Irish people. What do foreign people think of us?

Fallen Buckshot

We would like to Make sweet love to you all by a Bog with a nice romantic smokey peat fire

AckwelFoley

I lived in Denmark in the late 90's. I was there for a few months and before my time was up to come home i was asked to meet up with an irish guy and show him the town. I couldnt fathom how one person could be such a fcuking idiot all at one time, he was a national disgrace.

Complaining about the price of the food in the chip shop and trying to bargin with the lady. It wouldnt ber seen as to unusual here where a lad bakes a bollix of himself a 2am, but this was 8pm and he was sobre...

Horse_box

If I was visiting Ireland and went on a night out in Galway, Cork, Dublin or any other city or town for that matter, I would be very shocked at the amount of drunken idiots falling around the place

We are a nation who live up to our sterotypes

cooperguy

I spent three months in California on a J1 a couple of years ago. Alot of the Californians were really interested in talking to us when they realised we were Irish (some were actually excited!).

Having said that there was plenty more who were no more interested in us than any other nationality.

Azhrei

Ancient Ireland made incredibly works of art like the Tara Brooch, Book of Kells, Ardagh Chalice, Newgrange, etc. Amazing music begat achingly beautiful songs, original styles of dance, a culture we've become famous for. The friendliest, most innocent people in the world.

Modern Ireland has the spire in Dublin and Crystal Swing. People with an inflated sense of self-worth because of the works of our ancestors. I don't know what people outside the country see and think of us, but I hope it's close to the truth.

Latchy

Malcolm Hollow Rock wrote: »

From my travels, most people are of the opinion that we're drunkards and violent.

Also whenever I told people I was in the army they asked me about Gerry Adams, so they probably think we're terrorists too.

Being my expierence to on a few occasions although uk based ex- Irish servicemens associations who attend military functions throughout the year have managed over the years to make some of those who didn't understand , know the difference between Terrorists and Irish Defence Forces .

Realtine wrote: »

Many people abroad seem to believe we are still part of Britain.
I think English people seem to think the same.

I think some English people are very clued in and know the difference ,with many others it's just plain indifference than anything else .
There will always be that association with Britain simply because of the former Empire , history between and closeness of the two Islands

starbelgrade

Jayda Embarrassed Autograph wrote: »

I'm Irish and I think everybody in Ireland needs a good nuking. I can't look at anything Irish without cringing!

How do you avoid your own reflection?

Goldenquick

They think we drink all the time, are very holy when not in the pub, speak with funny accents and are very backward......:rolleyes:

Dudess

kraggy wrote: »

We're not as well liked as we like to think.

From my experience travelling, one of the reasons we are not liked is because, we think we're great craic. The truth is, that many Irish folk make absolute tits of themselves when backpacking.

It's embarassing sometimes.

Elenxor wrote: »

Amen to that!.

Jayda Embarrassed Autograph wrote: »

I'm Irish and I think everybody in Ireland needs a good nuking. I can't look at anything Irish without cringing!

I'd imagine foreign people are quite bemused by the strong undercurrent of self loathing and the worrying about what other nationalities think of us...

starbelgrade

All backpackers are embarrasing.

Krusader

Goldenquick wrote: »

They think we drink all the time, are very holy when not in the pub, speak with funny accents and are very backward......:rolleyes:

They're not half wrong then :pac:

i57dwun4yb1pt8

well, the roiting / protesting soon to be bust greeks think we are a bunch of cowardly bastards

http://www.politics.ie/current-affairs/123685-greek-working-class-greece-not-ireland-we-fight-back.html

.... and they would be dead right .

Scarinae

I'm embarrassed by Irish people abroad.

Ever been to the south of Spain? I was there a few years ago to stay with a friend and her family, the whole place is just full of Irish and English people who have second houses (well, it was in 2004 anyway) The people over there want to go to Irish pubs, socialise with Irish people, watch Irish sports, and they complain about stuff that's different to Ireland: "I don't like Spanish butter" or "The meat just isn't the same as it is at home". Well, go back to Ireland then if it's so great! I avoid Irish pubs like the plague when I'm in other countries

gagomes

Goldenquick wrote: »

They think we drink all the time, are very holy when not in the pub, speak with funny accents and are very backward......:rolleyes:

Them fools

Scarinae

Realtine wrote: »

Many people abroad seem to believe we are still part of Britain.
I think English people seem to think the same.

