Americans in Ireland

IRISHLILY24

Ok, since there are a lot of intelligent people on the boards, as I have found to be true, with the small exceptions every now and then, lol
What do you feel about Americans who are Irish moving to Ireland to live thier lives?

Now I would love to hear everyones different take on this, for reason that I am about to reveal, I have been asked many times on the board where I am from and if I am american....well your answer is yes.
I have been to Ireland, I am irish by right of my grandmother who emigrated here (from cavan)...and I decided to move to Ireland in november of 2001, I have been making the arrangements since then. (i also have some relatives in mayo that I havnt met yet)
Everything has been finalized and I depart in July, yes alone.

I have many reasons that I will share if anyone is interested, but I really want to know what you all think about it, not just me but other people who may have done it.

Say what you will, I am just curious and very anxious. I cant wait to finally go, home.

NeRb666

Originally posted by IRISHLILY24
What do you, Irish in Ireland, feel about Americans who are Irish moving to Ireland to live thier lives?

Ted! I'm hugely confused!

IRISHLILY24

HMMM,
ok next please.......
:rolleyes:

DrunkLeprachaun

As long as they aren't dumbasses, and don't act like retards(I'm not accusing anyone of anything), then they're okay by me.

Raskolnikov

I don't think anyone in Ireland minds Americans coming to Ireland to live as long as......

1. They aren't Christian Fundamentalist's who are trying to get away from social and moral degeneration in America etc

2. They don't try and pass off their beliefs on others

It also helps if you don't have that whining and shreekish accent that some Americans have

It's just that there is this American dude in my college and he is all the above rolled into one

IrishLily : I can't see why you would call Ireland 'home' if you grew up and lived most of you're live in the US. You must not be too happy if you are planning on uprooting you (and you're family?) all the way over to Ireland. I can't think that Ireland could be much different from America, maybe stuff is smaller here :P

Meh

So are you American or Irish?

mike65

Iishlilly if your still in the USA then you're home now, here you will be a foreigner and you'll quickly realise that! The oh it'nt everything so green/quaint/quiet/ phase will pass in about the time it takes you to get out of the airport.

pisst neRb666- I doubt she gets Father Ted jokes!

Seriously you will be in a different culture dispite some appearances to the contrary (baseball caps/skateboarders/budwieser ads etc) so its best to
take the appraoch that the country you're going to is one that you have no knowledge of and so might expect anything.

As for the question (about time!) if an American wants to live here, well fine just make sure your visa is in order! And don't say things like "gee, your cars are really like, small" as someone will accuse the USA of killing the planet with its V8s' and never start a critque with "well back home...." as you will be killed in no time!

BTW I'm a blow-in so I know of which I speak.

Mike.

IRISHLILY24

hmm, ok good comments there
I am moving alone, as I stated above.
I have spent time in Ireland already, so i know its where I want to spend the rest of my life.
I feel it is home because It will be soon, Its somewhere I have grown attached too, its a feeling deep down inside, I know that I will live, marry, raise a family, and die there.
You just Know, when its right, you just know.
Knowing that's where my roots are as well makes it feel more like home, I dont know, it's hard to explain something that you feel.
I am sure I will have many opputunites through my replies though...keep'm coming

oh, and sorry that the guy in your class is giving us a bad name, (i dont care for his type either ) I am not the stereo typical american that sticks out like a green thumb, I tend to blend with my surroundings

Terminator

Just got home from a bus journey from hell in which two drunk scumbags (a middle aged lady and her fella) were slagging all the black people on the bus calling them mars bars and other unmentionable stuff.

As they were getting off the lady punched one black fella and he slapped her on the arse (???) and her fella waded in but thank god it didn't go further. The rest of us on the bus were kinda hoping it would so we could lay into the scumbag.

Anyway to answer your question, please send more americans - they can't be any worse then some of our own.

:rolleyes:

Lemming

Originally posted by IRISHLILY24
What do you feel about Americans who are Irish moving to Ireland to live thier lives?

I have many reasons that I will share if anyone is interested, but I really want to know what you all think about it, not just me but other people who may have done it.

Say what you will, I am just curious and very anxious.

Well, you're of Irish decent, but you are american. Bar that, I have no problem with your wanting to living over here for a while at least. Whatever floats your boat. I've got several friends from Scotland living here (I myself am half-scot - my mother is from scotland and I do travel there several times a year). I see no problems with anyone coming from another country and wanting to live here. Just have your visa handy for the powers that be when they come looking

As for the reasons, sure .. fire away. I'm listening.

