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Why I stand by my comments on downsides to my Irish trip

SIMON MORRISON,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Monday, March 28, 2011, 7:50 AM

Updated Monday, March 28, 2011, 7:50 AM

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74 Comments

Annoying Dublin Bus - no instructions for first time travelers

Photo by Google Images

I have been amazed by the reaction to my mild criticisms of my visit to Ireland, which I made clear I really enjoyed. I understand my article has been widely quoted all over Ireland.

There has been a lot of negative and positive comment, but I would like to address some of the negative vibes first.

Re: hotel lights. Two places I stayed had a mysterious system where you had to place your electronic room key in a slot in order for the lights to come on. No one told me that with the result that I was blundering around in the dark before I figured it out.

Very confusing.

Two other places had so many light switches that it was impossible to know which ones to turn on or off.IE, there was no master switch.

Foreign workers. It irritates me intensely to see attempts to make this a racist point, it is nothing of the kind and plays to a kind of political correctness that is utter nonsense.

If you are only staying in hotels as I was the main opportunity to meet Irish people is at the reception, doorman or bar and restaurant level. Almost everyone I met was not Irish--a real drawback. Fact, not racism.

I am a well-experienced traveller and do not expect ‘American’ standards whatever that means. However, a basic source in politeness and attention to the diner would not go amiss in a few of the restaurants I ate in among the staff Irish and foreign.

Road signs. This might be passed off as some Irish eccentricity as many did in their comments, but to me it was a major drawback. Nowhere is perfect, certainly not America, but if you are driving from Dingle to Limerick and there are no signs whatever for Limerick or none that I can see what is enjoyable about that, especially when you have to catch a plane?

The overnight flight: This is the biggest no-brainer and cannot be explained away . On the day I arrived I saw several families who were on the flight , many with cranky young kids sprawled around the hotel waiting area waiting hours for a room--as my wife and I were longing for nothing other than a decent shower and sleep. Nothing smart about that.

Finally, I’m glad to see most agree with me about Dublin Bus.I apologize i mixed up DART which I did not travel on and Luas which I didn’t either, only because I couldn’t figure out how to pay the fare.
Anyway , I’ve booked to go back in September this year, bringing my Irish American father in law for the first time, I’ll let you know how we get on!

Nster.com

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74 Comments

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sirpeter | Mar 14, 2012, 05:52 PM EDT

Bythebay.I don't know what kind of a crap hole hotels you have been staying in.But I have never experienced what you have said in your comment below.Hotels are graded in Ireland.Where were you staying?A homeless shelter?American standards go from very good to very crap like anywhere else.As for the Irish not doing hotel work.Try and use your brain a bit.There is no future in doing this minimum wage work for Irish people.Eastern Europeans get €9 an hour but they send as much of the money home as they can where it is worth 4 times the value there.Do you get it now?

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johnh33 | Jun 19, 2011, 10:12 AM EDT

ok so you're pissed because dublin bus has no instructions for first time travelers ok have you ever been on a bus in new york it works the same way put your money in coin box beside driver take your seat press bell when u want to get off whats so hard about that

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downunder | Apr 06, 2011, 08:32 PM EDT

alas THIS COULD BE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD

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ellenfromcork | Apr 06, 2011, 07:38 PM EDT

70 comments so far!!! God, I love it when everyone gets their Irish up!!!! Wouldn't it be grand to meet all all of yous in a pub to discuss this. The craic would be mighty.

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GeorgeDillon | Mar 31, 2011, 06:38 PM EDT

alygirl: "P.S ditch the phone"? Why? The Irish are always jabbering into their phones. Why should he be different? And as for the foreign migrants, looks like they are all issued a free phone when they come in at Dublin Airport.

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alygirl | Mar 31, 2011, 08:38 AM EDT

I see Mr. Morrison, you are quite the American paperman (or internet man). Who would read you and your comments if you only said nice things? Good things don't sell papers or in your case internet space. Why didn't you laugh when you couldn't figure out the lights? I laughed at you, it was an experience and instead of enjoying it...you blew it. Enjoy getting lost in Ireland, you may meet some of the most fascinating people. Actually, except for that business man, it doesn't look like alot of folks want you to come back. I do, I want you to come with no expectations, and extra time for getting lost, and take a bus or a train you have no idea where it goes to and stay the night. P.S ditch the phone...talk to people instead of who ever isnt with you. If you can't do these things, then why do you travel?

