applies to all countries. Enjoy the rest of your stay if you're still here 🙂
Thank you so much, John. I’ll be back in Ireland next week! Waterford. Did you see this video chatting with locals in Dublin? ua-cam.com/video/cETQkZ0twyU/v-deo.html
Re 12. Mains electrical is 220v ac in Ireland it's 110v in the US, due to the higher voltage the electrical regulations don't allow electrical sockets in bathrooms. You may have noticed that the light switch is outside the bathroom as well. It's the same in Britain.
@@robertmurray8763 Actually there are quite strict regulations as to the distance a power outlet must be from a water source. Have a look at houses built before about 1960. You won't see power outlets unless they were put in at a later date. I think it was something like 12 feet from a water source, which effectively meant outside the bathroom. The distance is much smaller currently and, of course, specified in metres!
Yep, it's an antiquated regulation that doesn't exist anywhere else in Europe where 220-240V is the norm but Irish wiring regs still align with the British ones.
Hi Kristin, It's been awhile! But, perfect timing as I head to Scotland and Ireland for 3 weeks beginning 5/17/23. Looking forward to watching this later today. Steve in New Smyrna Beach.
Great timing, Steve! Make sure you also watch this video talking to locals in Dublin. Let me know if you have any questions and have a great trip! ua-cam.com/video/cETQkZ0twyU/v-deo.html
And on 'Being Late'. Reminds me of Mexico where 'mañana' does not mean tomorrow. It means 'Not Today' which is very fine with me as it signifies a more relaxed society.
I love your podcast! I am from Dublin (recently emigrated) and what I will say in regards to mental health is that work instability and the insecurity created from not owning a home creates a lot of anxiety among people in their twenties and thirties. Some people opt for antidepressants rather than face to face therapy in order to treat depression as the cost is much cheaper (10 euros or so for a months supply of pills vs 40-70 euros on average for an hourly session). Long waiting lists to see specialists and a health system that often only treats the symptoms with medication mean people often choose to suffer in silence rather than speak out. However I do think Irish people have become a lot more aware of their mental health in recent years (there was a huge stigma attached to it maybe 50 or 60 years ago), and while a lot of people have heard of someone who has committed suicide in their community, they are more aware of how to help people through difficulties they face, and more willing to discuss what they're going through. NGOs and charities do absolutely Trojan work here that way, unfortunately our government won't invest themselves. People like to hear someone listen to them telling their own story, which I think you do beautifully here. I really hope that you enjoy the rest of your stay and keep us laughing with your many interesting tales of travel!
That's really interesting from the US perspective! Therapy is indeed a lot more than in Ireland. Yeah I think it's the lack of renters rights here that mean a mortgage is very difficult to save for if you're already renting, a lot of people move back with parents or even go abroad for a better salary to save for this. Your rent can also be increased if the owner decides to renovate for example. There are very few rights if you live in a property where the landlord resides as well, as they don't necessarily have to give a notice period of any changes. I was very lucky to have a good landlord, but people I knew put up with abusive behaviour from the landlord and invasion of privacy because there was no legal recourse. I hate the culture of throwing money at problems as well, people should feel self sufficient and not at the mercy of the market. Community projects can really give people a sense of purpose and belonging. But government really needs to get its act together in Ireland as regards homelessness and mental health.
So are u saying the main cause of Depression is linked to insecurity about accommodation?..But what about all of that inject of EU $$$ and employment( because that was the main source of discord or'Bone of contention)
$50-60 Euros for a therapy session would be "affordable" in the US because it's 2-3X that WITH our expensive insurance (premiums of $600 a month for a married couple with huge copays to get care on top of that).
I was born and raised here in the us, in boston. My mother is native american and my father is one third irish (his father was from munster county in ireland). Im proud to be Irish. ♥️🇨🇮🇨🇮
Very enlightening to hear an American's considered observations of what seems normal to me. For example, the lack of electrical outlets in Irish bathrooms never occurred to me as strange.
What, really? I had no idea! Here in Finland, if you live in an apartment your washing machine is normally in the bathroom. Would be fairly difficult without (safe) outlets!
The reason we don't have electric plugs in bathrooms is to do with the higher voltage in the sockets. Not safe in bathrooms so no plugs there. It's the same in UK I think. 👍
@@Jojo-cl6pewhat you might find that’s weirder is that a lot of us have our washing machines and drier in the kitchen lol. Some folk may have a separate room for the washing machine however.
I was an American exchange student from New Jersey who studied at the University of Limerick in 1991. Some of my best days were spent in Ireland. My one tip for visiting a foreign country is to HAVE NO EXPECTATIONS. Just experience the place and do as the locals do. The Irish are extremely nice people.
Also, the Irish do NOT tolerate ignorance. People who want to keep to their own bubbles and who have no interest in local ways of life should not travel to Ireland.
You mentioned about not being sure why there might be higher levels of mental health issues in Ireland. There have been a few studies and surveys regarding public health and economic concerns, and these results have shown a majority feeling high levels of economic precarity and uncertainty which causes stress and anxiety, including more drug/alcohol/gambling addictions. Issues related to fallout from neoliberal economic policies (financialization) and post-brexit collapse of industries and exit of production and traditional higher paying jobs has led to classic wealth of few, poverty of many. Ireland had a strong egalitarian history with strong social safety net, but that has been wiped out with neoliberal economic system and regressive taxation with the bankers/insurance/property class getting tax breaks.
@@lorettaobrien8599 His comment maybe inaccurate or slightly off,but Ireland most def has to keep an eye on it's Immigration( it just doesn't have the size or infrastructure to cope) and a'Melting Pot'is cool,if thd new arfivas adapt&assimilate,and if it happens in a natural Organic way&the particular country has the size and economy to accommodate the newbies,,but force the issue or speed it up prematurely& u will see Culture clashes and resentment & its usually the hardworking innocent people who suffer ! And flooding the market with cheap Labour,may provide a surplus of convenience,but it will hurt the Pockets of local Workers( who most likely weren't earning bundles in the first place!)in the long run!
Plugs in bathrooms also aren't allowed in the UK (health and safety) - also in London, officially, buses that aren't specifically marked as "bus stop" are request stops and you're supposed to flag them. Yes, I agree, Dublin is known for being very expensive. The thing about being able to turn individual plugs off is that you need to remember to turn them ON again if you do actually want to use them - I had a student once who thought her phone was charging the whole time and it wasn't.
In Ireland it is not permitted, by law, to have an electrical outlet in a bathroom or shower room so as to negate the possibility of electric shock from damaged power cords or faulty appliances. I'm glad you enjoyed our country.
I read that Dublin is the major tech hub in Europe. The European Silicone Valley. Also, major banks and Investment companies are relocating to Dublin from the UK after Brexit. Employees of these companies needing accommodation has pushed up rental and house prices. Dublin used to be an unspoilt city so it's a pity wealthy companies are taking over. The price of progress I guess.
The real issue here is the lack of building. Our government and planning authority etc have failed to respond to the demand. Driving rents and property prices through the roof. Funny enough, almost all of our politicians are landlords and hold property portfolios...
Not entirely in Dublin for instance Apple have their largest operation outside of the US in Cork city and Intel have a massive research and manufacturing facility in Co. Kildare.
Without sounding rude, the reason for all the "Mental Health" messages is the same reason for all the "Smoking Kills" messages, or "Dont Drink & Drive" messages. A lot of these services are free so people are encouraged to seek help, and aren't then bankrupted by the cost afterwards. It's the benefits of having a Health Services system without needing massive Health Insurance. There is help there for everyone. Not just the people that can afford it. Glad you're enjoying your stay. If you make it to Cork then head out West to Baltimore or Kinsale. Its beautiful this time of year. Lots of little islands you can visit on day trips. Really recommend it.
Things "being open when they're open" is so cool. We went to a pub in a quiet town out near Cong and we were under the impression that it closed at 10pm if I remember. The woman at the bar assured us that we did not have to leave and in fact locals kept popping in and out well past midnight. It was a great time and we loved spending time with real Irish locals. Fantastic.
It's pretty much a standing joke here in a lot of rural areas that when you ask when they're closed they'll look at their watch and then answer "September" - and in many cases they're not joking !!! 😆
Our Internet is extremely fast in private houses, 1 gig lines are common the businesses are just being cheap. And the no plugs thing is a safety regulation law
Glad you had a positive experience in Ireland. I've been going to Ireland for 40 years. It's almost my second home; the Irish are very friendly and witty. My Irish friends want me to move to Ireland when I retire. However, as you say, it's very expensive. The costs you mentioned are about what I paid. very good video.
Ireland certainly has a special charm! 🍀💚 It's wonderful that you've had such a long and positive connection with the country. Best of luck with your retirement plans, and I'm glad you enjoyed the video! 😊🇮🇪🏡
Just one thing I'd like to clear up, it's about the Famine, or Potato famine as it's sometimes called. People did not die in Ireland during the Famine just because they had no potato's to eat due to the crop failure, like potato's were all they ate, no, they died because the potato's were grown and sold in order to gain an income so that they could pay their English landlords the taxes/rent which the conquerors had made law. Potato crop failed = no money to pay rent = eviction notice served, so people starved or emigrated, it was a tough time, but we have much better relations today with our former rulers. It's just a common misconception that some people have, that all the Irish ate was potato's, and probably washed down with a bottle of whiskey! Great video by the way, keep up the good work 👍
I want to work remote from Dublin one day but the hotel rates and the AirBnB monthly rates are shocking. I would rate them right up there with London, Geneva, Zurich, and Paris as the most expensive cities in Europe.
