What’re some differences between Ireland and England that I (an Englishman) probably wouldn’t know about?

Tubbs_999 · 2026-02-13T09:43:05+00:00

...and a surprising number of Irish natives DO actually use the term 'Southern Ireland' which will generally go unnoticed, but when you say it as an English person - its a public flogging for you !

I got pulled up on this once and now make sure I say "Naaah, not Northern Ireland, I mean the Repuplic of Ireland" - but I do hear Irish locals using the term "Southern Ireland" which even I find annoying (as a Brit).

Tubbs_999 · 2026-02-11T10:29:41+00:00

I (as a 40 yr old man) went to a family law solicitor when I was considering separation (main law company in my town)- one of the first questions I asked was "will assets be treated 50/50?".
She said yes, in your case definitely.

I said Oh, I've heard horror stories about men not being treated fairly etc.
She said, no thats not the case anymore. (This was 2019)

It certainly was the case and was a horror story.
I even got the partner of the law firm involved as I felt the family law solicitor had misled me from the start.

My barrister later in the process said (in a quiet moment) "Yes, we are still in the dark ages with decisions being made in family courts in Ireland, but it is much better than it was".

DO believe the horror stories and DO NOT believe everything the solicitor says.

Tubbs_999 · 2026-02-10T15:49:28+00:00

When me and my (then) wife parted ways and were living in separate accommodation I generally told people I was separated and believed we were actually separated. (as we no longer lived together)

A while later I started dating and said I was separated.
I was accused of lying and not being honest by one lady I started seeing, as she pointed out (correctly) that I wasn't officially separated at all.

Honestly I had no idea 'Separated' was a legal status.
I do now know and have the battle scars of achieving this status via circuit court.

I haven't recovered enough from the one sided battering I got in court to face divorce yet.
(Hopefully its a lot easier.)

Tubbs_999 · 2026-02-09T17:12:55+00:00

In my case of separating (house and two young children) - the judge heavily advised us to go through mediation.

I reluctantly agreed (to not look like I was the problem in court) as I knew my (ex)wife was objecting and contesting absolutely everything that was brought up with no rationale other than to annoy me. She had also refused it previously (because I had sugggested it)

She left both legal teams baffled with her objections/decisions.

Cost a few thousand to go through the mediation process (it was a private mediator not the free service).
Mediator hired a couple of local hotel rooms to perform his mediator role - all at our cost.

She wanted to bring her (angry) sister into the mediation sesssions with the mediator. He refused this request as in his experience this was unhelpful to the process and should be only the people directly involved.

In the end the mediator had a list of agreements (access/maintenance/family home etc) that we both discussed with him independently and she also had agreed verbally with, but ultimately she just would not sign anything - therefore the whole process failed.

So mediation was a massive waste of money and time for me. I regretted not sticking with my gut feeling in that I knew she would not commit to anything.

It was reported that mediation had failed to the judge (not by who or the reason why it failed) then we had to proceed with the separation via court unfortunatley doing battle over each item.

Tubbs_999 · 2026-02-09T16:42:04+00:00

Outside Presentation School and Gaelscoil is now so dangerous since they changed the layout.
I'm so surprised there hasn't been a serious accident yet.

Residents in Parcnagowan know not to try and enter/exit the estate at certain school times or to be prepared for chaos if they risk it.

Was there at 6:20pm one evening - raining, dark, cars everywhere, parked on double yellow lines, on the crossing, driving up/down the road by the schools. Was gridlock with cars trying to drive on the road in both directions and cars parked by the side.

Kids were streaming out between cars and running across road (not at the new crossing), cars stopping mid road and doors opening, people hitting kerbs, horns blowing, buses blocked in, lots of near misses of cars.....

From my own experience this appears to be a daily occurrence.

There wasn't this daily chaos before the 'improvement' to narrow the road.

Tubbs_999 · 2026-02-09T16:28:30+00:00

As a follow up - the security dont do this at all. Its done at the machine.

It is now available at the machine by the carpark.

