If you’re one of the 1,000 of Trinity’s students taking up residence in Trinity Hall, you should make the most of the opportunity to become familiar with your surroundings. By taking advantage of living in Rathmines and not simply hopping on the bus into Dublin 2, your year can go from good to great. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the campus and Halls bubble without daring to venture further. But step outside the gates of Halls, and you’ll find a vibrant community worth exploring, including and beyond the bare minimum of a weekly shop. Whether you’re looking for cheap fruit to eat, craving a pizza after a night out or even if you’re just a bit bored on weekends, Rathmines can provide that much-needed relief from inner-city college life.
For the Essential Budget Life
There are a few fundamental things every new Halls resident should know. The basics of food shopping is number one on that list. Having to cook for yourself is a new change in a lot of students’ lives, and it all starts with your food shop. If you’re looking to save on your food shopping, there is an Aldi and a Lidl in Rathmines for all your student cooking needs. It tends to be cheaper to make proper meals for yourself yourself rather than buying frozen or ready meals, so you may want to keep that in mind. I’ve always tried to figure out which of the two stores is cheaper, but they tend to be the same, just differing on deals every week, so take your time to figure out which one you prefer. Around the corner from the two there is also a Tesco and, if you buy their own brand products, they tend to be just as cheap as Aldi or Lidl. Hello 89c pasta! These three stores have all your basic household and toiletry needs to fit within a budget.
The second essential thing to know is how to get around. If you want to save money on transport, it only takes 40 minutes to walk into College or, if you’re on a bike, 20 minutes. I highly recommend one of these options because, not only does it save you money, but it is a great way to see Rathmines and familiarise yourself with the area. The journey into college takes you down Rathmines Rd. The other two more conventional options are taking the Luas or the bus. As much as I enjoyed walking, there were some days my muscles refused to cooperate, and sometimes the weather or a lack of time, makes public transport a necessity.
The cheaper option is the Luas. For comparison, a one-way adult ticket into college is €1.90 compared to €2.70 for the bus. The Luas is a 10 minute walk from the Milltown stop and a reliable mode of transport (now that the Luas strikes are over, anyway), arriving at least every 20 minutes. If you decide to commit to using the Luas as your sole mode of transport, I highly recommend getting a 30-day student ticket. You will save a lot in the long run, and it is cheaper than using a Leapcard if you’re travelling often. If you’re looking to splash out, or just don’t want to get wet in the regular downpours, the bus stop is right outside Halls, so there’s no need to walk, and it comes every 20 minutes. If you’re not ready to commit to one mode of transport, definitely get a Leapcard. It works on the bus, the Luas and the Dart (if you ever need it) and gets you cheaper fares.
For the Lazy Shopper
Imagine you’ve had a long, exhausting day running around campus and, as you’re walking home from the Luas stop, you realise you forgot to buy milk. Or you’re in the middle of cooking your dinner and realise you don’t have any cheese for your pasta. Or maybe you’re just craving some sweets during your flashcard study session. Walking all the way out to Rathmines or taking the bus may not be something you want to do in certain instances. Instead, for the times you just need or want something quick, there is a Tesco Express 10 minutes from Halls to grab anything you need. Or if you really don’t want to run the risk of anyone seeing you in the tracksuit bottoms you haven’t changed out of for days, Smiles is an on-site store that has your basic needs for those oh-so-pressing moments in life.
For the Culinary Connoisseur
Up until now, I’ve covered the basic budget food options. But, for some of you, eating rice all week may not be your style. You may have a bit of a knack for cooking or simply enjoy good food. For the cooks, there are a variety of ethnic food stores in the area, from authentic Asian ingredients to Eastern European treats. If you’re an international student it’s possible Rathmines may even have something from home.
Rathmines is a surprising hub of food, from Chinese to Italian to fast food to whatever your tastes. You could always go for what you know – McDonalds, Subway, Eddie Rockets – but eating at locally owned restaurants allows you to try something a little different. You’re most probably only going to be living in Rathmines for one year, so why not find the best food you can? My personal recommendation would be breakfast at Farmer Browns for the ultimate fry up, Jo’burger for a hearty lunch and Manifesto for a delicious Italian dinner.
For the coffee lovers – because let’s face it, some of us can’t hack college without an espresso – explore the various cafes on offer. For the tried and tested option, Insomnia and Starbucks are nearby, and Moda Café and Bar or Toast are there for those who prefer to visit authentic local cafes. I personally preferred to grab some coffee and cupcakes at the Orange Tree Bakery.
For the Sesh
College life isn’t just eating and shopping, it’s also about a good session.
Pre-drinks (or pres/prinks for short) is a bit of a Halls – not to mention an Irish – ritual. For those of us who drink alcohol, we need to buy it somewhere. If you’re doing your weekly food shop at Tesco or Lidl, don’t forget your ID if you need to pick up your drinks supply for a night out. If you’re in a rush, you can pick something up at Tesco Express as well, though there is less variety than the bigger stores. If you like fine wines, craft beers or specific spirits, there is an O’Brien’s right next to Tesco Express. Sadly, Deveneys, which delivered alcohol to Halls, has closed its doors.
If you’re looking for some craic, don’t feel the need to go into town all the time. Mother Reilly’s is a favourite among the residents of Halls. If you’d prefer a colourful cocktail, Copan is the place to go. Both are within walking distance, so there is no need to pay for a taxi.
As most events do happen in town, you can use the bus or Luas, with the last Luas leaving at 12.30am. The Luas is my favourite mode of transport for nights out, nothing is quite like a Luas filled with friends and students singing their hearts out to strangers on the way to Dtwo.
After your night out, you can grab a taxi back, it’s normally between €10 and €15, and you’ll always find someone going back to Halls, which means you can further split the cost. Anything more and you’re getting ripped off. Some of my friends used to walk home, so that is always on option if you’re looking to save money but always go in a group. Don’t risk wandering on your own at night.
If you haven’t grabbed a post-dance burger in town, you can order that special afters snack on one of the numerous online ordering sites. The JCR offers a discount on any Domino’s deliveries made to Halls. If Domino’s is too pricey, make that special trip down to Apache in Lower Rathmines, right by Tesco Express. A night is never complete without the greasy deliciousness of a pizza.
For the Explorer
If you enjoy exploring new places or feel you have become overly familiar with Rathmines, I recommend doing some exploring of your own. Don’t take my word on everything, this is just one person’s humble opinion based on experience. There is a lot on offer. Furthermore, students tend to go home on the weekends, but not all of us can make it home, which means the weekends in Halls can often be quiet. Instead of sitting in your room all day, the Omniplex Cinema has student prices for all the latest movies and is a great way to get to know your new flatmates or even just take a break from studying. If you make an effort to know your surroundings, I guarantee you’ll have a wonderful year.