The food is fantastic everywhere! They have picked up an the tastes of tourists, And friendly! In Belfast they would stop us in the middle of the street to talk to you or help you find a restaurant, pub, museum, whatever!
Buses have to be "flagged down" because, if multiple bus routes use at that particular stop you have to indicate your preference for that particular bus.
Well! I live in London. You told me,a few things! The Irish are inherently late! It's the place I've been looking for all my life!! As for eating late, too, well blow me down with a feather; I thought mainly the Spanish, do this! Thanks Kristen 💚🌿
There's an old joke about a Spaniard asking an Irishman about the equivalent of "mañana" in Ireland. The Irishman replies "We don't have a word that connotes such a sense of urgency". The Irish really do have a casual attitude to timekeeping - no joke.
Electrical socket outlets are not allowed in bathrooms in uk and Ireland the voltage is 240v much higher than the 120v in the US. Shaver sockets are ok but must have a step down transformer fitted with a special winding.
The reasons for the switches on each plug is that their voltage is 220 vs 110 in the US. At that voltage, there is a risk of arcing, which makes it more dangerous to plug or unplug a live feed. So you’re supposed to switch a plug off before you plug or unplug a device.
Hi Kristin, thank you for your well observed post. Just by way of follow up on a few items you mentioned, I was not aware that the Irish suffered any more than any one else from mental issues. Certainly we all have challenges, but as you appear to report it, this was an opinion given to you by one person, which you appear to have taken as being an issue generally. On the next item, Ireland and the UK's electrical system operates at 220 Volts (instead of 110 Volts in mainland Europe and the US) and at this higher voltage, you will be unlikely to survive a shock. Accordingly in areas where there is water (which is a great conductor of electricity) such as bathrooms, there are no socket outlets, apart from for an electric razor, usually located so that any water falls downward from it. Also the light switch will be outside the bathroom. Similarly in kitchens, there should be no socket outlet within an arm's length distance of the sink. These measures are all for safety purposes. In terms of people being late, one of the few minor positives of Covid has been on line meetings, and in particular when working from home, Irish people appeared to have developed a wonderful new respect for punctuality, Without wishing to generalise, my experience has been that on line meetings in Ireland start on time with everyone present. Maybe this discipline will begin to trickle down into other aspects of Irish life, you will have seen for instance that buses trains and trams have real time displays as to the arrival of the next bus. And yes, unfortunately, if you don't put your hand out, the driver will conclude you might be waiting for a friend, but are not actually waiting for the bus. And no, it doesn't rain everyday, and even from time to time we have had droughts with resulting water rationing. Thanks again for your vid.
Paul, spot on. In my opinion and experience there is no more or less people in Ireland with mental difficulties than in any other parts of the World. For the most part we are a relatively happy bunch. One of the things that might be contributing to an increase in peoples anxiety is this menace called social media. And also in the past, the family was an integral part of Irish society. People probably chatted to each other more, rambling etc. was an integral part of living in (especially rural) Ireland. Where people could talk about their problems and those of their neighbours ! The higher voltage makes perfect sense now that you've highlighted it. We simply don't expect sockets in bathrooms and to be honest, I always thought that it was reckless to have them in bathrooms in Europe, what did I know.... Punctuality..... It does my head in. I've worked all over Europe and being late simply doesn't happen in the work environment. Its considered downright rude. And.... Its amazing how you adjust and start being on time yourself and expecting everyone else to be also on time. I played GAA in London and it used to also do my head in there as GAA games regularly started 30 mins after they were supposed to. Not good enough and no acceptable as fart as I'm concerned. I see it all the time here, amongst friends and family. They don't think its rude, well I do. Its simply dis-respectful to others. Moan over.....
Just a little correction! Ireland and continental Europe operate a 220 volt electrical system, the UK operate a 240 volt electrical system, the US a 120 volt system. European electrical systems are recognised as the safest and most sophisticated in the world. Irish people have no more and no less mental health issues than any other part of the developed world.
I did not find Dublin that expensive, but I totally agree...Weather not as bad as I expected and the food...It was really good! I loved the people, so friendly and open!!
Just got back from 2 weeks in Ireland, drove 1,000 miles never saw a "homeless" tent anywhere. A truly beautiful country and some of the nicest people you'll ever find
It's wonderful to hear that you had a great experience during your trip to Ireland, Mike! The country's scenic beauty and warm-hearted people certainly contribute to its charm. Thank you for sharing your positive impressions of Ireland. 😊
There was a homeless tent right on a sidewalk along the busy road in Dublin. I couldn’t believe it. Why would you put a tent on a super noisy road!? The rundown part of Dublin had some obvious drug use and dealing as well. The country as a whole is amazing, but the larger cities, mainly Dublin, are not very clean or super safe feeling.
Honestly the only thing you said that doesn't track is the wifi issue... I actually just think hotel wifi globably is bad more often than not, and because people don't consistently rent out their airbnbs they tend not to opt for the most expensive wifi options.
In the US outlets near water need to be GFCI which have a breaker in it to stop people from getting killed. Regular outlets cost about 2 dollars and the GFCI are probably over 20 dollars.
Every circuit in Irish houses are protected by RCDs (what you call GFCIs). You are allowed to have a shaver socket but building regs won’t let you have any other socket in a bathroom.
We found prices in Dublin on par with those in a major city in the US. We live near Chicago, and the prices in Dublin didn’t surprise us. That being said, yes, prices outside of Dublin (Athlone, Galway, Letterkenny and the smaller towns) were lower.
Dublin is a sewer and getting worse with immigration, Drugs and Homelessness. But Politicians are making good money so all is good.......Until we end up like Sweden....
Ireland is nice. Good food and good times, but yea a bit pricey, but the custom of not worrying about tipping is pretty refreshing. Nice that your servers are genuinely nice to you and not randomly conversing with you when you are about to pay or given the check…
Рік тому+4
It's pricey because you're not expected to tip 25%.
I just returned from Ireland, and yes, outside Dublin, things are more reasonably priced. To say that there is no Uber in Dublin is not exactly true. You can use the Uber app to get a ride and pay, but only cabs will respond, which is fine. I loved the food everywhere except my hotel. When I go again, I will fly directly to Shannon and get out into the Wild Atlantic Way, the towns, the castles, the monastic ruins, and pubs. I enjoyed Trinity College, the Book of Kells, and the library, but not much else in Dublin. I will also go exclusively AirBnB. The full service hotels do not have A/C in the "bedrooms," as they call them. They say it's not needed and they give you a fan, but it is needed in the city, for me anyway.
There are mental health issues in Ireland but there is also a big movement to talk about these issues more and be more open about them. Historically Irish people never talked about these things and its only in the last 15 years we have started so I guess it could look like an explosion of mental health problems when really its and awareness movement. But there are real issues too.
In the early 90s I visited Ireland. One of the strange things I noticed the the pubs would lock the front door at closing time. They would not let anyone in, but you could keep on drinking what seemed like another hour or two.
..well technically you were closed on time according to the law but the pub owner could still earn a few more pounds and the locals were happy too, win win
The weather in Ireland you were seeing reminds me of my trip to England last year in April. Although it was quite warm, it hardly rained at all during the week and a half I was there which was very surprising. I can tell it looks quite expensive there, but at least the great scenery and the friendly people make it all worthwhile!
I LOOOOVED Ireland. So much better than England. I found the people in Ireland incredibly warm and helpful. I went in college and had a bit too much to drink one night - the owner of the bed and breakfast we were staying at brought me a hot water bottle and helped nurse me out of my hangover the next morning😂
Your video is beautiful! One thing I learned when I visited Ireland a while back is that if a pub has pots of flowers hanging outside, it means they serve food and drink. But if there are no hanging flowers, the pub only serves drinks.
Hi Kristin, interesting video. About mental health, I think people are just more aware of different mental health issues nowadays and are open to talking about it which is a good thing. People, especially men, didn't traditionally talk about their problems or feelings. My own father didn't really talk at all until about 1998. You should watch the film 'The Quiet Girl' if you're interested in getting an idea of what the traditional Irish man was like. I also think a lot of people also get drunk as a way of being honest and expressing their true feelings, which obviously isn't healthy. However, I do think that younger people are not drinking as much as the older generations did.
My mom was born in New York but moved here as a teenager and stayed. I grew up in Goatstown, unfortunately I can't afford to buy a house there as it's about 1 million plus euro for a three bed on my road. She never returned to the US. I never knew about the plug sockets. Thanks, loved your video.
Believe it or not Internet speeds in Dublin in general are quite fast, I have no idea why your experience is so bad. Most people have fiber broadband with 500-1tb pretty standard. 5g with the major networks with average speeds of 300-350mb. 4g 40-100mb.
