Not sure if it's an issue localised to Ireland, but I've avoided Starbucks since I started seriously drinking coffee - not because of the price, but any cup I've had (and they're more akin to buckets) has had that bitter finish that over roasted/burnt beans bring to the table. Still the way Dublin is going, it's going to be hard to avoid places like Starbucks, Cafe Nero etc. soon - smaller places being priced out of the market.
Starbucks has grown to the point where it can't grow more, at least in the USA. So it has to raise prices to continue to "grow" revenue. I stopped going to Starbucks on a regular basis because the coffee is just fine so I prefer to go to local coffee shops where there is a chance the coffee will be good or excellent.<p>That said, I will still go to Starbucks while traveling because the stores are everywhere, and I will get a consistent quality drink. So I am not anti-Starbucks but increased prices without an increase in drink quality limits my desire to go there.
Starbucks near me got rid of all their comfortable chairs and even build drive-thru only places now. So much for a "third-place". Also their coffee is terrible like everyone else is saying.