We love to congratulate ourselves in Ireland for the warmth of our welcome, particularly in relation to tourists who come and visit us. And in fairness, most people who come to our little island report back overwhelmingly positive experiences. Last year, 2015, was an extraordinary year for Irish tourism, with earnings exceeding €7 billion for the first time. A whopping 8 million visitors came into the country, a 14% increase, according to the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation. So clearly, we are doing something right.
And yet, according to one American-based Irish tourist guide, Jackie Heron, there is a dark side in the form of increasing antisocial behaviour that is turning a lot of her clients off. On today’s Liveline, she related one recent experience in Temple Bar in Dublin to host, Joe Duffy.
“As we walked up to a restaurant in Temple Bar, with one of my guests, two people came to either side of her, linked her arms. I am almost positive they were pickpockets. They had English accents. When I ask them politely to move on, they scarpered.”
But that was only the beginning of it.
After dinner, walking up towards Dame Street, she and her group saw two young women head-butting each other, during a fight. Then later, on Dame Street, they were horrified when they witnessed a young man having his head 'bashed into the ground'. Following the assault, the perpetrator simply ran away from the scene, knocking another man off his bicycle in the process.
Jackie had written into the team at Liveline to say that for all the (sometimes unpleasant) activity she sees in New York on a daily basis, where she lives, nothing compares to what she was exposed to on her most recent trip to her hometown of Dublin.
Jackie’s verdict?
“I go to New York City, I take groups to New York City. I could be in Time Square at midnight and feel 100% safe. I would never, ever take a group to that area of town again, certainly after six o’clock.”
And how did the tour group react to this exposure of Dublin’s nasty side? “Americans are great for filling in surveys, at giving evaluations of trips”, according to Jackie. Overwhelmingly, they enjoy their time in Ireland, and give very positive feedback. But on this occasion, several of Jackie’s customers had to point out the levels of violence and how that violence impacted on their enjoyment of their holidays.
“A couple of them said they could not believe the violence in Dublin city.”
Being a Dubliner, Jackie loves bringing tourists to her home city. But these episodes, all occurring on a Saturday night, have shocked even her.
To listen to the full interview, click here.