I agree. In Ireland I'm used to good internet. But now I'm living in the US, and it's abysmal! In fact, the town I live in has such poor internet and mobile phone reception that we've had to get Starlink, and even then it cuts out every few minutes..When I'm facetiming my family in Ireland, New Zealand, and Cambodia, they always laugh at what they call my '3rd world internet.' And it's expensive! $120 for Starlink internet, and $180 for really bad mobile service on two phones.
I LOVE the millions shades of green in this country especially this time just before summer really hits off. You get those lovely dark greens with the bark of the trees then you have this super light almost luminous bright green of the new leaves coming out. Its spectacular. Yeah the buses will leave you there if you dont put your arm out to let them know you are getting on lol its mad.
Funny thing about the plugs being Irish is that even though we could turn off the plug my parents would still insist that we plug everything out 😅 they are paranoid
Great vídeo! I lived in Dublin for two years. The weather will catch up to you. I left after two years because I couldn’t handle the weather anymore 😂. Enjoy your time. Try make it to the west coast. The seafood is excellent out there!
I love hearing other nationality’s take of our country. I think your observations are very accurate. Dublin is crazy expensive. Here in West Cork, a drink/coffee/pint is about 40% cheaper than in Dublin. I think our mental health issues are no better or worse than other countries. Our current political leader was a Doctor before being the Taoiseach, he is trying to improve the health system in general. We have a huge shortage of psychiatrists/psychologist atm. Have fun , enjoy your time here.
And the other thing is don't get sick or injured in Ireland. Accident and Emergency departments have a 24 hour typical wait to be even seen by a Doctor. Vradkar maybe a Doctor but he has little care for the health system imho.
Irish people don’t appreciate the excellent service that’s available to them, I live in NYC and when I had an emotional breakdown I got far better care in Ireland, than I did in New York City.
I pretty much agreed with everything in your commentary. The only thing that surprised me was what you said about WiFi speeds. My experience was different. Typically I was getting 100 MBs in hotels and 200 MBs to 500 MBs in private homes and up to 800 MPs in offices. Maybe it’s slower in Airbnbs, possibly because there’s so many online. Anyway good video.
I'm a bit surprised you found it expensive in Ireland, coming from the US. I live in Dublin and am just back from the US and found it expensive there! Especially for things like cafes and eating out. This is a big difference from years ago, when the US was less expensive than here in Ireland. One difference you don't mention is that all prices are shown here tax inclusive, and that tipping is much less common here, so the price you see listed is the price you actually pay. We're definitely expensive in comparison to other European countries, but the US does seem to have got a lot more expensive in the past couple of years. Also, I think you've been unlucky with your Internet speeds: most homes in Dublin have broadband in the 10-50 Mbps range and more recently 500Mbs or 1 Gbps, which is widely available. Access to fast Internet can be an issue in more remote rural areas, but this is changing. Excellent video, by the way: very engaging, and always interesting to hear others experiences of visiting!
I forgot to add: yes, you did get lucky with the weather! It does rain here a lot - the green landscape didn't happen by accident! The good news is that it is rare for it to rain all day or continuously, especially in summer: typically it there might be showers that clear fairly quickly so you can get sun and rain in the same day.
I didn’t find it all that expensive. Visited Dublin, Galway, and Cork. Really wish I had known more about Cork as I would’ve booked a couple of extra days there. Headed back next April. The people are fantastic, the food is amazing, and the country is absolutely beautiful. Plus I now have a picture with my daughter in front of the house where my mother grew up in Dublin. Love love love Ireland.
I'm here right now as well and its very expensive, I would venture to say just as expensive as Switzerland. People are very friendly. Parts of Dublin are more gritty than I thought it would be. And the other language they speak here is Gaelic, its an old language and sounds like no other language that I've heard. Its interesting how much it is used in the country.
We do call it Irish but in Irish it’s called Gaeilge. It’s a compulsory school subject that we do from age 4-18 but hardly anyone that I know is fluent.
@@user-ykn2na4y9s No..We call our language Gaelic or Gaeilge because that is what it is called, there is scots and irish gaelic , a language of the Gaels..celtic people, and no never experienced people getting bent out of shape over this ... and I have lived here 60 odd years....
Funny we went on honeymoon in the US and we only noticed how green Ireland is when we returned! We do have a very good quality and well regulated food industry. I notice more when we go abroad how much i miss our food! Glad you enjoyed your trip. ☘️
I grew up in Enniskerry, and so was quite used to place-names like the Scalp, Stepaside and Goatstown. Glenamuck is between Stepaside and the Scalp - it means the valley of the pigs, like Glenageary (near Dún Laoghaire) - the valley of the sheep. What could be more ordinary! Well done on a very well-presented and informative video.
Regarding mental health, yes it is a problem in Ireland just like in many parts of the world. And while it might seem two faced for Irish people to suffer in private and then go out in public with their happy face on, it actually helps. Taking a break from your negative thinking to briefly enter a fantasy land where "everything is grand" is a positive thing.
Thanks for chiming in, Michael. It definitely helps to have an escape and enjoy life. It’s the little things that make life great either way. Simple pleasures and time with friends and family. I think it would be better if we were all tot from the beginning that mental health ups and downs are part of being a human.
As someone living in ireland for a good couple of years, your experience with internet slowness is weird, actually most americans that came to visit prefer the internet here than there. My phone gets 40mbps of download, unlimited data for 20$ a month, while wifi is 1gb (100 mbps download speed) for 60! Might have to do with the provider you chose and with the modem in the hotel you were in! Other than that, pretty spot on, specially the absurd prices in Dub!
Headed to Ireland? ☘Here's how much things cost there: ua-cam.com/video/NG73drZ12kQ/v-deo.html
I'm so glad that you love Ireland 🇮🇪 i love the USA 🇺🇸 when I go to New York City ❤️
Kristin when you're talking about how friendly people are whilst showing 'smiley locals' none of those people are actually Irish lol
On the subject of the wifi. You didn't mention its free on all the bus's and most area's in Dublin have free wifi hotspots so even when its not during peak hours it can be very slow. I think 98% of the country has wifi access now so you can get a signal almost anywhere now but speed mostly comes down to your internet provider. Iv superfast 5G in Dundalk where Biden just visited. Dublin is really expensive but once outside it does get amazing cheaper. Anyway I hope you enjoyed yourself and visit again.
❤🤍💙🥰💚🤍💛
@@cole0889 Did Pres Biden know he wasn't in a Irish enclave in Delaware or Boston? 🇮🇪 ..Biden - Am I in Delaware? No sir Dundalk..Biden- Dundalkware!
Free WiFi on most bus’s and trains. Water is safe to drink from the tap. So there are little things you can save on. Do bring a raincoat ...then maybe you won’t need it ......called Murphy’s law. 😂😂😂
I loved Ireland it’s the most gorgeous place I’ve ever been on earth. I’m coming back again ! My husband only wants to visit Ireland for the rest of his life, it imprinted on our souls
From kilkenny Ireland , Glad you felt welcome here
I'm glad you's enjoyed it so much!
What a lovely comment, thank you.
You're more than welcome friend. X
Lovely to hear. I hope you make it back
I had to move to Ireland from California with my company during to 80s. I found the culture here so lovely and friendly, and so green. A little backward, but that was good, it reminded me of my childhood (it's changed dramatically since then). I was meant to stay for two years. Well, here I am 40 years later, still in this beautiful country. I loved this place so much, I couldn't imagine going back to the USA.
Where in Ireland do you live?
@@typower9 near Trim, in the countryside.
❤
How has it changed do you think..
Have you any trace of an American accent left now.
The Irish are super friendly and helpful. It’s a great country to visit.
That “stuck” feeling is universal and even more significant for island dwellers, I think.
Do visit again.!
@@tracyannbielhy9794 PR as In Puerto Rico?
It’s even more significant to anybody who feels like they’re life is not making any progress and is at a stand still, not just islanders
I think it is very common with islanders. From personal experience.
Modern life.....today we can all see from our smartphones how well the other 90% live......
You are a nice American. Welcome to Ireland.
Do most of foreigns seem rude ?
@@Ishltf4285 No, it's just a very mixed bag.
@@Ishltf4285 nah Americans under the Bible Belt are very nice patient and well mannered while more North you get more rude not as mannered as the south. The north is also very fast paced while south is kinda go with the flow.
y'all don't know squat I was in foster care 13 years lived just about everywhere in Delaware county pa probably been around more than your mother to bad more people don't have my mindset besides it being a little constitutionalized
Backhanded compliment.
Came to Ireland as a young bride in 1966 and am still here , love it. Have traveled a fair bit but this place and people are in my soul now.
The west coast of Ireland is really stunning. One will hear Irish spoken much more frequently, Connemara is quite beautiful.
..the south west is more lush and green and alive, the west is more bleak and lonely but yes beautiful
@@cdunne1620 Interesting comment. What is your most favorite area in the south west?
..well if you make your way from Cahirsiveen in County Kerry into Kenmare and continue into west county Cork and on to the towns of Clonakilty and Bantry you will experience the best of the south west.
Try to do it in good weather though, which is a challenge in itself even in summer! There are nice little beaches along the way. Kenmare is my favourite town. You might be shocked by the people’s accent as well, it’s quite unique.