Meh

Originally posted by Lemming
Just have your visa handy for the powers that be when they come looking

Grandmother from cavan = Irish citizenship = no visa worries.

T.G Catter

Originally posted by IRISHLILY24

I have been asked many times on the board where I am from and if I am american....well your answer is yes.

.

explains a lot.....

Typedef

What do you feel about Americans who are Irish moving to Ireland to live thier lives?

I think it's a great idea for numerous reasons. For one, it's great that people who are decended from immigrants have a sense of where they came from and the fact that you want to move here is flattering. This country is generating more jobs then it has people to fill them and what we, this country really needs are literate workers to fill jobs that other countries will poach if Ireland doesn't fill them.

If I were you, i'd spend some time in Dublin, ok, so it's not exactly what the stereotype of Ireland traditionally is, but, it is where 25% of the island and some 33% of the state actually do live, so in my opinion Dublin is the place to be.

You will invariably get people who give you stick for being American, but in reality those people are rednecks and every single country on earth has it's own rednecks, the fact that Cork has as many rednecks as females is simply a statistical oddity
[troll ends]

The oh it'nt everything so green/quaint/quiet/ phase will pass in about the time it takes you to get out of the airport.

I would agree with the jist of this statement, Dublin is a vast sprawling concrete mass with an exodus of people getting somewhere really fast on the backs of the fallen around them, well ok, maybe not that bad, but is covers an area roughly the same size as Vancover, though, with a smaller population. Now you could live in the country or in Cork(with the Neanderthals laugh), but in my view to get a real sense of Irishness and Ireland stay away from the Green Irish Isle inc tourist nonesense and get a flat and a job in Dublin.

<paraphrased>
[Typedef rants on about how great Dublin is for quite some time, then accuses Americans and British of never shutting up about how great their countries are]

IRISHLILY24

RASKOL,
I think I may know more about Ireland than you may think I know, and I know way too much about america...having lived here all my life. After much contemplation, I know that my decision is the best one...I will not miss anything about this place, except the baseball, but there is always satellite tv. My parents are the only other thing I will miss, but thats what visits are for anyway
btw, have u been to america, ever lived here? just curious why u seem to think its such a great place? not that its not, just wondering about your views

IRISHLILY24

You seem to be a very sound guy, thanks for the advice and info.
I do plan on moving to Dublin to work and live, but eventually I'd like to move westcoast, I enjoyed everypart though.

chernobyl

Originally posted by IRISHLILY24
but there is always satellite tv.

There is but i doubt most installers in Ireland know where you can get FOX sports etc for free...legally too!




"Dublin is a vast sprawling concrete mass"

C'mon Typedef, its aint that bad and actually if you have been to magor cities then Dublin is pretty timid but Dublin is growing and quickly too:

I saw Duncans programme d'other nite.

Raskolnikov

Originally posted by IRISHLILY24
RASKOL,
I think I may know more about Ireland than you may think I know, and I know way too much about america...having lived here all my life. After much contemplation, I know that my decision is the best one...I will not miss anything about this place, except the baseball, but there is always satellite tv. My parents are the only other thing I will miss, but thats what visits are for anyway
btw, have u been to america, ever lived here? just curious why u seem to think its such a great place? not that its not, just wondering about your views

Hey, i never accused you of knowing nothing about Ireland but we have a lot of problems of which a great many you are probably unaware. Examples being the knackerish, track suit trash culture that is prevalent in certain parts of Ireland. The tremendous alcohol problem that Ireland has isn't a myth either, for the vast majority of Irish people going out means getting completly hammered at weekends.

Also i didn't say America was a 'great place; i was trying to get at the fact that where you come from is a place that is important. I haven't been to America so i can't comment on the place

Raskolnikov

Originally posted by Typedef


You will invariably get people who give you stick for being American, but in reality those people are rednecks and every single country on earth has it's own rednecks, the fact that Cork has as many rednecks as females is simply a statistical oddity
[troll ends]


Now you could live in the country or in Cork(with the Neanderthals laugh), but in my view to get a real sense of Irishness and Ireland stay away from the Green Irish Isle inc tourist nonesense and get a flat and a job in Dublin.

You have made quite a generalisation there which many will find offensive. Considering you are a moderator you should be condoning this kind of thing not inflaming it.

Originally posted by RASKOLNIKOV

Examples being the knackerish, track suit trash culture that is prevalent in certain parts of Ireland.

