r/WomenofIreland

I am looking to move to Dublin from America. I currently have multiple pocket knives on me at all times when I'm out in public, but I saw its illegal in Ireland. I feel much safer with my knives, and I was wondering how safe you ladies usually feel, especially in Dublin. I have visited and felt fine, but that's very different from living there. I'm hoping you could ease my anxieties.

Edit: I appreciate the genuine input I've received from you all. I want to reassure you I have no intentions of breaking any rules or laws, and try to make the world a better place everyday through compassion. It seems our lived realities are very different, and that does make me feel very good about moving.

I recently had my short blonde hair done by a woman who works from home. I had highlights and a toner done, and ever since then my hair has been extremely dry and it just doesn't feel or behave like it did before.

I've also noticed that a section of my hair seems to have broken off, which is really worrying me because I didn't have this issue before getting it done.

Has anyone experienced this after having their blonde hair done? Does this sound like chemical damage/breakage, and is there anything I can do to improve it?

I'm already using Olaplex shampoo and conditioner and I'm considering Olaplex No.3, but I'd really appreciate advice on what next t do?

My husband (37) and I (32) had agreed we'd start trying for a child when I turned 30. I'm going to be 33 soon and he still wants to hold off. When we met 9 years ago I wasn't sure on biological children - but definitely wanted a child, but he really wanted bio kids and the longer we were together, plus us both having nieces and nephews has really changed my mind. I've said I don't really want to hold off anymore as whilst his brother's wife and his sisters got pregnant quickly, it won't be like that for us. Before we got married I had a few tests done and it's likely I'll find it hard to conceive. He didn't do any tests as thinks it's easy. I've looked into adoption with him, and having come from an adoption background it is something I'd love to do, but after meeting with social workers to discuss the process etc he is a no on that front. He wants to wait until after my brothers wedding next June to start trying, I honestly just don't see me getting pregnant easily and have become so disheartened. I'm originally from Ireland but we moved overseas when I was 3, and I moved back to Ireland for my husband. My family are all based in and around cork whilst we are near sligo. Most of my friends do not live in Ireland and the few friends I have here I dont see much, particularly as they are all having families. I feel so isolated and as much as I want a child, I no longer see this happening for me. I have my dogs which are pretty much my babies but I just feel so isolated and alone. Not sure why I'm making this post, maybe advice? Maybe to feel less alone? Or perhaps just to rant and hopefully find someone who has been in a similar situation and out the other side.

Full respect to hairdressers, I know they have rent to pay and lights to keep on, but slowly, everyone stopped offering dry cuts, or a wash and cut without a blow dry, and the prices slowly diversified: a trim starts at 60 now, and if you left it long enough that it's grown out or you want to try a different cut, now it's a "restyle" and that'll be at least another 20 euro.

I have thin hair that is passable in a bob but god awful when it starts to grow out. Cutting it takes about 10 minutes and a blow dry often leaves it feeling damaged. My local (rural) area has a dozen salons and they're all only doing wash-cut-blowdry, and all starting at 60 euro.

People who don't put a lot of maintanance and upkeep into their hair - especially like me, where there's not really anything that can be done - what are we doing about haircuts?

Okay, this is an odd one, that I'm not sure how to deal with, and some insight would be good.

2 months ago we got a local handyman to come and cut the grass after winter. Our mower broke down, and he said for 30€ he would come every 2 weeks and cut both back and front garden. My husband and I took him up for it, since we both hate cutting the grass.

Since then, the guy is taking the piss. Asking money in advance, cutting just the front garden, saying he needs to go empty the van, and he'll be back in an hour to do the back, and then just vanishing. He stopped coming every two weeks, and now he only texts when he clearly needs the money.

My husband and I got fed up with his attitude after last month he said he needed to go home because he forgot the saw to cut the hedges, and would come back the next day, but didn't show. He reached out 3 weeks later to cut the grass and finish the hedges, but I blocked him on WhatsApp in the meantime.

I thought he took the hint because he never followed up, but today he reached out to me through Revolut! And I'm here like "that a hit dude! You can't just vanish and think you still have a job with us anymore".

