50 Comments

• NOMADS1 | Mar 19, 2013, 04:28 PM EDT

  And who are trivago to talk about ripping off people?? Ever booked with trivago, they have made an art out of ripping off people. Would never book with them again.

• jimod4343 | Mar 18, 2013, 11:01 AM EDT

  This is typical of the way business is done in Ireland. Anyone who can overcharge, usually does.

• Gordan Duggan | Mar 11, 2013, 06:06 PM EDT

  Independant TD Shane Ross, I suggest you look him up Anglo.

• Joe Glackin | Mar 11, 2013, 05:58 PM EDT

  "rip-off in Dublin".Full stop.

• Gordan Duggan | Mar 11, 2013, 05:50 PM EDT

  Anglo-norman: His name is Shane Ross - look him up!

• anglo-norman | Mar 11, 2013, 03:49 PM EDT

  Gordon- Thats what everybody say's..

• Gordan Duggan | Mar 11, 2013, 02:13 PM EDT

  anglo-norman: I didn't elect this lot or the last lot either. I only vote for the Independent in my area because I personally have known and admire same for many years. You should not assume things. Onnafitz and Scouse, you have the right attitude to this subject. You can be ripped off anywhere in the world, my family have. I agree with both of you in that you may need to be sensible and shop around.

• Smyrnian | Mar 11, 2013, 06:52 AM EDT

  And so the great 'gathering' of the $€£¥ begins.

• STEVENSTAR | Mar 10, 2013, 09:35 PM EDT

  @@@@anglo-norman | Mar 10, 2013, 04:45 PM EDT>>>>>NO ANGLO NORMAN ITS CALLED BEEN A DONKEY WHICH IS YOUR FIRST NAME !!!

• herselfathome | Mar 10, 2013, 08:49 PM EDT

  Just one more comment on the outrageous attitude we greedy Irish have. We can all complain about the prices and the greed of our hoteliers, but what will be done about it. The minister won't say a word. The Tourist Board won't say a word. The regulator, ( God help us ) won't or can't say a word. So, nothing changes.

• oonafitz | Mar 10, 2013, 08:45 PM EDT

  What is unusual about this? Every tourist destination charges more when it's most popular. It averages out over the year, and it's why people who can, travel in the "off" season. I was there in October/November, and hotel prices were quite reasonable; not the fanciest ones, but ones with nice amenities in decent locations. I've paid as much to stay in not so great motels here in the states. And it's not the prices that would keep me away, but the sight of those people in the picture above. I would never stay in Dublin in the busy season. Perhaps outside and take the train in if there were things I want to see. Tourism has pandered to the people who only want to get drunk and be crazy. It brings in the money, but I don't know anyone who would go at that time of year.

• Scouse Tony | Mar 10, 2013, 08:16 PM EDT

  The hospitality trade is the same across the world if you are rocking up for a significant cultural event you know you will be paying through the nose, it isn’t personal it’s just business, charging an excess during the busy times subsidises the quiet months when overheads still have to be paid remember your only there for a holiday they have wages to pay all year. I find it pays to shop around and avoid outlets aimed at tourists. I take my children over three or four times a year but we usually stay with family on a reciprocal agreement for their regular jaunts for Football or the annual Grand National horse and beer fest. Shops, Pubs and restaurants usually have their prices displayed so if you think your being overcharged point it out and avoid things like saying “top of the morning”, walking round with your face stuck in a tourist map or banging on about your Irish roots as you really are just asking for it.

• anglo-norman | Mar 10, 2013, 07:42 PM EDT

  Gordon Duggan- This is an open discussion site, the truth may be hurtful at times but it is always the TRUTH.

• anglo-norman | Mar 10, 2013, 07:33 PM EDT

  Gordan Duggan- You elected these greedy traitorous gombeens into power everytime

• Gordan Duggan | Mar 10, 2013, 07:32 PM EDT

  If the Irish haters on this website hate the Irish people so much (some of them never having visited Ireland) then don't come, you wont't be missed. Don't blame the ordinary Irish people for other's greed, we're suffering enough.! A lot of Irish people don't know of this site and it's probably just as well giving the hate and bile.

• anglo-norman | Mar 10, 2013, 07:03 PM EDT

  mereflow-a tad sensitive are we?

