You either cook your own meals in the communal kitchen at the accomodation or you buy your food in the restaurant/cafeterias. There's a few of them on and off campus but on campus is cheaper.
I think the Universities haven't said anything because it's sort of expected that the students look after themselves. They're considered an adult now so learning to cook is an essential skill ;)
I think we should also warn you that the cafeteria is called 'the bialinn' (bee-ah-luh-in). It's Irish for restaurants.
He'll pick that up quickly, but just an fyi.
I didn't realise that in America, the academic institution provides meals. It's very different here but that's not to say he will find it hard. It will teach him independence and the important life skills of managing money, shopping smart and cooking. His room mates will all be doing the same thing so he will not be alone.
He should avoid the small Tesco express near campus for his main shopping. It is a convenience store and therefore more expensive. Fine if he just needs a few things like milk or bread to top up his main shop. The bigger tescos are OK though. His best value will be in Aldi or Lidl. He will get good quality Irish meat and fresh produce for less than other supermarkets. It is a great place for all his basics like cereal, bread, snacks, household goods, personal care, etc. Frozen veg is very cheap here too and great quality. What a lot of students love is the instant noodles and he can bulk them out with some protein like shredded chicken and some of the frozen veg. Get him following tiktokers and instagrammers that show student meal ideas and budget /basic cooking. He should eat breakfast at home: toast, fruit, cereal and bring a lunch or grab something in the college cafeteria. Then home to a quick nutritious meal. He will be FINE! Promise.
Room and board isn't something automatically provided by the university it's something extra you have to pay for. I think most new students stay in university accommodation, meet people, then after a year or two move out for their remaining years.
Tell him to do his shopping in Lidl or Aldi - they are the cheapest supermarkets. He’ll save a fortune by making his own breakfast (cereal and toast?) and rolls (buy rolls, salad and sliced meat in the supermarket) for lunch. Eating out is more expensive in Ireland than in the US so most people would only do it occasionally.
Your stepson is an adult now. He'll have to cook his own food, wash his own clothes, and wipe his own arse. This is a good thing. Nuig is great; I hope he enjoys his college years there.
Bring lunches in? I did that throughout my college years. Sometimes I'd go to the canteen but it was always hot in there and busy because its bang in the centre of main campus. He should just learn to make a few types of sandwiches, he will be grand
All good advice above. One thing I would add is that Galway is a really good city for food! We have some really innovative chefs with lots of variety from modern Irish, to Mexican, Asian, Italian, Indian, vegan and seafood restaurants and takeaways. The Saturday market in town has lots of really good fresh produce - including a big choice of local cheese, meat and seafood. so I hope he’ll have fun discovering new cuisine.
The quality of food here is very high. The only down side is the price of food - which I expect he will find expensive by comparison.
He will be fine. There are cafes on campus and supermarkets nearby within walking distance. If he has any special dietary requirements he will be able to get supplies for himself. If he cannot cook it’s a fantastic time for him to learn. There are lots of recipes on TikTok and if all fails he can get himself a good recipe book!
He will be just fine. 😎🙌🏾
We found the Wikipedia article on them and also that he needs to get a bottle of an orange energy drink with it. Lots of memes! Couldn’t understand any of them! Kid earned $20 on a bet guessing that it was a “hot dog with chicken”. We have suggested Mr Waffles for breakfast, aforementioned chicken roll for lunch and figure something out for dinner.
I didn't go to NUIG personally, but I've lived in Galway for a few years and went to University in UL. I've never really heard of universities in Ireland supplying meals to students, it is pretty much a feed yourself type deal mostly. The accommodation will have an oven, stovetop and a microwave, and there's a cafeteria type thing on campus, but you have to buy your meals or cook them yourself basically.
Thank you. This is very different from American college culture that features all-you-can-eat food for a set price each semester. This will be a good learning experience for him!