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BallinaLass | Mar 30, 2011, 09:52 AM EDT

As a reasonably well-traveled American, I can vouch that Ireland is a feckin' paradise for travelers. This Simon fella should try dealing with customer service standards in Italy, he'd never leave home again. However, I do agree with him that the Dublin bus system is impenetrable to the outsider.

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Cranleigh | Mar 29, 2011, 06:15 PM EDT

Re: card-operated hotel lights, isn't this fairly common in American hotels as well e.g. the Sheraton and Delta chains? My biggest problem in Ireland last time was the lack of a smartphone so I was unable to plan ahead. The cell phone I rented at Dublin Airport ran out of minutes in two days. On my way home, I booked a room in the Burlington at the Dublin Airport Tourist Office and took the bus shuttle down. Of course, it was the last stop. We took at least half an hour to get from Ballsbridge down Anglesea Road. When I finally got there, I was told quite abruptly by the young Irish manager at reception that there was no record of my booking despite my receipt, good day sir. Raising my voice did not help matters. I had to go BACK to Ballsbridge with my bags and book in at Jury's. It was only when I returned to Canada that I got all the details together and found out that the Burlington, not the booking people at Dublin Airport, had made the mistake. Of course, this kind of thing can happen anywhere. Next time, I'm bringing my new Galaxy phone. I would echo some of the points already made. Downtown Dublin is interesting but full of foreigners and poor value for money as well. The most authentically Irish experiences are to be had in small town BandBs down the the country. Roundabouts and standard cars are driving facts in Europe that you should prepare for. I was extremely impressed by the Luas line. Dublin needs more of that when we get some money again.

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GeorgeDillon | Mar 29, 2011, 03:36 PM EDT

ancavker: Thanks for your kind words. I can give as good as I get---better, in the case of some of the clowns who attack me with their foul and abusive language. This appears to be the norm for both public and private discourse in Ireland right now. But I'll continue to post about how Ireland has deteriorated in recent decades. We know the Irish are touchy for they have a lot to be ashamed about. Hence they try to stifle objective analysis and intimidate free comment. Won't work. Was it Harry Truman who said: "I never gave anybody hell ... I just told the truth, and they thought it was hell." I'm not giving you hell, Irish, I'm just telling the truth about the mess you made of an ancient country and culture. You all should be ashamed of yourselves. You have let down the generations who went before you.

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ancavker | Mar 29, 2011, 02:12 PM EDT

sirpeter: What is this fascination with Dillon and its Norman origin?? Silly silly stuff indeed.

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ancavker | Mar 29, 2011, 02:10 PM EDT

George Dillon: I do not always agree with everything you post. But we can at least be civil and agree to disagree. And in many cases I agree with many of the things that you post. especially the Irish that snivel and ape anything that is English. Your treatment here at times is horrific,a nd I am sorry you have to endure that. You see the Irish love to criticize others, especially Irish-Americans, but when it is thrown back in their faces they get very defensive. Don't let them scare you away.

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longislander1940 | Mar 29, 2011, 12:14 PM EDT

WOW! You sound like the typical pain in the ass American. You were in a foreign country, not your backyard. I've been there quite a few times travelling alone and have no complaints. The country still speaks english. As far as the airlines there are earlier flights that get you in after 6:30am in the morning. What will you do if they decide to speak only Irish????

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Weezie | Mar 29, 2011, 11:17 AM EDT

We think this dude is just a cranky old grouch. !! We loved everything and everyone in Ireland. I brought my daughter and my ten year old grandaughter. My ten yr old was never tired nor fussy, She had the time of her life while on "The Trip of a Lifetime" We loved the Lodges; castles and etc. in which we stayed. And even though I am not "Mama Bear" I loved your porridge and the Orange marmalade. !!!! I can assure you; we will be back hopefully by 2012, !! Love Ireland and those Irish people. Weezie

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ellenred | Mar 29, 2011, 10:09 AM EDT

I had a key like that at a B & B in Kinsale. The owner explained it. Of course, being a guy : you DIDN'T ask about the key. You showed a sense of "entitlement" in the restaurant, so things slowed down. As to the signs, again RESEARCH......learn what to look for on the roat.....what numbers .....duh

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sirpeter | Mar 29, 2011, 08:52 AM EDT

I like this so much I'm going to post it again.Fat Georgy Dillon appears to have some Irish blood. But his name is old English/Norman of real origin.It's a Norman family name de Leon from Normandy France.The Dillon Family Motto is: Dum Spiro, Spero (While I breathe, I'm a dope)

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