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Lonely Planet lists Ireland as the friendliest country in the world
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Sometimes you go to a place for its beauty or famous tourist sites. Other times, you simply go for the people.That's partially how I ended up in Ireland to work after college. In my humble opinion, the Irish are some of the nicest people on this planet. And now, there is documented evidence to support this.
Lonely Planet's remarkable Bluelist now boasts that Ireland is indeed the friendliest, most welcoming country in the world.
While this is no surprise for me, I'd never be able to guess the other countries mentioned in the top ten list. And in fact, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that backpackers and travelers voted the USA in at second; this is great news considering the bashing we've been receiving abroad in the last few years.
In case you are looking for a holiday destination where the people themselves will put a smile on your face you may want to check out the other countries which also made the list; Malawi, Vietnam, Thailand, Fiji, Indonesia, Samoa, and Scotland.
Filed under: Malawi, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Ireland, United States, Fiji, Samoa
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
me Aug 27th 2008 11:45AM
What a joke is this? Ireland friendly country. Maybe you mean Scotland? That small conservative anti-immigrant xenophobic island is no friendly at all. The people are really out of life without sense of warmth. There is coldness everywhere. I live in Ireland for 2 years and I can say this is the only country I didn't make friends... I've seen Irish avoiding speaking to foreigners. They are dangerously closed community. Where is the friendliness is this country? I believe everywhere the people are less racists and more polite. What the hell Ireland? NOWAY
Martin Sep 17th 2008 1:00PM
We're apprehensive of the new wave of immigration because we don't it to ruin or lovely island, that's understandable, surely? After seeing what mass immigration has done to Britain, we don't want it to happen to us.
To call Irish racists is ridiculous, some of my best mates are Polish who have only been in the country a about 3 years. I think you should have stayed longer than 2 years to experience Ireland, but to be honest, with an attitude like yours, i'm glad you left! We don't have room for people like you; you'll be better off in the UK where they pander to newcomers at the expense of local native people and their culture.
Martin Sep 17th 2008 1:02PM
We're apprehensive of the new wave of immigration because we don't it to ruin or lovely island, that's understandable, surely? After seeing what mass immigration has done to Britain, we don't want it to happen to us.
To call Irish racists is ridiculous, some of my best mates are Polish who have only been in the country a about 3 years. I think you should have stayed longer than 2 years to experience Ireland, but to be honest, with an attitude like yours, i'm glad you left! We don't have room for people like you; you'll be better off in the UK where they pander to newcomers at the expense of local native people and their culture.
me Oct 21st 2008 4:20AM
To be honest learn how to spell something in your native language.
me Oct 21st 2008 4:20AM
Martin said: "We're apprehensive of the new wave of immigration because we don't it to ruin or lovely island, that's understandable, surely? After seeing what mass immigration has done to Britain, we don't want it to happen to us"
The only one who ruins that land is you and your massive destructive attitude.
The only understandable is that you have immigrants everywhere and if you dare to say anything again about immigration then believe me we gonna ship back all the irish who live abroad. Understandable their population is 10 times more than the size of your wet isolated island.
I am happy I can understand the difference between the civilized world (us the rest of Europeans) and the nazi scums like you. I hope mass immigration will give you a lesson from the world outside.
Tori Jan 29th 2009 7:07AM
Only the Irish give it such a good name. It's fact. They really hate the foreign people.
Do you really want a friendly country? Go anywhere else except Ireland. It makes London and New York look like Mediterranean. Apart from that Ireland has the highest levels of racism in Europe with Belfast votes as the capital of hate race. Another survey says that, there must be a truth
sucat Feb 23rd 2009 3:34AM
Yes Ireland is a very nativist and xenophobic country.
In the Irish way of thinking: Yes the local is a drunk, yes the local is a yob, but at least they are an Irish drunk and an Irish yob.
It is so hypocritical on the part of a people with a linear
history of encountering prejudice abroad to inflict that same bigotry and violence on others.
In Dublin especially there were vocal: denunciations against "foriegners." I agree it would be fair for the Irish abroad to be sent back to "their" Ireland.
The screwdriver murders of Polish men in Dublin will not be forgiven nor forgotten. Shame on Ireland!
Sucat Feb 23rd 2009 3:43AM
I used to think quite well of Ireland until I returned a year ago. I agree alot of drivers and locals make openly
racist and nativist comments to visitors.
They exploit Baltic people shamefully, especially the women.
They blame immigrants for taking jobs and yet they stay around the pubs getting roaring drunk all day.
I concur with poster "me". The Irish are indeed as
cold as the weather and insular. They should truly
cut this "Celtic" nonsense out. They are ethnically diverse anyway and no more Celts than the Nazis were Aryan. They are viciously territorial and great
at alienating people.
As for the comment about immigrants destroying the
U.K....not as much as the Irish with their bombs.
