This is a post I wrote in response to someone thinking of applying to TCD for a Masters:
'The English department at TCD is very ropey, and it is particularly poor if you are a postgraduate. The teaching is generally terrible, and many of the older tutors are unfriendly, unhelpful and awkward. A lot of my friends did PhDs at TCD; all had bad experiences. I don't know anyone who's actually done the MPhil, but research degrees in English at TCD are rarely rewarding. My fiance did his PhD there, and never once got any encouragement or advice, either with his thesis or his career. I wouldn't recommend it. If you want to be in Dublin, UCD is better, though not as pretty to look at.'
The fiance I mention also did his undergraduate degree at TCD - in English and French. He hated it. He only stayed on for a PhD because none of his tutors advised him on postgrad degrees elsewhere - his tutors (all of whom still teach at TCD now) where the opposite of encouraging and engaged. They didn't care what happened to him, despite the fact that he was a brilliant scholarship student. This happened to other people too. I think TCD is a bad move, and this is based not on personal experiece, but on that of many of my closest friends. UCL would be a lot better. I'd definitely go there if I were you.