• merefalow | Mar 10, 2013, 06:38 PM EDT

  you know there are some seriously deranged people of a low and nasty turn of mind,they write absolute rubbish and display an almost pathological hatred of ireland and the irish people,seriously these are truly disgusting people,they are of a low intelect and contemptible,you know who you are,you betray yourselves with your own vitriol,pathetic specimens,sub human.

• MichaelMcGrath | Mar 10, 2013, 05:02 PM EDT

  These hoteliers are up there amongst the Gombeen Men who ruined Ireland, they have no country except the Almighty Dollar, they don't give a tinker's cuss about anybody - and these are the very same fellas looking forward to a Fianna Fail comeback:-)

• anglo-norman | Mar 10, 2013, 04:45 PM EDT

  Woodman-It's called Stupidity & Greed.

• Woodman | Mar 10, 2013, 04:40 PM EDT

  The Irish hotels will charge what the market will bear for those who can afford it. It's called capitalism. If you can't afford it, don't go, or go somewhere else.

• anglo-norman | Mar 10, 2013, 04:40 PM EDT

  There was this stupid book once called How the Irish saved civilisation. How the hell could the Irish save civilisation when they cannot save themselves?

• anglo-norman | Mar 10, 2013, 04:15 PM EDT

  The Irish will never learn sadly, any people that turn on themselves in every way are not intelligent enough to learn. Irish-Americans with good intentions are sneered at & ripped-off,take away the american tourists from Ireland & it will collapse also American companies setting up in Ireland are doing them a big favor as well. The Irish always bite the hand that feeds it!!

• WoundedKnee | Mar 10, 2013, 04:05 PM EDT

  I've read thru all the comments. They represent a powerful indictment of the "product" that is the Oirish tourist experience. Is there any chance that those who misrun Irish Tourism will get to read these comments and learn something?

• WoundedKnee | Mar 10, 2013, 03:59 PM EDT

  I too tell American friends to give Ireland a miss, certainly for 3/17. I am afraid the poster who described the Dublin St Patrick's parade as "dirty foul mouthed drunks attract dirty foul mouthed east europeans to join them in their half assed St Patrics day parade" is on the money. I don't recommend Ireland in the summer either. First of all, they don't have a summer, second, it's when everyone tries to screw the US tourists. I would--hesitatingly-- recommend Ireland only perhaps in October, which can be quite pretty over there. Re

• anglo-norman | Mar 10, 2013, 03:51 PM EDT

  And the Irish wonder why they are called stupid by the rest of the world...

• saraindc | Mar 10, 2013, 03:34 PM EDT

  This isnt anything new - the hotel trade have been doing this for years. I'm irish and live in the USA and its sad that I spend my time recommending that American friends DO NOT travel to Ireland during St. Patrick's Day or Easter because they will get RIPPED OFF!! They rip us irish off but they totally abuse the Americans they know are travelling for parades all over St. Pat's day. Its a disgrace and they should be fined for doing it - they'd prove a lot more popular if they held pricing at off peak price and would probably get MORE business - too stupid to know what's good for them. I'll keep telling friends not to go during festivities in Ireland and go off season!!!

• anglo-norman | Mar 10, 2013, 03:01 PM EDT

  bunkerhill- Why don't you go back & live in Ireland & help them?

• gobdawpaddy | Mar 10, 2013, 02:59 PM EDT

  Anglo, as I observed in an early post, they have the business acumen of goats.

• anglo-norman | Mar 10, 2013, 02:53 PM EDT

  Aer Lingus are a last resort..in fairness British Airways are as well. But to try & con their own people with the Gathering crap & then try to rip them off?? James Joyce was right Ireland is the sow that eats it's own farrow..

• anglo-norman | Mar 10, 2013, 02:43 PM EDT

  How stupid can this be... ripping off the the who are trying to help.

• BoysofBantry | Mar 10, 2013, 01:22 PM EDT

  As hotel prices around the country rise for 2013 many of us may skip this year for travels to Ireland. Aer Lingus should be offering reduced rates to aid families that wish to go as a group and the Irish Gov. could aid in this. It would be along term investment bringing more vacationers over time. Seems the Irish have learned the American way, hit them deep in the pocket when you can!

