which would it be, Dublin or Cork?
Ds2 is considering it. I’ve never been to Ireland. Would getting to other countries from Cork be difficult? Basically, fill me with all your info about these two cities. TIA
Dublin. We honeymooned in Ireland 20+ years ago. Dublin is a large bustling city. Cork is definitely not.
For study abroad? Dublin. Cork is a great weekend, and if she was going for the full UG 3-4 years I would be more equivocal, but there is only so much study abroad students integrate with full time students, and there are just more pathways for a temporary person to feel part of things in Dublin.
You can get flights from Cork to a dozen or so cities in other countries via Aer Lingus and Ryanair- a couple of UK cities, some random places (eg Poland) and some of the Spanish, Portugese and French holiday towns that package holidays specialize in (eg Malaga, Lanzarote, etc).
Bona fides: have studied and lived there, and still spend a good chunk of work time there.
ps, agree that the access to Kerry & Dingle is great- if you have a car. Very few students have cars and public transport in Ireland is all spoked out from Dublin (there is a super train between Cork and Dublin though).
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Dublin is a really nice small city with lots of cultural attractions and also has easier transport access to weekend destinations. Cork is much smaller, nice but not as much going on for youth. Cork is closer to the Beara, Kerry, and Dingle peninsulas for outdoor lovers and will also be much less expensive. Dublin IMO.
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I have never been to Cork.
If I had the opportunity to spend a year in Dublin, I would be very tempted (assuming that my wife would go with me).
I would make sure to at least a few times get fried fish and chips served in a brown paper bag. There is something about the brown paper bag that adds to the experience. Then you walk next door to the pub and have a pint of Guinness with that.
I am a bit amused that the automated CC computer system thinks that “brown paper bag” refers to a university.
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I’d vote for living in Dublin and visiting Cork one weekend ; )
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Dublin definitely. We spent two months there while DH was on an assignment. If it weren’t for the reverse traffic, I would have thought I was in Boston. I agree with those who say Cork is less expensive, but there is not as much to see and do there. Dublin is the capital and cultural center and would be a no-brainer choice for me.
@collegemom3717 – do you mean flights from Dublin? Don’t think Cork would have all those international flights unless things have changed.
It’s too bad that Galway isn’t one of the choices! An extremely cosmopolitan city with tons of young folks and stuff to do, plus on the gorgeous west coast–stone’s throw from Aran and not far from the Cliffs of Moher. If it were possible, I’d say it’s the hands down first choice.
Given the two choices available, i agree that Dublin makes more sense. But she definitely must take many trips out to the country especially the West coast, Dingle, Kerry, etc. My D took buses all over the country during several trips there, so it is definitely possible to get around on public transportation, but easier to do from Dublin.
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Dublin. Cork is nice too, but for a whole year, I just don’t think is as much appeal for a young adult.
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LOL no- those really are flights from Cork. From a Dublin perspective that is super limited!
I agree that Galway is a great university city!
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I talked to a neighbor who spent some time there looking at ancestral things, who also loved Galway, and this is how she summed up the difference between the two.
She said Dublin is more like a city, but that, probably because Cork is smaller the university has a larger presence. She couldn’t quite come up with the word, but said Cork is kind of “edgier.” Like less stereotypically Irish. Do y’all concur?
I should add that he’d be getting a master’s so he’s there to study. Trying to decide between programs. He likes the one in Cork better.
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Woops–I stand corrected! I just assumed. But yeah, I read too fast. Dublin goes everywhere.
So that’s a different calculus than an UG study abroad. If he’s there for a full program, he will be part of the cohort, and the actual program in a Masters can be meaningfully different.
But Cork being ‘edgier’ than Dublin? just no. Less stereotypically Irish? depends on what you mean by that: not as many tourist-targeted things? probably fair, at least in some parts of Dublin city centre. Cork people would say that they are more authentically Irish than the jackeens up in Dublin.
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How long does the super train take to get between the cities?
Dublin does sound like the better city, to me, as I would love him to use this year to also spend time traveling to other countries, but if it’s a quick trip to get to Dublin and could easily fly out of there, then maybe it’s not such an issue if the Cork program really is better for him.
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So, I thought your question was for a college sophomore or junior looking to spend a year abroad.
IMO a college graduate (or nearly!) looking to do a Masters is a whole different kettle of fish. This is somebody looking to shape their life work, not just have an adventure / enriching experience. The differences in the program can be meaningful; access to vacation travel much less so- and certainly not an “issue”.
Fwiw, the train takes 2-3 hours (there are express & local versions) and b/c they still haven’t built the rail link to the airport you take either an €8 / 35* minute bus or a €20 / 20* minute taxi (*obviously traffic dependent) from Heuston station to the airport.
When I was a Masters student in Ireland we tended to go to Irish places- groups of us stayed in the youth hostel on Inismore, a self-catering holiday house in Kerry, a classmate’s family farm near Limerick, etc. That was, of course, a million years ago, but GradSchoolKid’s friends are doing pretty much the same thing: Irish students just don’t have much money, so yes there are European breaks, but not nearly as many as you might imagine- a few times over the year maybe? You might think that is a missed opportunity (esp given how cheap the fares can be!), but the local trips not only take you to another level of understanding the place, but are the basis of real, long term relationships (as seen by the turn out of former classmates at the recent milestone birthday party).
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The comparison of Dublin to Boston was interesting. When looking at the two cities on a map, geographically they resemble each other: city on the western side of a “C” shaped bay, with a river flowing through the center of each.
Which university in Dublin? Because UCD and Trinity have greater standing in most fields and if it’s for a Master’s it may matter more.
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Before the coronavirus, my family and I went to Cork to rest for a month. I have very good memories after this weekend. We still remember this beautiful city and think that soon we will fly there again. The husband says that he would like to study and live here.
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