The Irish were the first immigrants to the U.K. anyway.
me Feb 27th 2009 5:41PM
Dear Sucat: The immigrants destroy the UK? So far the only thing I heard abt immigration and UK is that how diverse is England and how friendly are the Scottish. No one Spanish, Italian, Greek, American has been treated bad in UK, as second class citizen. You only hear complains about Indians, Asians, I feel sorry for them but those are isolated events coming from a few losers. Apart from that a little bit of racism is normal sometimes, it is a human reaction as we are imperfect beings. In Ireland racism is widespread towards everyone who doesn't look like Irish.
I don't mean there are not good and friendly Irish people. Yes there are more than a handful, but so far my 2,5 years of living there, it didn't happen to get in touch with anyone of them.
Sucat, I am sure in your country there is racism as well, don't blame only Ireland. And the screwdriver murders was an isolated event which can happen everywhere at anytime. People at least don't kill foreigners as it happens in Russia and Germany. I am sorry I don't judge Ireland because of that but the general attitude of the people is really anti-immigrant.
So far, all the non Irish I met share my opinion and in all the other countries I lived I made friends except in Ireland. Therefore it is impossible all the other countries to be craps and Ireland, suddenly the best. Even other west Europeans like me had hard times and it's not rare to see in Dart and buses people screaming to a black person "go home n...r"
Come on Ireland. So many years in poverty and isolation. With this type of behavior you will not go anywhere. Finally you are a part of planet Earth. I have no problem with Irish culture. Yes I am the first to say "let's keep it Irish" but friendly Irish and more civilized. Don't lose you identity in the globalization's cultural imperialism but you must open up your eyes and embrace more love than justice. The immigrants are your friends and not your enemies.
Tori Feb 28th 2009 3:53AM
"We're apprehensive of the new wave of immigration because we don't it to ruin or lovely island" as Martin said. This is the friendliest country in the world? Especially when the 80pc of the population supports that immigration is ruining Ireland (based on another survey of RTE)... I smell a rat. Maybe the tourists boards did a great job. Congratulations, I am glad for your financial success.
Inhabitants that don't talk to neighbors, bigotry and racism, gang crime, litter everywhere, teenage pregnancy on the rise... friendliest country? Who what how why.... I am sure in no more than 10 years Ireland will become like Russia with a significant number of racial murders. Why no if Belfast is the hate race capital?
Gareth Jun 28th 2009 6:54PM
You's have all talked the biggest load for crap i've ever heard!
TORI Jul 6th 2009 4:25PM
@Gareth
Because it is the truth, and nobody likes the truth when it is so much bitter. But don't worry as long as you are Irish you can suppose your country is friendly. You will never find yourself beaten up by a racist in Ireland. You will never be an immigrant in Ireland. So keep on dreaming.
sucat Aug 10th 2009 5:35AM
I did not say the immigrants were destroying the "UK".
I was refuting an apologist for Irish xenophobia in a previous post.
Read My post more carefully.
The screwdriver attack I mentioned was a hate crime deliberately
enacted because of the Polish ethnicity of the guest workers.
This is confirmed by the Foriegn Minister of the Republic
of Ireland.
The Irish not the Immigrants brought down the Celtic Tiger
by drinking and irresponsible behaviour.
The hate crimes were incited by the Irish media and
by irate and lazy nativists who have nothing else in
their lives but drink and hate.
Ireland is not friendly and their hostility is costing them dearly in
Economy and in their E.U. standing.
Girls Games Jan 4th 2012 3:55AM
I am happy I can understand the difference between the civilized world (us the rest of Europeans) and the nazi scums like you. I hope mass immigration will give you a lesson from the world outside. http://www.y8girlsgames.com
Madi Oct 1st 2009 5:25AM
If you go there as a tourist it could be great but once the Irish see that you live and work in their country they change their approach and become a bunch of racist.
I lived there for 3 years in Dublin. I am in London and I never regretted the fact I left this isolated island. I never thought I would confront racism this days. This was the only place where I heard openly racist comments against me from people who think it is right to behave that way. I have witnessed tones of racist graffiti especially in the dart stations. I really don't get it. Even my granny is less conservative than a young Irish person. All the good Irish I came across through these years have left the country. I don't blame them.
All you have to do is boycott Ireland. See what has happened in Belfast a few months ago where Romanian immigrants have been evicted by nazis from their houses. The same has happened in Dublin to some Polish and some Spanish. Boycott Ireland NOW.
BOYCOTT IRELAND.
Rahul Aug 12th 2011 7:18AM
I would recommend India too as one of the friendliest Countries to Backpack to.
http://www.indianbackpacker.com
Karoline Dec 8th 2011 10:26AM
Congrat Deodra, I wish my country were in this list but not is here.
real estate en costa rica
Karoline Dec 15th 2011 2:33PM
I think this is great, I would like to congratulate all the Irish. ;)
Grin Oct 19th 2007 4:44PM
Did Scotland really win twice?
Chris Oct 19th 2007 4:55PM
Kudos to Scotland, the city so nice he named it twice!
What other cities are so nice they named it twice? (i.e. New York City, The Big Apple)