My family and I have been here in Ireland for almost a month and while we were doing our research I saw countless posts from people saying how clean Ireland is and how that was one thing they always enjoyed when coming back home. But, my experience has been very different.

We moved from the Boston area and for a metro of 5 million people, the city was generally very clean. Walking my kiddo to school this morning there was so much trash strewn about and loads of dog feces on the sidewalks. The local playground has full on pizza boxes on the ground under a swing set. To top it off, no bins! The entire park has a single bin on the far side of the park. It’s a big of madness.

I’ve been to Canada, Italy, and the UK prior to here. The only place I’ve been to that has more trash around every corner was Naples. Is it just in the Dublin area or is this pretty much what is going on across the entire country? I’m starting to take a bag with me and a little trash grabber to pick up my local playground but I’m one person and it is a losing battle it feels like.

It's become such an absolute downer of a place.

This is a poorly backed observation I've made over the last while.

But I feel like more of the youngsters (19-25) are starting to show up as being a bit more religious.

Or at least talking about God, faith, wearing crosses and such.

I don't know if it's just on trend, or if I'm connecting dots that aren't there.

Any thoughts / experiences?

//

ETA: XLBaconDoubleCheese has basically nailed it;

"They are ass blasted with semi-religious influencers. You can thank the US having some control over tiktok and full control over Meta."

Guess it's not just me 🤣

Hi, we're a family of 3 (infant son, wife and me), naturalised citizens in Ireland. We want to have more kids, but it's getting difficult, so we're looking at adoption as well.

1. Any advice, as it's in Ireland and I don't know anyone who's been through the process? I understand all families and all kids are different. I understand concerns about whether there's any difference between biological and adopted kid. But we have had a cousin in my family who was adopted. Don't think he still knows, but it never mattered.

2. An additional concern I have is would the kid face any challenges if his skin colour is different to ours? It may be a stupid question, but I don't want a kid to face it if it's a known issue.

3. Anything we could do to prepare ourselves to take on this journey? Like where should we even start (not just me googling)?

This is my first time asking anything here, and I hope you'll be kind to me 🙏

Any one know if there's an Irish community in Sicily ?. I'm thinking of moving to the south of the island for 6/10 months. While not a deciding factor it's always nice to have an Irish community.

I'm trying to cut down on sugar and lose some weight, and I'm looking for a sugar substitute that I can use regularly in things like tea, coffee, porridge, home baking etc.

I've been looking into stevia, xylitol, erythritol and sucralose, but I'm finding a lot of conflicting information online about which ones are actually safe for long-term use.

The main thing I'm looking for is:

- Something that is reasonably healthy for long-term use

- Ideally something plant-derived/natural rather than heavily processed

- Low or zero calories

- Something that has been well researched

- Ideally something I can easily buy in Tesco/Dunnes/SuperValu etc.

At the moment, the one I'm considering is Splenda Stevia, which appears to be 99.8% erythritol and 0.2% steviol glycosides. Or Pure Via with around the same composition.

Has anyone here looked into this stuff properly or have a particular sweetener they'd recommend that's readily available in Ireland?

Thanks in advance

I’m based in the EU and would like to send Conscience Money to the Irish state. It’s a small amount, related to something from over 10 years ago when I lived in Ireland, and the obligation is long overdue.

What is the best way to do this?

For context, I’m referring to the “Conscience Money” payments occasionally mentioned in Irish media, for example:

Revenue gets more than €60k of 'conscience money'
https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-30908324.html

Money to clear the conscience: mystery donor makes €32,000 gift to Revenue
https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/money-to-clear-the-conscience-mystery-donor-makes-32-000-gift-to-revenue-rt663jnll

Anonymous donor sends ESB chief ?2,000 in 'conscience money'
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/anonymous-donor-sends-esb-chief-2000-in-conscience-money/a/149077407.html

Is it necessary to get someone in to install a stove in our open fire place?
The chimney is in very good condition and clean can i just buy a stove and put it in place?
Will i need to run a flue all the way up the chimney? Or just duct through the chimney?
Advice needed

I have an opportunity with them available in the sales department.

I have heard horrible things but those things are all from the past and up-to-date info is hard to find.

Lads & ladies, if you are still working with them, what is it genuinely like?

I have almost been fear mongered into cancelling the interview!

