A Tourist in Ireland or An Idiot Abroad

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milemaker13

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My wife and I are going to spend a week driving around Ireland in September. I think it's a safe bet to say I won't be packing heat...
So the question is what can I, as a tourist from the US, legally carry in Ireland?
A pocket knife? Pepper spray? Flashlight? Stun gun? Billy club? Whiskey bottle? Brass knuckles? Pointy umbrella?

I don't know much, if anything, about Ireland. Still much reading to do before September, lol, but this is always a good place to start!
 
Rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. Hardwood cane sounds good. Its not always human attackers abroad, people. I've been bit by several dogs, my mother (a postal employee) has been bit and fended off many attacks with pepper spray.

Do your research. Google will tell you the do's and don'ts over there. Safe trip.
 
Shanghai McCoy said:
Buy a blackthorn walking stick as soon as you arrive. That way you'll also have a souvenir. :)
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Hmm, I have been trying to think of a souvenir for myself. The wife wants Waterford Crystal...

I do plan to do some googlin'...

Can you tell me more about this magical blackthorn ninja stick you speak of?
 
After some quick reading, blackthorn appears to be a species of wood which traditional Irish walking sticks are made from, not a brand name. Very interesting stuff... heirloom quality...
How can I tell the quality if I decided to get one?
 
Situational awareness, and the realization the the mind is the weapon, all else is potential tools. Shanghai's suggestion is an excellent one. A well-delivered Guinness or 10 will both deflect a lot of aggression and/or buy you a temporary Praetorian Guard.
 
I could have carried a broomstick and been as well armed. The I worst I got from the Irish was the stink eye from a 12 yo boy in a tourist town who thought I drove too close to him. Everyone else was helpful and great.
They have some kind of celebrity thing about Che Guevara there in one place on the west coast and there is still friction between the Republicans and the Unionists even though they've taken down the border crossings between the Republic and Nor I. so take that as you will if you travel between Dublin and Belfast. Some history is still fresh.
 
You chances are greater of being run over than attacked. The Irish drive on the wrong side of the road. Remember to look both ways carefully! Can't stress that enough after almost getting run down by cars in Auckland, Wellington, Canberra, and Sydney. Don't be that guy with the wipers on, when making a turn, when its not raining. Says your a crazy American.
 
milemaker13 said:
After some quick reading, blackthorn appears to be a species of wood which traditional Irish walking sticks are made from, not a brand name. Very interesting stuff... heirloom quality...
How can I tell the quality if I decided to get one?
Click to expand...
I am not sure as the one I bought 30+ years ago was gifted away to someone else. Maybe ask someone who is carrying one..?
 
milemaker13 said:
Hmm, I have been trying to think of a souvenir for myself. The wife wants Waterford Crystal...

I do plan to do some googlin'...

Can you tell me more about this magical blackthorn ninja stick you speak of?
Click to expand...

Also called a shillelagh...........
 
I love, love, LOVE Ireland. My wife, mother-in-law, brother-in-law, his then wife, and I traveled there back in 2009 to spread some of my father in law's ashes near his favorite fishing spot.

We rented a car, and I think I was way closer to being killed by my mother in law's driving than any threat. She needed knee replacement, so the first thing she did when we got there was buy a blackthorn cane. It helped out wonderfully. Had we run into any problems, I would have "borrowed" it and swung it like a battle axe, I guess;)

When I was there I wasn't worried about defense. I was worried about having my edc tools that I find so handy. Locking blades tend to be a no-no, from what I hear. I opted to go full on tourist. I left my multitool at home because it could be seen as a locking knife. Instead, I went with a Victorinox Explorer Plus SAK. It had all the tools I could think of needing and it was 4 layers thick. Not too thick as to be a burden, but thick enough that the "tools" outnumbered the "blades". It was all I ever needed.

I did carry a 3C Maglite in the car and even had a little leather loop for it on my belt if we went out to the pubs after dark. It was mainly to see where we were going, but it was also solid enough to brain someone if need be:D

Ireland is a gorgeous country. The people are very friendly to tourists when you get outside of the city. Honestly, I could skip all the big cities and just spend a week out touring the villages. I heard so many stories and have so many found memories of the trip.