How do I get rid of him? I don't want to be overly confrontational, specially because he knows where we live, but he's clearly not getting it.
Has anyone dealt with this sort of situation before?

I’m 19 and at the moment my life is basically just work and going home. I’ve been going out very little, and even when I do make plans, I often back out at the last minute.
I’ll suddenly convince myself that I’m too ugly or that I don’t look good enough to go out. I’ll find some excuse not to go, stay home, and then feel depressed and disappointed in myself afterwards.
I know logically that other people probably aren’t paying anywhere near as much attention to my appearance as I think they are, but I genuinely struggle to believe that when I’m in that mindset.
I hate feeling like I’m wasting my late teens/early twenties because I’m too insecure to actually go out and live my life. I don’t want my world to become just work, home, and being alone because I don’t feel attractive enough to be seen.
Has anyone else experienced this? Especially women who used to avoid socialising because they felt ugly or insecure about their appearance — did anything actually help you break out of it?

Hi! I’m looking for a lightweight camera around €1,500. Mainly for photos of my kids/family events and holidays, with good enough quality to print and keep.
Ideally something easy to use and not too bulky. Any camera/lens recommendations? Thanks!

Ok so I'm a bigger girl. As such it's naturally hard to find bras and bralettes in my size.
I'm wondering if you guys could suggest some places that would have bigger sizes. About a h cup.
Marks and spencers just about had some but not many and no bralettes in my size.
Thanks in advance, :)

i’m getting my nails done for probably the fourth time in my life tmrw ahead of a holiday, and i’d like to tip whoever in the salon does them. it’s a file/polish and a shellac, abt 35 minutes for the whole appointment. i do get tattooed pretty often, and every second time i’ll tip my artist €20 (she’s the only person i go to, and our average session is about an hour).

i don’t want to be condescending and tip too little, but the cost for the service is about €35-€40 so for my own wallet i don’t want to tip too much either. i work in food service so i probably won’t be back for about a year until another holiday lol. tia!!

Burner account obviously. Any advice or thoughts welcome.

My brother has been going out with this girl on and off for a couple of years but now it's starting to seem serious and I gather they're talking about moving in together. He broke it off a couple of years ago because she basically faked a pregnancy, apparently to test his loyalty, but they kept hanging out 'as friends' which I gather progressed to friends with benefits and now they're full on dating again.

As a woman the fake pregnancy thing is just unforgivable in my view and I cannot stomach the idea of this woman becoming part of our family unit. My own partner and I are starting to talk about marriage and although it's still a few years down the line I hate the idea of her being in the family photos and being at the top table and having to spend every Christmas etc with her.

I know it sounds like I have a massive internalised misogyny problem and maybe there's an element of that. But she really is just holding my brother back when he's actually done a lot of work on himself in the last while. He used to be really really immature but he's just gotten a good job out of college and could do quite well for himself. She on the other hand still acts like a moody teenager. Talking to her is like talking to a child: all one-word answers, no engagement. She has no personality, no hobbies. She's clinging onto him but also seems to have him wrapped around her finger. It's just a bad dynamic and they bring out the worst in each other.

I just think he would be so much better off without her and she's going to totally rupture our family unit. I know they might break up but like...they might not.

I know we all make jokes about the parents-in-law but have ye ever had to deal with a totally awful brother or sister in law? Did it get better over time?

I realise I'm just stewing in my own ire here which isn't really healthy. AIBU?

We've been NC with his whole side of the family for over 8 years. We all live in the same town / area which is rural and I see them about. Often but not too often. At the time of the whole NC thing happening my husband asked me to not remove them from my social media. He doesn't have SM. I respected his wishes and didn't block them or anything. But to this day they stalk my socials daily but when I meet them in Aldi? Or Dunnes? They all pretend we don't exist (which is fine with me, that's what I want, I also pretend they don't exist and tbh wish they didn't) but why do the look at my stories every day? I am at the point where I'd like to remove them and block them. But my husband says after 8 years that's shit stirring... and I'd hate to go against his wishes. I don't know anymore. What would you do? Our life has been drama free since we went NC with them. I just hate that after 8 years they're watching me daily.

