If you've just arrived in Geneva, or will be moving here soon, the first thing we must say is "Tá fáilte romhat!" We think you'll find it to be a great place to live, made that much better by the fact that you can easily keep in touch with a little slice of home through the large Irish community living here.
It's not always easy meeting people in a new city, and some say that the transient nature of a large portion of the expatriate community in Geneva makes it that much harder here. Here are a few tips for finding a friendly face or two from home:
Join the Network - one of the first things you might like to do is join the mailing list of the Geneva Irish Association. In this way you can be sure you'll hear about any news or events that may be specific interest to the Irish community in Geneva. You don't have to be a member of the GIA to join the mailing list, and you can sign yourself up by visiting our Google Groups page and following the instructions there. You may also like to pay a visit to our Discussion Forums.
GIA Events - why not check if there's a Geneva Irish Association event coming up soon? You'll always find a good bunch of Irish people and their friends at these various events throughout the year. It's a great way to quickly build up a social network.
GIA Activities - there are a number of on-going activities that may also interest you. If you like to read and discuss good books, the GIA Book Club meets once per month in the evening, usually at Da Vinci's Lounge on rue de Grenus. For information on who to contact email geneva.irish@ireland.com. Whilst the Irish Language Classes are proving popular and there may not be space for you on the course right away, you'll be welcome to pop along after the classes to join them for a cup of tea. Again, send us an email for information on who to contact.
Traditional Irish Music - if you're a musician or singer, or if you're simply interested in attending a session or two, the person to contact is Christina O'Shaughnessy (christina1@ireland.com). Sessions take place from time to time in various locations in Geneva and beyond.
The "Local" - Geneva is full of bars, cafés and bistros for you to discover. However, you may find it easier initially to head to somewhere more familiar looking. In Geneva you'll find a number of Irish bars. In the city centre Mulligan's is a small pub located behind the large Manor department store close to Cornavin station. You'll find Charly O'Neill's a little further out, close to the international organisations at the Grand-Pré bus stop. On the other side of the river, Spring Brothers is located on the road that bisects the Old Town on the way up from Bel-Air. Just over the border in Ferney-Voltaire, you'll find Paddy's, a popular spot for many's a "frontalier". Pop into any of these bars and the staff will be sure to point you in the right direction!
Online Communities - You can visit the Discussion Forums on this website where you'll get a chance to see what's going on around town at the moment. The GenevaOnline website is also worth a visit for newcomers of any age and circumstance.