I think you're right! I'm in London doing a Masters at the moment, and people seem to be a bit confused about the whole thing. For example, a postgrad was doing a survey of British students, which I obviously couldn't do because I'm Irish. One of the girls in my class helpfully said "They probably don't just mean Britain, you can probably do it since you're part of the UK" Er, what? She knows I'm from Dublin!

I can vote in the election on Thursday because I'm Irish... All other EU countries can only vote in the locals, but Irish people and qualifying Commonwealth citizens can vote for parliament. I'm sure other people heard about Nick Griffin, the leader of the BNP, talking earlier this week about how he'd kick out all the foreigners except the Irish since we "as far as we are concerned are part of Britain"

starbelgrade

Fishie wrote: »

I'm embarrassed by Irish people abroad.

Ever been to the south of Spain? I was there a few years ago to stay with a friend and her family, the whole place is just full of Irish and English people who have second houses (well, it was in 2004 anyway) The people over there want to go to Irish pubs, socialise with Irish people, watch Irish sports, and they complain about stuff that's different to Ireland: "I don't like Spanish butter" or "The meat just isn't the same as it is at home". Well, go back to Ireland then if it's so great! I avoid Irish pubs like the plague when I'm in other countries

The south of Spain is not full of Irish & English people with 2nd homes. Parts of it are - but for the most part, southern Spain is predominantly Spanish. The islands, Las Canarias & Palma, are quite touristy, but neither of them are in the south of Spain.

The people you speak of can be embarrasing, but so can those who either don't know their geography or make sweeping generalisations about the entire coastline of a foreign country.

xoixo

From my experiences, we're not hugely like - my age group anyway would just be considered drunk and violent.

But, also noticed the tone and attitude of the person improves a lot after we exchange this:

"You English?"
"No I'm Irish"
"Oooh.. in that case..."

PK2008

Rest_Energy wrote: »

It's because they're both Celts. Or, for instance, thinking Ireland and Scotland are pretty much the same place but in different areas.

Scotland is Ireland Junior

Scarinae

starbelgrade wrote: »

The south of Spain is not full of Irish & English people with 2nd homes. Parts of it are - but for the most part, southern Spain is predominantly Spanish. The islands, Las Canarias & Palma, are quite touristy, but neither of them are in the south of Spain.

The people you speak of can be embarrasing, but so can those who either don't know their geography or make sweeping generalisations about the entire coastline of a foreign country.

:rolleyes: Ok, I was specifically referring to some of the coast of Andalusia -Marbella, Puerto Banus, etc, I believe it's called the Costa del Sol. Happy now? I have been to other parts of southern Spain, like Sorbas, which are predominantly Spanish and I liked them a lot better. My original point is still valid though, despite your nitpicking

pickarooney

Most non-English-speaking foreigners can't or don't care enough to distinguish us from the English.

Wibbs

Fishie wrote: »

I'm embarrassed by Irish people abroad.

Ever been to the south of Spain? I was there a few years ago to stay with a friend and her family, the whole place is just full of Irish and English people who have second houses (well, it was in 2004 anyway) The people over there want to go to Irish pubs, socialise with Irish people, watch Irish sports, and they complain about stuff that's different to Ireland: "I don't like Spanish butter" or "The meat just isn't the same as it is at home". Well, go back to Ireland then if it's so great! I avoid Irish pubs like the plague when I'm in other countries

Yea I get that, but often the demographic you speak of, the "I've a second gaff in Puerto Banus" are of a particular type of Irish. Not all by any means but they tend to follow a trend. Celtic tiger cubs, with ideas above their station or intellect. Want to go to Spain, but remain in their own enclaves/ghettos. EG one woman I knew way back. Little education, nor brains for it. Mrs Beige, married to Mr My folks died and left me a house just before the boom, so now Im a millionaire. Not. Anyhoo.. They bought a flat in Marbella, well a few miles outside. There were some issues attached like a lack of water supply. Her response? "Ah shure you wouldnt drink spanish water and you can get ballygowan in the local shop". Not evian as that would be a bit too out there for her. When I enquired could she speak any spanish, her response was "ah shure there's enough aorund us that speak english. She didnt even stretch to gracias. They're the types the locals dislike, along with similar of English and German extraction.Throw in the "we're on the piss in the sun" types too. As I say not all are like that, but enough to give a bad name. Same in Greece, Italy and Portugal.

Of the Irish who stray outside the costas, the Spanish I found very welcoming and actually one of the best fits for Irish in Europe IMHO.

