British and Irish Tourists Abroad

GizAGoOfYerGee

Having lived on the continent for about 3 years now, I can confirm that the VAST majority of Europeans hate the British.

Unfortunately, it seems that the Irish are getting a terrible name over here in Spain as being as bad as the Brits.

It seems that British and Irish tourists are merging into one large bunch of fúcking arrogant British assholes.

I live on the east coast of Valencia and travel down to Alicante once a month for work.

The English tourist areas have Sky News, chips, BBC Satelite, and many Irish families clinging on to that culture like parisites.

The Spaniards call the arrogant foreigners here "Los Britanicos". (Brits)

This Spanish school map of Britain and Ireland sums up the views of the Irish over here.

http://imgur.com/4WqWy.jpg

Shame, but that is how Irish people are precieved here. Brits.

Calling all Irish Ex-pats. Cad é an scéal? What is the deal in your own town?

irish1967

Why is Gloucester on the map?

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

A lot of this is down to language. We speak English, so they assume we're English and they can't tell the difference in he accent.

And, in fairness, a lot of Irish turn into toal pissheads when on holiday in Spain as well...

Bill2673

Yer talking about a unique situation here.

There are really only two countries where this happens: Spain and Portugal. Where people from this country and Britain go to live, not because they love the culture, but because they like the weather and the cheap cost of living. People go there on holidays for exactly the same reason.

It stands to reason that a local in Spain who is not making a packet out of tourism will despise this sort of visitor, whether they be from England, Ireland, Germany, Norway wherever.

I don;t think that the type of tourist who goes to Spain and drinks for two weeks is representative of Irish people in general.

I don't think the Irish communities in Frankfurt or Paris or Rome would be viewed in the same way, or for that matter Irish tourists in Germany, France or Italy.

Finally, if Spain thinks it can live without the tourism, then good luck to it.....can't have yer bread buttered on both sides.

An addendum on this:

I spent 18 months backpacking in Asia.

Over the course of this I met people from all over the (developed) world doing the same thing as me. Without doubt, the least friendly (to me) along the way were other Irish people. Was a bit of a shocker to me, I'd be in some town in India and I'd hear another Irish accent and say hello.....not interested; didn't want to know. Happened time after time, and it annoyed me. Having said that, I only met about 10 Irish people in the whole 18 months.

Second addendum: I also concluded from these travels, that we irish have more in common with the Brits than any other nationality; we are more like them/ they are more like us, than any other nationality.....(or at least the Brits i met along the way).

Bill2673

Bill2673 wrote: »

I spent 18 months backpacking in Asia.

Over the course of this I met people from all over the (developed) world doing the same thing as me. Without doubt, the least friendly (to me) along the way were other Irish people. Was a bit of a shocker to me, I'd be in some town in India and I'd hear another Irish accent and say hello.....not interested; didn't want to know. Happened time after time, and it annoyed me. Having said that, I only met about 10 Irish people in the whole 18 months.

If they're in Asia with no other Irish people, it's because they don't want to hang around with Irish people.. My brothers were the same over there and I'll prob be the same when I go in two weeks.

uncle-mofo

Deleted User wrote: »

If they're in Asia with no other Irish people, it's because they don't want to hang around with Irish people.. My brothers were the same over there and I'll prob be the same when I go in two weeks.

A few minute friendly conversation wouldn't kill you though? It's nice to be nice.

Bill2673

Deleted User wrote: »

If they're in Asia with no other Irish people, it's because they don't want to hang around with Irish people.. My brothers were the same over there and I'll prob be the same when I go in two weeks.

I don't understand ya? If they're in Asia with no other Irish people, its because they don't want to hang around with other Irish people? Most backpackers on that sort of trip would be on their own, simply because its a lot easier to travel on your own, you need a lot of flexibility for this sort of trip....Every week yer deciding do i go this way or that way. Certainly this was true for men. Male backpackers in my experience were usually on their own or in a couple. Less so for women, more likely to travel with another girl than on their own.

On the other hand, you might have a point. Maybe its that Irish people really don;t have that high an opinion of themselves; and by extension, of other Irish people. Its borne out in the media.....always full of articles about 'what foreigners think of us'.....

uncle-mofo

uncle-mofo wrote: »

A few minute friendly conversation wouldn't kill you though? It's nice to be nice.

