r/AskIreland

Seen a thread earlier asking what the worst companies to work for are so I'm curious to know what the opposite is and what the best companies to work for are.

What are some awful companies to work for in Ireland at the moment? These can be in terms of work life balance , progression opportunities or other criteria you may have in mind

What food are you mad about but you need some explaining to justify? This has gotten me a fair doing from my family but I’m obsessed with refried beans. Do they look like dog food? definitely. Do they vaguely smell like dog food? yes according to my dog who got excited because he thought his dinner was coming. But if you fry up a bit of garlic and onion before popping the beans in with maybe a splash of stock or milk then they’re divine. Heaven and mush! Love them in a quesadilla with cheese and specifically Valentina or Cholula hot sauce. Also great in a burrito. I think we as a nation don’t appreciate other types of beans to their full potential. However Aldi did have their own refried beans in a couple weeks ago so I’m stocked up!

I have applied for a PhD (and it is one that I would really like to do) but I was kind of surprised to see that the stipend was considerably lower than other stipends of PhD's I have seen (which are largely now €25,000). I searched around on here and maybe 7 years ago a stipend of €16,000 was *barely* enough to get by in Ireland, however, with the cost of living and extortionate renting prices, trying to live with this stipend seems pretty difficult. I do have a part time barista job that I plan to keep if I am successful in my application, and I would supplement myself through teaching/demonstrating. My main concern is that when I look for accommodation surrounding the university, the rental prices are similar to Dublin (which is insane for a small town in the midlands). Does anyone else have experience with this, and if so, what advice do you have ?

We’ve a relatively new neighbour next door that has hung up a load of wind chimes in her garden, pretty much under our bedroom window and they are absolutely doing my head in. I can’t get a moments silence. I was up in the middle of the night settling the baby and then was lying down for about two hours just listening to them make an absolute cacophony of sound.

I kind of want to knock in and ask her to take them down but to be honest I don’t know if I am unreasonable or if she will just double down and put more up. She is for the most part fairly unapproachable.

I spent 5 minutes saying goodbye to someone before either of us actually left. What's everyone else's most Irish moment this week?

I am 31 (male) and lately hoping to reconnect with 2 old friends of mine (Both same age as me) that I haven't spoken to or seen since I was 21.

You know yourself, Group of friends since secondary school, did our best to maintain friendship post leaving cert and naturally of course everyone drifts apart and goes their separate ways in life etc

Was hoping it would be nothing serious but just a quick Facebook message to ask them how's life / hope you are keeping well etc

The thing is because it's been 10 years since we last spoke - it feels very awkward and just wondering how would you send a Facebook message to break the ice ?

Any advice much appreciated 🙏

For context: I’m 23F, from Spain, working on a creche in Dublin making 29k a year after taxes. Around 40% of my income goes to rent which is a room in a shared house with the owner and her small child.

I want to get a job where I can make a bit more money but I only have a level 6 degree in early childhood education.
I’m also autistic (you can’t tell just by interacting with me so it wouldn’t stop me getting a job) but I would be miserable in a retail/pub job because I have no people skills and hate loud places. I also hurt my back a while back so I can’t do anything that’s too physically demanding.

Realistically what kind of job could I get with little to no extra training? As in I need to keep working I can’t just quit and go to college or something but an after hours course would be ok. I have no experience outside of childcare and I can’t drive. I’ve been looking at some clerical officer stuff but I don’t know… Or warehouse worker or something? I need some guidance people of reddit

All day glasses wearers of Ireland, please share your wisdom.

I wear glasses from the second I wake up until the second my head hits the pillow again.

My prescription is expensive (€700 in Specsavers for a single pair or €300 from an online crowd), so I usually spring for the scratch resistant finish to make sure I get the wear out of them. (My prescription isn't allowed on any 2 for 1 offer either)

But I got a pair from Specsavers 3 years ago and scratches appeared on a lens. They replaced the pair after I made a fuss, and told me not to use the wipes (that they sell) because they can cause scratches apparently. The spray and microfiber cloths just leave smears which is very distracting with lights.

The online pair lasted longer but now I have scratches on the lenses too.

I take good care of my glasses because I literally can't see without them. Soft cloths, sprays the lot. They go into their case at night or when I'm on the shower etc, but still they get scratches.

Specsavers warned against those ultrasound cleaners, but they also warned me against their own wipes for their own scratch resistant finish.

Any tips or suggestions greatly appreciated!

What are people's general experiences of secondary school in Ireland? Do you keep in touch with people from your year?

I recently moved back into my parents' house in my hometown, and I think I'm subconsciously feeling anxious because of my secondary school experience.

I was painfully shy and didn't have many friends. I wasn't bullied by any means, but I always felt like I was on the periphery. I had a small group of friends, and I was very close to one guy who eventually admitted he liked me. When I turned him down, he became quite cruel. We had been so close that I think he knew a lot of my insecurities, and he'd use them against me, making comments about things like not having anyone to sit with at lunch. Eventually, I felt pushed out of the little group I had.

We stayed in touch a bit during college, but apart from that, I haven't really kept in contact with anyone from school.

Is that a fairly normal experience? Whenever I'm home at Christmas and go out, it feels like so many friendship groups have stayed close since secondary school, and it makes me wonder if my experience was unusual.

Thankfully, I really came out of my shell in college and made lots of great friends there. I'm 28 now, so school was a long time ago, but I still find myself wishing I'd been different back then. I wish I'd had the confidence to come out of my shell more and mix with the more popular groups. Looking back, I think I was probably just terrified of rejection.

I've been dwelling on all of this a lot since moving home, and I'm wondering if anyone else feels the same or has had a similar experience.

I moved into a new place 2 months ago and I've been bringing my rubbish home to my dad's every 2 to 3 weeks (or else he takes it when he calls). I've very little general waste as I'm good at recycling. I bought a composter for the garden now. I'd been dumping the compost in the woods for the last 2 months. When I get a tenant in I will need to get a bin collection, but I don't intend to have a red or brown bin.

My auntie has no bin because her work place has a skip, so I don't think her neighbours are saying anything about her.

Everywhere seems to be out of stock...

In my work, we get the Civil Service rates of mileage expenses.

With the increase in the cost of fuel, car upkeep etc., has anyone managed to negotiate a higher rate in line with how much it actually costs to run a car compared to this time a year ago.

Here in a gorgeous all inclusive seaside resort. Everyone seems lovely and not into chatting which is fine. Food is fabulous and plentiful. Drunk too much two of the nights and ended up having panic attacks the next day lol. I find though that I just can’t settle when I’m abroad unless I have a drink taken! I rarely drink at home, but here I just always find it hard… worried about losing something or making a fool of myself while trying too hard to relax.

I’m about to go for a massage which is another attempt at relaxing. I got a tonne of work done before I came here and no deadlines or whatever hanging over me! Looking forward to getting home to the dogs.

I do have caring responsibilities at home but the parent seems happy out and sorted. Tough!

How’s everyone finding the updated app?

Sadly my little 2007 Toyota Auris is on its last legs. It’s served me well for years now but unfortunately too many parts are starting to fall off from rust so looking to get a new vehicle. Budget is under €4000. I’d like to get some kind of SUV or something since I’m renovating and would like to be able to carry timbers etc. The Duster and the Qashqai look tempting. Any thoughts?

I think I am burnt out .

I am just so exhausted after work . I joined my new place of work in October and it has been quite taxing honestly. The whole place is chaos party . My boss works extremely long hours and expects me to do the same and constantly undermines me.

My ex boss the same as well. Is there a way I just can take a break from everything? I am so anxious and worked up