I returned last week from a trip to Ireland and wanted to share an experience my friend and I had during our time there.
So this was my second time in Ireland. I first went in 2016 and fell completely in love with it. My friend who accompanied me on this trip had never been there before and didn't really know the history of Ireland or it's people. She asked me on the flight over what was the one thing about Ireland that I loved most. My answer to her was that it was the people I loved most. I don't think she quite understood what I meant about it because she gave me a funny look, but I told her once we were there she would get it.
So long story short, on our second day there we got into an accident with our rental car on one of the country roads in Galway. We were fine, but unfortunately the car was not. It took over 4 hours for the auto recovery guy to remove the car from the ditch/ravine we ended up in. While we were waiting for the tow guy to come, a wonderful lady named Yvonne took us to her home and made us tea while we waited. She even spoke to the auto recovery guy to give him directions as to where the car was located because we were literally in the countryside. She was so kind and opened up her home to two strangers. We were with her at her home for over an hour. I will be forever grateful that she did that for us. Here at home in the U.S. I think most people would have just driven by without a second thought.
After my friend and I were back safely at our Airbnb, I told her that was exactly what I meant when I said the best thing about Ireland was the people. The scenery is amazing, but the people of Ireland are what make me want to keep coming back.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA ☔️
6790 posts
Nice story, thanks for sharing. Agree, the people in Ireland are great.
Posted by
Lakewood, CO
249 posts
Our first trip to Ireland was in 1996 and we have returned six more times. People always ask why we like it so much and the answer is always the same - the people.
Posted by
1172 posts
Could not agree more. The Irish are just special
Posted by
Granite Bay, CA
1930 posts
For sure!! I never understood it either, until you encounter them! What a kind and jolly group those Irish are.
Posted by
Last Frontier aka Alaska 🏔️
3561 posts
Love everything about that special island!
Posted by
Portsmouth
5540 posts
Here at home in the U.S. I think most people would have just driven by without a second thought.
A couple of years ago our family travelled to California, stayed in a number of places and ended up, unexpectedly due to a change in circumstances, renting an AirBnB in Lodi. The second day we were there I suddenly became seriously ill with appendicitis and underwent emergency surgery. The owners of the house (and their daughter) couldn't have been more helpful. My wife spent the following three days visiting me in hospital but as they would not allow the children to visit me the eldest daughter volunteered to babysit them for nothing, she came armed with Nerf guns and the boys adored her. They also waived the additional nights stay that was required before I could be released from hospital.
My experience of Dublin (one and only time I've been) was one of hostility once it became apparent I was English (despite my paternal grandmother born and raised in Dublin). There was also an occasion in a nice resort in Mallorca where we got chatting to an Irish family, the kids were the same age and we were getting on fantastically, made plans to eat out together that evening etc. Then the husband learned that I was a police officer and he changed completely, accused me of being in Special Branch, claimed that his family were IRA supporters and made all sorts of ridiculous claims. He angrily stormed off dragging his upset kids and wives with him.
There are other anecdotal accounts but suffice to say my experience of Irish people has been quite negative.
Posted by
Shediac, New Brunswick, Canada
776 posts
Do you mind me asking what happened in the accident?
Posted by
OP
11 posts
I was driving us to Connemara National Park and there was an oncoming car that looked like it was too close so I was trying to make sure I was giving them enough room when I went on the shoulder and didn't know that on the other side of the grass was a deep drop. Once one tire went off the shoulder there was no way to keep it on the road - the car just went down. We were stopped from going down further by a tree. The ditch went down really deep and there was a small creek at the bottom. Thankfully the tree stopped us otherwise the car would have rolled over. I was driving pretty slow so the impact wasn't very hard. We weren't injured at all just really shaken up. One of the witnesses who had seen the accident called the Garda (police) and they were really nice about it. They said that road we were on was actually a much narrower road than most and kept asking if we were okay. I said the only injury was to my pride and they laughed. I had called Hertz immediately after the accident to report it and they were the ones who sent the auto recovery truck to retrieve the car and to see if it was still drivable. Unfortunately, most of the damage was caused when they were removing it from the ditch as the front end had a tree branch wrapped underneath and it pulled the front part of car off when they were pulling it out. Since the auto recovery truck was taking up most of the road, the cars would just keep lining up on both sides. After every few minutes the driver would unhook the vehicle and move his truck so that all the cars could go by.
I had gotten full coverage when I was booking the car, but Hertz still charged me another $600 to remove the car from the ditch. I had thought this was included and told them when I was booking the car that I asked for every kind of insurance so I could have peace of mind if there was an accident I wouldn't have to deal with any additional cost, etc. They told me that the Hertz at Dublin Airport is privately owned so they can charge me as they want??? I opened a case file with them to try to fight the additional charge, but am still waiting to hear. I suspect that it is a fight I am not going to win. Lesson learned. Needless to say when I return to Ireland in the future my husband will be driving again as he did perfectly in 2016. I have to say though, to me it was so stressful driving there, but I swear I found it more stressful being the passenger. But like I said, my husband got us around for 10 days and returned the car with zero scratches so I guess I will just have to make do with being the passenger next time. :)
Posted by
1172 posts
@JC... You were renting that AirBNB... they 'knew' you. Had you been stranded on the side of the road in California like the OP was in Ireland. I would be willing to bet that no one would have stopped for you. Way too many stories of people being attacked, killed etc. in similar circumstances
There is a lot of history between the English and the Irish. Although clearly not your fault, you sometimes have to understand where those 'feelings' come from. Most of us non-English only have great stories about the Irish. Sorry to say that your story is in a tiny minority. I can also say, as a Canadian, that our experience with the English has been horrible. Ruddest people we have ever encountered
Posted by
Portsmouth
5540 posts
@ Sharon. I was simply providing an example of kindness shown by American's to complete strangers. Yes, we were renting their house but their daughter had no obligation to do what she did. I accept the gist of what you were referring to regarding strangers by the roadside.
Unfortunately my treatment by some Irish people is not unique nor is it justified.
I'm obviously unaware of your experience with the British as a Canadian and whether it was a one off or something more general however all I will say is the British are pretty ambivalent to Canadians in general. There's no history of animosity so I wouldn't suggest that your experience is indicative of the general British approach to Canadians.