The biggest mistakes you can make while traveling in Ireland

Seems like tourist season is here, one article to help tourist enjoy their time along with another article about the best Irish folk songs. Anyway the best advise I have is to be invited into a conversation, In the U.S. we are used to starting conversations which is a no-no in Ireland, as soon as you speak the locals will know you are visiting and most Irish are nice enough to include you if you are not a pain.

Theres no issues with Americans using Irish expressions when they are here. We use terms like 'fries' and 'potato chips' etc when in the US so why shouldn't people use the terms the locals use?

Mouse, Im indifferent to you or anyone else learning irish or any language for that matter! Fair play to you but for you to come to Ireland to expect to speak to only a tiny fraction of the population in certain tiny pockets of the country is disingenuous and very pretentious. I get to speak Irish every weekend and several times a week when Im helping my nephew with his homework. I dont have to wait till im 'on holidays'. Brendan, I live in Kilmainham during the week and Galway/Connemara at the weekend. Id be delighted not to ever meet your giant fat arse to be honest and as you said, you talk too loud. We can hear you before we even see your arse blocking out the sun. And as someone who spends my weekends working in the gaeltacht around Spiddal, I can assure you that its try-hards like yourself they mock there. I like Americans/people who are open, inquisitive,unpretentious, who arent fake, loud and who are pleasant rather than those who think they know it all and assume they know the Irish. Luckily enough the American I seem to meet under a certain age are all the things I love about Americans, it just seems to be that this site is full of the old pastiche time warp Oirish Americans who project and perpetuate the Quiet man version of Irishness that the real Irish are trying to get away from. The version of Ireland that Hollywood created. Its embarrassing the same as it would be for you lot if everyone thought you kept slaves, wear baseball caps, white socks and chinos, ate in McDonalds 3 times a day, were obnoxious, arrogant, war hungry, gun carrying, muslim hating, red neck, bible bashers. Steven, Id love snow for 4 months of the year. Dont knock it.

Am I being cut off from commenting again? indeed the truth does hurt

Someone has finally acknowledged it!!!! the North is just over two hours from Dublin, given the total coverup in the Irish Newspapers of crimes against the Catholics there by the Brit government and their surrogates over these many many long years one might be excused for thinking "the North" was somewhere out there in StarWars Land

I'm an American. I don't try to sound Irish. I never say "going on holiday." I go on vacations. I don't expect the Irish to say, "going on vacation" whether they're here or in Ireland, just because I do. Everyone should use their native expressions.

@johnshiel, BrendanDunphy, Frosty38 - some of the voices of reason and commonsense on this site.

Try not to imitate an Irish accent !!

I think your response from locals in Ireland are like any other county including USA. If you are rude then that when feathers get ruffled . Treat people as they do you.

learn your manners on posting. 1 you do not cap-means yelling 2 Play nice with your cousins LOL

odd that this same piece ran in sept 2011. except for the comments; the ones here are far more topheavy with offerings from tiresome axe grinders. very unhealthy trend for this forum...

Do not bank on getting your purchase tax (VAT) back. That is all a bit of a swizz. Their office at Dublin Airport is seldom manned and even leaving the receipts in the mail slot does not result in rebate. I left receipts for all my purchases last Sept/Oct and I am looking at two princely rebate cheques - one for 2 Euro and one for AUD 1.61. from Fexco - souvenirs of dishonesty. So who is doing the ripping off?

re driving, murph, you're right: approaching your rental car from the wrong side is hard to avoid. i practiced a "scratches and dents inspection" mode whenever i thought people might be looking...

Gaelphoncan, IrelandNorth agus BrendanDunphy, Go raibh mile maith agaibh. Aontaim libh i dtaobh an te a bhionn a magadh faoin ngaeilgeoir. Na bac leis na magadoiri! Thank you very much. I agree with you concerning the one who ridicules the Irish speaker. Don't bother with the scoffers!

re the irish weather, i've mostly traveled ireland in feb and march... often people will sort of apologize for the weather that's on... being from just outside chicago, it's always kind of funny to assure tham their weather is just fine, not a problem at all, and what a lovely place they live in... and re GAA games, it's always been a disappointment that, once i understood what they mean, no chances seem availabble to see one - especially a hurling match - during that season. would love to learn otherwise. did, however, get a great intro to GAA: my very first full day in ireland was driving westward thru clare... clare was playing offaly in a big playoff hurling match in limerick... got settled in to pub in doolin with great plate of stew and a pint and a hugely friendly CROWD to watch the match. lots of friendly explanations for my very greenhorn questions... gorgeous clare women sharing the booth... clare lost but the world has managed to move along anyway...