What does the rest of the world think of Ireland?

I think you are right that at least the Americans are enamored with Ireland. It is ironic, isn't it? as this country treated the immigrants so horribly when they first came over here. I think it was a religious persecution myself. I do have some Irish blood, but really do not know much about the ancestry. I think the Irish Brogue to be one of the most beautiful sounds on God's good earth. We had neighbors who are Irish Balladeers and they refused to perform any of the drinking songs, because of that bad rap that the Irish have gotten about being nothing but drunks. My very good friends (married couple) before they met went to Ireland on seperate tours at the same time. They both prayed at Our Lady of Knock shrine to find a mate. They did not know this about eachother until after they were married for sometime. I just love that.

I have never been to Ireland but have met a lot of Irish people here in Australia. Some of the "stereotypes" do seem to be true of a lot of Irish people - like they like to drink and do spend a lot of times in pubs, but that is how they socialise, no? The Irish used to immigrate and go overseas for work until the late 90'2 and early 2000's when employment opportunities opened up again back home. I see the Irish as people who work and play hard. Oh, and also like singing.

Well, I've never been to Ireland, and I don't think I have any Irish in me, although I wish I did. But from what I've read, gathered, been influenced by, I think of Ireland as a place for rolling green hills, and gorgeous, but somewhat rainy beauty. I've also been led to believe that the Catholics and Protestants cannot get along at all, and this has led to extreme fights. But then, of course, there is the IRA, which seems to have a conflicting image over here. All in all, what I think it more important than I what I hear, and I think of Ireland and the Irish as lovely people, with a long history that seems to follow them. But what country's history doesn't? If I ever got a chance to visit, I would in a minute. And you wouldn't have to bribe me with a four leaf clover! : )

I have not been to Ireland but I have met only a few Irish people in real life. Therefore, I do not know much about the Ireland or the Irish except for those cruel stupid jokes that people always tell during meeting and gathering. I do not believe that the real Irish are like that. Apart from that, I have heard a lot about IRA and what they did. Well, since those stories are in the news, I would not know for sure how far true the news are. I would love to visit Ireland if I had the chance.

This is the second time I tried to respond to your post. I don't know what happened, but my response disappeared. I love the Irish, and I have Irish ancestry, from county Sligo. My cousins were there,and I want to go too, someday. I tried to post a picture on my profile page, but it didn't show up, but I have some real nice ones that my cousins took when they were in Ireland. I'll have to try and post them. I love Irish music, specially fiddle musid, and Rory Gallagher is my favorite Irish rock guitar player.

I know that Scarlett O'Hara dady(the personage) was irish and i think while i read it 'GONE WITH THE WIND' i was really careful about Ireland...Well,i guess they are all l ike all people more or less,and i know that the capital is Dublin...and there is a lot work for the police oficers to stop terorism(to me ireland don't seems to be very save)... ok,i know also they have a ring named MOANAMCARA which mean loiality ,friendship and love(if i know good)...by the way when i think at ireland i see with my mind eyes green fields...and tratition... (I HOPE I DON'T DISAPOINT YOU??) AUGUSTA

I have a dear close friend of many years from Ireland. She still speaks with a broge, and I love it. She has shown me many pictures of Ireland, and told me many stories about it. It looks like a beautiful country. But, there are a bit of pubs, with a lot of drinking going on. The people are mostly very good looking too.

i have been to Ireland twice and I plan to be there again..I am in love with your country..I am in love with your stunning landscapes...the green of your lawns..the stones across the fields, the powerful winds, the ocean...I am in love with celtic mythology and music and with the people I met there...the first time I went and visited your country I rented a car and moved across the south west..I visited Connemara, the Aran Islands, the Kerry (I drove along the ring of Kerry), I visited the National park and then back to Dublin and I felt in love with Malahide Castle (sorry for the spelling I am not sure I got it right!!!...I loved staying in bed and breakfasts so to get into contact with local people..they were surprising for me...so warm and nice with foreign people like me..one day I was in the Burren and I slept in a little room under the roof and outside my window I could easily slip off and have my way across a wonderful lawn..and if I raise my eyes there was only the sky, the smelling of horses and little mountains...it seemed just like a little paradise on earth, just like one of the cartoons I used to see when being a child..I hope I can come there again and enjoy my staying there again...