@@cdunne1620It's not all bleak and lonely, and like the south west, the west has a variety of landscapes. And during the summer there are more flowers & rare plants growing there than at other times of the year. Everywhere can be bleak when it's raining and misty anyway!
As an Indian living in Cor Na Mara it just feels like a heaven.. putting a lovely Irish host on top it is just like a cherry on top.. Overall Irish people are super friendly and polite ❤❤
Well said with your fair and diverse observations. I am 84 years old, Dublin born and bred. For foreign visitors remember that Ireland has an ear based culture....music, songs, conversation and chat, jokes, memories etc whereas the UK and northern and central Europe have a more eye based culture with varied architecture, efficiency in travel etc but relatively much less fun than Irish culture. So be generous if you wish to observe deficiencies in Irish culture. David McCabe Dublin April 2023
So appropriate that you have a harp on your Coat of Arms!
I've never heard Irish culture explained like that David. Good on you, very insightful and interesting. I was at the Roscommon v. Dublin football game in Croker last weekend and there was a load of Dubs sitting near us. They were "real" Dubs and the crack and banter was mighty. If you meet a nice Dub (of which there are many) they are truly the Salt of the earth. I actually bumped into the Dubliners years ago in a Hotel in Lyons in France, they were so friendly and as you would expect mighty crack.
I was in Ireland for crazy St Patty's day. People were drunk, yet managers and the police were very polite and friendly. The Irish were also very proud of their Viking roots, they were wearing Viking hats.
@@elizabethanderson8528 Who's Saint Patty? I think you mean Saint Paddy :)
@@elizabethanderson8528St Patrick's day not Patty.
The odds that you met anyone Irish on St Patrick's day are slim.
I have nothing but love for this beautiful green country 💚
It was a genocide, not a famine.
YAWN
Caused for the British empire
@@juanparroni5850 🤣
100% wright . Don't know why people won't call it that.
Sick of the famine or the great hunger
I wish I thought of that. Totally true!!
I totally love the place. Felt so safe and the locals are just great. As Irish people are world wide lovely place and people.
When my grate g, g grand father was sent to Australia the youngest was left behind. Shame
German here who lived in Dublin for more than 8 years. The irish people are genuinely the nicest. So outgoing, friendly and generous it almost came as a bit of a shock. Especially as a german where people are nothing like that. Food scene in Dublin was a very pleasant surprise for me, too. Didn´t expect much tbh. Dublin is in my eyes not overly pretty as cities go but it is very charming in it´s own way and there´s beautiful nature and landscapes all around. You don´t even have to go far. Just taking the DART either to Howth or down south towards Bray will already give you a lot of beautiful impressions. There´s a pretty vibrant cultural scene , too. Museums, theatre, art, lot´s of activities, guided tours etc.
Downsides I noticed: While the city does generally feel pretty safe you do have to be aware of your surroundings. There are some pretty dodgy areas really close to common ones. Sometimes it really changes from one street to the next. Normally even in dodgy areas people will leave you alone if you mind your own business but I have seen some pretty crazy stuff happening, even during the day. Traffic is really bad during the rushhours. Public transport and road infrasturcture are struggling to cope. My morning commute was about 10km from the south towards the city centre. Took me 45-60 minutes on the bus every morning for those 10k, mostly stuck in traffic. Pricing: Back in 2019 when I left Dublin I honestly didn´t find day to day living expenses to bad. Public transport I found rather cheap compared to Germany, groceries a bit expensive but not too bad. Restaurants quite affordable (especially with early bird deals and thelike) Alcohol quite expensive but not too bad if you go to your local pub instead of the city centre. What was insane back then though was housing prices/rent especially for the "quality" you normally get. In fact that was the main factor for me for eventually leaving the country and heading back to Germany. I had a good time over there and looking back at it I do miss Ireland and especially it´s lovely people. Hope to be back some time.
Great post Born! I am Irish.
Housing is really really fucked here, like, really fucked
I grew up in South Africa, and the sheer amount of rain and green in Eire is unbelievable!
Plants are green because of the amount of rain they get, no rain, plants die.
I was kinda of shocked the times I've been to the Mediterranean, it looks like a barren desert. Ugh give me the green green grass of Wales any day. (even if it's a pain in the butt to have to mow the lawn every 5 minutes. :)
@@RobG001haha yes. I remember a south french guy came in brittany . He said to me " what the fuck i have cut the weeds in spring and its again there ". Yes u need to cut that 3 times why people plant grass .
@@dudester788 ..did you know that the people around Syria call their grandmothers Nana, in Ireland (south) they call their grandmothers the same. There is some interesting history in the origin of the Irish being from the Middle East
Ireland is one of the most beautiful places to visit..❤
I visited Ireland in the 80's, 90's, and 2013.....Mom is from Drumshanbo. I'm not trying to insult anyone when I say that I noticed that in 2013 there were many more obese Irish folks than my previous visits. (In 1988, my brother and I were amazed at how slim and attractive everyone was). The food options got "better" each time I visited. In 2013 I thought that the options were about as good as anywhere in the world. Processed food is creating health issues all over the western world and obesity in the US is at epidemic proportions ......."More options" are slowly killing us.
BTW, I think that Ireland still is MUCH healthier than where I live in New Jersey, and the US in general. (Disney world makes me sad at the state of our health as a country)
Ireland is great and I cant wait to bring my kids there....hopefully in a year or two.
But I think the traditional protein and carb diets in Ireland have something to do with obesity. I found there were plenty of fresh vegetables this visit which lead to a healthier diet for everyone.
@@ATLmodK In 1988 it was eggs, ham, cheese, bacon, bread and Guinness !....not much else.
@@btrav667 you've just described my diet in 2023! 😅
My mum is also from there
I'm from Ireland, living in Waterford. You're right you know I can't deny it
I grew up visiting Ireland in the summers to see my grandparents home and see extended family. Flew to Dublin hopped in our rental cars drive straight to south Armagh for 3 weeks. The furthest we would go was Newry and that was the big city in Ireland for us. We stayed at the foot of slieve gullion it was honestly some of the fondest memories of my life so far. It is also quite a unique area of Ireland. The first summers in the late 90s and 2000s british patrols and helicopters all over. I never realized until I was older that that wasn’t common outside that little corner of Ireland. Now the area is peaceful and no more British spy towers and is seriously such an overlooked part of Ireland. An untouched gem
What a beautiful and nostalgic connection to Ireland
@seanbrennan4356! It's amazing how places hold memories and become part of our fondest experiences. Thanks for sharing your unique perspective 🍀✨
Kristin I must say that I enjoyed your observations about Ireland. You pay good attention and described them well. I hope that all goes well for you now and in the future.
i advised a friend on visiting ireland from the US, it seems the majority of US tourists do dublin, cliffs of moher, giants causeway. now im not knocking those places their grand, but their is so much more. I told him to travel dont spend the entire time in dublin and just seeing those sights, get some different photos than everyone else you know, he agreed so i arranged a day of tours around my area in the sw of county cork, what was planned to be 1 day around the area turned into 3 and he changed his plans, as typical irish things happen the first night we got invited to a village meal where a different american man and his wife were visiting, they had lived here for a good while but had to return to the US, so as soon as he found out my friend was american and a ex serviceman we ended up with a meal and a sing song after a day of mountains, coastlines, castles, ruins and hill forts from 4500bc, the 2nd night we ended up in a lock in at the local pub till 3am, his last unplanned day with us was spent recovering and some very close local sites and a huge sunday roast with my family.
its been about 6 years since his trip and he wants to come back here again, it was the best part of his trip and he says it was better than the other places he went by miles.
i would advise anyone to travel to different places than the usual, if you want to see what ireland is like outside of the tourist traps, by all means do a bit of the tourist things but dont make that your sole visit, your missing out on so much more.
Sensible advice( and the same could apply to many country's around the world) and my family are from Cahirciveen,Kerry,so Dublin's o/k for a couple of days( and I've done it,drank a lot of Guinness without even visiting the factory!!)but u have to move on& experience different things& explore the other Counties&this way u really will get an feel of the country!..p.s And u have to apply some sensible discipline,& restraint because each time u step into a Irish 'Boozer' before u realize it you've sank a Bucket of Guinness&f##k goes the sightseeing!
That's an amazing story! I love it - going to retell it on my podcast :)
@@TravelingwithKristin And from my experience,the more u visit Ireland,the more u are inclined to want to go back..The food has been good for many yrs(very fresh,straight off farms) but now there's a big Organic thing going on,which was quite easy for them to embrace,so Menu's have become far more expansive and varied!.
So u just have to decide is it 'People or places'? If that's ur thing.. I go for people!
IRISH ☘️ BUTTER, Milk & Yogurts are the Absolute Best!! 🎉
IRELAND ❤ NEEDS CANNABIS (Seriously, Guinness should grow an Alternative )
Coming from a "Yank", who owns a Flat in Dingle, I can confirm that buying food, both organic and not, at the grocery stores, cost Much less than in the US!
I was disappointed to hear you say you spoke to 1 person about mental health issues and that was enough research to make it sound as though it's a real problem here?
Come to the Dingle peninsula if you'd like to experiance "old Ireland"!
