In my six years in Ireland, I have become accustomed to being the one with the accent and being treated like a tourist or visitor. Sometimes it is a novelty, other times it is tiresome.
My family and I spend our money locally just like everyone else and we obey the law like the locals, but only our close friends consider us locals or Irish-American.
A few strangers have made a point of reminding me I am American pure and simple. It stings a little given how much I feel at home here, but my Grandmother always said, "consider the source" - if the person doesn't know me I can't absorb something personally and be hurt so I choose to move on with my day and my life.
Just as I am attempting to do with the sign that was recently posted in the window of a restaurant in the Ring of Kerry, stating: “No bus/coach or loud Americans”.
As an American, I wonder am I considered loud. What would the restaurant then think of the noise children might bring? Is it not a family restaurant then? In the end, who wants to think that much when you're hungry? I'd just go to the next place.
Even if Peter’s Place Café in Waterville has ample customers lining up to enjoy its culinary fare and scenic views, rendering tourists unnecessary, the person responsible should have considered the widespread ramifications of such a sign on tourism in the area.
Furthermore, given the prevalence of social media these days, this kind of sentiment has even more implications. It not only undermines the entire tourism industry in Ireland by literally issuing a message saying they're unwelcome in one restaurant in the Ring of Kerry; it is also a little bit presumptuous.
Would the person responsible not wish to be welcomed readily to restaurants abroad? What if a restaurant in a popular tourist destination of America, such as Boston, New York City, or San Francisco (or Spain or Portugal or the Canary Islands even) had a similar sign that read: "No Tour Groups or Chatty Irish. Thank you."?
Of course, in all honesty, the whole thing may end up benefitting the Ring of Cork or Beara Peninsula, which is equally scenic and whose establishments would most certainly welcome American tourists, at any volume.
This sign may soon be forgotten and the restaurant will have discovered little has changed in their dining room except that it is quieter…for a few reasons, not least of which is that the 'loud Americans' are staying away.
Evin O'Keefe is an American in Ireland http://evinok.com. You can follow her on Twitter @FreckledPast
