American Reacts to 10 Things That Will Shock You About Ireland
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- Опубліковано 5 бер 2023
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In this video I react to 10 things that will shock you about Ireland. While I already knew some of these, others were completely new to me. I know Ireland is such a beautiful country, but every time I see a new Irish location I'm always shocked by how amazing it truly is. I can't wait until I can finally visit.
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An English comment. I come from a very green country, but, as a friend said to me when a number of us visited Ireland, there are more greens in Ireland than you ever knew existed.
The more I see images and videos of Ireland the more I think that's very true.
It's called the Emerald Isle for a reason
That's why Johnny Cash called Ireland "40 shades of green"!😊
Don't rent a car on arrival, Dublin has excellent public transport, once you are finished with Dublin only then hire a car, otherwise you'll be paying for parking! You can also get a cheap and scenic coastal train direct to Wexford, see the East coast whilst seated and start your car hire from Wexford, that way you don't drive whilst jetlagged and you get to see the countryside/coast and don't need to keep your eyes on the road.
Good advice 👍
You can always spot the Americans in a hire car, Dublin plates on the West Coast of Ireland and no idea how to drive.
You can also get train or bus to Cork Limerick or Galway. Another option is take a day tour eg cliffsxof moher and ask before if you can get the return journey another d. Most companies will give you a free return journey if they don't have a full bus.
Ireland is one of my favourite destinations.. the people the beautiful scenery, the banter and amazing pub scene, the white sand beaches, the seafood and the beef is some of the tastiest I've ever had! I just LOVE it! Kerry and the Wild Atlantic Way are my fav destinations!
I’m English but I love the Irish they are great people and swearing is second nature but it’s not done in a nasty way unless it’s a row with someone. The are very friendly. As for driving the roads are narrow and there is country lanes and they are 2 way so it is difficult if your not used to this. It’s such a beautiful country. I personally love their accent but you really need to listen as it’s hard at times when they are speaking fast and with their own slang. As it’s an island the fish and seafood is so fresh and no artificial colourings are added. Their pubs are lively and lots of singing and you’ll get to meet the locals.
You’ll love it Steve.
I had Irish stew for the first time 2 days ago (at a local pub in England where the chef is Irish), and it was one of the best things I’ve ever tasted ❤
It's great. Ain't it? The best English breakfast I ever had, was in an Irish bar in Amsterdam. The Blarney stone. Where, surprise surprise, the chef was Irish. Great Craic. Peace out.
Good stew will put hair on your elbows 👍
@@christopherbarnett6098but that was a. Irish breakfast not an Irish breakfast.
Yes in Ireland, north and south, we swear a LOT, nearly every sentence as we use swearing as an emphasis to what we are saying, “it’s cold” sounds so much more descriptive and with meaning when said as “it’s bloody cold” 😂
Ya, cursing is just having the knowledge of more descriptive adjectives.. 😉
Behind the Irish friendliness is a psychological belief that no one is better than any other, yes, some are more gifted, some are better off but those are no reason for people to be of equal value as human beings. I was raised in NYC by parents born and raised in Ireland and I was often mistaken for a rich person and was totally accepted by the rich people I fell in with. I was never intimidated by anyone and had great amnd often deep conversations with people who usually scared people or felt put off by those who admired them and presumed some kind of mutual attachment. But I was friendly, and polite, making people at ease. I find it sad that so many Americans make themselves feel inferior or superior to so many others,
My husband comes from Belfast, he came over with his family when he was only a baby. We often say we will go and visit someday. I would love the experience of going into a pub, have a drink of Guinness and have a traditional Irish band playing the jigs. I just think that it's an awesome jolly sound to hear Irish music.
Absolutely. Irish music is amazing. I look forward to the exact same experience you're describing. I hope you and your husband get over there. I'm sure for him it would feel like an energetic "coming home" experience.
You don’t have to fly to Dublin, you can fly to Shannon airport on the west coast, which is close to the wild Atlantic way, the whole coast is dotted with beautiful villages and towns, it might seem remote but your never far from a pub, restaurant or accommodation, if your hiring a car it won’t be as daunting or confusing as driving out of Dublin airport. You could always get a train from Galway to Dublin just to sample it.
oatmeal is called Porridge here, and it's great with a dash of Irish Whisky of a morning!!!
