Pokemon Go: Tips and tricks for playing in Tallaght

By Laura Lyne

IT’S BEEN over 20 years since Pokémon first took the world by storm, and the cute little creatures have once again taken over the world following the launch of Pokémon Go

While the game has yet to be officially released in Ireland, some wily and eager Pokémon fans (including myself) have managed to work around the restrictions and have been amassing a collection of characters and crashing the game’s servers in the process

For those who are not in the know, Pokémon Go is an exciting new app that allows players to catch Pokémon and take on other Pokémon trainers (the title given to collectors) to compete in battles with each other.

Thankfully, it seems that Tallaght is a hotspot of Pokémon activity, with some of the most popular characters from the beloved show spotted locally. Here are some of the best things I’ve spotted along the way, including some tips for those who want to take part in the action.

Tallaght Village is right in the heart of the action.

With The Echo offices based on Main Road, Tallaght I’ve found myself surrounded by local landmarks and curious Pokémon waiting for me to catch them. Just today, while on my lunch break, I managed to catch three Pokémon while walking from the office, then past Lidl – and caught a Pidgey right in the centre of Main Road! On my way back, I found a Weedle curiously crawling around the car park of The Enterprise Centre.

Make sure you stay aware of others and don’t stray off the beaten track.

As soon as you open the Pokémon Go app, it tells you to be aware of your surroundings. This is extremely important for anyone that’s playing the game. For it to work, you need to keep the app open on your phone and when you’re out in the open you need to be aware of your surroundings. Also, with the random nature of how the Pokémon appear, the game can send you off track – don’t enter areas where you could be unsafe or are not familiar with.

There’s a lot of local information you probably didn’t know…

A number of stops are located throughout the area, and they allow you to collect some gadgets and learn information. Did you know that there is a Guinness clock located on the Abberley hotel? Or that within the grounds of the Priory, there’s a beautiful statue of Holy Mary? Well, they’re just some of the interesting facts you learn about Tallaght along the way. A historical obelisk located beside AIB even features among the Pokémon stops.

Take the opportunity to learn and even get some exercise.

Pokémon Go involves a lot of walking and moving from place to place. It could be the perfect opportunity for you to explore (while keeping safe). There’s plenty of places throughout Tallaght to see and to learn about that could be the perfect opportunity for you to really enjoy the game.

The Dancing Garden plays a pretty important role in the game.

If you’re in any way familiar with Pokémon, you’ll know that there are locations known as “gyms”, where eager trainers can earn achievements known as Pokémon badges for defeating a tough opponent. In Tallaght, there are a couple of gyms located within the area both in the village and near The Square. The recognisable Dancing Garden in the village represents one of these gyms, highlighting one of Tallaght’s lovliest landmarks

Pokémon Go uses a lot of battery and data.

As fun as Pokémon Go is, like any app that includes a lot of features, it uses a lot of your battery. As Pokémon Go is a game that is based on your location and an active internet connection, it can use more data then you realise. Make sure to keep an eye on it at all times, so that you’re not caught with a dying phone or a surprising phone bill.

Tallaght’s most beautiful landmarks are front and centre.

Remember those Pokémon stops I mentioned earlier? While they highlight some things you didn’t know, they also highlight some of the forgotten gems in Tallaght. Included within this are the flamingos and hippos that can be seen in the lakes of Sean Walsh Park, and the beautiful sculpture that is located outside the main building of IT Tallaght.

Don’t take it too seriously…

Pokémon Go isn’t the greatest game you’re ever going to play. Leaving it for a day or two isn’t going to make that much of a difference. The fun is seeing where Pokémon can randomly appear. For instance, a Drowzee cheekily appeared on my desk today – a fitting appearance for a Monday afternoon!

It can help you find some helpful local locations.

Local amenities also feature on Pokémon Go, helping you find the exact location of the Glenview Post Office, and Dominic’s Community Centre. If you’re unsure where the Avonbeg estate begins, Pokémon Go can direct you to it, and the South Dublin Scouts den on Old Blessington Road even has its own stop.

It still hasn’t been officially released in Ireland yet.

If you’re suffering from FOMO (fear of missing out), don’t fret. It will appear on the Irish app stores soon. The company behind the game are just trying to deal with the demand after the game was released in the US and Australia. If you’re lucky enough to know how to get the game, have fun and remember, gotta catch ’em all!