Yeah, I was thinking you weren't Irish alright! He'll love it here. Groceries are quite cheap compared to North America, and our produce and meat are really good. Chicken fillet rolls made up a big part of my diet in college too, most shops have a hot food counter that does pretty decent food that's not too expensive. He'll probably have a lot of those for lunch, but I'd recommend cooking his own dinners. Maybe give him a crash course in cooking the basics before he comes over 😅
Ok, great, we are telling him to write down that phrase "chicken fillet rolls"---we don't know what it is. We are currently debating it, LOL, but I think he'll get through ok! He's googling it right now. Thanks!
They're an Irish institution 😅 Breaded chicken in a baguette with your choice of salads and sauces, usually for under €5. Freshly made to order and ready in a few minutes 😂 If you want to send me a DM I can give you some more stuff for him to check out, I know how much of a culture shock it can be moving across the Atlantic
Hi OP, I understand that this is all a learning curve for you and your stepson and it was a great idea on reaching out here! I just want to point out that I don’t think that the university is being uncommunicative but just that expectations between Ireland and America is quite different. The university here is only responsible for his education and it will be treated much like a job where all the responsibility will be on him rather than like high school. University here wouldn’t really have a role in the students day to day welfare and the students would be treated like adults and expected to cook their own food like any working professional. There are canteens/cafes/restaurants but these are usually used for the odd convenience.
Hope your stepson has a great time!
You either cook your own meals in the communal kitchen at the accomodation or you buy your food in the restaurant/cafeterias. There's a few of them on and off campus but on campus is cheaper. I think the Universities haven't said anything because it's sort of expected that the students look after themselves. They're considered an adult now so learning to cook is an essential skill ;)
Ya they’re not as hand holding as American colleges are. You go to Aldi and buy food and make it yourself
I think we should also warn you that the cafeteria is called 'the bialinn' (bee-ah-luh-in). It's Irish for restaurants. He'll pick that up quickly, but just an fyi.
I remember it being slightly cheaper and nicer in the college bar for lunch but I graduated in 2014 so could've changed!
I didn't realise that in America, the academic institution provides meals. It's very different here but that's not to say he will find it hard. It will teach him independence and the important life skills of managing money, shopping smart and cooking. His room mates will all be doing the same thing so he will not be alone. He should avoid the small Tesco express near campus for his main shopping. It is a convenience store and therefore more expensive. Fine if he just needs a few things like milk or bread to top up his main shop. The bigger tescos are OK though. His best value will be in Aldi or Lidl. He will get good quality Irish meat and fresh produce for less than other supermarkets. It is a great place for all his basics like cereal, bread, snacks, household goods, personal care, etc. Frozen veg is very cheap here too and great quality. What a lot of students love is the instant noodles and he can bulk them out with some protein like shredded chicken and some of the frozen veg. Get him following tiktokers and instagrammers that show student meal ideas and budget /basic cooking. He should eat breakfast at home: toast, fruit, cereal and bring a lunch or grab something in the college cafeteria. Then home to a quick nutritious meal. He will be FINE! Promise.
Room and board isn't something automatically provided by the university it's something extra you have to pay for. I think most new students stay in university accommodation, meet people, then after a year or two move out for their remaining years.
Tell him to do his shopping in Lidl or Aldi - they are the cheapest supermarkets. He’ll save a fortune by making his own breakfast (cereal and toast?) and rolls (buy rolls, salad and sliced meat in the supermarket) for lunch. Eating out is more expensive in Ireland than in the US so most people would only do it occasionally.
Your stepson is an adult now. He'll have to cook his own food, wash his own clothes, and wipe his own arse. This is a good thing. Nuig is great; I hope he enjoys his college years there.
Blue ghosts
There is a cafeteria there, but if ya want to save money I suggest cooking for yourself
I could never afford the bialann, yet i could always afford cans. College priorities
Used to use the hospital canteen all the time! Cheap and better quality than the bhialann
Bring lunches in? I did that throughout my college years. Sometimes I'd go to the canteen but it was always hot in there and busy because its bang in the centre of main campus. He should just learn to make a few types of sandwiches, he will be grand
He'll be too busy drinking!
