Ireland

[trucking482002]

Vince:

penfold:
the 2 occassions that I stopped to ask directions in N. Ireland was I told “Sorry driver, we don’t speak English here”

I have been to Northern Ireland once, and I encountered exactly the same attitude. Sheer nastiness.

I was spat at in Belfast, and had bricks thrown at the lorry, simply because I happened to fall out of my mother’s ■■■■■■ in Kent. When I tried to go for a beer, I was approached at the bar by thugs, telling me “Sorry Son, locals only” In the most threatening and frightening way imaginable…

Of course, I understand that Ireland has a long and troubled history, especially in relation to Westminster, but I felt that the hatred I was shown by the locals

I was completely unneccessary. I am a truck driver, not a politician, FFS. It isn’t
my fault.

I have been to a lot of countries, and have experienced much friendship. I have drunk tea with Iraqis while our countries were at war, and we have got on like a house on fire. I have got on well with other truckers from two dozen different countries.

I’m sorry if this ruffles feathers, but the Northern Irish are the most hate-filled people I have ever met. I would never go there again, and that’s the only country I have ever been to about which I would say that.

Vince

I delivered in N Ireland for @15 years delivering household goods for the catalogues to houses in all areas of the north,this was while the “troubles” were at their worst and found “the majority” of people so very friendly,as for directions,people would make phone calls and spend time at it to find addresses for us,in 30 years living and working in both N and S Ireland
never had any trouble with “English not spoken here”.
I liked it so much i moved to N Ireland,drove for Dukes,Pandoro,Stockton Haulage,Roadferry and I found the hospitality embarrassing,you,d ask for directions and be asked in for tea,which could well be a 3 course meal,I kid you not,this courtesy I found both in N&S Ireland,even more so as you get away from the towns and cities.
To get away from the “rat race” or a relaxing holiday come to Ireland if you dont enjoy it i’ll give you your money back!
regards derek

[coffeeholic]

Any time I have visited Northern Ireland I have only encountered friendliness and hospitality, the same goes for the ROI.

[niall]

As Coffeholic said,friendliness and hospitality is normal.

I have visited Southern Ireland in an artic, and in a car.

The artic for business, and the car for a holiday.

In the South, people will wish you " Good Morning" from the opposite side of the street, whether they know you or not.

I have never been to the North, but have some customers that I deal with on a daily basis in my current job.

"If you are ever here Niall " they say "Ring this number and we’ll have a good night "

Do not let this experience put you off Penfold - Give it another go and good luck.

Cheers,

Niall.

[thebear]

I have done mainly the Republic… and have never met any hostility… nothing but friendliness etc. Onoly been to the North a few times but never met anything other than politensss. I spent a whole day in and around Derry and apart from the kerbstones being painted red white and blue plus the various murals painted on the walls (mainly about Bloody Sunday) I could have been in any town in Ireland. Every time was in a UK registered vehicle

[wheel_nut]

Same here, never had a problem, North or South.

I used to deliver to a dairy at Newtonards, and the bloke who did the sample always blamed delays on the lab, saying they were on the other side

I hope they still speak English because we are trying to get to the North West 200 later this year.

“Top o the morning to you”

[kennymanning]

I live here in the republic of ireland and visiting here then go back home, you will probably only see one side ie very nice, hospitable people who go out of their way to help. Stay here for any period of time (i’ve been here for 3 yrs), ive discovered that Ireland (north and south) is the MOST PREDUJICED PLACE ON THE PLANET. I’m here for personal reasons which I won’t bore you with , so I’m kind of stuck with the place for now. I happen to be of a differant colour than the majority (totally irrelevant to most people) and I drive an artic with southern irish plates on it and this confuses most people here- they just stare at me as if I’ve just landed off another planet.

[alexxinny]

My great-grandfather was a grocer in Ireland back in the late 1800’s, and it was the republican vandalism that forced him to emmigrate to the US. Luckily, he became quite wealthy running one of the first big grocery chains here in the states, so I doubt he missed it too much.

[linux-user]

I liked Northern Ireland so much i brought a piece back with me… Mrs Linux

[twincam16]

Im from Southern Ireland and also know the North well and I have great friends up there as well.
In the last 6-7 years the change up there is fantastic,the atmosphere is more relaxed,but unfortunately sometimes you meet people that havent travelled past their front gate and this is the thing you remember most.
I have been called Paddy more times than I can remember in the UK,mostly by the police,I have had my pin pulled on the 5th wheel in truckstops,got abuse off ex-Army lads driving artics,but if I was to take it all personally I would of gave up the job years ago.
Hopefully your next trip over here will be better

[rikki-uk]

I have been to Both Northern Ireland and Eire on many occassions, and only once ever felt even in the slightest bit uncomfortable…

This was when we had just completed a move of 10 very large and heavy peices of a new cement works from Warrenpoint to near Derrylin, the setting up and movement of the peices took 6 days, on the 7th day we unloaded and went to the local pub for a meal and a few beers, the local abnormal load lads (from Martrain) all went home leaving the 6 UK registered trucks all parked up in the middle of this small village.

In the pub we ordered a meal each, however the meals were huge and each came with a seperate huge basket of chips, way too many for us all to eat so we asked the landlord to pass them out amongst the other customers… no point in them going to waste

A group of lads at the bar started to create, making very loud statements so we could hear about how it was bad enough to have to drink in the bar when “Brits” were in, and how they didnt need “Charity " from the likes of” those"

Within a few moments a few of the local older men “requested” that these young lads apologised to us, and suggested that they went to another bar down the road… as they were leaving one of the older men took a basket of chips over and made each of them eat one before they left

the landlord then came over with a free drink for us all , apologised himself for the young lads behaviour, and said that the NEXT drink would be bought for us by the young lads whi had just left , however they wouldnt know they had bought them until the next time they came in and he presented them with the bill

We did say that is wasnt needed, and we didnt want him to get any trouble because of us… to which he smiled and told us that there wouldnt be any trouble and they would pay up no problem,

We ended up having a cracking night with the locals, there was some urine extracting on both sides , but all in good humour and we were told we were welcome back at any time…

There is also the tale of the 2 weeks I spent placing into and then removing a 2000 tonne crane from a refinery at Whitegates near Cork, and the amazing never shut pub and Chip shop… but I wll tell that another time

[porkifer]

i have lived and worked in eire and n/ireland and never had any problems at all , i think it is just your attitude that attracts other peoples attitude , penfold maybe you were agressive or nervous , maybe talk a little nicer next time

[alf_apsey]

I read on jobcentreplus about driving jobs in ireland and it seems to me that they all want eastern block drivers is this true.I am looking for a job continental based in spain i think ireland is the place to go