Well yea, people shouldn't be rude about it..

Bill2673 wrote: »

I don't understand ya? If they're in Asia with no other Irish people, its because they don't want to hang around with other Irish people? Most backpackers on that sort of trip would be on their own, simply because its a lot easier to travel on your own, you need a lot of flexibility for this sort of trip....Every week yer deciding do i go this way or that way. Certainly this was true for men. Male backpackers in my experience were usually on their own or in a couple. Less so for women, more likely to travel with another girl than on their own.

If you're travelling around the world, most people will want to be completely exposed to other nationalities and culture instead of hanging around with their own.. I've a 33yr old brother in Australia for the last 5 years who doesn't know one Irish person there. He doesn't see any point in living in a "sunny Ireland".

Misanthrope

The Irish chav.A near carbon copy of the much lamented English chav.I remember when our scobes were somewhat original or at least different to their English counterparts.Now the only difference is the accent.They refer to their chosen football club(nearly always Man U) as we, while their local club goes to the dogs for the want of a bit of support.

I wouldn't be surprised if they started affecting cockney geezah accents next.

A lot of them only escaped the gutter they belong in due to the recklessness of the Tiger Era.They're not ready for foreign countries and act that way the minute they land.Ryanair facilitate them way too cheaply.

We need to take a leaf out of Fidel Castro's book, only a little more subtle.Send them all of on a holiday to Tenerife(every scumbags favourite place on earth).Then revoke their passports and citizenship with a pen stroke.Tough on Spain but good for Ireland.

catbear

You don't go all the way to Asia to meet other Irish people. Sometimes people just need a break from their own culture.

Having said that when I did an RTW I met Irish people but I felt no reason to give them any preference from all the other nationalities I met.

People are people and I felt no particular need to get to know someone just because they have the same accent.

bonerm

Fortunately I am a rational person and couldn't care less what some Spaniard thinks of my country or where it's territorial allegiances lie.

Anyway, it could be worse. They could be thinking Ireland was part of Spain.

Misanthrope

Bill2673 wrote: »

Yer talking about a unique situation here.

There are really only two countries where this happens: Spain and Portugal. Where people from this country and Britain go to live, not because they love the culture, but because they like the weather and the cheap cost of living. People go there on holidays for exactly the same reason.

It stands to reason that a local in Spain who is not making a packet out of tourism will despise this sort of visitor, whether they be from England, Ireland, Germany, Norway wherever.

I don;t think that the type of tourist who goes to Spain and drinks for two weeks is representative of Irish people in general.

I don't think the Irish communities in Frankfurt or Paris or Rome would be viewed in the same way, or for that matter Irish tourists in Germany, France or Italy.

Finally, if Spain thinks it can live without the tourism, then good luck to it.....can't have yer bread buttered on both sides.

An addendum on this:

I spent 18 months backpacking in Asia.

Over the course of this I met people from all over the (developed) world doing the same thing as me. Without doubt, the least friendly (to me) along the way were other Irish people. Was a bit of a shocker to me, I'd be in some town in India and I'd hear another Irish accent and say hello.....not interested; didn't want to know. Happened time after time, and it annoyed me. Having said that, I only met about 10 Irish people in the whole 18 months.

Second addendum: I also concluded from these travels, that we irish have more in common with the Brits than any other nationality; we are more like them/ they are more like us, than any other nationality.....(or at least the Brits i met along the way).

It happens in Crete.And Australia.And the US.I haven't been to Thailand, but if one of these cretins can find it on a map they'll flock there.

I think India will be off limits to them until it's got British high street shopping and sky sports premiership everywhere.Which probably won't be that long.I would expect in the meantime that you would meet a better class of tourist in India from what I've been told.

WindSock

Payback for the legions of shouty, footpath hogging, stingy Spanish students, tbh.

Bill2673

Misanthrope wrote: »

It happens in Crete.And Australia.And the US.I haven't been to Thailand, but if one of these cretins can find it on a map they'll flock there.

I think India will be off limits to them until it's got British high street shopping and sky sports premiership everywhere.Which probably won't be that long.I would expect in the meantime that you would meet a better class of tourist in India from what I've been told.