Enjoy your visit! Watch out for sheep and cattle. They have the right of way :D
 
Fiv3r said:
I love, love, LOVE Ireland. My wife, mother-in-law, brother-in-law, his then wife, and I traveled there back in 2009 to spread some of my father in law's ashes near his favorite fishing spot.

We rented a car, and I think I was way closer to being killed by my mother in law's driving than any threat. She needed knee replacement, so the first thing she did when we got there was buy a blackthorn cane. It helped out wonderfully. Had we run into any problems, I would have "borrowed" it and swung it like a battle axe, I guess;)

When I was there I wasn't worried about defense. I was worried about having my edc tools that I find so handy. Locking blades tend to be a no-no, from what I hear. I opted to go full on tourist. I left my multitool at home because it could be seen as a locking knife. Instead, I went with a Victorinox Explorer Plus SAK. It had all the tools I could think of needing and it was 4 layers thick. Not too thick as to be a burden, but thick enough that the "tools" outnumbered the "blades". It was all I ever needed.

I did carry a 3C Maglite in the car and even had a little leather loop for it on my belt if we went out to the pubs after dark. It was mainly to see where we were going, but it was also solid enough to brain someone if need be:D

Ireland is a gorgeous country. The people are very friendly to tourists when you get outside of the city. Honestly, I could skip all the big cities and just spend a week out touring the villages. I heard so many stories and have so many found memories of the trip.

Enjoy your visit! Watch out for sheep and cattle. They have the right of way :D
Click to expand...
So, a SAK would be ok? I usually have tools of some sort or another with me...
I'm still looking at the itinerary, but I know my wife has an aunt there that we plan to visit, and our "hotel" rooms are actually supposed to be castles. Should be awesome...
 
milemaker13 said:
So, a SAK would be ok? I usually have tools of some sort or another with me...
I'm still looking at the itinerary, but I know my wife has an aunt there that we plan to visit, and our "hotel" rooms are actually supposed to be castles. Should be awesome...
Click to expand...

That sounds like an awesome trip. From what I understand, it's very much like it is in the US. If you go in acting like a brash yank and pull your knife out for some unneeded reason or if it is found on you after doing something foolish, I think the police can call it whatever they want. If you have a handy little tool for replacing batteries or cutting tags off the fine Irish goods you have just purchased, I think you will be fine. I used the SAK scissors more than anything, honestly.
 
Take a bandana, handful of coins, and make a slung-shot by tying them tightly inside. If asked, just say it's your way of not losing your chump change.
The walking stick isn't a bad idea either, my girlfriend and I were planning on an Ireland trip some time back and since I walk with a cane all the time now, that was my plan as well. Enjoy your vacation!
 
I went there for 2 weeks in early 2012, with the woman I was dating. Walked or took public transit everywhere.

Never felt unsafe...though I probably had a braided paracord lanyard on me, with a carabiner on one end, and a sturdy 1 cell AA light on the other. Don't remember, now, but I know I took it on that deployment, and carried it through many customs shake-downs.

(I did come very close to getting in a fight with The Largest Man in Ireland, but he shouldn't have been so damn loud at 2:30 in the morning.)
 
Take a crash course in one of the martial arts?

When i have to travel unarmed, i like my flashlight with strobe and sharp bezel. I would probably have at least a sak to open a Guiness or Galway Bay in an emergency.

When in Rome......
 
bikerdoc said:
Situational awareness

Cane

Scowl

Bad attitude
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Yep, because THAT will help you get along with the nice folks of Ireland. It will also help reinforce the idea of the Ugly American........

OP - you're driving around without knowing anything about where you're going; or are you with family/friends or a tour group?

Not every place in the world is like the south side of Chicago.............
 
George P said:
OP - you're driving around without knowing anything about where you're going; or are you with family/friends or a tour group?

Not every place in the world is like the south side of Chicago.............
Click to expand...

You know this is a good point. My mother in law had been to Ireland 4 times before that trip. She was our tour guide. We spent maybe a day in the cities where I'm sure both crime would be higher as well as more strict policing of pocket knives. However, out in the little villages it was very charming and I didn't feel unsafe in the least.
 
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