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Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Thousands respond to Irish Central poll on attitudes to heritage, Ireland

Posted on Monday, December 13, 2010 at 11:29 PM

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You the readers have spoken and we hear you loud and clear.

A whopping 2,400 of you responded to our first ever readers poll, done in conjunction with Amarach Research, Ireland's premier market research company.

Yesterday in Dublin I was proud to launch the poll along with Amarach, attended by over 50 leading Irish business and political leaders and covered by RTE, Ireland's national radio and television station as well as lots of other media.

It was a little bit of history as to the best of my knowledge, no comprehensive poll of Irish American attitudes to Ireland has ever been launched before.

We had expected about 1,000 responses at best, instead you did us proud with 2,400 responding!

And you spoke to what makes you tick and come back again and again to Irishcentral.com

92 per cent of you who had traveled to Ireland said you had an overwhelmingly positive experience.

80 per cent of you say it was the most positive travel experience of your life.

Those numbers are off the charts.

It makes me realize what a treasure Ireland has in its Diaspora in America

You scored 8 out of ten in terms of your sense of closeness to Ireland and your heritage. You are most likely to live in New York, Florida, California, Pennsylvania, Illinois or Massachusetts.

However, 80 per cent feel that the cost of flights and cost of living in Ireland are the two most significant drawbacks.

You also don't like left hand drive, stick shifts and yes, the Irish weather, when it rains though the last statistic was way down the list.

You love Irish scenery, the people and the range of activities available.

When it comes to concern about Ireland unemployment figures rate highest as well as the recent bad economic tidings.

The North of Ireland was rated at only 24 per cent, a figure that is incredibly low compared to years ago I'd imagine.

Long live the Irish peace process!

Those of you with kids or grandkids over half would love to see them take a study course in Ireland.

And over half of you would take a distance learning course from an Irish university.

All of you would like to have more access to Irish products. When ti comes to those products, Waterford Crystal,Guinness Baileys and Jamesons are your favorite brands.

So raise a glass in your best Waterford crystal glass tonight and toast yourself as you have made a little bit of history with this survey.

You have proven that your heritage is still the tie that binds you to the island from whence your people came.

And we're just glad to be along for the ride at Irish Central.

For full details write to info@amarach.com for all the results.

And thanks again.

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54 Comments

15 - 54 | See all comments

AWard04 | Dec 26, 2010, 04:50 PM EST

Well, I've been trying to figure out a way to go. I have Irish roots and my husband is the second generation born here in the US. With 3 kids and ourselves it would appear that I need to find a buyer for my right arm and both kidneys to afford the trip. From my perspective: it isn't the "right" or "wrong" side of the road, it's the "other" side, IMO.

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KerryLKing | Dec 22, 2010, 11:36 AM EST

My grandmother was Jennie Breen born in 1880 in County Cork....and I'm still trying to find her records over there. Tried the National Register office in Dublin when I was there, but to no avail they didn't have a "Jennie", so they think that was possibly a "nickname". If there are any families with the name "Breen" that may have info please contact me.

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KerryLKing | Dec 22, 2010, 11:27 AM EST

And that's why I'll be over there again in March...just can't stay away from the roots of my heritage :-)

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eiriamach | Dec 21, 2010, 10:55 AM EST

I also love the understated Irish sense of humor. I recall the owner of a B&B where I once stayed in Dun Laoire. She asked me why I was taking the bus into Dublin when the rail station was a couple of blocks away. I told her that I needed to get used to traveling on the wrong side of the road because I'd be renting a car the following week. She replied tartly, "In Ireland, we think the left side IS the right side."

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tombryant1958 | Dec 20, 2010, 10:23 PM EST

I love this article. I have deep imbedded irish roots however, I have never been to Erin' Isle. It has called to me since I was a small boy, but for every reason known I never seem to answer it's beckoning. I will some day resturn to the place of my fathers and once again return home.

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Towngate | Dec 17, 2010, 03:53 PM EST

pugsmom: Yours is a very unusual story. The vehicle sounds totally unroadworthy and should have been brought back to the Hirer. Better luck next time you come over again - the Scots are not known for their antipathy to Americans, so I can't expalin this.

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pugsmom | Dec 17, 2010, 09:32 AM EST

The only trouble I had with driving on the "wrong" side of the road happened in Scotland....the car I rented had evidently come from somewhere on the "continent" and had been converted to left hand driving. However, the gears remained in the right hand shift pattern, and I had to accelerate with my left foot, brake and clutch with my right! All that made for a truly interesting driving "rodeo" until I got out of Glasgow and could practice on quieter roads!

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Searlit | Dec 16, 2010, 12:20 PM EST

Thank-you Towngate, you're very kind.

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Towngate | Dec 16, 2010, 06:16 AM EST

MalcolmAC: for you and any Americans daunted by the prospect driving on the left shouldn't worry. You are already halfway there: Consider that Ship,train and plane travel worldwide is dominated by left hand bias. With very few exceptions,all trvellers traditionally disembark on the left .........so have no fear,we will take very good care of you whenever you visit our shores. .......If you can't adjust, you can even drive on the Right if you want - (a really short stay and like hospital food.) Slainte!

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Towngate | Dec 16, 2010, 04:59 AM EST

JamieLM. I am in your debt and am prepared to stand corrected! My training at The British American Optical Company may be at fault. ....... I appreciate your honesty and modesty about driving on the left and am pleased you got so much from touring beautiful Ireland. People with your generous attitude will always get the best of where-ever they are by acceping local culture and customs and not insisting that everything should be done the same as 'back home'. ..."JamieLM for President!"

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ellenred | Dec 15, 2010, 07:02 PM EST

When we were at a restaurant/pub in Salthill in '09, the guy I was talking to asked about my Irish ties and family. I said I was the first Connolly to be in Ireland from the USA since about 1860. He then said, "What took you so long to come home?" And he nailed it. Visiting Ireland feels like ccoming home. Ellen

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jamieLM | Dec 15, 2010, 07:01 PM EST

Sorry Towngate, your eye test doesn't work the same for everyone. Some of us are right-eyed dominant and have the opposite result. When we cover up our left eye, the object moves to the right. I don't drive in Ireland. For me, it's awkward and doesn't feel "right" (excuse the pun) because I grew up in the U.S. Luckily, there are other forms of transportation for "left challenged" drivers like me. I've managed to see a lot of beautiful Ireland by leaving the driving up to those who are competent to drive on the left. The Irish people can be grateful that I know my driving limitations. LOL.

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Towngate | Dec 15, 2010, 01:51 PM EST

Searlit: Try it again. The left eye remains 'true' whichever arm you use. Anyway,as lefthand drive is prevelant in countries which had a British influence (except Japan where they adopted lhd after the British installed their great invention The Railway for them and established that trains passed each other on the left.) so that is something else their detractors can gripe about. Did Ireland struggle free of its British shackles only to carry on driving on the left!? You are welcome to come and bring your love to Ireland and drive on any side of the road you like!

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sirpeter | Dec 15, 2010, 01:17 PM EST

Nice to see so many people who feel a personal bond with Ireland.

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Searlit | Dec 15, 2010, 12:37 PM EST

Yes, but if you change which arm you extend, then the thumb moves the opposite way. It's due to the location of the optic disc on the retina which causes a blind spot. One thing is for sure, we posters feel a very personal bond with Ireland, even if, we don't agree on some other things. The love of Ireland, we share. Good to know, 2,399 other Irish-Americans participated in the survey, too.

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