`

Happens here too. There's a bar called the Woolshed on Parnell St; its full of aussies and kiwis watching tri nations rugby and re-runs of Home and Away....getting drunk on XXXX lager don;t ya know. Ruins our country it does. You see them in Temple Bar too.

Bill2673

catbear wrote: »

You don't go all the way to Asia to meet other Irish people. Sometimes people just need a break from their own culture.

Having said that when I did an RTW I met Irish people but I felt no reason to give them any preference from all the other nationalities I met.

People are people and I felt no particular need to get to know someone just because they have the same accent.

Didn't I meet you once

Misanthrope

WindSock wrote: »

Payback for the legions of shouty, footpath hogging, stingy Spanish students, tbh.

I totally forgot about them.Cork City used to be overrun with them,like downtown Madrid.Never seemed to notice them in Dublin as much.

At least they used be sober.

Bill2673

Deleted User wrote: »

If you're travelling around the world, most people will want to be completely exposed to other nationalities and culture instead of hanging around with their own.. I've a 33yr old brother in Australia for the last 5 years who doesn't know one Irish person there. He doesn't see any point in living in a "sunny Ireland".

The conclusion I drew was that people were mighty happy with themselves for arriving at some very remote and difficult to get to corner of the world, and that when another Irish person popped up, it burst their bubble.

In general, as it happens, I'd be far more critical of the type of tourism that goes and corrupts the local culture of countries like Thailand or Cuba than I would be of the type of tourism that takes over a section of the Spanish coastline, and is confined to that.

Notorious97

Couldnt give a ****e to be honest, if they wish to be ignorant and assume we are british then let them.

I cant stand them when they are here anyway taking up footpaths etc, (i know we need the tourism though so i see them as a necesary evil :pac:) so fair play to the scumbags over there annoying them lol

Misanthrope

Bill2673 wrote: »

`

Happens here too. There's a bar called the Woolshed on Parnell St; its full of aussies and kiwis watching tri nations rugby and re-runs of Home and Away....getting drunk on XXXX lager don;t ya know. Ruins our country it does. You see them in Temple Bar too.

The Woolshed!Those antipodean sheepshaggers crack me up.It's obviously a Kiwi or Aussie venture is it?Do they get really messy though........ fighting,bleeding ,puking ,getting arrested, stealing, vandalism, noise pollution,littering.

A friend of mine had a party 5 weeks back.A bunch of 'fresh of the boat' Irish fellas turned up uninvited but he welcomed them in.They proceeded to get stupid drunk until people felt uneasy and he politely asked them to leave.The next morning he discovered that the had ransacked the downstairs of his house.............. holes in the walls and ceiling,piss on the carpet,broken furniture and fixtures.One of them was asleep naked on the floor when he came down.The guy attacked him and had to be arrested.

This is by no means an isolated incident.Happens every summer multiple times.

RMD

GizAGoOfYerGee wrote: »

This Spanish school map of Britain and Ireland sums up the views of the Irish over here.

http://imgur.com/4WqWy.jpg

Don't want to sound pedantic, but the geographical term worldwide for Great Britain and Ireland as a group of islands is "The British Isles". I really doubt that map you've shown us is some insult to the Irish claiming we're west Brits, it's more so just an accurate geography map.

Edit: Every summer the Spanish come over here, block up any main street's paths in Dublin, speak incredibly loud where ever they go, sounds like they're deliberately shouting most of the time. And from experience, they're pretty rude and obnoxious in general. Irish tourists certainly aren't a good bunch to deal with often once they go on these Piss-up holidays, but the Spanish certainly aren't a lovely group either.

Minstrel27

GizAGoOfYerGee wrote: »

This Spanish school map of Britain and Ireland sums up the views of the Irish over here.

http://imgur.com/4WqWy.jpg

Shame, but that is how Irish people are precieved here. Brits.

I am lost. How does the map show us as being British?

Oh here we go again. It's not the Brits they hate (and I wouldn't even say hate. Look down on would be more accurate). It's a certain type of British person, the type who tends to go on holiday to the Costa del Sol and spend their time eating egg and chips. And certain types of Irish people do exactly the same thing in exactly the same places, speaking exactly the same language. So why is it so confusing that they're lumped together?

