Ireland is World's Friendliest Country - say Lonely Planet.

[Ard-Taoiseach]

I am very friendly to tourists.

Particularly Nordic female tourists between the age of 21 and 30.

I wonder why...

[Riadach]

Cos they're easy and he's desperate?

[CookieMonster]

Nordic ladies are not easy, they're jusy more liberal and open.

[Riadach]

Liberal standards, open legs?

[QuizMaster]

As Robert Plant put it so eloquently:
"Ain't no companion like a blue-eyed girl".

(zep fans: name that song)

[CookieMonster]

That one with the silly name I can never remember.

[freedomlover]

[quote=Ard-Taoiseach]

The researchers were obviously not in Dublin.
Here in Derry, if you hold a shop door open for a nice lady, you will generally get a smile.

Can the same be said of Dublin?

Yes, it can, and we're more ecumenical in our door-holdings. We hold open doors for all sorts of people.

What are you getting at? Come on, say it out straight, I dare you.

I'll have you know both types of people mingle very well in Derry, Dohertys and McLaughlins.

I meant we hold doors open for everyone. Honestly, I completely forgot about the Catholic/Protestant division that has run through Derry in the past. Apologies for any offence caused.[/quote:7saa8j6h]

You do realise that up there the Catholics call them doors and the Protestants call them Londondoors.

[NYB]

The one major off- putting aspect of taking a break in Ireland is that it's so expensive, after that, public transport is terrible with bus timetables in Dublin difficult to read and understand. However, as this report testifies people are very friendly and warm.

[Odyessus]

Yes, tourists have often remarked to me how friendly Ireland is. I do my bit by always carrying around a couple of those free maps of Dublin in my pocket, so when a tourist asks me for directions I point out his or her destination on the map and present it to the tourist. They are always delighted with this gesture, which costs nobody anything, and makes all concerned feel good.

[Ard-Taoiseach]

Yes, tourists have often remarked to me how friendly Ireland is. I do my bit by always carrying around a couple of those free maps of Dublin in my pocket, so when a tourist asks me for directions I point out his or her destination on the map and present it to the tourist. They are always delighted with this gesture, which costs nobody anything, and makes all concerned feel good.

Well done, Odeyssus!!! You'd be one of those smiley people on Fáilte Ireland ads who keep the €6.5 billion industry strong?