If you're interested in old cemeteries, you should check out Glasnevin in Dublin where many of our heroes were buried. Also, in Cobh and in Kinsale both in County Cork there are cemeteries where victims of the Lusitania sinking are buried. Some very poignant tombstones such as, "Boy aged about 2, victim on the Lusitania", with no other info.
Old cemeteries you must look up Glendalough so in Ireland so you'll be amazed
My mum was from the north limavady I never heard her swear, my dad who’s Welsh swears all the time, the Irish are very funny north and south I nearly pissed myself laughing so much, I love the pubs, the food, the live music but I’m not ready to go back yet my mum passed in 2021 and it’s still so painful.
Just wanted to let you know I from Limavady
I did the Blarney Castle thing, and a lot of the rest of Ireland, Northern and Republic (southern) many years ago, around 1970. The legend is that if you 'kiss the Blarney stone' you will have the gift of the gab, that is the ability to talk well and confidently to anyone about anything. To do this, you will basically have to hang upside-down hanging on railings very near the top of the castle roof (health and safety, anyone?). Also took a long weekend in Dublin a few years ago, found somewhere cheap to stay by asking at the airport, the nightlife there is fantastic, really good time
Irelands dairy produce is incredible. Our food ethos is fresh, clean, filling and leave room for desert
Come up to Derry, we'll take you round Donegal, the best beaches and pubs in the country. An you will have free accommodation
I appreciate that. It will be a while before I get over, but it would be pretty cool to have locals show us around a bit.
@@reactingtomyroots when I was 17 or 18 my mum and dad picked up an America hitch hiker, Winston or Wilson he was called. He was probably in his 50s or 60s and was walking around Ireland. My mum and dad told him we had a holiday house in Donegal, the gave it to him for a week so he could relax and have a base to explore from. He thought it was some kind of trick because they didn't want anything in return bar some bbq tips!
Just keep the drivers side next to the middle of the road (nearest the lines in the centre) sounds ridiculous to say it but makes it easier to pick up quickly
When I saw the thumbnail my first though was ''I hope it's not Wolter''!!! Sorry!
Ireland is absolutely full of amazing things to see. Blarney is amazing you can go up the staircase and it can be a bit freaky because its quite narrow and VERY steep, you almost have to climb up. The Wild Atlantic Way is a good place to start, it is the west coast that will have you stop every few seconds for pics. BTW you would love Glendalough in Co Wicklow its stunning and you can really feel the place when you are walking around, not to mention the insane ring walk you can do around the lakes. Its very high up so bring good ankle boots etc.
As an Irish person I really like that the quaint villages have so much character 🌸
Steve. I live in the North of Ireland. If you come across I would have no problem driving you around our costs. It's buetfull. No problem. You would be very welcome.
I don't know what was wrong with the food 10 years ago. It has been fine here for as long as I can remember. Was the south different from the north?
Ireland is also known as the Land of the Horse. Punchestown in May for jumps, The Curragh and Leoppardstown for flat racing and Royal Dublin Horse show is great for showing and fantastic show jumping. Look our for the irish assault on the famous Cheltenham Festival in England starting next Tuesday 14th March one of the great racing occasions of the world.
Beautiful country , my mums closest froends were Irish came over to England Long time ago to live , they were so nice a friendly very , very sociable especially if a drinks involved 😀.
the fact that the steering wheel is on the right side you will automatically be inclined to drive on the left
smithwicks is a red ale love it
Road traffic in Ireland is much less than in England so it is much more relaxing.
Re driving in Ireland, as long as you know the width of your car, keep to the left, and read the road signs on posts and on the road surface.. you'll be fine.
My brother used to go to America alot, he would fly from London to IDublin. You can go through American customs at Dublin Airport so when you land in New York there are no incredibly rude customs to go through.
A American honeymoon couple were on the third day of there trip to Scotland. They left there hotel and went down the long drive to the road at the end and unfortunately they turned to travel along the right side of the road and crashed right into a lorry. The husband was decapitated and the wife went through the windscreen, she died with the paramedics. It acn not be said enough to drive on the left, it would be worth writing DRIVE on your left hand, know one would judge anyone on this.
