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Top ten most annoying things about Ireland

What I didn’t like about my first trip to the Emerald Isle

SIMON MORRISON,

Published Friday, March 25, 2011, 7:05 AM

Updated Saturday, March 26, 2011, 8:08 AM

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Looking out over Dublin from the Guinness Storehouse

Just back from a week in Ireland, my first ever visit and the weather was glorious and everyone was upbeat. The new government and the upcoming Obama and Queen’s visit seems to have enlivened everyone.

Just to be contrarian. however, here are ten things I didn’t like.

1. No refills on my coffee --miserly one cup limit everywhere and generally disinterested waitressses-- no notion of service.

2.Foreign accents in hotels. Loved to have met the Irish characters, doormen, barmen, etc.. everyone told me about --fuggetaboutit -- they are all from Estonia or somewhere like that especially in the swankier places . No craic as the locals says.

3. Public transport -- trains are fine, but Dublin busses you pay as you enter and you have no idea how much you need to have. Driver usually not too helpful. Dublin’s Dart might as well be a mystery tour, no idea how to pay before you get on.

4. Price of gas -- ouch -- it is in litres, so someone told me multiply by five so I did, and ended up paying about $7 dollars a gallon. And we complain about $3.50?

5. Could never figure out how to turn off and on lights in hotel room. Maybe I’m stupid but multiple switches, some of which never seem to work, seemed to be the norm.

6.Narrow roads in the countryside and scary drivers overtaking you. They drive right up your ass and then pull out and barely beat an oncoming car.

7. Confusing road signs or none at all. Arrows pointing everywhere. Lots of jobs for people just to put a proper road sign system in place.

8.Overnight flights only to get there to ensure you arrive bedraggled. What’s wrong with a day flight getting in around 9 p.m so you can get a good nights’ sleep?

9.Mixed drinks too tiny says wife, little tiny measures and very expensive. Just pour from the bottle!

10. Snotty bankers. Went into change money twice and it was like I was trying to rob the place. They have some cheek given what they have been up to!

And yes, dear reader, in spite of it all I loved the place. I’ll be back

Nster.com

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142 Comments

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deburca | May 25, 2011, 05:17 PM EDT

How embarrassing... an article written by the proverbial 'Ugly American".

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abhainn | Apr 22, 2011, 08:55 AM EDT

* No refills on my coffee - Americans are infamously served excessive portions in the US and expect the rest of the world to make the same error. * Foreign accents in hotels - Get out of your hotel and see the place. * Public transport - Learn how to use it. I had to do the same in the US. When I tried to get change from a bus driver in Miami, he said, "You ain't from around here, are you?" * Price of petrol - The United States doesn't pay the same price for petrol as other countries do. Join the real world. * Could never figure out how to turn off and on lights - It seems you're not ashamed to admit you can't operate a light switch. They go up and down like American ones, but in reverse. When the switch is down, it is on, and vice versa. It's like the roads - they are mirror images of US roads. Simple. * Narrow roads in the countryside - The roads are wide enough for the Irish, and are easy to navigate unless you try tear-assing through them. Country roads in most of the world are narrower than in the US. * Mixed drinks too tiny says wife - Whatever about soft drinks, Irish measures of liquor are twice the size of American measures. America gives excessive food portion sizes and is mean with the booze. * Overnight flights only to get there - Huh? Get your travel agent to fly you at a different time. Simple. I just checked online and you can fly all day. You should certainly complain very loudly about snotty Irish service, if you run into any. Speak to the manager in a loud voice. Be an ugly American if the service is bad. It usually isn't, but don't take any crap. I don't take any when I'm in US, either. Some Americans are poor travellers who can't adjust to the wider world. Stop whining and just enjoy the differences. You don't want a monochromatic experience that mimics what you've come from, do you?

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skydiver15000 | Apr 21, 2011, 04:06 PM EDT

The problem with this report is that he stayed in the tourist areas. That is where all of the immigrants are due to the businesses and where the money is. If Ireland could send them back to where they came from then the Irish jobless rate would drop by a long shot!!! If you go to the towns outside the big city then you would be in the TRUE Irish community and people are so much nicer. But dont act like an idiot and embarass yourself or your country... DONT EVER TALK ABOUT POLITICS OR RELIGION!!!!! HAHAHA!!! YOU WILL UNDERSTAND IF IF YOU DO!!!!! HAHAHA!!! But all in all... Ireland is the best country in Europe!!!! I have visited 68 countries so far and it is definetly the best!!! My gf lives in Cork and I go as much as I can.... I hope evryone enjoys ERIE as much as I always have.... Mo Éirinn go hálainn!

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Toonagh | Apr 21, 2011, 08:08 AM EDT

I agree with the bad service and cant be bothered attitude in bars and restaurants. Being Irish and now living away its hard to imagine why prices are so high! However its still a lovely place to be especially in clare or west cork!

