Limerick Loving, happened so fast!

What a year it has been. 

This time last year I was getting myself all geared up for the big move to Limerick City to begin my masters in Journalism.

I didn't know anyone moving down but I didn't care, I needed a fresh start.

A lot of people from where I am from and I am sure from around the country have pre-conceived ideas of what Limerick is like and I hold up my hands and admit that I had them myself. 

When I would tell people that I was moving to Limerick the usual jokes ensued:

"be careful you don't get stabbed"

"be careful you don't get shot" 

"stab city kid"

Limerick had gotten itself a very bad name throughout the years, but after spending the entire year here working, drinking, learning and living it couldn't be further from the truth. 

The transition from Sligo to Limerick went quite smoothly for me, the day I moved down I handed my CV into the infamous Chawkes Centra in Castletroy and the following few days I had a job making chicken fillet rolls like they were going out of fashion to the 'jibs' of college students.

I worked four days a week and did my Masters in between. 

I don't regret working throughout my Masters, because if  I didn't I wouldn't have met the people and made the friends that I did this past year.
Plus I did pretty well in my college work considering.

I had the pleasure of working and learning with 12 of the nicest people who are no doubt going to be big names in the future of Journalism, regardless of what Paschal Sheehy has to say!!!

When I first moved to Limerick I was weary of my surroundings, taking the bus into the city I clutched my bag in fear of being robbed because this notion that it was a bad place had been portrayed to me from outsiders who had never even visited the place.

  

It's like when you go to Dublin and there are so many people hustling and bustling around you and you can hear your mother's voice ringing in your head to "watch your bag" and to "be careful".

 It's hardly just my mam that says this, is it?

But that feeling about Limerick quickly faded, when I realised how nice the city was and how friendly the people were. 

Now that's not to say that there isn't some crazy people: if you ever want to meet them just get the buses around the city and surrounding areas and you are certain to meet a few....

and there was a few crazy incidents, my housemates car did get stolen from outside our house and burnt out and there was a murder in the housing estate I lived in but sure look now where is perfect...

 I worked (and lived) with some of the craziest human beings going,  but it made it all the more enjoyable.

 

 

All things considering I got out of this year unscathed and I have a new city that I would be comfortable and happy enough to call my home from home.

 

 That feeling of escaping home and spending time in a new place was the fresh start I needed after spending a full two years living in Sligo working (without any school/college etc....). 

Galway will always be my favourite place to have lived, Sligo being second as it contains most of my favourite people (.....some have escaped to England), but I can defiantly say that Limerick has made a lasting loving impression on me and I am sad to have to say goodbye to it so soon.  

But this year was always going to be one year, no more no less and it's about time I put what I've learned and paid for to the test in the big bad real working world of Journalism. 

Wish me luck.

I'll need it.


x

Curraghchase Forest park: 9.8.16