Irishlily, this people are the equivalent of "white trash" or "trailor park trash". *shudder* Just so you're prepared

fi

Originally posted by RASKOLNIKOV


Hehehe i always do

may i add you ONLY won because it is 1am and im too tired to take you on
tomorrow is another day

Typedef

Originally posted by RASKOLNIKOV


You have made quite a generalisation there which many will find offensive. Considering you are a moderator you should be condoning this kind of thing not inflaming it.

Well thanks for the heads up, be sure I have taken your griveance on board and have given it it's due attention.

Besides another thing they have in Dublin is a product called humor... you can buy it in shops and sprinkel it lightly on boards you don't administer.... some call it having a life... I call it trolling... but whatever floats your boat.

Greenbean

Its good that you've been to Ireland at least and know what you're getting into. It also seems that you want to stay away from cities and hit the more rural end of things. This makes sense, I'm sure that in America you can get more than your fair share of built up cities and a pace of life which is too fast so you'd hardly want more of it by going to Dublin.

Still I reckon you need to be careful, because the rural areas of Ireland are by no means easy to settle into - its fine in visiting, as long as you aren't local and will be going after a few weeks - but once you're there to stay you will start to see local politics kick in. Lets just say some people never leave their own area all their lives, and thus what everyone else is doing is their business.

IRISHLILY24

Originally posted by Bosco


Seriously though, do you think the internet is the right place to be announcing your plans to travel alone in a strange country?Don't you watch your own daytime talk shows? The internet is dangerous I tells ya! Oprah, Sally AND Ricky all agree. Just look at the crop of weirdos and nutjobs you've found already!!

thank you for your concern I did say I was coming there alone, I didnt say i was living alone I do have family there and I do have many many friends, I will be getting a room in a house with Other people, so I will be ok. I have spent enough time there to know what its going to be like, and I am already getting involved in the politics. I enjoy educating myself so I feel I should be up to speed on things with everyone else.
I am surprised though that people are saying things that would seem to dissuade someone from moving there, I may not have been born and raised there but that doesnt mean that I cant love it there and want to spend my life there, or anyone else for that matter.
There is some kind of poll that says something around 90% of people live no more than 2 miles from the place they were born, well, the other 10% lives there lives differently. I have have fallen into the other 10% in everything that I do, I am not your average bear now, it seems that when I make replies some people (raskol) are taking them the wrong way, I dont type or think in a resentful or what have you manner, I appreciate everybodys replies, no matter what they may be, thats why I started the thread
so keep'm comin' I am grateful for the info.

IRISHLILY24

I know!! how strange! did you have family that emigrated to america? check and see, if a sarah elizabeth o'reilly is related to you then we have another thing in common! lol

Raskolnikov

To sum it up, i don't think people here will mind that you are an American, most people here aren't that shallow. Just as long as you are of good character etc you will fit in fine

azezil

You are of course more than welcome IRISHLILY24 and I wish you a long, happy and prosperous life in your new home.

yankinlk

been there done that got the t-shirt.

Irisih-lily, if you are what you say you are (a blendable american) then you will do fine. i did. 7 years ago i came over to check out my rish roots and basically never went back.

keep it on the low down though will ya? i prefer that not too many "irish americans" (of which there seems to be about 10 million in this world) make a habit of this - as it might spoil the place.

good luck getting unplugged from the matrix...

The Corinthian

There is a tendency for Europeans to view Americans as culturally backward and (relatively) poorly educated. Another attitude towards Americans you’ll find is an underlying one of suspicion, in some cases even resentment, towards US foreign policy.

Another thing is that the Irish, having lived in a largely homogenous society for so long (after all who in their right mind would emigrate here ), are quite xenophobic and you’ll be classified as a foreigner for a long time.

Please be prepared for culture shock, attitudes and behaviours are different; you’ll be introduced to ironic humour (something Americans are, stereotypically, famed for not possessing) and radically different attitudes to relationships - Irish, indeed most Europeans, marry a lot later than Americans, for example, if at all.

Beyond that, expect a somewhat less consumerist society, more expensive food, more smokers (depending upon where in the US you’re from) and lots of bad teeth. And the beer is a lot better (but not as good as in Germany).

Anyhow that’s my five cent worth, one (non-American) immigrant to another.