• gobdawpaddy | Mar 10, 2013, 01:03 PM EDT

  Pilib, I haven't used Aer Lingus for years. Myself and a colleague decided to go to Ireland for the French rugby game. While booking flights via AL in New York my colleague was asked if we needed a hotel in Dublin and was offered a deal with a particular hotel which obviously had an arrangement with AL. We accepted what appeared to be a good value rate until a few weeks later, when AL had realized there was a rugby international taking place and attempted to renege on our booking. An alternative rate was offered at I believe double the original. Being stubborn New Yorkers we prevailed but were astounded at the poor business ethic exposed by AL. AL also annoyed me when they cancelled service to LHR ex SNN forcing me to travel to that crappy airport that is Dublin from Galway. SNN/LHR was a very profitable route, and AL had to return with their tail between their legs after about a year. I use United these days.

• Celtlaw | Mar 10, 2013, 01:02 PM EDT

  "Rip-Off Ireland" living up to its reputation.

• RichardP | Mar 10, 2013, 12:54 PM EDT

  Ireland is a greedy, gouger-ridden country - far removed from the BS 'Ireland of the Welcomes' brochure drivel. There are so many countries which are nicer to visit, easier to navigate, give better service and have friendlier people and attitudes - especially in the hospitality sector; I only go to Ireland to visit relatives now. I'd never pick it as a tourist destination, there are far too many better choices to visit, why waste money being treated like crap and gouged too.

• pilib04 | Mar 10, 2013, 12:37 PM EDT

  You have to get to Ireland first, before you can deal with hotel prices. Aer Lingus is a major ripoff. I was hoping the RyanAir deal would go through and maybe we would see a drop in their ridiculously high charges!

• angrypaddy | Mar 10, 2013, 12:26 PM EDT

  Gouging the Gathering 1st Are lingus then anybody you come into contact with while being ripped off in Ireland

• angrypaddy | Mar 10, 2013, 12:19 PM EDT

  Ah F F sake! you must be F@#$ing joaking are you F@#$ing mad or what?As soon as you pick up the phone Are Lingus are first in line (gougers) Ireland rebulding its non existing reputation dirty foul mouthed drunks attract dirty foul mouthed east europeans to join them in their half assed St Patrics day parade hic,hic lol

• Nicopernicus | Mar 10, 2013, 12:01 PM EDT

  Hey Bunker...who better to know the Irish then the Irish.

• merefalow | Mar 10, 2013, 12:00 PM EDT

  nothing like a warm welcome,very patriotic,absolutely sucks,prices should have been frozen to prevent this kind of rip off,which incidently is the same world wide,especially in rip off britain.

• SarahinLA | Mar 10, 2013, 11:33 AM EDT

  Bunker, not sure how many Irish based readers there actually are here but as they say, the truth hurts. Maybe Ireland based individuals reading some critical observations regarding the rip off culture and anti social behavior might realize the error of their ways. Much is made every year of the global Irish diaspora, how their experience has so much to offer Ireland etc. It would appear that the Irish don't want to hear any constructive criticism, or some truths about themselves.

• mreinhar2001 | Mar 10, 2013, 11:31 AM EDT

  I am not so sure why this is news. It sounds more like business and that it could have been written in a positive light if a business-spin was put on it. Those items or services in greater demand are able to require higher prices so others can receive the service. It is called supply and demand in economics. Sounds like Dublin in particular and Ireland in general have a great demand, so business owners are able to ask more for a commodity.

• bunkerhill | Mar 10, 2013, 11:21 AM EDT

  I don't why I opened this site as I knew it would be full of the same old Irish bashers, self hating masochists who continually bash their fellow country men. I would suggest these Irish masochists be sent to England where they can be exposed to a nationality who only show their good side even when their situations are desperate. Good advertising works and bad advertising is deadly. Maybe that is the bashers aim.

• SarahinLA | Mar 10, 2013, 11:13 AM EDT

  I recently spent a week on the west coast of Ireland, staying in a few hotels. I was shocked at some of the rates and the cost of dining. I am lucky that I don't require a rental car when visiting, using my sisters instead. I would not pay the crazy rates they charge in comparison to those in the states. I lived in Ireland for a very long time and am embarrassed at having to agree with previous posters here regarding the greed and poor habits there. I recall attending festivals around the country where there was one drink price for locals and another for regulars. It is just as well that visitors from the US are sheltered from the locals as I cringe when many of them open their mouths such is the extent of bad language there. Returning home after a night out one is sure to witness 2 or 3 people relieving themselves, or throwing up their guts having drank too much then trying to soak it up with a kebab. The police there turn a blind eye to this behavior resulting in so many Irish emigrants falling foul of the law in places such as Perth because they don't know any better. I enjoyed catching up with family but if not for them I would not be rushing back to the 'land of saints and scholars'.

