As you may have noticed from Twitter, I am now back home in Darkest Somerset. Dublin was a blast, and also a really nice city. There were some great shops and restaurants they I wish I had been able to find the time to investigate. Maura recommended a really nice-looking museum that I also didn’t get to. I didn’t even have any Guinness. Hopefully some of this will be rectified when I go back for P-Con next month.
I was particularly taken by the use of an old church as a tourist information center. Maybe it is a CofE place that the Irish have re-purposed.
Talking of tourism and P-Con, I’ll do a more detailed post about getting to the Central once I have processed some video I shot there.
Anyway, I liked the city very much, and I’m also homeless right now. I bought an Irish paper on the plane back, and rents seem a little higher than they are here, but it is all complicated by the exchange rate. Hmm. Possibilities.
I lived in Dublin until 3 years ago – lovely place, but by the time I left very very very expensive, on a par with London (or even more so). With the economy going the way it has been recently, that may have changed slightly, but I was back on holiday middle of last year and I doubt that it’s changed much (€15 for a limp caesar salad in a pub?).
Do your research, go over a few more times, look at things like the tax implications as well (you’re classed as a “High earner” if you earn more than €15,000 a year, which puts you in the 42% tax bracket, and there’s no such things as a National Health Service……….).
Just things to consider
42% tax eh? That would bankrupt me very quickly. Oh well, scratch that plan.
And in case anyone is wondering why I’m homeless if I earn more than €15,000 a year, it is because for various complicated reasons I have to clear almost €8,000 a year (net of tax) before I actually have any money to spend on me.
yep St. Andrew’s was a Church of Ireland building
http://www.irish-architecture.com/buildings_ireland/dublin/southcity/andrew_street/touristoffice.html.
if you’re coming back, i recommend the Chester Beatty Library, the food markets in Temple Bar, and if it’s a nice day, a stroll by the canal.
was directed here by Neil Gaiman’s blog – thanks for the great summary of the Chapters evening as I couldn’t be there myself.
also, my impression is that rents are dropping…
also, the higher rate of tax only kicks in on earnings over €36,400 (or so) per annum (i’m assuming you’re an EU citizen though maybe not): http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/it/leaflets/it1.html#section3
QoB:
Thank you. €36,400 makes much more sense. And no, I do not earn that much.
Maura has already recommended the Chester Beatty Library, and I’m hoping to get there when I come back for P-Con. Food markets are good too. Maybe I could channel Jay Lake and do a cheese tasting. (I shall certainly be getting some Cashel Blue while I’m there.)
You’re welcome:)
there’s also a small – but pungeant – cheese shop on South Anne St. (off Grafton St.) called Sheridan’s, if the markets aren’t on at the time.
QoB:
You are a mine of useful information. Thank you!
Look forward to meeting you at P-Con. Thanks for the various and interesting entries here.