Realtine wrote: »

Many people abroad seem to believe we are still part of Britain.
I think English people seem to think the same.

Yea Ive come across that one alright. Once in a small town pub outside southampton I was chatting to the locals. Nice bunch. The landlord had a collection behind the bar of money in the form of notes from all over the world. So I asked did he want an Irish punt(back in the day as you can see). He was happy to do so, but we all fell into convo when they noted the queen wasnt on the notes. They had quite the vaguest idea of Irish history. Some thought we were part of the UK and were surprised we had our own parliament, some didnt but thought we were part of the commonwealth and almost none had any idea about the troubles or any of that. Like I said these were nice folks, but as they came from a small english village that had likely not changed since god was a boy and never had Irish in the place, they just didnt know. One old geezer, again a lovely bloke told me I was the first Irish man he'd ever met. We seem to forget that we get their TV and culture, but they dont get ours. We know waaaaay more about them than they do about us. Which can bemuse them at times. Terry wogan was their lot, poor bastards. He alone makes up for 800 years Most seemed to make a distinction between the North and the South, even if they were hazy on most of the details. I recall reading about a survey in the UK that found a southern Irish accent was soothing and attractive to English ears, but a northern Irish accent wasn't. Wogan again. That fcukers a republican plant I tells ya

Dr_Phil

Elenxor wrote: »

Seriously, please tell us of your experiences in this country.

Why do you care? I couldn't be arsed with what the Irish think of me...

Ickle Magoo

Wibbs wrote: »

I recall reading about a survey in the UK that found a southern Irish accent was soothing and attractive to English ears, but a northern Irish accent wasn't. Wogan again. That fcukers a republican plant I tells ya

I have a friend from Derry and much as I love him, no-one could call that accent easy on the ear! I'm guessing the survey wasn't a choice between a Tyrone accent and skanger Dublinese but Gerry Adams Vs Terry Wogan?!

starbelgrade

Fishie wrote: »

:rolleyes: Ok, I was specifically referring to some of the coast of Andalusia -Marbella, Puerto Banus, etc, I believe it's called the Costa del Sol. Happy now? I have been to other parts of southern Spain, like Sorbas, which are predominantly Spanish and I liked them a lot better. My original point is still valid though, despite your nitpicking

In a thread where people are complaining about the likes of the English thinking that Ireland is a part of Britain, I think it's OK to point out the fact that the Costa Del Sol is just a small part of the entire coastline of the south of Spain.

You might call it nit picking, I would call it geography.

segaBOY

snyper wrote: »

I lived in Denmark in the late 90's. I was there for a few months and before my time was up to come home i was asked to meet up with an irish guy and show him the town. I couldnt fathom how one person could be such a fcuking idiot all at one time, he was a national disgrace.

Complaining about the price of the food in the chip shop and trying to bargin with the lady. It wouldnt ber seen as to unusual here where a lad bakes a bollix of himself a 2am, but this was 8pm and he was sobre...

I know a guy like that. I don't think it's unique to the Irish, d*ckheads everywhere.

Jumpy

I generally think you guys are ok, unfortunately the events of the last 800 years or so have turned you into a people who think that any authority is a bad thing. The side effect being that "laws are for other people".
Fiercely defensive of your own to the point of stupidity and unable to handle criticism.
You can stand there while your country is falling around your ears and say stuff like "If you dont like it, **** off back to your own country".

starbelgrade

Jumpy wrote: »

I generally think you guys are ok, unfortunately the events of the last 800 years or so have turned you into a people who think that any authority is a bad thing. The side effect being that "laws are for other people".
Fiercely defensive of your own to the point of stupidity and unable to handle criticism.
You can stand there while your country is falling around your ears and say stuff like "If you dont like it, **** off back to your own country".

We also love sweeping generalisations. Them's our favourite.

Jumpy

Hey, Im a racist Aussie, it should be expected.

Jumpy

No no segaBOY, I saw your thanks on me Too late to hide it now.

starbelgrade

Jumpy wrote: »

Hey, Im a racist Aussie, it should be expected.

The thread title is "What do foreign people think of us?", not, "Foreign people, what do you think of us?"

Your comments have no place in this thread. Now, go & put a few shrimps on the barbie, crack open a few tinnies, annoy some Sheilas & stop making generalisations & racist / stereotyped comments, ya flamin' ghoula.

:pac: