Originally Posted by
jebus
Lets go through this, and I'll talk about Cork in relation to Limerick as I don't know Galway all that well and Dublin is the only actual city in Ireland if we're being picky about things (been out there 3 times, had a bad night 3 times).
Restaurants: I agree that Limerick isn't the best in relation to Dublin in the restaurant stakes, but Cork is not any better, so I assume Galway, Waterford etc. are the same? There are a handful of top quality restaurants in Limerick and quite a few decent ones, ditto Cork, in fact having lived in both cities I think Limerick edges Cork in quality terms as we have more decent restaurants, where as Cork's quality tends to be either Very Good and **** Poor.
Universities: Is a 15 minute bus ride out of the city, what else do you want? UCC is about the same distance from the city as LIT is, and Mary I and LSAD are practically in the centre of town. CIT on the other hand is in Mongolia
Theatres: The Millenium Theatre is over the bridge (5-10 minute drive) and UCH is that 20 minute drive we talked about, if people can't be bothered with those times tough, thats there loss.
Concert Venues: Dolans is one of the finest in the land, UCH has hosted some big concerts, and Baker Place is putting on a good few shows these days. The Castle has been used in the past for gigs and hopefully will be again as it is top quality there. In Cork you have the Savoy (which is a dump with bad sound) and where else again? The Brog serve the worst pints in Ireland and is a bad venue, and the other venue (same street as the Brog, name escapes me) is one of the worst set ups I've ever come across.
Cinema: The Kino in Cork is a good addition, albeit a cramped uncomfortable one, but the Gate is a pretty poor city centre cinema, and the Mahon Point one (despite being the best of Cork's cinemas) is in such a rough area no-one I know goes near it as the bus leaves you in the middle of a friggin council estate to walk the rest of the way. Limeick's cinemas are 15 and 10 minute drives out of the city centre respectively, again what else do you want? Thats perfectly reasonable
Festivals: Limerick has the best art festival outside of Dublin in EVA and the Riverfest weekenders are a great laugh. Cork's Jazz festival is over-rated and the film festival over-priced.
So I fail to see how Limerick is poorer in entertainment terms than Cork, and I assume Galway, Waterford etc. bar Dublin