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Home Page > Blogs > News blogs > Periscope > Diplomats gone wild at U.S. Embassy in Dublin say concerned Irish -- Horror stories about how Irish are treated after famed author Tim Pat Coogan refused

Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Diplomats gone wild at U.S. Embassy in Dublin say concerned Irish -- Horror stories about how Irish are treated after famed author Tim Pat Coogan refused

Posted on Friday, November 30, 2012 at 07:18 AM

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Hillary Clinton

Since the Tim Pat Coogan story broke here, I have heard numerous horror stories about the American Embassy in Dublin and how it is treating Irish applicants for visas to the United States.

As we know, famed author and historian Tim Pat Coogan was treated incredibly poorly and denied a visa for his U.S. book tour until Irish American pressure and New York Senator Chuck Schumer reversed the decision.

It is vital how an embassy treats the citizens of the country they are operating in. It sets a tone. The U.S. Embassy currently is presenting a very hostile face to the Irish.

There is no good reason for that. Ireland is not the Soviet Union circa 1955.

That’s not just my opinion -- it is that of a broad spectrum of Irish government personnel, lawyers who deal with the visa section of the embassy, and people who went through the process who I have spoken with.

It now appears that Tim Pat was the tip of the iceberg. Several who have dealings with the embassy have recounted episodes of rudeness, arrogance and most of all incomprehensible decisions by visa officers there.

Read More: United States visa ban on Tim Pat Coogan removed after Senator Schumer steps in

It is spoken openly about in Irish government circles. Many prominent figures in Ireland and here are scratching their heads at the treatment.

Representations have been made but nothing has changed. Visa officers in U.S. embassies have broad latitude, but the division in Dublin seems deliberately set on keeping applicants out of the U.S. based on the slightest whim.

Ambassador Dan Rooney, while a beloved figure to many, hardly seems to have reacted despite being told on numerous occasions about the treatment of Irish visa seekers.

Since the arrival of visa head Bradley Wilde in 2010, things have quickly gone downhill in Ballsbridge where the embassy is located.

Wilde has instituted a very aggressive regime which treats visa seekers in the main like potential burdens on America.

Rules appear to have been arbitrarily applied and changed, leaving deep confusion. Rudeness, failure to explain and downright bloody mindedness when depriving people of visas on the smallest technicalities seems rampant.

Read more: Niall O'Dowd -- Barring of writer Tim Pat Coogan from U.S. is an absolute disgrace

Maybe Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who visits Dublin next week, could take this up with Ambassador Rooney.

It is long past due as the Tim Pat Coogan case finally proved.

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seanomelb | Nov 30, 2012, 05:07 PM EST

Eamonn I do not understand your spiteful reply to pcon. He makes a valid point and as I have spent some months in arabic countries I always felt welcome(except Egypt). Pcon does not make any outlandish claims. Maybe the truth hurts!!I also am in general agreement with KatieMurphy.

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pndirishandprou | Nov 30, 2012, 04:52 PM EST

@WoundedKnee: Visa-free travel (under the Visa Waiver Program) is only applicable to tourists, not to artists like Tim Pat Coogan, who does need a visa for his book tour.

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Watchman | Nov 30, 2012, 03:16 PM EST

I'm puzzled. Irish citizens can travel to the U.S. for 90 days, with a right to conduct business, using the visa waiver program. All you have to do is buy an air ticket, pack your passport and turn up. Is Tim Pat planning a book tour that extends beyond three months? It doesn't seem very likely, does it? So what's the problem? Why did he apply for a visa in the first place? It's not as if he hasn't been to American before. Or is there something he's not telling us about?

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EamonnDublin | Nov 30, 2012, 02:55 PM EST

Thank you, "pcon" - Your last post disgraced yourself far more than anything I could have said. You saved me some time. Have a nice spiteful, hate-filled life. Éamonn.

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WoundedKnee | Nov 30, 2012, 02:15 PM EST

Silling--"I was refused a visa for a three day visit." If you have an Irish passport, or indeed that of most European countries and lots of others, you don't bneed a visa for a three-day visit. You're not telling us the complete story, silling.

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pndirishandprou | Nov 30, 2012, 01:44 PM EST

@ BrianO: nice try sore loser. While it is very regrettable that the Obama administration under the leadership of Hillary has not endeavored to reduce those flagrant abuses committed by US embassy staff (not only in Dublin), the arrogance of US representatives overseas certainly reached its peak during the Reagan and Bush1 years. As a rule of thumb, the more conservative the government the more xenophobic its representatives do behave.