National Geographic says that it's one of the most beautiful places on the planet!
Mind yourself and
All the Best!☘️
mental health is a serious problem here, has been for a long time
@@melloncolliemedb I think mental health is a significant problem throughout the western world (including US)
In Ireland, I think we are more open about it now.
I also think the pandemic has caused additional problems.
Not sure about the mental health levels in Eire versus anywhere else, but will 💯 agree that Dingle is beautiful
Mental Health has always been bad in Ireland... We just didn't see it because we shut people away or they took the boat abroad. It's the lack of vit. D is a major concern and the lack of good well trained councillors now that we don't institutionalise and medicate people up to the eyeballs
@@fridaytaxEire? You still calling Thailand “Siam”? South Africa “The Transvaal”? The United States “the 13 colonies”?
You are so very welcome to the Emerald Isle Kirsten and I hope you have a ball. A couple of things..
1. I'm not sure who you met that said we all have mental health problems but honestly we are generally a happy, hard working, honest race of people. I'm sure we do have people with mental health issues as does any society but by and large, we're fairly sane.
2. Yes, Dublin is at least 30% more expensive than the rest of the ROI on everything. So get out to the countryside.
3. Broadband is fantastic where I am, rural ROI but in some parts it may not be as fast.
4. The ROI's economy is booming. We have almost zero% unemployment. There's huge opportunity to make something of yourself. In the ROI of today, "if you can dream it, you can do it.'
5. It's not all peaches and cream though, we have a dreadful health service and a housing crisis mainly due to self serving politicians.
6. And yes, in 1840, the population was about 8m. However, we suffered a famine in the 1840s due to the potato crop being affected by blight. The British government who governed our country at the time, neglected its Irish citizens to such an extent that one million died of starvation and just under 2 million emigrated. It has taken until the mid 1990s to recover from the horror of The Famine and British rule. We are steadily trying to make progress.
More than a million emigrated to the US.
Scotland also suffered a potato famine at the same time and many emigrated
@@carolmayhardie Hi Carol, I did not know that. I must check it out.
@@frugalferg Many of the highlanders were driven from their land to make way for sheep farming in Scotland. In the past the population is thought to have been 10,000 but it's certainly not that way now.
@@carolmayhardie The population of Scotland in the 1990s was 5 million. Don't know the present figure.
As a African American I love Ireland 🇮🇪 ☘️🍀
IE is home 🏠 💚💚💚
So your an American so ??
Or you're just an american
Why say your ethnicity 🙄
@@Chris-un1ll Why not?
You should travel more outside Dublin. The scenery is spectacular particularly in the south west and west parts of the country. Thank you for promoting our wonderful little country and its people.
Co Kerry, Killarney national park!
Small correction for 1:36 - Dublin has Uber, Lyft, and even Freenow, which is another taxi app that works similarly
Hey Kristin, glad that you are enjoying Ireland! Interesting comments and thoughts regarding your visit. We've been to Dublin and Belfast twice in the past 8 months (have a daughter going to grad school in Belfast) and have enjoyed our time in both cities. Along with the street signs, we have found it interesting to hear both tram and train stops announced in both Irish and English. We agree with your thoughts about the expense but didn't have any issues with internet speed but agree completely with the food scene. Following a vegan diet, we found plenty of delicious places in Dublin (and think that there were even more options in Belfast) to eat and drink. Enjoy the rest of your time in Ireland!!
Thank you, David! Did you happen to see my video with the Belfast locals? Also very nice people. Glad you were able to find lots of vegan options in Dublin as well!
I find it strange to hear an American complaint about prices. Was in Florida 4 years ago and paid $15 for a beer which you’d never pay in Ireland. US much more expensive especially with compulsory tipping.
So glad you're enjoying Ireland. You're very welcome! I have never shared a taxi with a stranger though.....😂 Think we have the same mental health issues as any other developed country. Life certainly isn't all sunshine and rainbows! We are improving in our attitude to mental health though. I hope you continue to enjoy being in Ireland. It's not perfect but it's home. 😊😊
We find it strange that there are sockets in bathrooms in the US!
This 73 year old American has never even heard of an accident caused by an electrical socket in a bathroom. My Dutch husband insists they are dangerous.
@@barbarawarner4645 Make sure you and your husband aren't having an argument while you are taking a bath. He could throw the hair dryer into the tub while you're soaking. I saw that on an episode of Columbo once. Be very suspicious if he brings the toaster into the bathroom because he says he wants to make toast.
It’s because the electrical current is much higher in Europe than I the U.S. 120 vs 220 or 240. Not having a plug in the bathroom is pretty common in all the European hotels where I’ve stayed.
@@jeannineking9036, this is a myth. 120V is equally deadly as 220V. But you would need to pour water into the socket and stay in the puddle to get hit. Even then it would probably immediately overload and turn off, so you would be fine. This is just a tradition and outdated regulations to not put sockets in the bathrooms in Ireland and UK.
@@barbarawarner4645 but he thinks its fine to ride a bike with no helmet😂.
From Dublin and enjoyed your video Just two thing you touched on. I would like to explode the myth about raining all the time particularly from the US. I does not rain all the time. We get as much sunshine as any other northern hemisphere country, but it rains unexpectedly, you could have 3 days of brilliant sunshine and all of sudden you will wake up to pouring rain!! Having said that, the climate is very temperate all year round, never gets too hot or too cold. Snow once every 5 years!! The second is plugs in the bathroom!!! Water and electricity do not mix well and should never be seen within as asses roar of each other.
Just got home (to Australia) after my first visit to Ireland. Best holiday ever. Expensive? Yes but for locals wages are commensurately high. Hope to be back there to see what I missed this time.
Fair play on noticing such accurate and unique details. Most of the time when I watch videos like this they're just people making inaccurate generalisations from one incident or just saying something generic that applies to all countries. Enjoy the rest of your stay if you're still here 🙂
Thank you so much, John. I’ll be back in Ireland next week! Waterford. Did you see this video chatting with locals in Dublin? ua-cam.com/video/cETQkZ0twyU/v-deo.html
@@TravelingwithKristin Hello Kristin. If you visit Ireland again, go see the national park in Killarney Co Kerry 👍
Re 12. Mains electrical is 220v ac in Ireland it's 110v in the US, due to the higher voltage the electrical regulations don't allow electrical sockets in bathrooms. You may have noticed that the light switch is outside the bathroom as well. It's the same in Britain.
In Australia 🇦🇺 we have a 230/240 volt system switches, and plugs are allowed in bathrooms without any problems.
@@robertmurray8763 Actually there are quite strict regulations as to the distance a power outlet must be from a water source. Have a look at houses built before about 1960. You won't see power outlets unless they were put in at a later date. I think it was something like 12 feet from a water source, which effectively meant outside the bathroom. The distance is much smaller currently and, of course, specified in metres!
@@robertmurray8763When 40% of the wildlife are out to get you, who cares where the sockets are.
Yep, it's an antiquated regulation that doesn't exist anywhere else in Europe where 220-240V is the norm but Irish wiring regs still align with the British ones.
@@mikekelly5869 No, Irish regulations are much stricter and safer. Rediculiously so in some areas.
Thanks for all the great information. My sister and I will be spending 10 days in Ireland next year and this information will be a great help to us.
Hi Kristin, It's been awhile! But, perfect timing as I head to Scotland and Ireland for 3 weeks beginning 5/17/23. Looking forward to watching this later today. Steve in New Smyrna Beach.
Great timing, Steve! Make sure you also watch this video talking to locals in Dublin. Let me know if you have any questions and have a great trip! ua-cam.com/video/cETQkZ0twyU/v-deo.html
That's so funny, I am heading to Ireland day before you, May 16th for a bit, then Amsterdam for a week. Can't wait.
@@TravelingwithKristin I will, Thanks.
And on 'Being Late'. Reminds me of Mexico where 'mañana' does not mean tomorrow. It means 'Not Today' which is very fine with me as it signifies a more relaxed society.
I love your podcast! I am from Dublin (recently emigrated) and what I will say in regards to mental health is that work instability and the insecurity created from not owning a home creates a lot of anxiety among people in their twenties and thirties. Some people opt for antidepressants rather than face to face therapy in order to treat depression as the cost is much cheaper (10 euros or so for a months supply of pills vs 40-70 euros on average for an hourly session). Long waiting lists to see specialists and a health system that often only treats the symptoms with medication mean people often choose to suffer in silence rather than speak out. However I do think Irish people have become a lot more aware of their mental health in recent years (there was a huge stigma attached to it maybe 50 or 60 years ago), and while a lot of people have heard of someone who has committed suicide in their community, they are more aware of how to help people through difficulties they face, and more willing to discuss what they're going through. NGOs and charities do absolutely Trojan work here that way, unfortunately our government won't invest themselves. People like to hear someone listen to them telling their own story, which I think you do beautifully here. I really hope that you enjoy the rest of your stay and keep us laughing with your many interesting tales of travel!