Monkey

"Dublin is a vast sprawling concrete mass" Dublin is small, have you been to London or New York or any major city outside of Ireland?

mike65

Originally posted by Greenbean

Still I reckon you need to be careful, because the rural areas of Ireland are by no means easy to settle into - its fine in visiting, as long as you aren't local and will be going after a few weeks - but once you're there to stay you will start to see local politics kick in. Lets just say some people never leave their own area all their lives, and thus what everyone else is doing is their business.

The League of Gentlemen lives on in Erins Isle!

I'd stay out of the countryside and live in a city that is not Dublin.


Mike.

Toulouse

I've met some cool Americans and I've met some American idiots but the one thing that never fails to annoy the **** out of me is the famous phrase 'Oh my god!! You like haaave that over here???

Steele_Manheim

Originally posted by IRISHLILY24
Ok, since there are a lot of intelligent people on the boards, as I have found to be true, with the small exceptions every now and then, lol
What do you feel about Americans who are Irish moving to Ireland to live thier lives?

Now I would love to hear everyones different take on this, for reason that I am about to reveal, I have been asked many times on the board where I am from and if I am american....well your answer is yes.
I have been to Ireland, I am irish by right of my grandmother who emigrated here (from cavan)...and I decided to move to Ireland in november of 2001, I have been making the arrangements since then. (i also have some relatives in mayo that I havnt met yet)
Everything has been finalized and I depart in July, yes alone.

I have many reasons that I will share if anyone is interested, but I really want to know what you all think about it, not just me but other people who may have done it.

Say what you will, I am just curious and very anxious. I cant wait to finally go, home.

could you do me a favor. before you leave the USA could you buy me a couple of guns. we cant get them over here as easy as you can. i'll hook you up with the money when you get over here.

azezil

Originally posted by Steele_Manheim



could you do me a favor. before you leave the USA could you buy me a couple of guns. we cant get them over here as easy as you can. i'll hook you up with the money when you get over here.

lol feckin eejit

mike65

Is it me or are peeps spelling the American way to make
Irishlilly feel more comfortable, where have all the "u"s gone?!

Mike.

azezil

Originally posted by mike65
Is it me or are peeps spelling the American way to make
Irishlilly feel more comfortable, where have all the "u"s gone?!

Mike.

honk!?*







_________
*honk - an expression of confusion and bewilderment.

cournioni

As long as they don't try to put on the Irish accent as the Americans do so poorly, it's fine by me.

Typedef

Originally posted by Monkey
"Dublin is a vast sprawling concrete mass" Dublin is small, have you been to London or New York or any major city outside of Ireland?

Bah, I mean, urban sprawl.
Dublin's population is roughly equivalent to Copenhagen, but covers roughly five times the area, hence urban sprawl, hence, sprawling concrete mass.

buddy

welcome home

king of fifa

i don't if you want to come to the land of you ancestors but one small thing DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH IT RAINS HERE?????????????

Winning Hand

Originally posted by Typedef


Bah, I mean, urban sprawl.
Dublin's population is roughly equivalent to Copenhagen, but covers roughly five times the area, hence urban sprawl, hence, sprawling concrete mass.

Say a statistic that said by the year 2010 i think dublin will have the urban area of LA but only a fraction of the population.

Hope you enjoy it here Lily, I lived in america for a while and I have several american friends here so I offer some casual advice.

You will be a blow in till the day you die, no avoiding that one.
You will hear the phrase "You know whats wrong with your country" several times.
Yank to you means someone from new york, here it means american full stop.
Realise that the irish are by nature nosy people and want to know details that you might feel uncomfortable talking about.
You will have an uphill struggle on any US foreign policy discussion, even if you disagree with it

No 4 stop junctions here, instead we have roundabouts (rotarys) you yield to everything coming from the right.

And for goodness sake drive on the lefthand side of the road

I am surprised though that people are saying things that would seem to dissuade someone from moving there, I may not have been born and raised there but that doesnt mean that I cant love it there and want to spend my life there, or anyone else for that matter.

Is glas iad na cnoic i bhfad uainn- the grass is greener.......

Mercury_Tilt

This post has been deleted.

IRISHLILY24

wow, thanks guys let me re-iterate that I have been to ireland and kinda know those tid bits already, whats funny is,
I wish I knew about the roundabouts before I was there, lol
omg I was okay once I figuered out what I was suppose to do, but honestly that was my only hangup, the only thing that surprised me. I felt perfeclty at ease with everything else and with everyone. I cant say that I found anything else to be out of the ordinary To tell the truth since I have been back here I feel as though we are driving on the wrong side of the road, lol
Ihad no problem adjusting to that....err I did get in the wrong side of the car a few times, but thats just habit lol
I cant wait to get there, thanks again for the info and for the warm welcomes

bombidol

lily heres a few more little tifbits for you

Overall getting a car in dublin is probably not a great idea, traffic here is absolutly terrible due to the design of the city, while the states has blocks and a general layout to its cities, dublin was based on a tiny village near a river so all roads lead to nowhere, so traffic basically comes to a standstill everyday.
The public transport system over here is pretty good, once you give yourself enough time, you will get there.