My ancestors come from Donegal. I live in Scotland though so I probably think of Ireland for exactly what it is. I haven't been but I imagine it has the most gorgeous countryside and stuff. I think of guiness and clovers when I think of Ireland

I am one quarter Irish. I've never been to Europe however. Ireland is a green but troubled land with strife between the Catholics and the Protestants and a good deal of anti-British feeling. There are quite a few castles in the hills. The food I relate mostly to Ireland is the white potato. The potato blight brought many Irish to America.

Oh i know exactly what the world thinks! They think we are a nice kind people who are one with nature and leprachanes... but thats not TRUE! We are a drunk, obease people who are racist, sexists and the whole nine yards!

i'm half irish by descent-i would like to visit my family someday :) my grandmother always spoke of kind,generous people. a lot of people where i live ply the stereotype,unfortunetly.st patrick's day in particular has become so unbearable to me by the way they act,i stay in.not a good day to be red-headed and pale :(

I have never been to Ireland but I have heard about how beautiful it is. It makes me want to visit Ireland one day. I have heard of people going to Ireland to kiss the blarney stone but I don't understand why. Why would any one want the gift to "gab"? Or in other terms the gift of eloquence?

Ireland is the only place I've ever called "home". When I first got online, back in 1994, I met an wonderful Irishman online. We hit it off fabulously. He came here for a few weeks, then I traveled there for 3 months. I then went back 3 more times, 3 months each. This was in the mid 90's. Due to a bunch of things that I wont' go into here, we split up. I regret it daily. I can't watch anything on the local PBS station about Ireland - I start crying. I love the landscapes, the people, the history, the lore. I definately want to go back to Ireland - to live permanently. My great-grandfather was from County Kilkenny. He left via Queenstown port and entered Ellis Island, NY in 1898. I found the ship manifest of his immigration on ancestory.com. While I was in Ireland, I tried to do genealogy, but as my luck would have it, all the records that I would have needed were burned in various fires over the centuries and decades. His wife, my great-grandmother, is from Lincolnshire, England. I'm thinking, based on speaking with others with the same last name (EYRE), that the Eyre's originally came from England ... entering Ireland via Galways (hence Eyre Square) ... *shrugs* Eyre really isn't a common name in the scheme of things - makes you wonder *grins* I've been throughout all of Ireland, beginning with a trip I forgot to mention earlier ... my first visit to Ireland in 1987 with Dad and Grandma. We did the 8 day/7 night tour on coach. Kissed the Blarney stone, did the ring of Kerry, Galway, Waterford, etc etc. When I lived in Ireland, I was in Greenhills and then Dun Laoghaire. I also visited Bettystown and the area often. Loved the beaches of the Irish Sea up there. On another networking site, I'm in connection with a great business woman who lives in Ireland and related to me the story of her losing her car keys in the Irish Sea in Bettystown. She lives nearby there if memory serves me right. Ok, back to the topic, now that I gave my life history. Yeah, most of the Americans I have come across envision the Irish as red-cheeked, overweight (most the older gents), practically living in pubs, always drunk, and always ready to pick a fight. It doesn't help that Hollywood often uses such analogies to depict the Irish. I live in the South (North Carolina), and so many say that the traditional Irish (or Celtic) music is "stupid" (their words) ... forgetting that the music in the Appalachian Mountains nearby is based on the music by the Irish, English, and Scottish settlers. And that that music turned into the folks music we now know up in the mountains. There's more to it than that, but that is the foundation of that music. Whew! I can go on and on about this subject ... some might turn into debate, so I'll stop now. I love Ireland. I believe I was an Irish woman in a previous life (recent one) ... and I pray I will return soon ... permanently. My husband wants to go there also - he's never been out of the US. He's also loves Ireland's history and lore.

Sure we're fantabulous lol

I am English from Irish decent. I married an Irishman and moved to Co. Clare in 2000. I went on to have 2 beautiful Little ladies in Limerick hospital. I moved back to the Uk after my marriage split up in 2005. During my time inIreland I was accepted and treated alot better than even my husband was (he was from Dublin). I have nothing but respect for the Irish and I miss not living there. It is true that the Irish have a reputation for being drinkers but I find this is not totally the truth. I am from the Newcastle area of the Uk and we also like a drink but like the Irish it is all very social and not just to get off our heads. I am going back for a visit to Howth, Co Dublin in two weeks and I cant wait.

I am German, lived in the USA and just recently moved to Ireland. I share my stories on my Ireland blog: www.irelandblog.net