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DavidT
Apr 19th, 2010, 10:25 AM
We found lots of health food shops dotted about the place and there's a fantastic health food shop in Kinvara and another in Killkoe as well that also does brilliant wooden toys.

Yes, I like the Killaloe one. Not a bad little village, either!


But we did find food for thought though and kind of wished we waited until we got to the quay. The food wasn't that great and the in laws ordered baked potato which was tiny with even tinier amount of filling. Whilst I had the vegan shepards pie. I quite enjoyed it but it wasn't heated up enough and quite a tiny portion for the price.

I agree with you there. I thought we went on an off day!


We almost went to these lovely homely stonecutters family restaurants that are dotted around county Clare as they do veggie meals as well and they were very open to dietary requirements.

Hmmm. I don't know the ones you mean. I'll investigate. Thanks for the tip.


So again thanks barry and DavidT for your help. We really enjoyed Ireland and no doubt we will be back.

And you'll be very welcome too.

bellybuddha
Apr 19th, 2010, 02:09 PM
Killaloe not Kilkoe haha sorry. Duh! and yes rather nice village indeed. I like how all the villages and towns have awards for being clean. Wish it was the same over here. Not a sight of litter anywhere. Well maybe all except for the car hire place on the verges. But other than that wow, lovely and clean.

Barry
Apr 19th, 2010, 03:59 PM
Glad you enjoyed yourself Bellybuddha, I have to say I agree with you both about Food For Thought, it's not great. I haven't eaten there in about three years myself, which probaby tells its own story. It does seem to be very popular with a lot of people though..

Barry
Apr 23rd, 2010, 02:53 PM
Irish elections: Can we fucking have one please?

Barry
May 14th, 2010, 01:02 PM
This is a continuation of a topic raised in the UK elections thread that I though would be better here.

Harpy, it's hard to say why or how the green party managed to get into power in Ireland. I'd like to think that it was on green issues but the truth is that I don't think the average Irish person is overly concerned by such things. I suspect it may have been the fact that the people who did vote for them were fed up with just about everyone else. I voted for them and regret it now, they completely sold out. Any other Irish peeps have opinions on their (relative) success in our last elections?

DavidT
May 14th, 2010, 02:22 PM
Harpy, it's hard to say why or how the green party managed to get into power in Ireland.

Well obviously (to me!) they did get a few TDs and FF wanted support; it really seems as simple as that! Plus I suspect FF saw the Greens as a pushover, which has turned out to be the case.


I'd like to think that it was on green issues but the truth is that I don't think the average Irish person is overly concerned by such things.

No, it wasn't at all on green issues. You're right, the average Sean or Seamus is FF or FG, just like the daddy. Witness the split after the election within grass roots greens; I voted against going in but knew in my heart it was a lost cause. The top bods were were hungry for power and were prepared to sacrifice principles for realpolitik.


I suspect it may have been the fact that the people who did vote for them were fed up with just about everyone else.

Hmmmm...dunno. There are plenty of left-leaning parties to support if you don't like FF or FG which don't carry the Greens' baggage: SWP, SP, SF, Labour etc. Maybe you're right; non-Irish (there are loads of naturalised Germans in east Clare, for instance - it is known as a bit 'hippie'!) would be more likely to vote Green than natives.


I voted for them and regret it now, they completely sold out.

So did I and I agree with you. My heart is still green but I'm not interested in the business-as-usual pursuits of the suited Greens, such as electric cars or bio-fuels and I absolutely detest this car scrappage scheme almost as much as the bailing out of the banks, which the Greens go along with.

What happens when the scrappage scheme runs out? The Bill Cullens will be whining again wanting government handouts, no doubt because they want to kick start the electric car thing with my money.

I follow other parties' activities when I can: the socialist parties have something to offer but their membership is tiny and they all seem to be concerned with growth, the one thing that we should not, can not, pursue again.


Any other Irish peeps have opinions on their (relative) success in our last elections?

Well, during the next election, I reckon, unless some black swan comes along, the Greens will be hammered; I don't think FF will do as badly as people think because people are awful loyal to them. They could do with a rest anyway so they can blame the current opposition for the shit that's coming down the line!

Me? Bitter? Never!

Barry
May 14th, 2010, 03:39 PM
Well obviously (to me!) they did get a few TDs and FF wanted support; it really seems as simple as that! Plus I suspect FF saw the Greens as a pushover, which has turned out to be the case.

Totally agree, I meant that they had a bit of an upswing in popularity in that election, to put them in the position to be Fianna Fails lapdogs. I was wondering what inspired that.


There are plenty of left-leaning parties to support if you don't like FF or FG which don't carry the Greens' baggage: SWP, SP, SF, Labour

I would have previously voted labour, but remember feeling so frustrated with every party at the time that I used my vote on what I would previously have seen as a 'wasted vote'.


the socialist parties have something to offer but their membership is tiny and they all seem to be concerned with growth, the one thing that we should not, can not, pursue again.