I'm Spanish. Myself and my Spanish friend and housemate are surprised about our new housemate.

Is an Irish guy. He is always on his room. Have no food on his fridge shelf. Don't even have a hand towel on the bathroom. Only a bottle of shower gel.

We had previously another young Irish housemate and he behaved similar. So, we are wondering if it's because we are middle aged Spanish women and they don't feel commfortable. Or, maybe, is a normal behavoir on Irish guys.

I know we have not assume that everyone acts as us. Mediterranean culture is different. I don't expect them to chat on the livingroom all the time. But it seems that they avoid us till find another place and leave.

I know a woman in Westport who needs to find a social outlet. She doesnt play or follow any sport. If anyone can let me know id appreciate it.

I've been unexpectedly admitted to hospital for several days with an infection. I was quite unwell when I was admitted, very high fever, rigors and a high heart rate, and needed IV antibiotics and fluids. I'm doing better now, but I'm still an inpatient and won't be discharged today, likely not until early to mid next week.

My children happened to be staying with my parents for a few days when I became ill. We had originally planned to collect them, but because I'm in hospital, my parents are bringing them home instead.

They're travelling a fairly significant distance to do this. The plan is to hand the children over to my husband and then take the next available public transport home.

What's bothering me is that they're not planning to visit me.

The hospital is a relatively short journey from where they're dropping off the children, and there are regular services home, so they could come see me and simply travel home a little later. They know I'm staying in hospital.

I don't need them to bring me anything and I'm not expecting some lengthy bedside vigil. I just assumed that if your adult child was unexpectedly admitted to hospital and you were going to be nearby anyway, you'd want to see them.

I haven't asked them to visit. I could, but that's almost beside the point for me. I don't particularly need a visitor. I'm hurt that my parents apparently don't independently want to come and see me. If one of my own children were in hospital, I can't imagine being nearby and just going home without seeing them.

At the same time, they're doing us a favour by bringing the children home, so I'm wondering if I'm overlooking that and being unfair.

Would this hurt you, or am I expecting too much?

Happy Sunday ladies!

I’m here to ask for recommendations. I have my ear pierced twice and have recently been wearing just a small sleeper hoop earring in my first hole. I’m looking for a recommendation for a small pearl earring that I could wear in the second hole? Preferably of quality that won’t tarnish easily. I’m not one to change my earrings often as I’m not a huge jewellery person so I don’t mind an investment every now and then.

Thank you in advance 💎

​

Mods, I hope this is allowed but please remove if not.

I was sexually assaulted by someone I considered to be a good friend. We are both involved in the same music group.

I asked him to give me space (a few months) after the incident and he agreed reluctantly to stay away until the new year.

The manager of the group said he needed "his pal" to stay and I could take it or leave it. He was completely unsupportive, even when I said that it was a reportable assault. He said it's my word against the abuser, but the abuser admitted it to me in writing.

I've left the group now for my own safety and sanity without a word to anyone.

I'm traumatised because of the assault, realising my good friend is a monster, and the lack of support from the group leader.

I loved being part of the group and now the abuser gets to stay. I was one of only two women in it.

Leader said the rest of the group (men) won't give a toss what happened.

I'm considering reporting the assault, but I have teenagers, so I don't want it going to court.

I might put it on file in case he does it to someone else.

Should I warn the other woman in the group? They're all going to wonder why I left and I got on well with the other members. Should I tell people or just go quietly, cut my losses and focus on my healing?

Hi ladies,
I have only began dreaming of my wedding now (at the young age of 21) and have been looking into the dress aspect more and more. It is my dream to wear a black wedding dress. Those of you who have gotten married, did you see many options of different colour wedding dresses while on your search? I’ve been browsing online just to get a feel of what I like and don’t like but most of the dresses coming up seem to come from outside the country (USA and saw a few UK). It’s very hard to find any colours outside of white! I don’t imagine I will be marrying for another couple of years so I’m aware I am very much jumping the gun. However, I’ve found myself becoming more and more excited of the idea of marriage since getting into a relationship. Please do share any pictures or anything you have related to this.
Thanks guys :)

Recommendations for knickers that are comfy? I’m 31F so want comfort.