10 WORST Places to Live in IRELAND In 2025 | Irish Town and Cities You Should Never Move To

Moving to Ireland? Top 10 Worst Places to Live in Ireland in 2025. Top 10 Towns and Cities in Ireland You Should NEVER Move To. WORST Irish Places to Live In 2023. Most Dangerous Places in Ireland and What are the Worst Towns in Ireland. 

Worst places to live in Ireland

Living in Ireland is truly a unique experience that can range from breathtaking to downright bizarre, depending on where you call home. If you're lucky enough to reside in a picturesque and charming locale, you'll likely find yourself immersed in a world of stunning scenery, friendly locals, and a rich tapestry of culture. But if you're unlucky enough to end up in one of the country's less desirable areas, well, let's just say it might be time to invest in a good pair of running shoes.

Now, let's get down to the nitty-gritty: the 10 worst places in Ireland where you should never move to. We're talking about towns and cities that make the rest of the country look like a postcard come to life. These are the places where crime rates are high, job opportunities are scarce, rent prices are astronomical, and you'll need a heart of stone to make it through the day without shedding a tear or two. We won't sugarcoat it: living in these areas is not for the faint of heart.

10. Dublin

Dublin. The largest city in Ireland, with a thriving business and technology scene, and more pubs than you can shake a pint glass at. But let's not kid ourselves - it's not all fun and games in the capital city. Now, don't get us wrong - Dublin isn't the absolute worst place to live in Ireland. It's just, well, let's say it's not exactly a paradise on earth. For starters, the cost of living is so high, you'll need to take out a loan just to afford a pint of Guinness.

Good luck finding a place to live that won't leave you eating beans out of a can for the rest of the month. In fact, Dublin has been ranked as the worst city in the world for expats trying to find a place to live. And if you're thinking of immigrating to the city, well, let's just say you might want to reconsider.

Dublin is also home to the worst crime rate in the country. And if you're planning on driving in the city, be prepared to spend half your life stuck in traffic. Seriously, it takes longer to travel 10 kilometres in Dublin than it does to watch the extended edition of Lord of the Rings.

So, is Dublin the worst place to live in Ireland? No. But is it a place you'd want to live if you value things like affordable housing, low crime rates, no drug abuse and good health? Probably not. But hey, at least the pubs are still pretty great.

9. Athy, Kildare

Athy, a quaint town located on the River Barrow in County Kildare, has a rich history that includes the 14th-century Anglo-Norman |White's Castle” and the birthplace of Irish pop rock band “Picture This”. However, don't let these highlights fool you, as Athy has earned the title of “the most depressing town” in Leinster.

Let's face it, Athy is basically the town equivalent of a stale pint of Guinness. Crime rates are sky-high and if you plan on living here, you might want to invest in a good binocular, so you can keep an eye on the suspicious characters lurking in the shadows.

To add insult to injury, the town's traffic condition is on life support, making it the worst town to drive through. Plus, drug smuggling is also a successful enterprise in Athy, adding to the town's already bleak reputation.

While the average house price in Athy may seem like a steal at €130,000, you might want to hold off on packing your bags until you hear about the town's colorful crime scene. Athy is so notorious for homicides, murders, and fatal shootings that they might as well add it to their tourist brochures.

So if you're planning on moving to Athy, make sure to bring a bulletproof vest and some good luck charms - you're going to need them."

8. Longford

Longford, a quaint town in the midlands of Ireland, may boast a 12th-century Augustinian Abbey with a "beautiful" bell tower and cloister, but don't let that fool you. Unless you're into high unemployment, rented homes, and exorbitant rent prices, you might want to reconsider moving to Longford.

Longford is a breeding ground for negativity and despair. It's not the kind of place where you feel empowered to bring about change or even safe and happy in your own home. In fact, a recent survey found that people in Longford are the most unhappy people in the entire country. Congrats, Longford, you really know how to spread the misery!

To make matters worse, drug smuggling has become a lucrative business in this town. The Gardaí recently busted a massive cocaine operation worth €8.4 million that was flown into Longford on a private plane. Seems like the Kinahan organised crime group is up to their old tricks. Who needs a movie plot when you have Longford?

7. Carrick-on-Suir, Tipperary

Carrick-on-Suir, the pride and joy of County Tipperary, where the living is high-priced and the incomes are low. Who wouldn't want to start their life in a town like that? It's the perfect place for anyone looking to experience the full range of human emotions, from disappointment to despair.

Community amenities in Carrick-on-Suir are about as well-maintained as a neglected garden shed, so if you're looking for a place to live where everything is falling apart, look no further. And let's not forget about the drug problem, which is growing faster than a weed in a neglected garden. It's not uncommon to see people shooting up outside the town hall, which is sure to be a real crowd-pleaser for anyone looking for some excitement.

The local hospital has recently closed, which has caused quite a stir in the community. Protests have been held, and unflattering news reports have been published, but fear not - the town will surely bounce back any day now. In the meantime, you can always enjoy the high living costs and escalating unemployment rates that make Carrick-on-Suir one of the worst towns in all of Ireland.

