The Best Cities in Ireland to Live and Work

Discover the top cities in Ireland to live, work and study in. From Dublin to Limerick, Galway to Waterford, explore the best universities and companies in each city.

The Best Cities in Ireland to Live and Work
Created time
Apr 26, 2023 01:40 AM
Do not index
Do not index
Review Status
Ireland is a city for those who have a love for a good life. In addition to that, it is also a good destination for those who are looking at having their degree programs done at some of the prestigious universities in the world. Needless to say that MS in Ireland or Master’s in Ireland is a dream for many international students. Considering the surge in the interest for students looking at pursuing an MS in Ireland, we have outlined the best cities in Ireland from not just a lifestyle but also from an educational and job perspective.

1. Dublin

notion image
Source :The Independent
The capital city of Ireland definitely tops the list of the best cities in Ireland for obvious reasons. Not only is Dublin blessed with some of the picturesque scenes, but it is also a powerhouse of several top universities in the world. The most notable of these is the Trinity College which competes with the Ivy Leagues for its highly well-researched and detailed courses. We shall first discuss the main universities in Dublin. However, we also understand that for an international student in the country, life is not just about studying, the weekend go-to options, the recreation and most importantly the kind of work that can be done after the course is complete matters too. Hence, we will discuss the same as well

The Major Universities in Dublin

Trinity College Dublin

Trinity College is a city in itself. There are hardly any students who have felt the need to step out of the college campus unless for some very specific purposes. In addition to being one of the best colleges in the country, Trinity College offers a lot of good recreational haunts too. Food isn’t an issue either and there are options for vegetarians as well as non-vegetarians. Though we must mention here, that Dublin is a meat-eaters’ paradise. The vegetarians will not get as many options. Some of the most popular joints near the college are MacTurcails, The Gingerman, Longstone, Tolteca, Burritos and Blues, Pablo Piccantes’, and Costa Coffee among others.

University College Dublin

In addition to being known for its superior arts programs, the University College of Dublin has multiple other amenities too. For instance, it hosts a 3D cinema, a radio hub, gyms and pool. The college is specifically known for its “Golden Lounge” which has 350 international TV stations and hosts multiple gaming nights.

Dublin City University

Situated in the hustle and bustle of the city, the Dublin City University students will get to see the reason as to why Dublin is amongst the best cities in Ireland to live and work. Not only is this university surrounded by multiple hangout joints, but a lot of good companies also have their offices around this area too. Needless to say, the post-degree placement in this university is really good.
Coming to the co-curricular activities, Dublin City University has multiple clubs and societies to choose from. This university also has a dedicated Harry Potter club for the Potter heads. The food is good and there are multiple food joints on as well as off the campus with plenty of options to try.

The Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT )

The Dublin Institute of Technology which is known for its superior technical studies and sees placement for some of the biggest firms in the world has multiple good joints to hang out too. Some of the major hang-out joints are Palace, D2, Coppers, Bodkin’s Bar etc.
There is a special treat for Indian students too. Govinda’s on the Aungier Street is a pure vegetarian and pocket-friendly food joint.

The Tourist Attractions

Dublin is a land of multiple museums because of its rich history. Some of the Major Tourist Attractions in Dublin are:
  • Jameson Distillery Bow St.
  • Irish Whiskey Museum
  • EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum
  • The Little Museum of Dublin
  • Kilmainham Gaol Museum

The Major Companies in Dublin

Many major companies enlisted below are located in Dublin, which open up plethora of job opportunities for international students passing out of Irish universities:
  • Facebook
  • Airbnb
  • Indeed
  • Microsoft
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

2. Limerick

notion image
Source : Ireland.com
Limerick had to be included in our list of the best cities in Ireland to live and work for multiple fascinating reasons. For instance, not only is Limerick one of the oldest and the third-largest city in Ireland, but it has been the mother to some really famous political, literature and music personalities too. The biggest and most notable institute of Limerick is the Limerick Institute of Technology

The Major Universities in Limerick

Limerick Institute of Technology

The Limerick Institute of Technology in addition to being known for its superior technical and research prowess is also known for supporting and boosting the local businesses. Needless to say that the Limerick Institute of Technology sees a lot of recruitments in the local firms.
When coming to the co-curricular activities and options for recreational activities, there are multiple activities like go-karting, bowling, shopping, concert hall performances etc which students can engage in.
There are about 20 restaurants and cafes in the university campus itself and even outside, the area is full of hustle and bustle making it one of the best cities in Ireland to live and work.

The Tourist Attractions

The city of Limerick is marked by its superior architecture. Needless to say, it is dotted with multiple castles and palaces of then yore. The Major Tourist Attractions in Limerick are:
  • King John's Castle
  • Terra Nova Fairy Garden
  • Lough Gur Visitor Centre
  • University of Limerick
  • Frank McCourt Museum

The Major Companies in Limerick

The Major Companies in Limerick are:
  • Uber. 3.9
  • Dell Technologies
  • Johnson & Johnson
  • Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
  • Analog Devices
  • Three
  • Northern Trust

3. Cork

notion image
Source: Lonely Planet
Cork made to our list of the best cities in Ireland because of the perfect amalgamation of technical and art studies that it has to offer in addition to the diverse job opportunities and of course the culture. Cork hosts some of the biggest art universities in Ireland. The most notable ones are shared below.