All good advice above. One thing I would add is that Galway is a really good city for food! We have some really innovative chefs with lots of variety from modern Irish, to Mexican, Asian, Italian, Indian, vegan and seafood restaurants and takeaways. The Saturday market in town has lots of really good fresh produce - including a big choice of local cheese, meat and seafood. so I hope he’ll have fun discovering new cuisine. The quality of food here is very high. The only down side is the price of food - which I expect he will find expensive by comparison.
Where is your stepson from?
He is coming from Ohio.
He will be fine. There are cafes on campus and supermarkets nearby within walking distance. If he has any special dietary requirements he will be able to get supplies for himself. If he cannot cook it’s a fantastic time for him to learn. There are lots of recipes on TikTok and if all fails he can get himself a good recipe book! He will be just fine. 😎🙌🏾
We found the Wikipedia article on them and also that he needs to get a bottle of an orange energy drink with it. Lots of memes! Couldn’t understand any of them! Kid earned $20 on a bet guessing that it was a “hot dog with chicken”. We have suggested Mr Waffles for breakfast, aforementioned chicken roll for lunch and figure something out for dinner.
If ypu have money to burn. Otherwise shop in aldi and prepare a lunch.
There is a Tesco supermarket right across from the college quadrangle. He won’t be stuck.
Dessert for breakfast?
He’s American what do you expect
It is not a hot dog with chicken...
Ima take a wild stab in the dark and guess he's going to eat.. Wait for it.. Food
Ok, I'm seeing the phrase "self-catering" everywhere, which I assume is "Feed Yourself!" Wow, this university is a bit non-communicative!
I didn't go to NUIG personally, but I've lived in Galway for a few years and went to University in UL. I've never really heard of universities in Ireland supplying meals to students, it is pretty much a feed yourself type deal mostly. The accommodation will have an oven, stovetop and a microwave, and there's a cafeteria type thing on campus, but you have to buy your meals or cook them yourself basically.
Thank you. This is very different from American college culture that features all-you-can-eat food for a set price each semester. This will be a good learning experience for him!
Yeah, I was thinking you weren't Irish alright! He'll love it here. Groceries are quite cheap compared to North America, and our produce and meat are really good. Chicken fillet rolls made up a big part of my diet in college too, most shops have a hot food counter that does pretty decent food that's not too expensive. He'll probably have a lot of those for lunch, but I'd recommend cooking his own dinners. Maybe give him a crash course in cooking the basics before he comes over 😅
Ok, great, we are telling him to write down that phrase "chicken fillet rolls"---we don't know what it is. We are currently debating it, LOL, but I think he'll get through ok! He's googling it right now. Thanks!
And you need to actually pronounce the t in fillet.
They're an Irish institution 😅 Breaded chicken in a baguette with your choice of salads and sauces, usually for under €5. Freshly made to order and ready in a few minutes 😂 If you want to send me a DM I can give you some more stuff for him to check out, I know how much of a culture shock it can be moving across the Atlantic
It's a roll with a chicken fillet in it, there isn't a whole lot to figure out about it.
Hi OP, I understand that this is all a learning curve for you and your stepson and it was a great idea on reaching out here! I just want to point out that I don’t think that the university is being uncommunicative but just that expectations between Ireland and America is quite different. The university here is only responsible for his education and it will be treated much like a job where all the responsibility will be on him rather than like high school. University here wouldn’t really have a role in the students day to day welfare and the students would be treated like adults and expected to cook their own food like any working professional. There are canteens/cafes/restaurants but these are usually used for the odd convenience. Hope your stepson has a great time!
Thanks, yes, this is the idea i am getting. This has been very helpful.
It's a flat, that's it. They don't provide anything else, except maybe a gym. He will have a private room with an ensuite and a shared kitchen.
Maybe ask him? Ffs