That's really interesting from the US perspective! Therapy is indeed a lot more than in Ireland. Yeah I think it's the lack of renters rights here that mean a mortgage is very difficult to save for if you're already renting, a lot of people move back with parents or even go abroad for a better salary to save for this. Your rent can also be increased if the owner decides to renovate for example. There are very few rights if you live in a property where the landlord resides as well, as they don't necessarily have to give a notice period of any changes. I was very lucky to have a good landlord, but people I knew put up with abusive behaviour from the landlord and invasion of privacy because there was no legal recourse. I hate the culture of throwing money at problems as well, people should feel self sufficient and not at the mercy of the market. Community projects can really give people a sense of purpose and belonging. But government really needs to get its act together in Ireland as regards homelessness and mental health.
The government is a disgrace.
So are u saying the main cause of Depression is linked to insecurity about accommodation?..But what about all of that inject of EU $$$ and employment( because that was the main source of discord or'Bone of contention)
Ye think mental health in the south is bad try the north Belfast or Derry
$50-60 Euros for a therapy session would be "affordable" in the US because it's 2-3X that WITH our expensive insurance (premiums of $600 a month for a married couple with huge copays to get care on top of that).
I was born and raised here in the us, in boston. My mother is native american and my father is one third irish (his father was from munster county in ireland). Im proud to be Irish. ♥️🇨🇮🇨🇮
Re. rain, it's much rainier in the West of Ireland than in Dublin.
Very enlightening to hear an American's considered observations of what seems normal to me. For example, the lack of electrical outlets in Irish bathrooms never occurred to me as strange.
Its illegal for safety reasons
It's the same in the UK except for protected shaver sockets.
What, really? I had no idea! Here in Finland, if you live in an apartment your washing machine is normally in the bathroom. Would be fairly difficult without (safe) outlets!
The reason we don't have electric plugs in bathrooms is to do with the higher voltage in the sockets. Not safe in bathrooms so no plugs there. It's the same in UK I think. 👍
@@Jojo-cl6pewhat you might find that’s weirder is that a lot of us have our washing machines and drier in the kitchen lol. Some folk may have a separate room for the washing machine however.
I was an American exchange student from New Jersey who studied at the University of Limerick in 1991. Some of my best days were spent in Ireland. My one tip for visiting a foreign country is to HAVE NO EXPECTATIONS. Just experience the place and do as the locals do. The Irish are extremely nice people.
Also, the Irish do NOT tolerate ignorance. People who want to keep to their own bubbles and who have no interest in local ways of life should not travel to Ireland.
You mentioned about not being sure why there might be higher levels of mental health issues in Ireland. There have been a few studies and surveys regarding public health and economic concerns, and these results have shown a majority feeling high levels of economic precarity and uncertainty which causes stress and anxiety, including more drug/alcohol/gambling addictions. Issues related to fallout from neoliberal economic policies (financialization) and post-brexit collapse of industries and exit of production and traditional higher paying jobs has led to classic wealth of few, poverty of many. Ireland had a strong egalitarian history with strong social safety net, but that has been wiped out with neoliberal economic system and regressive taxation with the bankers/insurance/property class getting tax breaks.
Don’t forgot that ‘The Troubles’ didn’t end that long ago, generations of Irish people lived through that
I think also our crap weather and subsequent low vitamin D levels are also a case of these issues.
And unlimited immigration of unvetted young Muslim men.
Karl Byrne That's an utterly WRONG statement.
@@lorettaobrien8599 His comment maybe inaccurate or slightly off,but Ireland most def has to keep an eye on it's Immigration( it just doesn't have the size or infrastructure to cope) and a'Melting Pot'is cool,if thd new arfivas adapt&assimilate,and if it happens in a natural Organic way&the particular country has the size and economy to accommodate the newbies,,but force the issue or speed it up prematurely& u will see Culture clashes and resentment & its usually the hardworking innocent people who suffer
! And flooding the market with cheap Labour,may provide a surplus of convenience,but it will hurt the Pockets of local Workers( who most likely weren't earning bundles in the first place!)in the long run!
Plugs in bathrooms also aren't allowed in the UK (health and safety) - also in London, officially, buses that aren't specifically marked as "bus stop" are request stops and you're supposed to flag them. Yes, I agree, Dublin is known for being very expensive. The thing about being able to turn individual plugs off is that you need to remember to turn them ON again if you do actually want to use them - I had a student once who thought her phone was charging the whole time and it wasn't.
In Ireland it is not permitted, by law, to have an electrical outlet in a bathroom or shower room so as to negate the possibility of electric shock from damaged power cords or faulty appliances. I'm glad you enjoyed our country.
I read that Dublin is the major tech hub in Europe. The European Silicone Valley. Also, major banks and Investment companies are relocating to Dublin from the UK after Brexit. Employees of these companies needing accommodation has pushed up rental and house prices. Dublin used to be an unspoilt city so it's a pity wealthy companies are taking over. The price of progress I guess.
The real issue here is the lack of building. Our government and planning authority etc have failed to respond to the demand. Driving rents and property prices through the roof. Funny enough, almost all of our politicians are landlords and hold property portfolios...
EU will punish Ireland same way as UK if migrants journey not slowed as locals are left with less benefits
Not entirely in Dublin for instance Apple have their largest operation outside of the US in Cork city and Intel have a massive research and manufacturing facility in Co. Kildare.
They mostly go to Dublin for the tax 😂
Great video always hoping to travel in Ireland.
Traveled through Scotland to the Shetlands for a month in 2008!
Without sounding rude, the reason for all the "Mental Health" messages is the same reason for all the "Smoking Kills" messages, or "Dont Drink & Drive" messages.
A lot of these services are free so people are encouraged to seek help, and aren't then bankrupted by the cost afterwards.
It's the benefits of having a Health Services system without needing massive Health Insurance.
There is help there for everyone. Not just the people that can afford it.
Glad you're enjoying your stay. If you make it to Cork then head out West to Baltimore or Kinsale. Its beautiful this time of year. Lots of little islands you can visit on day trips. Really recommend it.
We don't have plug sockets in bathrooms in the UK for safety reasons. You may have a 2 pin shaver socket but that is it.
The voltage in US is 110V Ireland & UK is 220V. Hence no plugs/sockets in bathrooms.
Ireland 🇮🇪 is not the UK.
@@condorone1501 I don't remember stating in my post it was?
@@jh2419 The video was about Ireland not the UK.
@@condorone1501 some people see politics and hatred in everything. Happy St George's Day.
Things "being open when they're open" is so cool. We went to a pub in a quiet town out near Cong and we were under the impression that it closed at 10pm if I remember. The woman at the bar assured us that we did not have to leave and in fact locals kept popping in and out well past midnight. It was a great time and we loved spending time with real Irish locals. Fantastic.
It's pretty much a standing joke here in a lot of rural areas that when you ask when they're closed they'll look at their watch and then answer "September" - and in many cases they're not joking !!! 😆
Our Internet is extremely fast in private houses, 1 gig lines are common the businesses are just being cheap. And the no plugs thing is a safety regulation law
Glad you had a positive experience in Ireland. I've been going to Ireland for 40 years. It's almost my second home; the Irish are very friendly and witty. My Irish friends want me to move to Ireland when I retire. However, as you say, it's very expensive. The costs you mentioned are about what I paid. very good video.
Ireland certainly has a special charm! 🍀💚 It's wonderful that you've had such a long and positive connection with the country. Best of luck with your retirement plans, and I'm glad you enjoyed the video! 😊🇮🇪🏡
dont blame u for wanting to come here. america is one of the worst places ive ever been too
Just one thing I'd like to clear up, it's about the Famine, or Potato famine as it's sometimes called.
People did not die in Ireland during the Famine just because they had no potato's to eat due to the crop failure, like potato's were all they ate, no, they died because the potato's were grown and sold in order to gain an income so that they could pay their English landlords the taxes/rent which the conquerors had made law.
Potato crop failed = no money to pay rent = eviction notice served, so people starved or emigrated, it was a tough time, but we have much better relations today with our former rulers.
It's just a common misconception that some people have, that all the Irish ate was potato's, and probably washed down with a bottle of whiskey!
Great video by the way, keep up the good work 👍
Queen Victoria actively shipped our Meat and Grain and Vegetables to Britain as our people were starved.
It was a Genocide by Britain on Ireland.
Co Wicklow is known as the garden of Ireland.
I want to work remote from Dublin one day but the hotel rates and the AirBnB monthly rates are shocking. I would rate them right up there with London, Geneva, Zurich, and Paris as the most expensive cities in Europe.
There are other cities around the country. Galway and Cork are both thriving cities and less expensive than Dublin.
Sir Galahad you are right about us being up there with the other expensive European cities unfortunately.
@@corkboy4523 not by much if at all..
Yes it's crazy expensive...and for what?
The food is fantastic everywhere! They have picked up an the tastes of tourists,
And friendly! In Belfast they would stop us in the middle of the street to talk to you or help you find a restaurant, pub, museum, whatever!
That's Belfast though. It's by a country mile the friendliest city I've ever been to.
Thank you for taking the time to explore and comment on my beautiful country!
It’s my country,Right!!!
I own it 🤣
Buses have to be "flagged down" because, if multiple bus routes use at that particular stop you have to indicate your preference for that particular bus.
Well! I live in London. You told me,a few things! The Irish are inherently late! It's the place I've been looking for all my life!! As for eating late, too, well blow me down with a feather; I thought mainly the Spanish, do this!
