Lonely Ireland - do Irish people lack self-esteem more than others?

[He3]

Lonely Ireland?

THE IRISH lack self-esteem despite a veneer of “garrulous sociability and self-deprecating twaddle”, according to the latest edition of the Lonely Planet which has just been published.

The best-selling guide book says Irish people’s reputation for having an “easygoing, affable nature is justified”, but our reputation for friendliness is mostly a manifestation of our desire to chat – and our lack of self-esteem is our “dark secret”.

Fatalistic, pessimistic Irish still worth a visit, says guide book - The Irish Times - Thu, Jan 12, 2012

* CORK: Everything good about Ireland can be found in Co Cork.

* CORK CITY: Chock full of great restaurants fed by arguably the best foodie scene in the country.

* LIMERICK: An intriguing castle, a lively museum ,a café culture to go with uncompromised pubs and locals who go out of their way to welcome you.

* DUBLIN: Has always known how to have fun and does it with deadly seriousness.

* KILKEE: Has the kind of white, powdery sand that’s made the Caribbean, well, the Caribbean.

Don’t pack your bags: The best destination this year is… Ireland


The guide ranks Ireland highly for global travellers. So they got that right. Could they be right on the self-esteem issue too?

[Munnkeyman]

Ahem - Galway city has “an overlaying vibe of fun and frolic that’s addictive” but it is also “a very rainy city, even by Irish standards” .

We're even happy with our miserable weather.

[sondagefaux]

Lonely Planet is written by, and for, well-educated, middle-class, left-leaning, self-consciously cool 20-somethings.

I don't think their prescriptions about Ireland and the Irish are necessarily gospel truth, handed down on tablets of stone.

Except what they say about Cork obviously...

[seabhcan]

Certainly we don't rate ourselves highly enough. But when you are this cool, its almost impossible to consider yourself highly enough. Thats our real problem.

[TomKehoe]

Lonely Planet is written by, and for, well-educated, middle-class, left-leaning, self-consciously cool 20-somethings.

You've summed up Lonely Planet and its target market perfectly in one succinct sentence. Well done.

[bob3367]

It amazes me that most of history is littered with achievments of Irish men and women, only when they were someplace else.

It maybe an esteem thing, but begrudgery to me feeds this view of ourselves.

We are a great people, we just don't like knowing that.

[neiphin]

Ahem - Galway city has “an overlaying vibe of fun and frolic that’s addictive” but it is also “a very rainy city, even by Irish standards” .

We're even happy with our miserable weather.

are you happy with all the hippies selling beeds brestfeeding and drinking cider on shop street ?

[the_Observer]

Our alleged lack of self-esteem is a decades old fashionable theory among who those who peddle post-colonial psychobabble. Irish nationalists love that theory too. We hate everything Irish so we run from the Irish language etc.

[Mister_Jinks]

It amazes me that most of history is littered with achievments of Irish men and women, only when they were someplace else.

Yes indeed. Joyce, Beckett and Wilde are all buried overseas. And there are many more.

[Sister Mercedes]

Yes. That's why they drink so much.