Worst Towns in Ireland

**Mad Moose** · 16/10/2007, 1:55 PM

Just wondering what people's thoughts might be on the worst towns in Ireland and if we could reach consensus on it even. Possible a list of 20 towns.The criteria would have to be something like most deprived for example.

Over here there are regular releases on the worst towns in England. Places like Middlesborough, Burnley, Nottingham, Mansfield and Hartlepool feature heavily.I would concur on 4 of those as I haven't been to Mansfield.

So which towns might feature then?

**John83** · 16/10/2007, 2:12 PM

I'm reminded of this article http://www.guardian.co.uk/eu/story/0...226481,00.html

**Dodge** · 16/10/2007, 2:14 PM

This is obviously going to go downhill fast...

However I'll be first to nominate and I'll go with Cork

**John83** · 16/10/2007, 2:17 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

This is obviously going to go downhill fast...

However I'll be first to nominate and I'll go with Cork

If we're going there, I'll nominate Kilkenny, the little town that thinks it's a city.

**osarusan** · 16/10/2007, 2:18 PM

Celbridge.

And bin this thread, before flame wars erupt.

**smellyfeet** · 16/10/2007, 2:20 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

This is obviously going to go downhill fast...

However I'll be first to nominate and I'll go with Cork

I quite like cork city.

But if i was to nominate a town it would be Shannon

**tetsujin1979** · 16/10/2007, 2:30 PM

I'd like to nominate Mountrath, purely because of the amount of time I get stuck there every time I drive back to Limerick

**razor** · 16/10/2007, 2:33 PM

I was in Arklow once, oh holy god !!

**kingdom hoop** · 16/10/2007, 2:34 PM

Originally Posted by osarusan

And bin this thread, before flame wars erupt.

Let's try to be more objective in that case. I vote for Mountrath in Co. Laois where half the shops there are closed down and as a result it has a depressing feel, or closer to home for me, Ballyduff in north Kerry where the high number of pubs closely matches the amount of boarded up houses, a good contender for Ireland's roughest towns. I'd have to agree with Smellyfeet on Shannon as well, though my last few courtships have gracefully skirted the town, speeding on to the airport.

**Pauro 76** · 16/10/2007, 2:38 PM

Dublin towns, Id go for Ballyfermot. Rest of country, Ballymote in Sligo.

**Ash** · 16/10/2007, 2:41 PM

Tullamore.
It just seems to be a dull, grey hole of a place.

**Dodge** · 16/10/2007, 2:42 PM

Originally Posted by smellyfeet

I quite like cork city.

EASY! EASY! EASY!

**First** · 16/10/2007, 2:44 PM

Sligo Town and definately Shannon. As Smellyfeet can concur with there is nothing to do there.

**Lionel Ritchie** · 16/10/2007, 2:45 PM

Originally Posted by smellyfeet

I quite like cork city.

But if i was to nominate a town it would be Shannon

Irelands little Milton Keynes. It's a very odd place aesthetically is Shannon because unlike like most villages, towns and cities it didn't spring up around a river crossing or cross-roads.

I dunno if I'd have it down as a "worst" but it is quite soulless.

There's a very odd little town on the N52 in county Westmeath called Clonmellon. I used joke going through there that the entire place is a front for drug-dealers or some sort of crimelord shennanigan. It feels like a set. There's this massive wide street through it, a couple of churches, a string of houses, shops and pubs and there is NEVER a soul to be seen about the place.

On a foggy night before christmas last year I called into a chipper there to ask where I might find the Gardai as there were cows on the road coming into the town. The two girls in the chipper scarecly looked up at me. Frankly I thought I'd walked onto the Marie Celeste.

I was told the cop shop front desk was closed and I should phone them -no offer to phone them was forthcoming mind - so I tried to get the cop shop on directory enquiries -no joy -not listed. I ended up phoning Henry Street Garda station in Limerick to get them to pass a message to someone up in Westmeath that there was a serious hazard outside a ghost-town.

**kingdom hoop** · 16/10/2007, 2:56 PM

Originally Posted by First

As Smellyfeet can concur with there is nothing to do there.

Plane-spotting is nothing? You must have been really spoilt for entertainment growing up.

Ah shur tis great for all the kids so they realise there is an escape!

**Lim till i die** · 16/10/2007, 2:59 PM

Dundalk

Obviously

**Mad Moose** · 16/10/2007, 3:04 PM

Originally Posted by kingdom hoop

Let's try to be more objective in that case. I vote for Mountrath in Co. Laois where half the shops there are closed down and as a result it has a depressing feel, or closer to home for me, Ballyduff in north Kerry where the high number of pubs closely matches the amount of boarded up houses, a good contender for Ireland's roughest towns. I'd have to agree with Smellyfeet on Shannon as well, though my last few courtships have gracefully skirted the town, speeding on to the airport.

Good point and thats what this requires.Objectivity and not personal bias. I got the feeling this would o downhill but it doesn't have to. Just post sensibly please. Its not meant to be a degradation of these towns.

Funny but Shannon would have sprung to mind too.Only been through it once actually and 'soulless' is a pretty apt description actually.

**ifk101** · 16/10/2007, 3:17 PM

Athy.

**strangeirish** · 16/10/2007, 3:18 PM

Dungarvan. It's fairly decent during the day and the locals seem friendly, but watch out at night after the pubs close. I suppose it happens in any town, but I found Dungarvan to be particularly nasty.