Thanks Kristen 💚🌿
There's an old joke about a Spaniard asking an Irishman about the equivalent of "mañana" in Ireland. The Irishman replies "We don't have a word that connotes such a sense of urgency". The Irish really do have a casual attitude to timekeeping - no joke.
Electrical socket outlets are not allowed in bathrooms in uk and Ireland the voltage is 240v much higher than the 120v in the US. Shaver sockets are ok but must have a step down transformer fitted with a special winding.
The reasons for the switches on each plug is that their voltage is 220 vs 110 in the US. At that voltage, there is a risk of arcing, which makes it more dangerous to plug or unplug a live feed. So you’re supposed to switch a plug off before you plug or unplug a device.
Hi Kristin, thank you for your well observed post. Just by way of follow up on a few items you mentioned, I was not aware that the Irish suffered any more than any one else from mental issues. Certainly we all have challenges, but as you appear to report it, this was an opinion given to you by one person, which you appear to have taken as being an issue generally. On the next item, Ireland and the UK's electrical system operates at 220 Volts (instead of 110 Volts in mainland Europe and the US) and at this higher voltage, you will be unlikely to survive a shock. Accordingly in areas where there is water (which is a great conductor of electricity) such as bathrooms, there are no socket outlets, apart from for an electric razor, usually located so that any water falls downward from it. Also the light switch will be outside the bathroom. Similarly in kitchens, there should be no socket outlet within an arm's length distance of the sink. These measures are all for safety purposes. In terms of people being late, one of the few minor positives of Covid has been on line meetings, and in particular when working from home, Irish people appeared to have developed a wonderful new respect for punctuality, Without wishing to generalise, my experience has been that on line meetings in Ireland start on time with everyone present. Maybe this discipline will begin to trickle down into other aspects of Irish life, you will have seen for instance that buses trains and trams have real time displays as to the arrival of the next bus. And yes, unfortunately, if you don't put your hand out, the driver will conclude you might be waiting for a friend, but are not actually waiting for the bus. And no, it doesn't rain everyday, and even from time to time we have had droughts with resulting water rationing. Thanks again for your vid.
Paul, spot on. In my opinion and experience there is no more or less people in Ireland with mental difficulties than in any other parts of the World. For the most part we are a relatively happy bunch. One of the things that might be contributing to an increase in peoples anxiety is this menace called social media. And also in the past, the family was an integral part of Irish society. People probably chatted to each other more, rambling etc. was an integral part of living in (especially rural) Ireland. Where people could talk about their problems and those of their neighbours ! The higher voltage makes perfect sense now that you've highlighted it. We simply don't expect sockets in bathrooms and to be honest, I always thought that it was reckless to have them in bathrooms in Europe, what did I know....
Punctuality.....
It does my head in. I've worked all over Europe and being late simply doesn't happen in the work environment. Its considered downright rude. And.... Its amazing how you adjust and start being on time yourself and expecting everyone else to be also on time. I played GAA in London and it used to also do my head in there as GAA games regularly started 30 mins after they were supposed to. Not good enough and no acceptable as fart as I'm concerned. I see it all the time here, amongst friends and family. They don't think its rude, well I do. Its simply dis-respectful to others. Moan over.....
Just a little correction! Ireland and continental Europe operate a 220 volt electrical system, the UK operate a 240 volt electrical system, the US a 120 volt system. European electrical systems are recognised as the safest and most sophisticated in the world.
Irish people have no more and no less mental health issues than any other part of the developed world.
I did not find Dublin that expensive, but I totally agree...Weather not as bad as I expected and the food...It was really good! I loved the people, so friendly and open!!
It’s the housing crisis at the moment driving all the prices up with it
@@that_one_who_is8037 Yes, here too in Lisbon and just about everywhere I think!!
Wanting to move to Ireland. Not much of a city boy so I’d rather stay away from Dublin. Any good locations/cities to live in that you guys recommend?
Where I’m at in the states it’s impossible to get a machiato for less than $5
@@Nodnarb69athlone, galway, cork r good lil cities 2 live in ireland.
Just got back from 2 weeks in Ireland, drove 1,000 miles never saw a "homeless" tent anywhere. A truly beautiful country and some of the nicest people you'll ever find
It's wonderful to hear that you had a great experience during your trip to Ireland, Mike! The country's scenic beauty and warm-hearted people certainly contribute to its charm. Thank you for sharing your positive impressions of Ireland. 😊
Doesn’t sound like you visited Dublin..
There was a homeless tent right on a sidewalk along the busy road in Dublin. I couldn’t believe it. Why would you put a tent on a super noisy road!? The rundown part of Dublin had some obvious drug use and dealing as well. The country as a whole is amazing, but the larger cities, mainly Dublin, are not very clean or super safe feeling.
Honestly the only thing you said that doesn't track is the wifi issue... I actually just think hotel wifi globably is bad more often than not, and because people don't consistently rent out their airbnbs they tend not to opt for the most expensive wifi options.
In the US outlets near water need to be GFCI which have a breaker in it to stop people from getting killed. Regular outlets cost about 2 dollars and the GFCI are probably over 20 dollars.
Every circuit in Irish houses are protected by RCDs (what you call GFCIs). You are allowed to have a shaver socket but building regs won’t let you have any other socket in a bathroom.
We found prices in Dublin on par with those in a major city in the US. We live near Chicago, and the prices in Dublin didn’t surprise us. That being said, yes, prices outside of Dublin (Athlone, Galway, Letterkenny and the smaller towns) were lower.
Price in uk and ireland are very high compare to other side of the channel. Too many population for little territory.
@@bretagnejean2410it's not a population thing. Ireland used to have more before the UK killed a million of us. The problem is Dublin
Dublin was pretty rough, probably wouldn’t go back but would love to explore the rest of the country
Dublin is dangerous. 8 serious assaults there in 10 days. No cops seen day or night as usual.
Dublin is a sewer and getting worse with immigration, Drugs and Homelessness. But Politicians are making good money so all is good.......Until we end up like Sweden....
Ireland begins on the outskirts of Dublin
Thank you for your lovely take on Ireland. Enjoy your trip.🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪
Ireland is nice. Good food and good times, but yea a bit pricey, but the custom of not worrying about tipping is pretty refreshing. Nice that your servers are genuinely nice to you and not randomly conversing with you when you are about to pay or given the check…
It's pricey because you're not expected to tip 25%.
@ I meant in general, not just food, but yea that’s part of it
@@RC94332 At least you get to go home. I have to pay those prices all the time. The city centres are just ludicrously overpriced.
Let me guess. Only went to Dublin?
@ Nope. Not at all why Ireland is expensive.
I just returned from Ireland, and yes, outside Dublin, things are more reasonably priced. To say that there is no Uber in Dublin is not exactly true. You can use the Uber app to get a ride and pay, but only cabs will respond, which is fine. I loved the food everywhere except my hotel. When I go again, I will fly directly to Shannon and get out into the Wild Atlantic Way, the towns, the castles, the monastic ruins, and pubs. I enjoyed Trinity College, the Book of Kells, and the library, but not much else in Dublin. I will also go exclusively AirBnB. The full service hotels do not have A/C in the "bedrooms," as they call them. They say it's not needed and they give you a fan, but it is needed in the city, for me anyway.
There are mental health issues in Ireland but there is also a big movement to talk about these issues more and be more open about them. Historically Irish people never talked about these things and its only in the last 15 years we have started so I guess it could look like an explosion of mental health problems when really its and awareness movement. But there are real issues too.
Agreed.
In the early 90s I visited Ireland. One of the strange things I noticed the the pubs would lock the front door at closing time. They would not let anyone in, but you could keep on drinking what seemed like another hour or two.
..well technically you were closed on time according to the law but the pub owner could still earn a few more pounds and the locals were happy too, win win
That's a 'Lock In' - if the Guards came you could be fined a small amount or they might just join you in a pint.😀
Dublin is expensive but still not too bad compared to Miami or New York.
The weather in Ireland you were seeing reminds me of my trip to England last year in April. Although it was quite warm, it hardly rained at all during the week and a half I was there which was very surprising. I can tell it looks quite expensive there, but at least the great scenery and the friendly people make it all worthwhile!
You were lucky with the weather Scott, this summer it rained constantly, awful
I LOOOOVED Ireland. So much better than England. I found the people in Ireland incredibly warm and helpful. I went in college and had a bit too much to drink one night - the owner of the bed and breakfast we were staying at brought me a hot water bottle and helped nurse me out of my hangover the next morning😂
That sounds like a memorable experience! 😀
Your video is beautiful! One thing I learned when I visited Ireland a while back is that if a pub has pots of flowers hanging outside, it means they serve food and drink. But if there are no hanging flowers, the pub only serves drinks.
I did not know that - thank you! 💐
Not true, sorry, all the best from Ireland,Seán
Yeah, someone was pulling your leg when they told you that!