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cainis76 | Nov 30, 2012, 01:40 PM EST

I have to start off by saying I was in Dublin for two months starting back in February of this year and I have never in my life as an American citizen been treated so poorly by the immigration department of a foreign country. Just is bad or worse treatment I received when I came into Dublin and basically what I was told if I don't like it get back on the plane where I came from and on top of at I was exposed to very anti American views by the general public to the point that was even attacked after being identified as an American.... And what I really find ironic about the whole situation is my grandmother was born in Ireland and I have very strong ties and love for that country. So to the people that are complaining about the situation at least you have a recourse and somewhere to come complain!

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BrianO | Nov 30, 2012, 01:18 PM EST

Thank Irish Central, old ted Kennedy, and the messiah barrack hussien obam for your being discriminated against. Elections have consequences.

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bunkerisland | Nov 30, 2012, 01:17 PM EST

You can count on Hillary to patch this up, toss out the incompetent Bradley Wilde and rude Embassy clerks. It is time for Dan Rooney to go home to the States and address his football teams problems and no long embarrass us as the Ambassador unable to manage the Embassy. Enough of the "figureheads".

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Springfield9 | Nov 30, 2012, 01:03 PM EST

Even as I write, there is a stormette brewing over 55,000 discretionary Visas. Unless something changes they will be passed out in Africa like handbills. Brilliant Irish students are denied while people being chased by lions are welcomed. THANKS HILLARY

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pcon | Nov 30, 2012, 12:49 PM EST

I didn't see anything KatieMurphy said as being hateful or twisted. Overgeneralized, maybe, but truthful in many ways. Only in Texas was I ever beaten for being different; in Saudi Arabia I was treated with hospitality and tolerance. As far as "offending and annoying" anyone, get over it, we're all adults and free to hold and express our own opinions. As far as offending "Christians," fijck them as they do plenty that offends me. This is one of the costs of freedom, the willingness to tolerate points-of-view one finds offensive. As well, pointing out that racism exists is not "hate," it is matter of fact acknowledgement that in the USA racism and religious bigotry are very much alive and well. Like Ghandi said of Christans, I say of Americans: "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." I like your America. I do not like your Americans, they are so unlike your America.

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PhlutiePhan | Nov 30, 2012, 12:38 PM EST

@KatieMurphy: So, "America is the most religious country in the West". What tv network have you been watching? It can't be CBS and "Two and a Half Men".

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PhlutiePhan | Nov 30, 2012, 12:35 PM EST

This issue has to be related to the Jodi Kantor book. BHO hates the Irish. The Irish just can't see it out of vanity. The Irish ran the Democratic Party until it veered to the far left under the Marxist.

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EamonnDublin | Nov 30, 2012, 12:23 PM EST

"KatieMurphy" - What an awful, twisted mind you have. As if you didn't show enough hatred already, you then have to throw in your big attempt at annoying and offending people - writing "xtians" instead of "Christians". One of us is in for one hell of a shock when we die. I am very far removed from being perfect, but at least, if there is a God, I will have spoken to Him before I get to see Him. Sleep tight, Katie. Try not to hate to much - it rots the soul.

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liam44 | Nov 30, 2012, 11:51 AM EST

Three of my Grandparents emigrated to the States 100 years ago, my maternal grandfather was shanghied by the British Merchant Marine during World War I when he was a 17 year old lad in Youghal,Cork. The Brits told him that he was in their service till the war ended,but Jim Slattery jumped ship in San Francisco, which is how he made it to the USA. During my 68 years,I have seen waves of Irish immigrants hit the shores of Boston,where I live, and the Irish who work here regard the locals of Irish descent, mostly as "Narrowbacks" who don't have the motivation to succeed as the immigrants enjoy. I agree wholeheartedly with that description, when I had my business, native Irishmen were the 1st I would hire,no shirkers there ! Back during your good times prior to the economic collapse in the States, there was a reversal of fortunes, and Irish immigrants headed back home when you were the Irish Tiger of Europe ! These days, with things a bit rocky in the States as well as in Ireland, America looks a bit better, with greater opportunities, as we are clearly emerging from the mist.....so,these days, Irish "Tourists" are often folks who seek a tourist visa, and stay, illegally, when they get here... In greater Boston, any hardworking illegal Irishman can easily find work, with cash paid under the table, so as to keep the authorities at bay. The authorities are well aware of this trend, and have become rightly suspicious of the actual intent of Irish who seek "tourist visas". I think that's terrible,........, and I disagree that Ireland is considered as a bad post for a diplomat, as stated by someone below, I would consider it to be a wonderful assignment, and, I attended the Fletcher School of Diplomacy.

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