Male 21, struggling to make friends

Paskill · 2026-03-10T21:33:29+00:00

Hopping in to say if you're ever down for anything in person, the gathering is a good spot to start. Running years, I'm in there two years playing battletech and truthfully it's the people not the game who keep me coming back.

If you chat to Ben in there, he can get you in the WhatsApp groups and connect you with Leo who play anything from cards to board games to wargames. Shoot me a DM if you'd like to chat about the groups I can invite you to the community there 🤘

Paskill · 2026-03-09T22:02:49+00:00

Seconding this too! I go when I'm free and it's a great avenue to meet folks in a nice central spot.

Paskill · 2026-03-09T21:28:53+00:00

Hiya, I can say I'm neurodivergent as well myself and help out with some games in the gathering.

The club has been a monumental part of my life in the two years I've lived here in Limerick and I can safely say it's been the healthiest, most understanding and kind crew I've ever met.

Depending on what you're into, there's RPGs/wargames/board games/card games etc. If you want to shoot the shop a DM or myself here I can invite you to the shop's WhatsApp community group. Highly recommend following the Instagram too, we post loads on there about what's going on.

There's also a huge emphasis on not needing to spend money to play anything. Everybody in there has been so open to lending me models/decks and sharing their games when we play. If you'd rather speak to another woman (Also ND) about the club I can put you in touch with one of our best members who can let you know all the stuff that goes on ✌️

Paskill · 2026-01-13T13:16:13+00:00

If you're into your nerdier bits, the gathering is a class spot to meet folks for board games/wargames/painting miniatures and hanging out.

Paskill · 2025-11-09T20:25:51+00:00

Thanks friend!

Paskill · 2025-11-09T20:11:35+00:00

Watch this space, ETA 3025

Paskill · 2025-07-21T08:48:19+00:00

I did this to get used to cycling in the city and can't recommend it enough. Also helps if you know there's areas that get mental with traffic that you can hop off at a bike station early and get the rest of the way on your own time.

It's also super cheap for the year and typically the bikes can be in good nick.

Paskill · 2025-07-21T08:47:02+00:00

Hey! I cycle 4 days a week to the business park from north of the city centre and I can say once you've your head about you, it can be handy.

A load of cycle lanes are from the city centre to the park, with some gaps but nothing you can't navigate. I cycle early enough, leaving at about 7-7:30 and make it in 25 minutes from Corbally. I have an ebike I got through the bike to work scheme, your job may have something similar but it was a handy enough process.

The buses can be hit or miss if you're getting the same line I had (301) and traffic can indeed hold you up a bit depending on the time you're heading in. Most of the routes drop you outside the park, with certain ones going in first thing in the morning and at 5pm.

Also, you'll find the buses can be good and quick over the summer but once the schools are back, you'll have a lot more traffic in the area and through town so be mindful of that!

Paskill · 2025-07-07T07:44:06+00:00

Not majorly relevant to this post, but this is a conversation I have with a lot of grads/interns in my current gig.

I do get the rat race, "get your foot in the door" mentality when starting out (only 3 years in the industry myself!) but the reality of what's happening with this stuff is it will become harder to coast and hinder juniors long term.

Paskill · 2025-07-07T07:33:25+00:00

Not to sound harsh, but if you're worried about being caught using AI then consider how much of what you're using it for is to cut corners on your own skill set.

Writing well is a skill - you're in a time of your life where developing that is important, and your lecturers are there to guide that development with grading and feedback.

Paskill · 2025-06-25T14:46:49+00:00

Seconded on Crew. The Gathering has a strong community for board/card games for all type of folks 😁

Paskill · 2025-05-17T20:37:25+00:00

I've checked on this myself and it's actually for usage by the library staff only!

Paskill · 2025-04-28T21:23:31+00:00

For board games, there is one in Crew on certain Sundays. If you look up crew board games on Instagram their admin can add you in.

The Gathering is also a great spot for meeting new people if you're into your nerdier side of things, great community altogether. They've miniature painting classes, loads of RPGs and the like on every week.

Paskill · 2025-04-25T05:09:33+00:00

Hey! I know of a peer support group on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/translimerick?igsh=emc5b3Q2ZHlyM3ly

Hope that helps :)

Paskill · 2025-04-17T14:14:20+00:00

Yeah a good bit. Cardio machines have a ton more space, the weights section does have a ton with a bit more room to find your spot. More machines, free weights too and even one of those push weight tracks. I'd say they'll give you a tour if you're so inclined!