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patriot | Apr 07, 2011, 04:37 PM EDT

Any Irish person who does not protest the bloody queen's visit to Ireland is a embarrassment to themselves and their bloodline.

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andsoforth | Apr 01, 2011, 02:21 PM EDT

Bejayzus...he should go to Poland then. Jack Carroll (It's all true, of course, such as driving from airport ot Ennis carefully following signs, only to arrive at a fork in the center of town with no sign. A local was "going that way and jumped in the car to show us the way before there was a chance to stop him. I think he probably stations himself at the fork right after work. Oh yes, when you come to a fork in the road, take it, as Yogi Berra said.Jack Carroll

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bogsidebunny | Apr 01, 2011, 03:58 AM EDT

"ATM's are an amazing invention" says Lauraine..........Yea, cept if they're in Dublin and surronded by a half dozen agressive Roma Gypos! I agree with mr Morrison and could add at least 100 more annoying things but there isn't enough space in this comment box!

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kaydeemallow | Mar 31, 2011, 05:35 PM EDT

Makes me a bit apprehensive about making a trip to Ireland!

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Mayosligo | Mar 31, 2011, 05:22 PM EDT

My lifelong ambition to visit the home of my forebears was wonderful , delightful, maddening, and doable again. I agree with the top ten things I didn't like, But would add one more. The woman who was supposed to orient us to money, time, distances, language, went on vacation the same day we got there. We managed ourselves to figure things out Even the road signs. We are Irish Americans and we can handle any inconvenience at home or abroad!

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Lauraine | Mar 30, 2011, 10:13 AM EDT

Mr. Morrison - Shame on you. You did not do your homework prior to taking your trip! You have made some very generalized statements that sound extremely childish and whiney to say the least. Not enough coffee, can't figure out the lights in your room? If these are your priorities when you travel to the most fantastic country in the world, then you need to stay home. I am a female who has travelled to Ireland at least 10 times alone and all I had to do was ask and the people in Ireland could not do enough to help me out. I knew all about the buses, trains and planes prior to my trip so upon arrival I knew exactly what to do and what to expect. ATM's are an amazing invention. There would have been no need to subject yourself to those mean, old bankers. The hotels will gladly hold your bags for you until your room is ready. Imagine taking off for a beautiful morning walk and actually amusing yourself by enjoying the sights and sounds of this lovely country before you can get your sleep deprived self into bed. The roads are charming and have been getting people around for many years. The signage is what Ireland is known for. They don't need first time visitors telling them to change them to accommodate their own needs! Please do us all a favor and don't bother going back. I would not want to run into you while I am trying to enjoy myself.

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Ballyphehane1 | Mar 29, 2011, 11:48 AM EDT

Just got back myself from a trip home. The weather was fantastic and I must say the place looked beautiful - as it always does when the sun is shining. I agree with some of what you said in your article - especially when you compare it to here. Things like the coffee (goes for soft drinks as well - my kids love free refills here in restaurants) & the price of gas. I reckon the pubs and restaurants make a fortune in Ireland from the coffee/tea & soft drinks - fierce overcharging going on there.... The narrow roads can be scary when you're sharing them with the locals who are used to every twist and turn, not to mind the fact that they make you car sick - but there are bad drivers everywhere - not just in Ireland - I've had the same experience here with people cutting me off. On the plus side, you get to see some gorgeous countryside when you take those windy roads - especially down around Cork and Kerry - much nicer than the view from the motorways/main roads.

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irishwxman | Mar 29, 2011, 11:11 AM EDT

Definitely agree with number 2. Too many foreigners working the tourist areas. people come to Ireland for the Irish experience, not the Polish or Lithuanian experience.

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nidonnabain | Mar 28, 2011, 11:48 PM EDT

Good list and I like the author's summation, "In spite of it all, I loved the place." That about sums it up.

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Pittsburghkid | Mar 28, 2011, 06:56 PM EDT

I guess he should go to Disney World. I guess he would be happy, if all Irishmen would act like characters from "The Quiet Man". I;ve never traveled much, but I used to work with an Irishman from Belfast. I enjoyed his stories, and was supprised to find out that he watch the same American TV programs as me growing up. On the surface, he was different, but after I got to know him, we were alot a like. He pointed out to me something about myself. He said that we both had Irish legs. Even though, I stand 5'11", and he stands 6', our legs were short. He was an Xboxer. He said that our short legs meant that we had a lower center of gravity, and were harder to knock over. But he said, because our legs are short, we appear shorter then we really are. Sometimes you can travel to Ireland without leaving Pittsburgh.

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luckodeirish | Mar 28, 2011, 02:07 PM EDT

I'm off the boat Irish and I agree with all of these!I find the service standards a bit hit and miss. I love my country too but these are fair points!

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