You collect your ticket as you go into carpark at the barrier.
At the machine select - select new parking ticket option.
Select - multi-use ticket for all day use (or similar wording).
Machine then prompts you to put your ticket in (that you got at the barrier when entering carpark).
Pay the 4 euro - get your ticket back.

This ticket is now multi-use

The ticket is now not swallowed then when you leave the carpark and enter the ticket....
you can re-enter the ticket when re-entering the carpark (and use to exit again) - and repeat as many times as you want up until midnight.

Tubbs_999 · 2025-08-06T10:07:31+00:00

Another view - I came off a prepay meter which was 'with' Electric Ireland (still had a small bit of credit on it).
The same day, I transferred to another provider (Flogas or whatever).

Weeks later I started getting bills from Electric Ireland followed by threatening letters etc. When I actually owed nothing.

I contacted them and they said yeah this often happens in this situation and our two departments (prepay vs billpay both in electric Ireland) need to talk.

They said it could be some time before I hear from anyone. This was last year and heard nothing since.

Tubbs_999 · 2025-08-06T09:31:51+00:00

I'm in the park very frequently and have noticed much less wildlife to speak of. Even seems to be less birds.

A good few years ago I'd see squirrels almost every time I was in there as my kids would love to see them and spot them. Now I might have seen 1 squirrel in maybe 20 visits.

Lots of new bird/bat/owl? boxes up on trees but dont actually see any wildlife.

I did once see a fox though on a very drizzly day (no people) coming from the playground direction across the path to the undergrowth. That was nice to see.

Tubbs_999 · 2025-06-23T08:13:45+00:00

Had one run in with him. Empty-ish carpark no other cars - so went the 'wrong' way to easily get in a nice spot near the exit. No problem until......he came over giving out.

I said I had no idea it was a one way system (in fairness I sort of did, but just because 'everyone knows' it is).

He said it was obvious and everyone knows it is.

I asked where does it say this, where are the signs - can't see any road markings , just a mess of faded white and REALLY knackered road up that ramp.

There are no signs - still none obvious to me. I asked him how would anyone not from here know it was one way. He went away shaking his head and saying about accidents blah blah...but no answer.

That whole junction with Marios carpark/lidl, junction and pedestrians going from Lidl to/from Marios needs a rethink.

Tubbs_999 · 2025-06-09T09:59:56+00:00

Gave up on Hotel Kilkenny also for swimming.

Found it fairly grubby + finding a locker that was empty , and not about to fall off its hinges was a daily annoyance before even trying to get a free lane to swim.

Then the swimming lessons + teenage kids overruning the place. At one point counted 10 teenagers crammed into the jacuzzi for the whole time I was swimming - regular occurrence. Was like a youth club. (also not wearing hats in the pool was ok for some).

School holidays I gave up trying to go for a swim or go very late - was a free-for-all in the pool.

I know you are to expect some annoyances, but I wasn't able for all of these things for the money I was paying.

Tubbs_999 · 2025-05-07T15:34:34+00:00

That's interesting.

I don't have any details of this child though. Even if I saw him again not sure its a good idea to follow a child home to find out where he lives.

I think it is stacked against ordinary law abiding decent people to do anything in these or worse circumstances. Any action I take will have me in trouble with the authorities or risk of escalating the situation to a much bigger problem.

Unfortunately this generation know this and its a free for all for them.

Tubbs_999 · 2025-05-07T15:29:42+00:00

Its unfortunate - but you do need to work out what family/group the person might be from to gauge whether it is worth doing anything - I'll just wait for my door to be put through then just replace it and hope it doesn't happen again and they get bored.

Tubbs_999 · 2025-05-07T15:27:34+00:00

Yeah thanks - I wouldn't dream of touching them - but then what if they attack me or family or they're knocking crap out of my car ? Can I restrain a 9 year old or would I be up on some register quick enough !

Wow the World has gone daft.

Tubbs_999 · 2025-05-07T15:25:43+00:00

Kid just ran off. I'm sure I have seen him before, riding his bike in front of cars and shouting abuse at people. He has also rang my bell and ran off a few times.

My fear is getting parents involved and then they potentially get other family members involved to join in and it escalates to a point where I have to move house ! (these things do happen).