6. Limerick, Munster

Limerick is the city of contradictions, located in the province of Munster. From the outside, it looks like a charming city with castles, pubs, and historic churches. But like an onion, the more layers you peel back, the more you'll start to cry.

You see, while gang violence isn't typically associated with Ireland, in Limerick it's a bit of a hobby. In fact, it's so prevalent that "Stab City" became an unflattering nickname of the city in the past. If that's not enough to convince you, the city's problems stem from a variety of issues, including poverty, unemployment, and a booming drug trade.

But hey, at least the city has a population of around 100,000 people, so you'll have plenty of company while you try to dodge knife-wielding gang members.

5. Portarlington, Laois

Portarlington, also known as "The Place That Jobs Forgot," is a town located on the border of two of Ireland's most unremarkable counties: Offaly and Laois. With a population of only 8,000 people, you're more likely to bump into a sheep than a human being here.

If you're hoping to find a job in this town, you might as well start honing your sheep-shearing skills, as employment opportunities are about as rare as a sunny day in Ireland. But fear not, dear reader, as the town is slowly but surely getting a facelift.

County Offaly is the perfect place to go if you're looking to experience the thrill of a never-ending job hunt. With its stunning scenery and abundance of sheep, Portarlington might seem like a paradise at first glance, but don't be fooled – the only job you'll find here is counting sheep. Truly, this is the town that time forgot.

4. Drogheda, Louth

Drogheda - the town that time forgot, and apparently, so did the local council. With its historic landmarks and attractions, such as Old Mellifont Abbey, Millmount Museum, Martello Tower, and St. Peter's Church of Ireland, you'd think it would be a charming place to live. But, unfortunately, the residents of Drogheda have spoken out about the town's wasted potential and how it has "gone to rot."

And let's not forget about the town's other claim to fame - being named one of the dirtiest towns in Ireland. It's not surprising, really. Anyone who has visited Drogheda over the years has watched it sink further and further into degradation. The historic buildings are neglected and uncared. While the new architecture is doing little to lift the spirits of the locals..

This town has vast unrealized potential. Sites to visit like medieval streets, the quays, the town gates. With proper vision, Drogheda could be transformed into a gorgeous town. But walking around the town is so uninspiring currently. It's a real shame. Unfortunately, it's a depressing hole.

So, if you're looking for a town with historic charm and potential, you might want to steer clear of Drogheda - or bring your own broom and a vision board.

3. Clonmel, Tipperary

Clonmel is a quaint little town in County Tipperary, Ireland, situated on the beautiful River Suir and home to around 17,000 people. But don't be fooled by its charming exterior, as Clonmel has a serious drug problem that has torn the community apart in recent years. In fact, just in the month of January, the police seized a staggering €256,000 worth of drugs, including cocaine, heroin, amphetamines, MDMA, alprazolam, cannabis, and diazepam, from dealers operating in the town.

The Irish Times reports that the situation is so dire that the community policing unit has been temporarily disbanded in order to focus all available resources on tackling the drug trade. Superintendent William Leahy confirmed in an interview with Tipp FM’s mid-morning current affairs program, Tipp Today, that the drug problem in Clonmel has resulted in numerous deaths from overdose and suicide. As if that wasn't bad enough, other criminal activity has also spiked in the town as a result of the drug trade.

In short, Clonmel may be pretty on the outside, but it's best avoided until they clean up their act and rid the town of this dangerous scourge.

2. Moate, Westmeath

Moate, the jewel of County Westmeath. Located conveniently between Dublin and Galway, it's the perfect place to stop and realize just how depressing life can be. The locals affectionately refer to it as "the most depressing town", a title they've worked hard to earn. Low-paying jobs, high cost of living, and a general sense of hopelessness make Moate a must-avoid for anyone with a shred of self-respect. And if the lack of opportunities and bleak outlook isn't enough to make you want to pack your bags and leave, the recent cannabis bust should do the trick. Gardaí seized €156,000 worth of the green stuff. As per locals, “Moate is the most bleak town”.

1. Tipperary Town, Tipperary

Tipperary Town! What a delightfully depressing place to live. The heart of the Golden Vale? More like the heart of despair. While the area may be known for its fertile soil, it seems the only thing growing in Tipperary Town is unemployment and social deprivation.

Sure, the town has some historic buildings and landmarks, but let's be honest, they're probably just there to remind everyone of better times before the place went to pot. And don't even get me started on driving through there – it's a one-way ticket to road rage city.

According to the Pobal Deprivation Index, Tipperary Town is the most disadvantaged place in the country. So, congratulations, Tipperary Town, you're officially the worst. High unemployment, poor education, lone parent households, and no amenities – it's like the government forgot you existed.

And if that's not bad enough, Tipperary Town also has the second-highest disability rate in the country. People with disabilities are at risk of social exclusion in terms of education, social participation, their means of living and income. But hey, on the bright side, at least the town looks like it was bombed in the 70s. It's like living in a historical reenactment of the Troubles. So, if you're looking for a place to call home, look no further than Tipperary Town. Just don't forget to bring your own bread – and maybe a gas mask.

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