Sorry but not necessarily true,flowers are used decoratively and don't signifie food service
Yeah that’s not true at all haha
Hi Kristin, interesting video. About mental health, I think people are just more aware of different mental health issues nowadays and are open to talking about it which is a good thing. People, especially men, didn't traditionally talk about their problems or feelings. My own father didn't really talk at all until about 1998. You should watch the film 'The Quiet Girl' if you're interested in getting an idea of what the traditional Irish man was like. I also think a lot of people also get drunk as a way of being honest and expressing their true feelings, which obviously isn't healthy. However, I do think that younger people are not drinking as much as the older generations did.
My mom was born in New York but moved here as a teenager and stayed. I grew up in Goatstown, unfortunately I can't afford to buy a house there as it's about 1 million plus euro for a three bed on my road. She never returned to the US. I never knew about the plug sockets. Thanks, loved your video.
Believe it or not Internet speeds in Dublin in general are quite fast, I have no idea why your experience is so bad. Most people have fiber broadband with 500-1tb pretty standard. 5g with the major networks with average speeds of 300-350mb. 4g 40-100mb.
I agree. In Ireland I'm used to good internet. But now I'm living in the US, and it's abysmal! In fact, the town I live in has such poor internet and mobile phone reception that we've had to get Starlink, and even then it cuts out every few minutes..When I'm facetiming my family in Ireland, New Zealand, and Cambodia, they always laugh at what they call my '3rd world internet.'
And it's expensive! $120 for Starlink internet, and $180 for really bad mobile service on two phones.
Yeah something is up. I used to run the whole house hot spotting off a phone in the country, streaming and torrenting, no problem.
I have A 2 Gb fibre line to my home. Not slow.
Yep, I get around 220mb download speeds.
When you are on holiday, are you that concerned about internet speed. Priorities in the wrong order I think.
I LOVE the millions shades of green in this country especially this time just before summer really hits off. You get those lovely dark greens with the bark of the trees then you have this super light almost luminous bright green of the new leaves coming out. Its spectacular. Yeah the buses will leave you there if you dont put your arm out to let them know you are getting on lol its mad.
..or walk the dog on the bog in August with the purple and golden Heather against the varied shades of brown peat
Kristen, next time in Ireland try the west side. mayo, Galway and sligo are alot cheaper. they have some of the best food and pubs
Couldn't agree more, and I live in Dublin.
That’s true. I think Dublin is easily my least favorite part of Ireland. No charm just bleak with Grey buildings everywhere.
Because the place is 99% cafes and pubs and I live in Sligo. It’s a shithole 😂😂😂
Funny thing about the plugs being Irish is that even though we could turn off the plug my parents would still insist that we plug everything out 😅 they are paranoid
Great vídeo! I lived in Dublin for two years. The weather will catch up to you. I left after two years because I couldn’t handle the weather anymore 😂. Enjoy your time. Try make it to the west coast. The seafood is excellent out there!
The island called the Emerald Isle and you were surprised how green it is? Interesting.
Ireland is on 'Island time'. Islanders are subject to frequent changes in weather that distort perceptions of time.
Lol, news flash : there's this new thing now called a "watch" or "cell phone". Both will actually display the actual time quite accurately.
'distort[ed] perceptions of time', space as well? Thanks, Einstein - I'll use that next time I'm late.
@@mjw12345 What? You've never seen the Lost TV Series?
@@FidgetyGuy I should have noted that I quite enjoyed your post!
@@mjw12345 Like and subscribe.
So many great bars in Dublin outside Temple bar.. The big tourist places like the cliffs it's hard to avoid high prices..
I love hearing other nationality’s take of our country. I think your observations are very accurate.
Dublin is crazy expensive. Here in West Cork, a drink/coffee/pint is about 40% cheaper than in Dublin.
I think our mental health issues are no better or worse than other countries. Our current political leader was a Doctor before being the Taoiseach, he is trying to improve the health system in general. We have a huge shortage of psychiatrists/psychologist atm.
Have fun , enjoy your time here.
And the other thing is don't get sick or injured in Ireland. Accident and Emergency departments have a 24 hour typical wait to be even seen by a Doctor. Vradkar maybe a Doctor but he has little care for the health system imho.
He's doing nothing for the health service.
Irish people don’t appreciate the excellent service that’s available to them, I live in NYC and when I had an emotional breakdown I got far better care in Ireland, than I did in New York City.
I pretty much agreed with everything in your commentary. The only thing that surprised me was what you said about WiFi speeds. My experience was different. Typically I was getting 100 MBs in hotels and 200 MBs to 500 MBs in private homes and up to 800 MPs in offices. Maybe it’s slower in Airbnbs, possibly because there’s so many online. Anyway good video.
Thank you for sharing your experience! I appreciate your input and I'm glad you enjoyed the video! 😊
I'm a bit surprised you found it expensive in Ireland, coming from the US. I live in Dublin and am just back from the US and found it expensive there! Especially for things like cafes and eating out. This is a big difference from years ago, when the US was less expensive than here in Ireland. One difference you don't mention is that all prices are shown here tax inclusive, and that tipping is much less common here, so the price you see listed is the price you actually pay. We're definitely expensive in comparison to other European countries, but the US does seem to have got a lot more expensive in the past couple of years. Also, I think you've been unlucky with your Internet speeds: most homes in Dublin have broadband in the 10-50 Mbps range and more recently 500Mbs or 1 Gbps, which is widely available. Access to fast Internet can be an issue in more remote rural areas, but this is changing. Excellent video, by the way: very engaging, and always interesting to hear others experiences of visiting!
I forgot to add: yes, you did get lucky with the weather! It does rain here a lot - the green landscape didn't happen by accident! The good news is that it is rare for it to rain all day or continuously, especially in summer: typically it there might be showers that clear fairly quickly so you can get sun and rain in the same day.
The internet in Ireland is on average way faster than US and this includes Dublin
I didn’t find it all that expensive. Visited Dublin, Galway, and Cork. Really wish I had known more about Cork as I would’ve booked a couple of extra days there.
Headed back next April. The people are fantastic, the food is amazing, and the country is absolutely beautiful. Plus I now have a picture with my daughter in front of the house where my mother grew up in Dublin. Love love love Ireland.
Cork is the real capital of Ireland 😉😂
That's lovely Rick, glad you enjoyed it and again when you come back. G-néirí leat☘️
The Cork and Kerry accent will amaze you, you might not understand much if they speak quickly
you need to head west: dingle in particular is the best town in Ireland. and i say that as someone living in Tipp. Killarney is also brilliant.
I'm here right now as well and its very expensive, I would venture to say just as expensive as Switzerland. People are very friendly. Parts of Dublin are more gritty than I thought it would be. And the other language they speak here is Gaelic, its an old language and sounds like no other language that I've heard. Its interesting how much it is used in the country.
As an American I feel that Gaelic would be a tough language for me to learn.
We do call it Irish but in Irish it’s called Gaeilge. It’s a compulsory school subject that we do from age 4-18 but hardly anyone that I know is fluent.
@@user-ykn2na4y9s No..We call our language Gaelic or Gaeilge because that is what it is called, there is scots and irish gaelic , a language of the Gaels..celtic people, and no never experienced people getting bent out of shape over this ... and I have lived here 60 odd years....
@@theresanolan1157 sorry but in Irish it’s Gaeilige but in English it’s Irish and not Gaelic.
Funny we went on honeymoon in the US and we only noticed how green Ireland is when we returned!
We do have a very good quality and well regulated food industry. I notice more when we go abroad how much i miss our food!
Glad you enjoyed your trip. ☘️
Love Ireland.
AS an irishMan i can say you did a good job Kristin,
Thank you, that means a lot coming from an Irishman! Glad you enjoyed it! 🍀😊
I grew up in Enniskerry, and so was quite used to place-names like the Scalp, Stepaside and Goatstown. Glenamuck is between Stepaside and the Scalp - it means the valley of the pigs, like Glenageary (near Dún Laoghaire) - the valley of the sheep. What could be more ordinary! Well done on a very well-presented and informative video.
I loved your video! Thank you! I will assign it to my English students as listening homework. :D
Thank you so much, Eliana! That's fantastic to hear. I hope your students enjoy the video and find it helpful for their English practice. 😊🎥📚
Regarding mental health, yes it is a problem in Ireland just like in many parts of the world. And while it might seem two faced for Irish people to suffer in private and then go out in public with their happy face on, it actually helps. Taking a break from your negative thinking to briefly enter a fantasy land where "everything is grand" is a positive thing.
Thanks for chiming in, Michael. It definitely helps to have an escape and enjoy life. It’s the little things that make life great either way. Simple pleasures and time with friends and family. I think it would be better if we were all tot from the beginning that mental health ups and downs are part of being a human.
In Ireland , "mild weather" means warm and drizzly, i.e. in local parlance "a soft day"!
Everyone knows everyone 😂 takes a hour to walk grafton street, we talk to anyone and everyone respect bus drivers 🤗
Uber is widely available in Dublin and can be cheaper than the traditonal taxis .
As someone living in ireland for a good couple of years, your experience with internet slowness is weird, actually most americans that came to visit prefer the internet here than there. My phone gets 40mbps of download, unlimited data for 20$ a month, while wifi is 1gb (100 mbps download speed) for 60! Might have to do with the provider you chose and with the modem in the hotel you were in! Other than that, pretty spot on, specially the absurd prices in Dub!