Do Irish have something against Americans?

Question

I recently visited Ireland and found that a lot of Irish were very curt with us once they realized we were Americans. Do they have something against tourists or just Americans?

Answer 1

well, people don't really have a problem with you but it can get sort of irratating when ya wander around saying your great great great great grandads an 8th irish....but we don't go out of our way 2 pick on americans. its just sort of a throw your eyes to heaven, here we go again kinda thing...all countries have em...you should be honoured 2 be Ireland's!!

Answer 2

i'm an irish teenager and i have nothing against americans at all. usually irish teens would think americans are like really cool and stuff and generally people do think that americans are a bit dumb. sorry if this offended u but i don't think this is true anyways if u were in dublin or somethin then it most like wasn't irish people u were talking to it was most likely someone polish or somthing

Answer 3

Hey there, I could not agree more with Irish_Bi_female, totally agree with what she is saying. I really think Slipstreamer is over analysing the whole situation. I'm very sorry that you experienced this while in Ireland and I'm a little shocked to be honest, Most of the tourists we get over here are American (with the possible exception of the British) and I have worked in tourism and never found that any of the American tourists have been treated badly because they were American, Some people are just rude towards others wheter you be American, British, German or French. I am also a member of Tripadvisor and there are endless trip reports from American visitors, and those that find an negative attitude from people because they are American are very rare.I'm not saying what you're saying isn't true, I'm sure it is, which makes it all the more shocking. Yes of course a few people may have issues with the American government and may not agree with certain policies (myself included) but to take this out on the American people who visit our shores is unjust and absurd. Most of the people I know (despite their poltical leanings) love America and its people, in fact a lot of us Irish go over there on 'shopping pilgrimages' before xmas. I'm sorry you had to experience this and please do not let this put you off, give us a second chance, we are not like that at all.

Answer 4

Is Slipstreamer on drugs?

We're taking a stand against 'bully' Americans and fighting the power?????

We havent got the time or the energy to go around 'fighting the power' and even if we did we couldnt be arsed. Im sorry if your friends had a bad time here, but dont judge us all on a few peoples actions.

theres only one type of American that annoys people here, and thats the ones who come over and go on for hours about how there one sixth Irish and they feel a connection with the land and that they are descended from the Leprauchans. Go to any tourist town in the west and south west of Ireland and the place is crawling with them. Bascially, we dont care if your great great great great great grandmother came from somewhere in West Cork, we live in the present and just want to do our weeks work so we can go out and party at the weekend. In all fairness, if you saw me all teary eyed standing at a shop in New York, claiming to have a connection with the stone pavement because some distant relative once walked it, you'd think I was a little crazy.

Other than that, the americans are liked. Your nice people, and save for your goverments obsession for going to war, you've a cool country. Why do you think we spend so much money going over there on holidays!!!

Answer 5

Totally totally totally agree with Irish_Bi_Female

We don't hate Americana's OR tourists as a rule....we hate the typical "American tourist" type....loud, obnoxious, thinks the "belong" because of ancestry

I get the impression that your friends we're NOT like this, so its wrong they were treated like that....

Not everyone will treat good people in such away, but theres scumbags in every country

But admittedly, most Americans are annoying

Answer 6

Aww I'm sorry you were treated that way on holidays. Some people are just rude to everybody not just because you are an American. Nowadays people would bang off you in the street and not even apologise. Don't take it personally.

On a good note though, my sister in law is American and has been living here for 2 years and doesn't have a problem here at all. Don't give up on us....come back again!!

Answer 7

not that i'm aware of, maybe its just the irish way of things maybe we can be a bit curt or antagonistic but sarcasm is our speciality.  irish sarcasm is an an art form.

Answer 8

I wouldnt say so. Im an Irish teenager and usually we think their cool!:) I dance at a place over the summer for tourists, the majority American, and everyone has a great time with them. Maybe you were just with a group of people who aren't very fond of foreigners and let me tell you, there are quite a few of those.

Answer 9

not most people but yeah............the big fat dumb loud american tourist with a bum-bag and camera around there neck talkin about irish history in a loud voice..

and they think they are irish because they have traced there family tree and discovered that 6 generations ago there ancestors lived in ireland. thats not irish!!

its not personal at all.....its just a dislike for the stereotype that is the american.

Answer 10

Sorry you came across some arrogant B*****D's while on hols.  We are not rude people and we don't have anything against Americans

Answer 11

you will find that anywhere you go with any country toward another country,

dont worry about it,

people need to grow up

Answer 12

I think that a lot of foreign people don't understand the 'irish sense of humour - slagging, insulting etc!

What is meant as a joke could be taken as offensive!

I don't have anything against tourists - and I really want to visit America!

Answer 13

hi you

i am Irish and i can reasure the Irish have nothing what so ever against Americans in fact your the only one that i know of that has made a comment like i dont know where this is have meant to happen you but boy are you off the mark are you sure it is not you that is curt with us over here in Ireland but if you have any complanes send them to the Irish tourest broad

Answer 14

Just Americans, they think they are "taking a stand" against  American policy by hassling tourists. (I didn't say it made sense) It happened to some friends of mine -  who say they are never visiting Ireland again, they had a very bad impression of the place and it's people, which is sad. I didn't have this problem myself, but I find it a very sad and unnecessary thing to happen to anyone due to nationality. My friends are very polite professional people - not the type to generally inspire rudeness.

How would these people feel if they were treated badly when they traveled abroad - only because they were Irish?

Just ignore it. If it makes them happy to be rude to complete strangers that have done nothing to them - then that is their problem. You will find the odd hypocrite or self righteous people in every country. Some love to judge.

Edit - just reporting what I have heard from people who experienced it. And Americans are familiar with sarcasm, we use it quite a bit ourselves.You may not treat people this way yourselves - but some Irish are taking their issues with Bush, etc.. out on Americans in general. It happens. Hasn't happened to me, but I have heard this from a few Americans - and it makes me sad. Didn't want to believe it myself. But it happens.

By the way, there is no such thing as " the typical "American tourist" type". No more than stereotypes about the Irish are true. Did you think there are no stereotypes about Irish tourists? Do you want to be prejudged due to stereotyping?  

It would better the argument if one didn't stereotype while making the argument. Saying you "hate" the typical American tourist proves the opposing point. Treat others as you would want to be treated - it's rather simple.

Go ahead, give another thumbs down ...and then talk about Americans in stereotypical language and use the word hate a lot.

Answer 15

I don't think so, most people in Ireland love seeing Americans, usually they're good for a laugh and when they spend money so they're good for the economy. I think you must have been unlucky wherever you visited!! Most Irish are friendly with all sorts of people. Sorry you were left with a bad impression of us :o(