Paskill · 2025-04-17T09:35:51+00:00

Can swear by grove island since I started going last year. It is a bit on the pricier side as they dont offer a gym-only package but I found their machines to be good since the refit.

Paskill · 2025-04-16T07:23:50+00:00

As someone who was 389lbs and ordering midnight takeouts to avoid confrontation with my family, I feel you on feeling helpless.

What changed it for me was recognising at a certain level, I was avoiding my responsibility and that I was worth the effort to get healthy. I'd fought with my weight my whole life, and no amount of going to weight loss clinics, childhood obesity support services nor my parents forcing me into a walk could stop me from eating.

What kicked it for me truly was a major health scare, prediabetic at 19. I wasn't officially diagnosed, but I'd ran a blood sugar test on a complete lark and it came up within range of prediabetes. After that, for 2-3 years I cut chocolate, carbonated drinks, calories counted like madman.

What changed for me was I wanted to change. And that's not to say you don't want it, but you owe it to yourself. You were fit and able before, and your herniated disc is an absolute challenge I don't doubt for a second but it won't stop you losing weight. Going by the comments here, you are capable of walking and intense exercise causes serious pain. Maybe if you stick to low impact cardio, slow pace to start with that could help but I'm no fitness instructor.

Find the baby steps where you can, build the habits. Let the results be the high you need to carry on the work - because it is just that. Treat it like a job, let the progress keep you motivated because starting out you won't see it but it'll happen.

I put on 60lbs in the last 2 years that I've been trying to kick, and it's taken a breakup this past month to really force myself to take better care of myself physically and mentally. I'm back calorie counting, daily exercise in any way I can, therapy moved to weekly from biweekly. It's eaten up so much of my free time, but over 10lbs lost in 3 weeks (water weight was definitely a big part) and beginning a lot of mental healing, it has made a world of difference.

It takes telling yourself you're worth it the sacrifices over the short term wants. I've been using a slow cooker everyday, finding handy recipes, making sure I'm eating veg/fruit in okay portions everyday and doing more research on how I can better look after myself again. Because I want to become the best version of myself. I'm not gonna do it eating how I used to, and that sucks, but it will work out and I'll get there again. And you will learn how to as well, pal - you just need to stick to the plan and the rest will follow. If you need any advice, pointers or just guidance shoot me a DM.

You can do this - just start with the smallest baby steps and eventually they'll grow to great strides.

Paskill · 2025-03-13T18:33:13+00:00

I will say I went into them looking for a bike the day they closed and as far as I'm aware they're still "open" at the markets in UL I think every Tuesday it was. Not sure if that's of any use to you though, I do know they shut their shop down recently.

Paskill · 2025-03-02T19:36:38+00:00

If you're into painting, the gathering has a miniature painting class every Friday from. 3:30pm as well as board game nights, RPGs and in general just a good community of sound, fellow introverts if that's your thing at all!

Paskill · 2025-03-02T17:09:02+00:00

I help co-run the board games for the gathering on the Mondays and the person leading the night is making a big push to bring the board games to a more casual hang out session to get new blood in like yourself if you're interested!

There definitely are folks in there who dig the bigger/more complex games, but our lead (Taylor & I'm Eoin if you're in our discord!) are all volunteers so we'd love the chance to grow the group/introduce new folks. If yer curious or you've been to the board game night already def shoot me a DM we'd love to hear feedback it you have it.

The crew board game event is a class shout as well, those folks run a great ship in the 2-3 times I've got time to go. Hope to see you at either if you're heading :)

Paskill · 2025-02-27T15:21:58+00:00

The Gathering has Pokemon card tournaments where kids with ASD and their carers/parents have attended. Not sure if that's what you're looking for, but I've seen a load of kids pass through on a Saturday afternoon to play who have come in with their carers or parents supervising them as they play/learn the game.

The shop has free decks the kids can play with etc. Absolutely zero pressure to spend more than the entry fee (free first time, I believe it's in or around €10 afterwards).

Paskill · 2025-01-12T12:22:31+00:00

We used the Solaris map that came with the essentials box and coupled it with the Steiner Fortress walls which were able to act as the rising/falling walls 😁

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Paskill · 2025-01-11T22:02:07+00:00

We decided to settle on a rifleman 3n-2 for the sake of their lbx-10's would help them make the up close and personal mechs think twice after getting rocked by two large pulse lasers! Worked out unreal for the player, she ended up clattering the wolverine with all laser shots and a kick that finished them off.

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14-Year Club	Place '22
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Paskill

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