• Nicopernicus | Mar 10, 2013, 10:59 AM EDT

  "Desperate Men do desperate things"...,Its the old adage that keeps the foot in the shoe for Dublinites. Dublin is a brutally expensive city and the cost of massively crooked banking and corruption is now flirting with the tourist.

• KilkennyCats | Mar 10, 2013, 10:55 AM EDT

  It is sad, but i have found today's generation of Irish to be much less friendly than prior generations. Even downright angry. You can read it in their posts on this website. Why would I spend my "fat American" money there?? I can think of much friendlier places.

• Smyrnian | Mar 10, 2013, 10:50 AM EDT

  Glounlathan - so well said. Exactly right. You have great insight! The Gathering ripoff begins. Gabe Byrne was right. Too bad, really.

• BrendanDunphy | Mar 10, 2013, 10:47 AM EDT

  I would rather spend St. Patrick's Day here in New York anyway. Even my Irish cousins tell me it is better here. The thousands of Irish that come here that weekend seem to agree ...

• glounlathan | Mar 10, 2013, 10:17 AM EDT

  Greedy, Greedy and utterly stupid. You expect those who left with nothing in their pockets to return and pay through the nose to support those who inherited the farm years ago! Most immigrants who send money home to their parents would never begrudge it, but the price gouging is another thing. God how the poor travelling people were critized when they begged. What would one call those who wear an expensive suit and beg from Europe or screw those who left with nothing when they want to return for a vacation just to be in their own place or maybe visit the grave of a loved one. But thankfully there are still the decent people who will offer one a bed if one decides to go home. My wife went into a shop in Ireland once and said 'here we are again in the Island of Saints and Scholars.' The shopkeeper replied, 'You have been away too long---it is now the Island of thieves and robbers.'

• Schlomo | Mar 10, 2013, 08:37 AM EDT

  I absolutely agree with gobdawpaddy. However, it's not just the hospitality sector who love ripping off clueless Americans. Everyone in the country sees their 3rd generation cousins as fat, over-wealthy and loud sources of wads of money. Alas too many Americans fit that description and feed the stereotype. The Irish are extremely tight fisted when it comes to parting with a few bob on things that don't offer "instant pleasure", i.e. the new property tax, but they'll borrow from any source to buy items of pleasure like large screen HD TV's and foreign holidays. Ireland's culture of infantile, irresponsibilty may be invisible to most American tourists because they are sheltered by the Irish tourism industry, but my friend in the previous comment is spot on whe thay tell about the filthy streets, digusting roads and crumbling infrastructure. Those items don't give instant pleasure and by ignoring them the politicians can use the monies saved to sate their own forms of instant pleasure like junkets to every nation in the world, 6 figure salaries 5 figure expense accounts. Yes my friends, in addition when your visit includes being assaulted by a dishevelled, smelly, puke stained drunk whose fingers are yellow from consumming 60 cigarettes a day.

• gobdawpaddy | Mar 10, 2013, 08:18 AM EDT

  Gabriel Byrne's assessment of 'The Gathering' as a 'shake down' was correct. The hospitality sector in Ireland have the business acumen of goats, they cannot see beyond the end of their greasy paws. The concept of repeat business or word of mouth advertising are lost on them as they try and screw every dollar out of visitors. I find the Irish to be a foul mouthed, dirty race of limited intellect, who drink far too much. This of course may not be readily apparent to American visitors who are collected from their flight in a luxury coach, whisked to their 4 star hotel with pre-arranged dinner plans, an obligatory visit to the Guinness Store, Killarney's lakes, the Blarney Stone, Durty Nellys and Bunratty Castle, leaving little opportunity to interact with real Ireland. Take an hour long walk from your hotel on your next visit and witness the piles of dog excrement, trash on every sidewalk discarded by people with limited social skills. Avoid the hotel bar and Durty Nellys, instead visiting a local bar where you will be 'entertained' by mostly foul mouthed drunks with a very poor command of the english language. One will be hard pressed to find a 'comely maiden' as the female of the Irish specie exhibits the same lack of social skills as their male counterparts. Experience the real Ireland.