The Major Universities in Cork

University College Cork

The University College, Cork is known for its superior academics and focus on the arts side of the studies. Most of the students of this college stay within the campus and hence most recreational facilities have been built within the campus too. There are spots like Patrick Street and Fitzgerald Part, Bailey, Suas and Sober Lane which are pretty common amongst the student population too.

Cork Institute of Technology

One of the best technology institutes of Ireland, the Cork Institute of Technology has seen great placements in the fields of business, science, humanities and engineering. While the academic rigour does not leave much free time for the students, yet there are multiple good spots around the campus which one can go and enjoy. Youghal, Cobh, Captain America’s and Gino’s are some such hang-out spots which are budget-friendly too.

The Tourist Attractions

Cork is a beautiful place blessed with blithesome terrains. Some of the Major Tourist attractions in Cork are:
  • Spike Island
  • Nano Nagle Place
  • The English Market
  • Cork City Gaol
  • Blarney Castle & Gardens

The Major Companies in Cork

The Major Companies in Cork are:
  • VMware
  • Apple
  • Dell Technologies
  • Amazon
  • Boston Scientific
  • Stryker
  • Pfizer
  • Starwood Hotels & Resorts

4. Galway

notion image
Source : The Guardian
Galway is the city that maintains its rustic old school charms and despite being home to some of the best universities and employers, still continues to be a budget-friendly city to live in. Galway has many high ranking universities within the city and boasts of good placements in arts as well as technology.

The Major Universities in Galway

National University of Ireland, Galway (NUI)

In addition to being a cheaper place to live, which is one of the primary reasons why Galway featured in our list of best cities in Ireland to live and work, Galway also has the NUI. NUI is known across the world for its focus on arts and humanities-related subjects and hosts a very strong alum base too.
For hanging out, the students have multiple places at their disposal. Some of them are Smokies, Finnegan’s, Supermac’s, Boojum, Roisin Dubh etc.

Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology

The GMIT has its campus across five cities in Ireland, the primary ones being in Galway, Castlebar and Letterfack. This institute is known for its superior technological prowess and focus on tech-research. In addition to providing superior education, the GMIT is also known for its multi-cultural assimilation. For hang-outs, the area has multiple places and eateries such as Cactus Jack, joints on Dublin Road etc.

The Tourist Attractions

Galway is a wanderer’s paradise, mostly because of its street life, the street food and the multiple archaic quarters that it hosts along the way. Some of the Major Tourist Attractions in Galway are:
  • Connemara National Park & Visitor Centre
  • Wild Atlantic Way
  • Quay Street
  • Salthill Promenade
  • Galway's Latin Quarter

The Major Companies in Galway

The Major Companies in Galway are:
  • Fidelity
  • Medtronic. Medtronic.
  • SAP.
  • ThermoKing
  • Harmac. Harmac.
  • SurModics. SurModics.

5. Waterford

notion image
Source : Los Angeles Times
Waterford is a true Viking’s city with a rich history and cultural life. The entire city is more or less painted in those colours of bravery and the rich spirit- something that shows in the way the business is conducted in Waterford.
Having said that, the Waterford Institute of Technology is no less in its technical competence and with some of the tech giants having their offices in the city, it sees a huge influx in recruitments too.

The Major Universities in Waterford

Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT)

Waterford Institute of Technology is the biggest college in the southeast. Waterford has a rich history and cultural life given that it is one of the original Viking settlements. Student events and balls take place throughout the year. To get away from the city, students go surfing in Tramore, to the many different beaches of the southeast, or hike through the Comeragh Mountains.
The Hot House Bistro, the Gallery, Oscar’s cafe, and the arcade and pool room are busiest during lunch hours. The college canteen provides a range of meals priced to suit all budgets.

The Tourist Attractions

Waterford is a true mix of greenery and history, something which goes very obvious with its Viking City image. The Major Tourist Attractions in Waterford are:
  • Waterford Greenway
  • Waterford Treasures Medieval Museum
  • King of the Vikings
  • Bishop's Palace
  • Mount Congreve House and Gardens

The Major Companies in Waterford

The Best companies in Waterford are:
  • Sanofi.
  • Sun Life
  • CoreHR
  • TSSG
  • Emerald Contact Centre
  • The Agora Companies
  • Apple.
  • Red Hat.

Conclusion

We hope that our piece on the Best cities in Ireland to live and work help you get some perspective on the topic. While we have restricted ourselves to the best in class, there are other cities as well where you can go and pursue your master’s programme. If you have any specific university in mind that you would want to pursue, do get in touch with us for an evaluation and discussion.

Related posts

Accommodation Options for International Students Living in IrelandAccommodation Options for International Students Living in Ireland
Advantages and Disadvantages of Studying in Ireland.Advantages and Disadvantages of Studying in Ireland.
Getting Around Ireland: Transportation Options for International StudentsGetting Around Ireland: Transportation Options for International Students
Job Opportunities in Ireland for International StudentsJob Opportunities in Ireland for International Students
Tourist Attractions in Ireland: Best Places to VisitTourist Attractions in Ireland: Best Places to Visit
Mental Health Support for International Students in Ireland: Comprehensive Guide and ResourcesMental Health Support for International Students in Ireland: Comprehensive Guide and Resources