I'm English but grandparents were Irish. I've been to Ireland and adore it. The places the people the food the drink just everything is beautiful it's definitely my happy place.
On another note if you enjoy cemeteries my husband has started a channel visiting cemeteries. One of his is on the island we live with the graves of two of princess direct descendents of Queen Victoria. There is also a fantastic channel called unusual things that does the same. My husbands channel is spitfire Kev.
The flights from America to Ireland have always been cheaper I knew a couple who had a villa in Spain and it was very much cheaper to fly to Ireland and then fly to Alicante from there!
My only advice to anyone travelling over is.. unless you free accommodation thanks to family or friends, to spend at max 2 days in Dublin, maybe 3 if you make a day of it up in the Wicklow mountains. And make a proper day of it at that.
I am a born 'Dub' and live 10 mins outside of Dublin, near Blessington Lake, another great place, but you really experience Ireland on the west coast.
Wolter is permanently shocked.
🤣🤣🤣
Couldn't he be just surprised instead!
The Blarney Stone, gift of the gab???
I think that may be what I was thinking about.
I think you will be ok driving on the Left . When I was in the States , first thing in the morning coming out of the carpark . I had to remined myself to drive on the right . But other then that , I was fine and you will be too !
Irish woman here, highly recommend and paying us a visit! We do curse a lot but it’s done in a very affectionate manner, the only time it would be used with negative connotations was if you were to be rowing! If you do come please, please, please visit more than just Dublin as it’s not a reflection of the whole country and does target tourists a lot. Now heads up it’s expensive here day to day atm, and that’s including accommodation in hotels and just sorting food. What he mentions with regard to Guinness and the other stouts and beers is true and that’s because they are actually brewed in Ireland as opposed to being made in one country and flown half way across the world and delivered so they have quite a different flavour! Hope you get over to visit us! ☘️☘️
Even just within Dublin there are so many beautiful old graveyards (and beautiful old churches) they're literally everywhere! And once you head into the countryside you'll see all the old castles and cottages and ruins 😌 (and more churches and graveyards 😂)
I've lived here my whole life and am lucky enough to have been to most of the counties but I'm still shocked by how beautiful Ireland is on a regular basis 😂
Happy Patrick's Day ☘️
Every time I visit a new country/city I find the oldest cemetary I can find. Love them.
when you do try fish and chips ,,, try a smoked cod.... you can thank me later ;) ,also you have to do The Glendalough Graveyard Trail graves from the 11th century however it dates back to the 7th , super close to dublin city .. and well worth the drive to.... its easy to walk for young and old ....the driving is no big deal , if you are used to manual cars you wont have an issue . take your time and 100 miles in the usa is not the same as 100 miles here... it takes longer to get around ... driving is the only way to see the place at your own pace.... just remember the north is a different country so rental car may not allow for travel across the border ...some do some dont just something to look into ....ohh obviously dont drink and drive , limit is 0.05 here, think its a little more in the usa
Driving on the left is a challenge, practice it at home before you come!😂
Do let us know when you're planning a trip, Steve. I'll be sure to make a list of recommendations (Glasnevin Cemetary - given your stated interest).
One other shock is that in spite of how cheap it can be to travel here, things are generally quite expensive here. That's due to Ireland being a small island nation with few natural resources; they have to be imported which adds to cost. There's also a lot of privitization.
Not from my experience. My experience is Ireland went expensive once they joined the Euro like many other countries also did
Thanks Sam, I'll definitely mention it when I'm coming over. I just typed in that cemetery and I'm excited to check it out. I appreciate the recommendation.
Thank you for the upload, you mention how things look so different to America with buildings etc, I’m British and live and farm in Oconto Falls Wisconsin, there are actually odd spots here that resemble England (side roads and some fence lines) on the whole am like you, the rolling fields here aren’t just the same as they are in the UK, love it here though l must say🙂
We swear a lot. "You're a fuckin' genius" is a complient. "You're shit hot!' is a chat up after you get past the first Guinness
Hi Steve, thank God I'm Irish and i am going to respond to your videos positively. Research Irish tradional music it is the best on this planet, my favourite bands include the Bothy Band and Planxty rhen a thousand others.