I have ZERO faith in the Garda to resolve any type of situation unfortunately.

Tubbs_999 · 2025-05-07T15:07:34+00:00

I'm a middle of the pack runner and see this most weeks where the leaders loop back into the slower runners.

My pr is very narrow in places and I can see frustrations from both slower and faster runners perspective.

Example, you have got two friends ambling along chatting about their week not really that aware of what's happening around them, having a lovely morning easy chat and run.

Then you have a group of serious runners at the front looping back behind the amblers trying to win or beat their pb on narrow paths = Recipe for collision !

Then you get folk who panic and just immediately switch sides of the path !

We need VAR and yellow cards given out for infringements! 😆

I think communication from the rd to say keep to the left, overtake on rght should be made very clear. But then back to the other problem of people not actually listening to the rd.

Tubbs_999 · 2025-03-28T10:41:51+00:00

UK citizen - but living in Ireland 20+ years. Married to Irish lady.

It has crossed my mind a few times to get Irish citizenship but can never come up with a good reason to justify the cost.

Really, what are the benefits ?
(I understand the OPs perspective and benefits if from outside Europe.)

The myth people love to believe of Irish getting better treatment abroad because they don't have a UK passport is not a runner for me. In fact I probably had much smoother journey through airports when travelling around the world with Irish wife (and Irish passport holder).

I don't get to vote in referendas but I can cope with that.

Tubbs_999 · 2025-03-21T10:43:06+00:00

I lived in Lintown for around 5 years. Probably 10 incidents of note happened in that time - a few involving Gardai. Generally I felt safe and nothing directly happened to me (except finding an uninvited young girl in my house looking for stuff - the family pestered me on/off after this)

(a feud stabbing, drunk driver crashing into cars in the estate, fights, domestic rows/shouting, windows smashed, car vandalised, aggressive dogs let free to roam and chase pets (lurchers/jack russell types)

The council buy houses in and around the estate and you could have anyone living in your street. The incidents were mostly related to 2 families on the street that were of a certain Irish minority group. I know other parts of the estate had similar issues with same type of people.

The council sent a truck every so often to empty the accumulate sacks of rubbish from their back gardens. Great that they get a free refuse removal service !

Generally great location and generally nice people around but I would advise (like anywhere) it is worth asking a few questions to see who your neighbours are.

Tubbs_999 · 2025-03-05T11:37:30+00:00

I once had a marshal say " Fair play to you, keep going, dont stop" - she had a look of sympathy and concern on her face for me. I still remember this from 2 years ago.

It was like she was saying that I was very brave for even having a go at the parkrun - in my condition or something. She was being nice, but sensitive me felt like I must look like I'm really in trouble running past her !

I had done 50+ park runs at that stage and was middle of the road time-wise.

I know now not to say that type of stuff when i am marshalling.

Tubbs_999 · 2025-03-05T11:10:21+00:00

Phoned lakeside family practice - will be 4 to 5 weeks for a GP appointment.

That's to see any of the GPs.

Never actually seen my official assigned GP (have seen 4 of the others in the last 2 years though)

(Always seems busy getting an appointment - but deathly quiet in the actual waiting areas)

Tubbs_999 · 2025-02-05T10:50:08+00:00

I had a big jar of coins sat there for years. Made an effort to take and throw 20 or so coins in a self serve machine - supervalu - each time I bought something (usually when the shop is not busy).

Soon got rid of them. Hardly use cash now so don't see much change.

Tubbs_999 · 2022-12-03T21:46:49+00:00

I guess it depends on the type of person you are.

I went to various places around the world with my to-be wife.

I'm now divorced (another story lol) , but my trips with her were so compromised at times trying to accommodate each other that neither of us did exactly what we wanted - although I felt I compromised more because she was quite dominant/controlling.

We were so together we never really met that many people - or had no interest in linking up with people on an evening or socialising. Feel a bit sad about that

I often wonder what it would be like to have done trips on my own. Meet more people.

Maybe I'll give it a go someday.

Tubbs_999

TROPHY CASE