And 'Los británicos' isn't offensive. LOL. It means 'the British'. They probably genuinely think all the English speaking foreigners are British because they all hang out together. Why wouldn't they?

Bill2673

Bill2673 wrote: »

The conclusion I drew was that people were mighty happy with themselves for arriving at some very remote and difficult to get to corner of the world, and that when another Irish person popped up, it burst their bubble.

In general, as it happens, I'd be far more critical of the type of tourism that goes and corrupts the local culture of countries like Thailand or Cuba than I would be of the type of tourism that takes over a section of the Spanish coastline, and is confined to that.

As for the first paragraph, I think that's fair.. If i'm in the back end of Burma and see a bunch of gaa lads arrive along in their jerseys, i'm gonna be pissed.
As for the second paragraph, tourism is too important to the economy of these countries for it to matter.

Bill2673

Deleted User wrote: »

As for the first paragraph, I think that's fair.. If i'm in the back end of Burma and see a bunch of gaa lads arrive along in their jerseys, i'm gonna be pissed.
As for the second paragraph, tourism is too important to the economy of these countries for it to matter.

Its a reasonable point and I'd partly agree. However if tourism effects a major cultural change on a place, I don't know if thats worth the extra cash it brings in.

In Thailand there is a massive sex industry now. I don't know that this is exclusively due to tourism but its certainly a big part of it. Thailand would be a very conservative country historically.

Against that, I remember visiting Pakistan just after they started a war with India, about ten years ago; fantastic country by the way. Along the karokoram highway there were various tourist towns, (i.e. villages with a few small hotels or hostels) and they were completely dead, empty hotels, because people were not visiting. So I take your point.

Having said that, I was in a taxi recently where the driver was an old guy from Connemara. He had left there when he was 22, or something like that. I said it must have been a great place to grow up, thinking - hiking- beaches, fantastic scenery, strong local culture. I've certainly had a great time any time i've been there. He looked at me as if I was mad, said when he was growing up there was just nothing there to do.

Are tourists allowed into Burma now? i thought the borders were closed....

Addendum: The OP might mention to his Spanish friends the effect Spanish travellers had in South America when they first visited there, might give a bit of context to the local British and irish revellers.

Chips Lovell

GizAGoOfYerGee wrote: »

The English tourist areas have Sky News, chips, BBC Satelite, and many Irish families clinging on to that culture like parisites.

Sky News and chips? How dare they!

philstar

ah c'mon and join the fun

Lumen

If you want to talk generalisation, it is a common perception amongst the British that the Spanish are racist. Even the BBC, a bastion of super-sensitive political correctness, are happy to comment that "Racism is an issue in Spanish sport and reflects attitudes held in wider Spanish society."

Generalisation aside, the only Spanish I know are generous, intelligent people.

I know some Irish who like to go to the sort of Spanish resorts where English is widely spoken, but that's more about their conservative tastes (bell peppers would be considered exotic fare). I don't have a problem with that, the Spanish are meeting a particular market demand, and continentals are hardly known for their wide ranging international palettes (just try and buy decent Asian ingredients or foreign wine in a French supermarket).

Anyway, I digress. Being a dick is annoying, regardless of nationality. Less dick-ism please.

mikemac

Bill2673 wrote: »

Having said that, I was in a taxi recently where the driver was an old guy from Connemara. He had left there when he was 22, or something like that. I said it must have been a great place to grow up, thinking - hiking- beaches, fantastic scenery, strong local culture. I've certainly had a great time any time i've been there. He looked at me as if I was mad, said when he was growing up there was just nothing there to do.

Locals are the last people to appreciate their own local area.

Well I'm not far from the Cliffs of Moher or boating on Lough Derg or fishing in Kilkee and I've done none of these things. Never even seen the Burren and I could be there in 30 minutes.
But people from abroad from abroad and other parts of Ireland know more about my county then I do.

Having said that when I moved to Dublin I was shocked by how little some Dubs know about their city.
They know their own area and city centre (town ) and that's it. If you name some place on the opposite side of the city to where they live and they won't have a clue.
I learned a lot by renting and moving around and did all the sites. But people from that city won't.