Narrow roads have passing places to pull into. The nearest vehicle to it pulls in to allow one to get past!
Shocking is also how green the grass is!
Steve Hartley Not always maybe in the UK,but not necessarily in ireland yes they are laybys ,but mostly you are dependent on a farmers gate to pull into.
If you want to see old cemetery’s go to Glendalough 👍🏻 it’s an awesome spot.. also I’m not sure if flights are cheap to get here but brace yourself as Ireland is expensive.
If its much cheaper to fly to Ireland, you go there and get a ferry over to England or Scotland. When you're here look for the neolithic sites, cairns and standing stones. They're usually full of atmosphere. You'll love them.
Why go to England or Scotland if you are In Ireland?
@@drink8ace It would depend if you want to go to London or Edinburgh or any other locations I suppose. I think Steve does. He has shown an interest in Bath and York.
@@judithhope8970 I know. You are correct. I was just suggesting Ireland is perfect. I'm rather patriotic about the entire country.
@@drink8ace It certainly does look a beautiful country and of course you produce some pretty excellent rugby too. I will come over for a holiday one day. I've done a lot of England, some of Scotland and much of Wales, but I will be along one day. There's nothing wrong with being patriotic. :)x
@@judithhope8970 You will love Ireland. And you will be welcomed like no where else. I played Number 3 - tight head prop for a minute. I wasn't very good but love rugby.
❤
15:18 That's the Rock of Cashel, I leave near it... if you make it to Ireland hit me up and I'll take you there..
Hi Steve, I love your videos and enthusiastic comments.👍👍 I guess you adore GB and IRL. 🥰 I wonder when you change the picture in the background for a picture of the Towerbridge of something like that??
Thanks, I appreciate it. I've definitely fallen in love with the whole area. Can't wait to visit one day, but for now I'm really enjoying my journey of learning. I'm not sure what background picture you're referring to though. If you're talking about my channel background picture you're right I do need to get something up there soon.
@@reactingtomyroots yes the picture of the bridge (in NY)
You can kiss the Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle if you're brave enough!!!
I am form Ireland 🇮🇪
It's in Cork ..my home town
Hey Steve, do get in touch if you come to Northern Ireland and would like someone with good local knowledge, I can show you and your family all the best places that even the tourists don’t know about. Northern Ireland has lots of scenery especially the Antrim Coast and the Mourne Mountains.
Yes. We have a beautiful country. 😍
@@jacquilewis8203 we just need better weather 😂
Thanks David. I appreciate that. It's going to be a bit before we come over, but I will keep you in mind for when we do. Having locals show us some great spots would be awesome. Hope you're well.
You'll live Glendalough then for scenery and cemetery.
Highgate cemetery in North London, Greyfriars in Edinburgh and Glasgow's Necropolis will be your kind of place then 😁
Love Highgate, but haven't seen the others. I'll have to check them out. Thanks for the recommendations.
Wear an elastic band on your left hand to remind you to drive on the left ,by the way our public transport is excellent and you can buy a weekly prepaid ticket for buses and luas trains .
Definitely visit Glasnevin cemetery where many of the greats of Irish history are layed to rest...Presidents, Taoisigh(Irish for Prime minister, this is the plural in Irish, Taoiseach is the singular), greats of literature, martyrs of the Irish struggle for independence, plus they have a great tour & museum. You'll learn a lot there.
All the martyrs of the 1916 Rising (108th anniversary tomorrow 24/04/2024) are buried in Arbor hill cemetery, well worth a visit.
Check out Play, they do New York to Dublin for $330 Roundtrip. A Ryanair flight from Dublin, Ireland to London, England is €12 ($13 USD).
i go to the casle every weekend
It's worth booking air travel as far in advance as you can - like months in advance. The nearer you get to deprture date the more expensive it becomes. Also look carefully at the pricing structure for specific dates- some weeks/ months are almost double what it was the week before!
