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We visited S Ireland for the first time, I don't see why it can't be called S Ireland after all there is a N Ireland !
Anyway if we had any minor apprehensions about our welcome we need not have worried. A more pleasant and genuine people you could not wish to meet, we were in the Beara Peninsula, highly recommended. Our excellent and roomy Renault Fluence did us well. Six speed deisil auto and 70 mpg !
So what were the problems ? It was the drivers, quite mad and I am told by english friends we visited it was in the Irish psyche ?
On the narrow twisting mountain roads they follow very close, and I became quite skilful and letting them pass. You look ahead, signal and move over into a road widening and they go past. Because they are so close you can almost do this without losing much speed. But this is only an irritant, it is the ones that come at you that really frighten you. They come round tight bends hauling on the wheel with the front tyres scrubbing sideways. In a hire car and with your family this is most worrying. And the women are just as bad.
So there it is, lovely place, lovely people, not too expensive but impatient drivers. Why ? In such a beautiful part of the world, quite uneccessary.
Ok I will end on a good note, lots of good ideas, no disposable plastic bags that I found. They just don't have them, reusable only. Why do we argue about this, just do it.

Alan

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The Irish? Bad drivers? Psshaw!!! Never driven in LA have you!?! BTW Ireland is a country. N. Ireland part of the UK. BIG difference. Watch the TV weather pros in London. They'll talk about N. Ireland/Belfast weather. Dublin or anywhere else in Ireland is never mentioned. Might read up on your history to understand why.

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Ireland's called Ireland, not South Ireland, because it was there first - we (the Brits) invaded it and took a big chunk of it for ourselves. For the Irish to rename their remaining bit South Ireland would (in the eyes of many there) legitimatize forever the claim of the British crown to Northern Ireland. And that's about as palatable as the yanks ditching the $ and moving to the Chinese Yuan given its coming strength in the next 50 years. Politics doesn't have to be logical :)

As for the Irish driving style, you should see how the Thais drive. They happily overtake on blind corners, trusting in god to keep them safe. Bit unnerving when your bus driver does it too.

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also, aside from the politics, Co. Donegal is in the Republic of Ireland, but it's as far north as Northern Ireland; so that would be confusing.

and regarding the driving, you're patient and slow going because you're on vacation. they're likely coming or going to work on roads they've driven for years. I saw some very quick thinking on the part of Irish drivers that prevented collisions more than once when I visited.
In Canada we just point and go on the road; in Ireland they drive. I see many less skilled drivers here than I did in Ireland.

btw, good reply Fwoggie, many have asked the same question as the OP.

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Really? Have they???

Anyway, worst driving in the world? Naples, followed by Rome. In Naples, if you stop at a red light, someone will run into the back of you.....

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Naples definitely the worst in Europe. But crossing the road in Indian cities is always a fun game...who'll blink first?

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Well it has always puzzled me why N Ireland is so called if it is a political divide, why not call it County Protestants ? The twit who called it N Ireland perhaps did not realise there is a South as well. Anyway the Southern Irish that I met did not mind S Ireland being called S Ireland.

Re the driving it was the S Irish in Ballingeary etc that were concerned for their children where their houses opened up onto the road, and rightly so. I am surprised that some posters find it acceptable that a vehicle can be halfway accross the carriageway when coming at you. I have not seen this in the other European countries mentioned.

Anyway it has not put me off, I shall try again and be more aware.

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TOAD 007,
So your coming back for more aye ?
Thanks for spending your dosh and helping us ( the south )
pay our debts.
You should be listening to " the DAVID HARVEY show from 1pm
on 4FM.IE /
or the 4FM Late Show w/ Niall Boylan from 9pm both w/days only
Also TOAD 007, to get you in the mood for your next Irish road trip
Youtube the following : "AT YOUR SERVICE PART 1"
fpllowed by PART 2 and PART 3 featuring Connemara
at its best
enjoy..

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Ireland's called Ireland, not South Ireland, because it was there first - we (the Brits) invaded it and took a big chunk of it for ourselves. For the Irish to rename their remaining bit South Ireland would (in the eyes of many there) legitimatize forever the claim of the British crown to Northern Ireland...btw, good reply Fwoggie, many have asked the same question as the OP.

Aye Aye, Fwoggie...even an old 'die-hard' like myself is impressed with that reply...

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Yes I take the point. I called it S Ireland because I don't like the elongated term ROI.
I have to tell you I was impressed, it was the polite, pleasant and genuine charm that I liked. From the old chap on the little ferry to the Italian Garden in Glengariff who had only been tying it up for 60 years ! In a moment I had become a lifelong friend. And the Spaniard in Kinsale, in a moment and a Giunness I had become part of the furniture.

But I come back to an earlier simple point. At Dunns in Macroom there were no disposable plastic bags ? So simple, and we make silly jokes about the Irish, the joke is on us.

And you can buy a place in W Cork for half what it used to be, don't tempt me !!!!!

Alan

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