This may sound stupid, but as an American is it risky visiting Ireland?

Question

I've never been out of the U.S, so I'm totally ignorant of how people in other countries view Americans. I'm sure thousands of Americans visit Ireland everyday, but I'm still a little apprehensive. Is there anyone who has been to or is native to Ireland that has any advice or facts about the country? It looks like a beautiful country and I would love to visit.

Answer 1

I'm Irish and I'd say definately come over! I don't know anyone who doesn't like Americans over here.I think we are quite welcoming just be sure not to ask about leprechauns or you'll be laughed at! :) Hope you decide to come over and have a great time!

Answer 2

C'mon over.  Don't fret at all.  Just bring your umbrella and your drinking hat.

Answer 3

I've visited Ireland twice (I'm American) and I assure you that you won't have the slightest problem.

The Irish seem to like and welcome American tourists: it's our president that they (rightfully so) dislike.   Some businesses even fly the American flag next to the Irish one.   I never experienced even one slight from those warm and wonderful people, though you may not find them quite as outgoing as Americans; additionally, their humor is very wry, or dry.

Now this is not to say that you're welcome to go about unfavorably comparing the Irish this to the American that.    And I wouldn't recommend wearing what I saw one American tourist wear---a jacket emblazoned with the stars and stripes.    I thought that was just snotty:   "Look at me, I'm an American, we rule the world".

One more thing Hon.   You really don't wish to say anything disparaging about the IRA, at least not in public.   People may say otherwise, but they are still a force to be reckoned with in Ireland.   I noticed that when I bought a Sinn Fein newspaper (the political wing of the IRA) I received a GREAT deal of favorable attention.

Now, start planning your trip, and have fun!

Answer 4

Hi,

I am an American living in Ireland!

It is safe. I have been living near Cork city for 5 months now.

It is absolutely beautiful and would recommend a visit here.

Also, check out the website I gave you. It has many local fairs and things to do in Ireland.

:0)

Answer 5

I am not from Ireland but I thought I would pass on this little tip - seeing that you have never been out of the USA before.

What annoys about Americans is not because they are Americans. It is usually the way SOME Americans go overseas and then 1) expect everything to operate the way they are used to at home and then complain when they don't. What's the point of going to experience another culture if you want thing the same as the USA? You might as well stay home. 2) Carry on about how good the USA is or how better the food is or how bigger stuff they get - basically, showing off and bragging about the US.

Just don't do it. You are there to enjoy the country you are visiting. It is a different place - expect differences and accept it. Adjust your mentality to enjoy those cultural and lifestyle.

Answer 6

It's not harmful at all unless u start relying on steriotypes to decide who you want to be around in the country. They may have different customs, but a hug and handshake are universal.

Answer 7

its actually a lot safer in Ireland than in most of the United States.  Try walking around parts of New York, Chicago, Detroit, New Orleans, los Angeles, Houston, Philadelphia or San Francisco at night, yikes.

Crime in Ireland is very very low, many times lower than that of the US.  Petty crime still exists in places like Dublin and Limericks cities so you need to take the same precautions here as you would walking down the street in a major US city, however this ain't Iraq or the Congo :)

Answer 8

I spent the last half of this past June touring the southern coast of Ireland

I'm a  65 yr old single woman and I felt very safe both daytime and evening.

I recommend getting a pass for the city bus line that lets one get on and off as often as you may like.  These buses went by most all of the areas I wanted to see in and around Dublin including out to the Guiness Brewery, Jamison Distillery and National Museum..

Day sailing in Kinsale Harbor was a real treat.

The Waterford Galss factory is worth the day trip if that interests you.

Blarney Castle is a "must" for most of us. There is a truly lovely park like area surrounding the castle. Also a very nice and large outlet shopping building nearby. Fantastic low prices on Woolen items.

The Displays at the Cobh refurbished train station tells the story of the Titanic's stop there as well as of the famine ships that brought the Irish to the Americas.

Killarney was very cosmopolitan.

Bunratty Castle and the grounds surrounding it were worth the day spent there as well as enjoying the Mid-evil Banquet in the Castle on my last night in Ireland.

