It never ceases to amaze me that people the world over seem to have a ' soft spot ' for anything Irish.
Considering the negative political history of the Emerald Isle over the past 400 years, what is it that makes this small part of the planet so attractive to others?
P.S. you might have already guessed . . . . . . . Im Irish
2006-09-22 15:19:02 · 25 answers · asked by Jean M 3 in Travel ➔ Ireland ➔ Other - Ireland
Firstly, I am NOT IRISH.
Throughout my youth and schooling, after studying literature by the Irish greats , I always yearned to visit that country.
When I did,it was everything that I had pictured - no regrest & I could never get more of it.
The countryside is phenominal,the people are just GREAT........
Now that I have a soft spot for them Irish .....you may shoot me!
2006-09-22 19:33:38 · answer #1 · answered by Basil P 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I can tell you my own experience. I am a painter.
30 years ago I started roaming from one European country to the next, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, Italy.
20 years ago I went to Ireland on what I thought was a short trip.
I'm still there.
Nobody outside Ireland really cares about the past, and if they do, everybody has sympathy for the underdogs and applauds the victory of David against Goliath, (exept the "Philistines") and I found the Irish people the most welcoming of them all.
Apart from that, they belive in live and let live, and I remember my mix of frustration and delight when a handyman turned up 2 days late and the told me "You foreigners are always in a hurry. When god made time he made enough!"
Wouldn't that alone be enough to make you fall in love with a country?
2006-09-25 00:43:15 · answer #2 · answered by haggesitze 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Where is everyone getting this figure of 400 years? 800 years, more like. Im interested in your phrase 'negative political history'. What is negative political history? I have always thought that there is History, with either negative or positive views of it.
Our History has always been tied up with the other Island and trying to get our neck out from under its yolk. We had no fight with any other nation and if we hadn't been seeking our independence, we'd have had no fight with them.
Irish history is written in tears but its not negative. It wasn't we who exported food during the famine, was it? And exported our people for a long time after that so that we became known to every nation. Thats why people the world over have a soft spot for the Irish - they know us! And aren't we lovely?!!
2006-09-23 13:04:14 · answer #3 · answered by Rachel Maria 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It bugs the HELL out of me when people go on about Irish people being great at drinking and partying. Is that all we're good for? Hell no!
YES, Ireland has had a negative history and we have had struggles, but not with alcoholism. With the British. With trying to gain independance. With dealing with the wedge between Catholics and and Protestants. A priest of a Church of Ireland (Protestant) clergy got kicked out of his clergy for being friends with some members of a Catholic clergy and promoting friendship between the two denominations.
"What do outsiders find so attractive about the Irish and why?" Because they think we're easy going and are pig ignorant to the history of the past 400 or so years. Before anybody goes accusing me of being anti-British and anti-Protestant, I'm not. My mother (who had recent Irish roots) was born in and lived in England all her life, so became a British citizen. So I held a British passport for thirteen years. I acknowledge British hsitroy, somtimes I feel proud of being part British. I'm not Catholic, I'm Protestant. I don't care about the divide though. We're all Christians.
The point is, I'm telling the truth. Everyone is pig ignorant about other countires until they actually decide to learn about them. ALOT of my friends haven't a clue who Tony Blair is and what he does. They haven't a clue where exactly China is, but they do know that they speak Spanish in Spain.
I suppose that we're a nation that opens its arms to people. We're neutral.The main fight we've had with others is ourselves and with the British and only then we were gaining independance.
I just wish that others would see us for our achievments other than creating the Black Stuff and getting drunk, like our scientific, political and literary achievements.
2006-09-23 08:35:22 · answer #4 · answered by Alax 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
When I was in Ireland a few weeks ago one difference I noticed was everybody over there is soooo friendly compared to other places I've been, and definitely compared to Americans. There's an amazing sense of companionship with a total stranger. I think that people covet that. Also there's a lot of mysticism surrounding Ireland, with fairies and leprechauns. And the history is told so brilliantly, with that brilliant accent. People are just drawn to it.
2006-09-23 15:13:02 · answer #5 · answered by motoprincess16 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I just got an Irish friend. I knew him from the net and met him personnaly..Its the first time to know someone from Ireland.. well I believe you people are friendly than any other Caucasians and not to mention Catholic ( but not in the Nothern part) so as for a Ph, friendly and Catholic, we kinda have something in common..
I guess thru him, I leaned Ireland is a nice place with almost all people are nice like him..
2006-09-23 06:21:01 · answer #6 · answered by sasy_kibuta 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm American of Irish descent. My non-Irish friends are resentful of all the attention accorded the Irish. They never grow tired of telling me how the Irish were considered scum in the earlier days of the US. I guess they are jealous.
Ireland does seem to attract quite a bit of attention for its relatively small size.
2006-09-22 15:31:18 · answer #7 · answered by sean1201 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm Irish too, and to be honest, the reason people think we are so nice is because we are brought up in the right way, mannerly, courteous and respectful to everybody , because it is just in our nature..if you go to the european continent, especially Italy , France or Spain,...if people think you are English, they will treat you with utter contempt and disrespect, and If you say " Actually, I'm Irish" you will get a totally different reaction...anyone will testify to this, and it is just a small example why we are so universally loved, because even in someone elses country, we are totally respectful and good natured...
2006-09-24 10:54:16 · answer #8 · answered by lone wolf and pub 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes another irish person here and fiiny kid remember this UP THE CATS, TAKING GOOD CARE OF LIAM HERE LOL any way alcoholism and ireland, may i point out we are no where near as bad as the eastern europeans, i dont know if its the ones that live here or what, but the amount of vodka they go through, im surprised they are still alive lol any way we prob have a problem with binge drinking, but i think alot of irish people, follow the motto treat others as u would like to be treated, so we know when we follow u back to ur country, we're not going to have a rough moment lol
2006-09-23 06:56:40 · answer #9 · answered by misssherlock06 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm Irish and I think the unique thing about the Irish that endears other people is the fact that we're so friendly and we know how to relax and just take life as it comes, rather than stressing and worrying about shite.
2006-09-26 09:24:16 · answer #10 · answered by homeandawayrules 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