This rental ad is marketing a room in Athlone as a ‘Dublin 8’ apartment

If you don't laugh, you'd cry.

Anyone attempting to find a place to rent in Dublin knows well what an excruciating task it is. We're all well accustomed to the soul destroying images of minuscule single bedrooms with hobs and microwaves shoved in being described as "studios" and put up on Daft for €1400 per month, or garden sheds in Clondalkin being marketed as lofty lodges located within minutes of the city centre. However, this latest ad takes the biscuit. https://twitter.com/MaeveRichardson/status/1534301013678637057?s=20&t=ZOsEh8jPZJrBGgDd_PIZyQ

Maeve Richardson of the Union of Students in Ireland recently shared a grim discovery on Twitter - a single room for rent in 'Dublin 8', priced at €700. At this stage you're probably thinking - "€700? For a room in the 15th coolest neighbourhood in the world? During a housing crisis? Bargain!" Which, as much as it saddens me to admit it, would probably be true, if it wasn't for the fact that this room is actually located in Athlone.

No, you didn't read that wrong.

The property description reads:

It is NOT in Dublin but easily commutable from Dublin. Walking distance (200m) from Athlone train station. Train takes 1.5 hours from Athlone to Dublin Heuston.

It then goes on to list the train times. So think of it this way - you might not be getting a room remotely in the vicinity of Dublin, but at least you'll always be on time for your commute.

The comments section, as you'd imagine, is a mixed bag of devastation and wise cracks, with one person writing: "If this was a movie it would be the moment we all realised we were living in Athlone all along". Plenty of gold in there, but quick shout out to our favourite comment of the lot:

Artistry, truly.

Header image via Shutterstock