Laois has had basically zero job creation since the last election and those that have found new employment end up on short-term contracts that don’t help anyone.
The result of this is that most people who have a job work in another county and for some this means a long drive to Dublin for five days a week.
If you’ve ever had the misfortune of getting on a bus in Portlaoise and getting to Dublin that way I can sympathise with you because it’s the slowest thing that has ever been on wheels. It’ll take over two hours to get to anywhere that has a day’s work. Then there’s the train; this will empty your pocket and won’t even let you take a seat because of how full it is. This means standing beside the toilet where you can fill your lungs with the smell of stale urine while waiting for the delay to be cleared so you can get home and go to bed.
The only reliable way out of Laois is the car and it seems to be going to stay that way for some time to come. Since you have to drive out of Laois you might as well do it in the fastest way possible, the Volkswagen Golf R is a four-wheel-drive monster that can keep up with anything you care to mention.
If you look at the Golf lineup it reads like a restaurant menu because there’s something on it for every taste. From the new 1ltr Golf right up to the R in combustion engines and then there’s the E-Golf for those of you who need some electric goodness.
It’s this need to cater for every driver out there that’s seen as the key to the Volkswagen success story even though VW have had their fair share of troubles there seems to be no end to the roll-out of new models.
Football Hooligan
If the Golf R was a person it would be the 80s football hooligan with the uncomfortable tattoo on the forehead and the big boots ready to fight with anything in the area. It’s impossible not to look around at the traffic lights and think about getting away first. Every time another person pulls up near you there’ll be a moment when you’ll wonder if you should just speed away or continue putting the shopping away in the boot.
There is, however, a problem. Volkswagen also makes another car called the Golf GTI and it turns out to be the Golf R’s best competition. The GTI has less horsepower and it’s two-wheel drive but that doesn’t take away from the feeling that the GTI is just a more liveable option because where the R is a football hooligan the GTI is the Security Guard trying to keep the violence under control.
If I wanted to get out of Laois in the biggest hurry I’d buy a Golf R but I rather like it here so I’m in no hurry to leave, I’d rather our elected officials started looking after us so I could have the slightly tamer GTI.
The GTI Golf starts at €37,795 and the Golf R at a very reasonable €44,795 and both are available at Michael Moore car sales in Garryhinch.
SEE ALSO – Bob Flavin: The Volkswagen Amorak makes the Portlaoise roads bearable