I wish there was a viable socialist alternative in Ireland, I really do....


Well, during the next election, I reckon, unless some black swan comes along, the Greens will be hammered

Totally 100% agree.


I don't think FF will do as badly as people think because people are awful loyal to them

I think they're screwed, my mother - a lifelong FF cheerleader, has vowed to never vote for them again!

DavidT
May 14th, 2010, 03:51 PM
I think they're screwed, my mother - a lifelong FF cheerleader, has vowed to never vote for them again!

Woo-hoo! Maith an mháthair!

I think politicians generally become disconnected from reality. They get paid - and paid well - while all around them are losing their jobs, getting pay cuts or, at best, not getting properly rewarded for their work.

Then they have the cheek to hand over literally billions of our money to rich people!

The billions put into failed institutions could have wiped out all personal debt and covered most savings and we could have started afresh with a nationalised bank with no need for NAMA. That's too radical for most. Instead John and Jane Doe are saddled with debts they can never, ever repay and neither can their children.

Of course, whatever government was in power at the time would have run with the pack so blaming FF/Green is simply convenient.

We as a species are on the downward slope of available cheap fossil energy and this has a direct impact on this illusory 'growth'. The two are inextricably linked and so this 'double dip' recession, in my view, is only to be expected. The future is a downward roller-coaster.

Wait for the 'triple dip' to be mentioned!

Rant over.

For now.

harpy
May 14th, 2010, 03:57 PM
Sorry, have only just found this. Yes I was really wondering how the greens got so many people to vote for them in the first place. Of course if we had PR here then we would have more green MPs as well, but I think people here do vote for them mainly on environmental grounds (I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong about that), and I had any idea it was different in some other countries.

DavidT
May 14th, 2010, 04:08 PM
The PR system helps enormously, harpy. Apparently England is to have a referendum about the AV system, a variation of Ireland's STV system.

I predict it won't be accepted, mainly because it's a more complex system than the current one. You have a lot of Sun readers who'd dismiss it!

Actually, the voting part of AV is simple; understanding how your preferences are counted is more difficult but not to anyone with a brain.

The Tories are against PR. Think about it. They wouldn't have seats in Wales without PR!

The Greens will not dominate now or in the future. The measures necessary to clean up this world are unacceptable. The pale Greens in the Irish government even get berated for the tiny greening-up successes they have.

harpy
May 14th, 2010, 04:15 PM
I predict it won't be accepted, mainly because it's a more complex system than the current one. You have a lot of Sun readers who'd dismiss it!

Not sure, and haven't got time to check at the moment because of pesky work, but I had an idea that a majority of the electorate here was in favour of PR. Of course, whether they would actually bother to go and vote for it is another matter :rolleyes: The two main parties obviously have a vested interest in making the referendum not happen, or trying to fix the result by the way the question is phrased etc.

Blueberries
May 15th, 2010, 06:58 PM
I've just stopped paying attention to politics to be honest, it just gets me angry :lol:

Barry
May 20th, 2010, 09:05 PM
I have a question for you Blueberries: What are the best health food shops and/or supermarkets for vegan-friendly stuff in Dublin city? I'm moving there shortly and I need to get info! I spend a fair bit of time in Dublin as it is cause the SO does some of her work there, so I know most of the good restaurants and all that kind of stuff, but we rarely cook while we're there. I've kinda found all the supermarkets and health food shops I've used so far to be a bit... lacking.

Blueberries
May 20th, 2010, 09:32 PM
I have a question for you Blueberries: What are the best health food shops and/or supermarkets for vegan-friendly stuff in Dublin city? I'm moving there shortly and I need to get info! I spend a fair bit of time in Dublin as it is cause the SO does some of her work there, so I know most of the good restaurants and all that kind of stuff, but we rarely cook while we're there. I've kinda found all the supermarkets and health food shops I've used so far to be a bit... lacking.

Heya Barry, what part of Dublin are you moving to? The choice you have in terms of local supermarkets may vary depending on where you're moving to.

I assume if you've spent time in Dublin you know the health food shops. Down to Earth is probably the best one in the city as its the biggest and does a big range. There are a couple on the south side of the city that I haven't been to simply because I don't spend alot of time there (I'm from the north-side). You're more likely to find Nourish, Holland & Barret or the Health Store in shopping centres if you're not living in the city centre. The Health store is pretty good, as is Nourish but Holland & Barret not so much. I tend to shop between them.