And yep, if I'm backpacking RTW I'd certainly stop and chat if I recognize the accent, I'll talk to anyone.
Though if I see the usual suspects in GAA jerseys in some random place in Asia with their cans of Guinness then I'm avoiding ye.

Cheap Thrills!

Nothig new there. That's been the opinion of the Spaniards/French/Italians/Greeks for YEARS, ever since the chav masses started invading their coastlines.

Our chavs are no better than British chavs anyway so let's not split hairs!

Bill2673

Cheap Thrills! wrote: »

Nothig new there. That's been the opinion of the Spaniards/French/Italians/Greeks for YEARS, ever since the chav masses started invading their coastlines.

Our chavs are no better than British chavs anyway so let's not split hairs!

Is there a certain amount of snobbishness here anyway?

For example, if I am a 23 year old Irish guy say from a council estate in Sligo or Thurles or Ballyfermot or anywhere else in the country, and I earn a couple of hundred euros a week working at the local factory, and I have two weeks off in August when the factory shuts, and the only foreign holiday option i have is to go to Spain for two weeks with the lads on a €400 package, or else stay at home watch telly for two weeks, I know what I'd do.

mickydoomsux

Yeah, this kind of thing isn't limited to on particular social class of Irish people. You're as likely to see D4 heads over in the Costa Del Whatever as you are to see Anto and his pals from The 'Mun. They'll both be horribly drunk and be an utter nuisance though.

It's, once again, our horrible attitude to drinking and drunkeness in this country that we bring with us on holiday. You're not having fun unless there's drink involved.

Misanthrope

Bill2673 wrote: »

Is there a certain amount of snobbishness here anyway?

For example, if I am a 23 year old Irish guy say from a council estate in Sligo or Thurles or Ballyfermot or anywhere else in the country, and I earn a couple of hundred euros a week working at the local factory, and I have two weeks off in August when the factory shuts, and the only foreign holiday option i have is to go to Spain for two weeks with the lads on a €400 package, or else stay at home watch telly for two weeks, I know what I'd do.

It's what you do there,not the fact that you go there.Trashing the place,and upsetting the natives with lewd,loud,drunken, violent conduct, is not acceptable.There's no snobbery in saying that either.

If our 23 year old is polite and considerate to those around him and doesn't wreck the place,I can't see what the problem would be.

Pace2008

el tonto wrote: »

Sky News and chips? How dare they!

I'd say our forefathers are turning in their graves.

Donkey Oaty

irish1967 wrote: »

Why is Gloucester on the map?

That map looks to me like one for a commercial English language school with branches in Gloucester and Glasgow, not a product of the Spanish Department of Education.

Where did you find it, OP?

LordSutch

GizAGoOfYerGee wrote: »

Having lived on the continent for about 3 years now, I can confirm that the VAST majority of Europeans hate the British.

Well now, that a serious generisation, what > all sixty million of them

GizAGoOfYerGee wrote: »

Unfortunately, it seems that the Irish are getting a terrible name over here in Spain as being as bad as the Brits.

Same thing applies . . . . .

GizAGoOfYerGee wrote: »

It seems that British and Irish tourists are merging into one large bunch of fúcking arrogant British assholes.

Just those of a certain age who follow a certain cultural format.

GizAGoOfYerGee wrote: »

I live on the east coast of Valencia and travel down to Alicante once a month for work.

The English tourist areas have Sky News, chips, BBC Satelite, and many Irish families clinging on to that culture like parisites.

I know exactly what you mean, and we give them a very wide birth whether at home or abroad, but most countries have these 'chav culture' fanzines, and Britain & Ireland are past masters at producing them (sadly) > but you can't tar all the Irish/Brits with the same brush!

GizAGoOfYerGee wrote: »

The Spaniards call the arrogant foreigners here "Los Britanicos". (Brits)

This Spanish school map of Britain and Ireland sums up the views of the Irish over here.

http://imgur.com/4WqWy.jpg

Shame, but that is how Irish people are precieved here. Brits.

Calling all Irish Ex-pats. Cad é an scéal? What is the deal in your own town?

Well, all I can say is that the Spanish have their own race related problems (Football comes to mind), and I'm sure they have their own brand of hooligan & chav culture too . . .