My motherfrom ireland cooked Irish style meals beautifully but she also did French provincial, which style was alkso used on the fanmily's farm. Later in life my mother learned Italian cooking and it was first raste. The secret seemed to be cooking without fuss. For instance she would cook a head of cauliflower and it would be just right in texture asnd delicious with almost no seasoning. ... By the was Cashel is pronounced Ca shel, said softly elided. No Cash-el.
Just a few comments -(I) The whole ‘kiss the Blarney Stone to get the gift of the gab’ originated with the story of the castle’s owners-the McCarthys-who managed to hold onto to their lands all the way from the arrival of the Anglo Normans in 1169, through the English occupation etc etc through their ability to talk their way out of whatever’situations’ might be occurring. (2) I never eat fish and Ireland is really more a meat eating rather than fish eating place. (3) Neolithic structures such as the passage graves of the Boyne Valley are dated to 3,200BC and so much older than the pyramids. Such strict are scattered around all over the countryside but you need a car to get to them. (4) A note re travelling to the USA-you can do pre clearance checks in Dublin Airport before leaving so no hassle on arrival in the USA.
You soon get used to driving on the "wrong side of the road" as I did when in the USA for the first time. Driving down the narrow country lanes may be more tricky for you to get used to though.
We have castles / forts going back 3000 years!
Also, once you are in Europe, Easyjet takes you anywhere very very cheap, take a look !
Steve, as I suppose you will have your wife alongside you when driving, she can assist by navigating & spotting the road signs while you concentrate behind the wheel. I'm sure after the 1st day it will become easier.
Dude!!! you talk like Danny McBride! 🙂hey from Ireland
I'm from Wales and hire vehicles when I go to Spain Im abit nervous every time first drive but you get used to it within an hour of driving if you're a confident driver
fly into the north and rent a car here, not only cheaper to rent but the insurance is about 10th of the price than in the south for hire cars
add Baileys Irish Cream to your oatmeal :)
Hi Steve you need to make a list what you would like to do. So you can take with you
Flights from John Lennon Airport Liverpool, ferries from Liverpool, Holyhead Wales or other ports on west coast UK to Ireland are easily available Steve.
When you come to Ireland or the UK for that matter depending which one you go to first.
Why not contact a driving school over there and explain you’re from the US and would like to familiarise yourself with local driving rules and conditions. An hour or two lessons wont cost you too much and will prepare you for the road ahead.
Excellent suggestion.
you can use public transport , ie buses and trains in Ireland , just need ot plan it and its not too expensive
I don't drive myself- but have been a passenger in British cars being driven on continental Europe (where they drive on the right) and as far as I can see, drivers adapt pretty quickly. I think you might be best trialling it somehwere like Ireland, where you can avoid complicated city or motorway junctions until you feel more confident. Definitely don't hire a car for any time you are based in London! Lots of Londoners don't have cars, but the traffic is mental!.
Tourists needs to be reminded every summer you will see cars going around roundabouts the wrong way
With regard to driving hire a car yourself you'll be fine. (More expensive for automatic drive around 500 euros for a manual 800-1000 automatic.) I'm from Ireland and I went on the continent first time driving a truck on the right and got used to it quick enough. After the first few roundabouts your fine. From town to town mostly it'll be main roads or Motorways. Just drive in your comfort zone on narrower roads as you'll be going slow enough to take in the scenery anyway. The Wild Atlantic Way is a lovely trip on the West Coast, very scenic just spend a week from one end to the other. If you travel to Dublin a trip to Wicklow to Glendalough has a nice old graveyard. Also plan your route and book Bed & Breakfast its cheaper than hotels.
Jerry here from Ireland you should check out the Clancy Brothers and leam Clancy
From the way you speak about the U.K. and Ireland, I think you’re going to love your well earned holiday. Have you heard of the Blarney Stone? Maybe that’s why you know the name Blarney? You should kiss the Stone, which is supposed to give you “the gift of the gab!” I’ve heard from people that it’s much cheaper to fly to Ireland from the U.S., then you can take an hours flight from Ireland to the U.K., or the ferry, which I think is 4 or 5 hours.