The bread will taste VERY different
Candy will taste different, especially Chocolate
The city is basically divided up into two halfs, the North Side, and the South side
The North side was originally made up of lower-middle class workers and the south side comprised of the middle - higher class citizens, however today there are very few differences between the two.
rent will be cheaper the further out from the city you go, especially on the north side.
if you tell us the rough area you are moving to we can tell you the trouble spots. (We are not stalkers)
Dublin is full of Scumbags and junkies and would gladly stab you for a peice of chocolate so avoid trouble areas like the plague unless you know someone in the local area.

Anyway, welcome home

BomB

IRISHLILY24

Thanks Bomb
ya, I didnt plan on getting a car right away. I plan on getting a place close to the city, though I am not sure just yet as to where...I will know when the time is closer
I plan to use the buses or walk, and perhaps a taxi every now and then.
Yes I noticed you have different bread when I was there, though I am not a bread eater anyway, I liked it
I would probably only eat toast in the morning and it suited me fine
I found the sweets to be very tasty though some friends had me try a few diff ones, I also had some real (and I know I am not spelling it right) pouchin, got it in sligo from a friend. It was way to strong for the likes of me I am more of a guiness girl;)
Thanks for the welcome bomb

seamus

Yeah a car isn't a good idea anyway. I know nothing about you IrishLily, but here in Ireland, about 98% of cars are stick (manual). Only the very rich or very lazy drive automatics because they guzzle petrol, which unlike America, isn't cheap here. Plus a driving licence obtained for an automatic car isn't worth ****, unless you plan to drive automatics for the rest of your life.

You will be a blow in till the day you die, no avoiding that one.
You will hear the phrase "You know whats wrong with your country" several times.

Heed this warning very well. My parent's friends moved to Meath 26 years ago, and they're still 'blow-ins', despite the fact that Meath and Dublin are now so close they might as well be one

Dublin's population is roughly equivalent to Copenhagen, but covers roughly five times the area, hence urban sprawl, hence, sprawling concrete mass.

Because of the ban on high-rise. Even after returning from London 2 weeks ago, the size of Dublin from the airplane window was staggering. Unfortunately, we need to double our permissable building height in the city centre. (It's limited to the same height as the custom house or some similarly old building afaik).

I plan to use the buses or walk, and perhaps a taxi every now and then.

Taxis will burn a serious hole in your cash. I only use them when going drinking, ie when I need to get to the pub asap!!!

I also had some real (and I know I am not spelling it right) pouchin, got it in sligo from a friend. It was way to strong for the likes of me I am more of a guiness girl

Poitin. Still something I have to try . It's not exactly legal......

You're more than welcome anyway. The more we can enrage the scumbags through diversity the better.

koneko

Tip? Don't pretend to be Irish. I've met a lot of Americans that hammer on about how they're Irish, when in fact they mean they had a relative once that was Irish. You'll get a lot more respect by actually admitting you're American instead of pretending you're not.

Victor

Originally posted by king of fifa
i don't if you want to come to the land of you ancestors but one small thing DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH IT RAINS HERE?????????????

Not all that much - Dublin gets about 700mm of precipitation per year - only one third of what Kerry can get.

WhiteWashMan

Originally posted by Victor

Not all that much - Dublin gets about 700mm of precipitation per year - only one third of what Kerry can get.

and your point is what?
it still rains all the time, its cold and shítty, and full of knackers

Victor

Originally posted by seamus
Unfortunately, we need to double our permissable building height in the city centre. (It's limited to the same height as the custom house or some similarly old building afaik).

Really, isn't there a 17-storey building next to it?

Victor

Originally posted by Victor
Really, isn't there a 17-storey building next to it?

Oh, yes, we also tend to argue. And drink in public (we tend to drink in the pub and not to drink at home)

seamus

Originally posted by Victor


Really, isn't there a 17-storey building next to it?

Did you miss the big AFAIK?? Yeah I remembered that just after I posted, some history teacher told me a few years ago or sumfink. Damn teachers. always wrong.