As for supermarkets it just depends on where you are. You'll get soya yogurts in most, same with milk. Some of the bigger ones sell tofu, most of the smaller ones don't. I know a couple of Supervalu shops near me that sell Swedish Glace! I know it sounds a bit trite but you really just have to shop around. I do my shopping between a few different supermarkets because different ones stock different things. Big supermarkets will obviously have the best choice but I know there aren't too many of them in the city centre. If you are living in the centre I'd recommend the big Tesco on Parnell Square as it'd have the most choice. There's an organic supermarket in Blackrock but I've never been to it, it's not really in my area of the city. I plan on stopping there on the Dart some day soon to investigate!

I hope that was some help! If you're moving anywhere near me I could probably be more specific about where I shop. Feel free to PM me if you've any other questions.

Barry
May 23rd, 2010, 09:46 AM
Thanks a million for the info Blueberries, it's much appreciated!

As much as I look forward to moving to Dublin it's gonna take a bit of getting used to, I live right beside the biggest health food shop in Ireland, which is in turn right beside one of the biggest Tescos in Ireland! I basically have everything I need at my fingertips at the moment, I'm fairly spoiled...

Blueberries
May 26th, 2010, 08:08 PM
I live right beside the biggest health food shop in Ireland, which is in turn right beside one of the biggest Tescos in Ireland!

Wow, that sounds amazing, why would you move! :confused:
I need to see this health food shop! Have you found that you can get things that you can't get in Dublin?

BlackCats
May 26th, 2010, 08:20 PM
Wow, that sounds amazing, why would you move! :confused:

Yeah, silly.:D

Barry
May 26th, 2010, 09:03 PM
Well it is pretty great I admit, I'm not sure that there's stuff you couldn't get in Dublin, but it's amazing to have access to all the vegan treats you could possibly want under one roof! The only problem is I have to physically restrain myself from overdosing on processed soy....

I'm moving for loads of reasons, the main ones being that I'll be doing a post-grad in Dublin next year, and Fiona can't get a job here despite being well qualified and experienced (she's a teacher), that's why we're spending a lot of time in Dublin already. Also, I'm 29 and although I've done loads of travelling I've never actually been away from Galway for longer than four months, I think it's time I tried some new things. Not to mention the fact that Galway's been hit pretty hard by the recession and it's getting vaguely depressing here. I think after I finish my post-grad I'll be off to the U.K.

Oh yeah, and there are bugger all decent drummers in Galway! Haven't been in a real band for two years cause of it, and Galway's officially the wettest county in Ireland.

Moan, moan, moan! :p

Blueberries
May 26th, 2010, 09:21 PM
Galway's officially the wettest county in Ireland.

Haha, the last time I was in Galway was on holidays with my family when I was little and all I remember is that it rained for five straight days! I'll have to pay it another visit, and bring an umbrella!
Have you any idea which part of the city you'll be living in? Probably depends on what university you're going to.

Barry
May 26th, 2010, 10:33 PM
Yeah it's always lashing here!

Possiblywill live in stoneybatter or drumcondra area I'd say, Fiona rents a room in stoneybatter for the days that she works in Dublin and It seems ok, fairly central and reasonable enough rent. I'll probably be in college in Maynooth which is gonna involve a 45 minute train journey each way every day. A bit annoying but Fiona has to live fairly centrally for substitute work (I wanted to live in Leixlip but that idea got vetoed!).

I have to say I'm looking forward to the move, there's so much more happening in Dublin, especially in terms of music...

I'm being a bit harsh on Galway cause I'm bored here, you should definitely pay it another visit, it can be great fun for 'lost weekend' type shennanigans :D

DavidT
Jun 2nd, 2010, 05:11 PM
Meta Sterne, John Ford's (of The Quiet Man fame) gofer and PA, was not impressed with much of Ireland during the making of that film, especially the food and the weather.

But she praised Galway city to the skies, loving the small shops and the beautiful city. That was in the fifties!

niallmc
Jun 6th, 2010, 07:52 PM
Vegetarian Family Day

Location: Bushy Park, Terenure, Dublin 6
Meet in front of the band stand
Date: Saturday, 12th June 2pm to 5.30pm
Young vegetarians and their families, parents who have raised their children, parents-to-be and single people are all welcome. Bring some food to eat and share
more info - grace@vegetarian.ie

Barry
Jun 13th, 2010, 03:17 PM
If anyone ever happens to be in the Golden Rickshaw chinese in Galway they should have the salt and pepper tofu. I had it last night and it was some of the best tofu I've ever had.

MariaTrekker
Jun 19th, 2010, 03:54 AM
Thanks for posting this information. I may be going on a trip to Ireland in the near future.

Keane
Sep 2nd, 2010, 08:41 PM
The last time I visited Dublin, which was six years ago, I bought some Gill's dairy-free soda bread from Tesco of all places, so naturally I e-mailed Tesco here when I got back, but just got the standard 'we'll stock it if there is any demand' type reply. Incidentally, no-one in Blazing Salads had heard of soda bread when I asked, though they had plenty of decidedly non-Irish style breads on sale.