Accommodation here is really dear now. Since Covid prices have really soared
@8:23 What the heck is that figure on the roof ? 😂😂😂
I usually go by taxi first day to get confident and see the areas then I drive
I suspect you may need to take into account the availability & cost of hiring an automatic car because currently the landscape is 90 per cent manual in Ireland, but there’s been an uptick in the number of people choosing automatic in recent years. A quick check on cost showed Automatics nearly double that of Manual. (sure if you shop around may do better)
Nahhh man, for a start all hybrids and electric cars are automatic, which is a large percentage of rentals these days.
Automatics maybe a small percentage of the national fleet but they're a large percentage of rentals.
@@RazorMouth thanks buddy👍
Driving on the right is no problem if you take your time, but in a sudden emergency you will automatically pull over to the left. After years of driving on the left your mind tells you to avoid danger by doing what you always previously did. !! The biggest challenge is lane selection on roundabouts and ensure driving clockwise
You can get Ryan Air flights from Ireland to anywhere in Europe for $100 honest!
There is a lot of public transport and tours so you don't have to rent a car to have a good time and see a lot of the country.
Im sure u driving will be fine only prob id be thinking about is coming off a single dirt road and remembering to take to the left
That "quaint little village" you referred to is actually a picture taken right in the centre of Kilkenny City. Yes, that's what we consider a city over here.
Do we? It's literally a town, officially and generally.
In towns and cities pubs are landmarks especially when you get directions from the locals.
You should be fine driving on the left. I'm from the UK and have driven on the right in continental Europe loads of times. It takes quite a bit of mental effort at first but once you get used to it, it's fine. Road junctions are the time when most care is needed.
Will give you a heads up Steve - we know what you mean by quaint but it isnt exactly what the same translation over here. If we called something quaint it wouldn't be in a positive light, it would mean its a bit odd or quirky. Ive seen other vloggers comment on this when they have come to the UK.
Out loud - "That's kinda quaint", in our heads "bit strange isn't it?!"
I have never thought that "quaint" means quirky. In the dictionary the word quaint means "attractively unusual or old fashioned".
@@sharonmartin4036 yeah thats totally fair enough I dont disagree but I'm sure you still got the gist of my meaning- i did nearly say old. Google search I did just now came up with 'odd or unusual'
@cmcculloch1 Hi.
Language also changes over time. It's just that I was an English professor at a university in Uganda for many years, so I'm probably old school (or quaint). Lol.
It also conjures up the word 'small'
I must say (and I'm English), I always associate the word 'quaint' in a NICE way; as in cute and attractive, such as 'what a quaint cottage, with its thatched roof and roses round the door...' But it's got a different meaning in the US though! I once said 'what a quaint barn' (meant in a positive way) and the person who was showing me round started to apologise for it looking old and ramshackled, telling me it would be getting pulled down and soon replaced with a NEW one... Brochures for the Cotswolds often say the area is full of 'quaint villages' (meaning beautiful) for example!
If your coming over maybe get an Automatic car as not changing gears with your left foot and left hand will really help. Most cars are Manual.
writing this before the watch and hoping that i will see something about the Y chromosome studies done over there, a subject that shocked me when i first learned about it ,keep up the culltural root journey :)
Now you have me intrigued. I have no idea what the studies are you're referring to, but I'm going to see if I can figure it out. :)
@@reactingtomyroots blood of the irish is a great documentary by Diarmuid Gavin ,it pieces together fact and myth using dna tech to map an old bloodline ,i found it all very interesting
If you start your journey in the UK, flying to the Republic is very cheap from England, or you can go up to Scotland, and go from there to Ireland by ferry, it's only a couple of hours trip.
You can get a Ferry from Liverpool to Dublin and vice versa with or without a car. 🙂
The very modern, fast ferries from Holyhead/Caergybi to Dublin/Dylun are also excellent.
I agree with some of the comments below. However, you may consider hiring a car to go town to town and get a cab for "in town" at leased until your confidence grows.
I’m with you on the cemetery,s we in the UK have the best old creepy cemetery’s The dates are so old I’ve just being to the Shetland islands up way past Scotland you will love it great cemetery there. Loverly place please look it up
Look at the most beautiful villages in the cotswolds pt1 & pt2
If you can put up with the traffic , driving around the UK is a chore these days because of the sheer volume of cars on the Rd.
My dad was born in County Cork and he cussed all day long.