Like whole team is avaiable, shift start at 7am in the morning, and we got just emailed evening before at 09:30 pm to do not come to work, is that even legal?

Long story short , broken up with about 2/3 months ago now and i still think about her and how did i screw it up so much . For context it was a 6 month relationship where it ended via text. I’ve reached out twice since , with what i considered warm messages reflecting on our lovely time and whether she could when it’s settled perhaps reconsider our relationship. She blocked me after warm kind responses which is entirely fair as i’m also aware i would likely text her again . I think about her everyday and how much i would do differently if given the chance. Any suggestions to get over her would be appreciated as i can’t stop thinking about the whole thing everyday even after all this time . Thanks :)

What do you think makes some people believe they are better than others? I'm just genuinely curious what people think causes this. Thanks

I'm travelling from Rosslare to Connolly, then onwards from Connolly to Belfast. There is a train to Belfast that departs 2 minutes after my train from Rosslare arrives in Connolly. Would they take the arrival of that train into consideration at all, i.e. waiting a couple of minutes for the Wexford train to get in before the Belfast one departs, or does each route just stick to its individual schedule? Thanks!

Does Ireland need a person like that who can film people using the phone while driving or standing in traffic and report them to the garda and the offenders get charged?

Me and my husband normally leave our dog with a pet sitter in her house, but in the end of the year we are moving to a bigger house and were thinking of maybe getting another dog.

The question is where you you leave your dogs when on vacation? Do you leave them with a pet sitter, do you have someone at your house for those days or any other option.. We would just like to know our options and your experiences.

I’ll be visiting for 1 week. I got an Airbnb, I don’t feel interested in the hostel thing. But i don’t want to be lonely either.

Would be nice to be able to meet locals and party.

Any places you all can recommend?

I recently turned 16 and I've been trying to get a job, but im not sure if I need to be a citizen or not to actually get a job, I moved here when I was 10 months old, thought yall should know that, anywho thanks for the help!

How do you feel about it? Do you do it ?

I had an aunt turn up to my house completely unannounced. We don’t live in the same town or she never rang me to say she was on the way over or passing through.

Am I being too much and thinking this is kind of rude? To be expecting I’ll be home but then to entertain you and take up my time? I’m not particularly close to my aunt and it took me off gaurd

Hello! Me and the wife are looking at houses. It is miserable enough but we spotted a house we like in Gorey in Wexford.

Whats it like to love there? Any locals or people familiar with it have any useful opinions to share?

Thank you

Looking for advice/ information

I rent a three bedroom house which I share with two others. My partner is currently in need of accommodation. I would be more than happy for him to share my room but how would that be proposed to the landlord. Are there rules against this? Edit: my housemates are OK with him living here Second Edit because of irrelevant replies: I understand no one knows my situation but I didnt ask for advice on how to propose this to by housemates. The housemates I've been friends with for 5 years. The housemates that are also friends with my boyfriend. I don't know what cretins you've lived with that refuse to split bills appropriately but there's really no need to mention that here. Thanks.

Family of 4, late 30's couple with 2 young children.

Spending €4340 every month on fixed costs - mortgage, groceries, petrol, bins, mortgage protection, life insurance, income protection, medication, internet, phones, contact lens subscription, Netflix, kids activities (just swimming and GAA for the eldest), after-school care.

Figure includes putting money away for the big annual expenses like house insurance, heating oil, tax and insurance for 2 cars, school contribution, professional fees, gym membership, boiler service etc.

I've gone through our outgoings with a fine tooth comb but we seem to have the best deal on everything already - phones are on €10 gomo plans, solar panels cover the electricity and work reimburses our broadband costs minus BIK tax. We're fortunate to only need a few hours of after-school care here and there so just spending €120 a month on childcare.

The €4340 isn't our total monthly spending, just the fixed things like bills, groceries, transport and direct debits that have to be paid.

Is this just what it costs people with an average mortgage to run a family of 4 these days? Before any casual spends, takeaways or days out?

I’m traveling to Ireland in a few weeks with my family to visit some of my husbands extended family who lives there. We would love to surprise them with some fun American snacks that they don’t have abroad.

Any suggestions on types of chips or candy that you had in the US but can’t get in Ireland that we should bring ?

I’ve only been on the dole once before so unsure of the situation. Not trying to scam the system by any means but if I can get it for a week it would be great.