Everywhere I ate the food was delicious and servings large. Hotels were very clean though some were showing wear.

I did not meet a single unfriendly person and quite a few went out of their way to answer questions, give directions, and tell stories.

If you can get in with a group for at least part of your visit it would take the pressure off of driving oneself and finding one's way around. (A week of my visit was with a tour group.)

Ireland is further north than Maine so be ready for cooler weather.

In June it rained some every day but never a hard rain.  I was glad for my Umbrella!

I encourage you to make the trip if you possibly can.

Answer 9

No no no no no!!!!

Ireland prides itself as a modern, pluralistic, and welcoming country. We have tourists from all over the world, Europe, North America, Asia, and everywhere. So much of our economy is built on tourism. There are towns in the West of the country that have built their entire continued existence on tourism, both domestic and foreign.

I believe (though I could be wrong) that after British people, the largest proportion of tourists to Ireland are Americans. There are so many Irish Americans who come "home" to this country on holidays, you can't count them. I worked in a large department store as a college job, and we saw them all the time, and where I was (Cork city) wasn't even a particularly large destination. Many of the larger stores in the big cities take sterling and dollars as payment as well as euro..

No, Ireland is very much a safe place for an American to come!! Maybe you're worried about the international backlash there has been about US foreign policy recently, but seriously, don't worry. Ireland doesnt' support the war in Iraq, or any other unilateral action, but that's just our standpoint as a nation! There are always tons of Americans in Ireland at any time, and we treat them as guests of the nation - fear not. We ARE a beautiful nation, and we depend on the custom of people like you. Come, have fun, be welcome, tell your friends, bring them back.

Answer 10

we hate Bush and are not too keen on everyone havin guns but once u dont go promoting them you would be very welcomed and happy ere

Answer 11

No you'll be fine... I'm an American and I've lived here for the past 4 years...  there's tons to see here... check out http://www.tourismireland.com/

but if you see the answer from Abbjude and The Mouse above, you'll see some of the  c**p you have to put up with if you're an American living abroad, tho i doubt you'll run into it on a short trip to Ireland...

"oh, you're so stupid"

"oh, you're so fat"...

"What?  You can't find Abu Dhabi on a map?  You must be an idiot!!"

these concerned citizens of the world are lucky that they don't have the magnifying glass turned around on their own country, like we do ours... then they might not be so high and mighty...

all their foibles and cultural issues broadcast to every country in the world on a daily basis...  which by the way, we everyday Americans don't want, and in no way shape or form desire this "cultural imperialism" that everyone goes on about...

Answer 12

Come on over!  We aint that bad...lol.  I'm Irish, and living here, lived in the states for seven years.  Most of the Irish love Americans, now if you were English, then maybe you might get some slack, as some Irish still have a gripe with the English.  As a previous answer stated, we dont have too much time for your president, but he's only one person.   Hope you have a great time if you do decide to come!

Answer 13

As an American I will say that the American ignorance is what puts most nationalities on the defensive with us. Have an open mind and an open heart when you go. I have a friend in Ballymena who is probably the single nicest person in the world. I have never been to Ireland but of the Irish I have met have all been the best mannered, well spoken people I have ever met. Just don't stereotype and don't expect everyone to be living in thatched cottages from 300 years ago.

Answer 14

come on ahead!

no one really cares......because everyone is sooooooo nice over here!!

Really..........

It definitly would be worth the visit, just be sure to bring rain gear!! hah!! (**,)

Answer 15

I visited with a bunch of my friends last April and i've never felt so welcomed. So welcomed that i'm actually transferring out of my college here in DC to attend a university in Galway next August.

Everyone we met in the pubs were asking us questions about where we were from and once they found out the US, and most of us Philadelphia -they were buying us pints left and right. Given most of them do hate our president (like most of us here too) but they knew better than to hold it against us. I had a great time there and I hope you do too!

Answer 16

Of course you sound stupid......you are an American after all,its in your culture.

Answer 17

Ireland?  Nah, for sure Americans have been giving money to NORAID for years, even when that money was so obviously being used to sponsor terrorist activities (shows you how hypocritical some of these people are), so you will not have a problem there as far as I would imagine.