1. They’re not protesting “refueling” – they’re protesting the use of the airport for the stopover of CIA rendition flights.

2. It’s not even a “few hundred people”; we’re taking about few dozen hard-left protesters out of a population of 4 million people. But well done for generalized based on 0.01% of the population.

3. If strangers asked me my nationality and I seriously replied “I’m an Irishman, THANK GOD!”, I wouldn’t be surprised at them sneering; that the reactions that nationalistic assholes usually get.

P.

http://wikitravel.org/en/United_States_of_America#Get_in

Note the requirements about supplying an address under “Arriving in the United States”.

Many times when talking to strangers on the street they ask me if I’m Canadian (that’s OK). But when I say: “No. I’m an American a sneer generally appears on their face. Now when asked I add: I’m an American, THANK GOD! That really pisses ‘em off.

However, they do happen to like American’s dollars and the numerous American companies (Dell, Intel, Hewlett Packard, Motorola, etc, etc) who pump billions into the economy.

The Irish mentality is basically Uber-Liberal and their cheapness makes the Scotch look like Bill Gates charity organizations.

Many love two things about America
1) Disney World vacations. (The Irish like most Europeans declare it is the “Human right” to have at least 4-weeks vacations out of the country)
2) New York shopping trips. (Bring two empty suitcases to NY at the beginning of December and fly back to Ireland with thousands of dollars worth of goods. The amount of good allowed to be brought back without paying duty-tax is only about 100 dollars, but Irish customs turn a blind eye).

Basically, I figure the Irish have one big cultural insecurity complex. They like what America has (Maybe not after Obama has his way) but they cannot have it and that really sets off their spoild brat tantrums.

The refusal of entry to these 3-kids was just an individual’s way of giving the U.S. the finger!

My advice to those youngsters? Give the land of Leprechauns a miss. And write to Congressman Peter King (R-NY)and let him know what you went through in his “adopted” country.

Irish radio says they intended to couch surf around Ireland??? arse bandits perhaps?

P
Dublin

I figured out what Dusan was referring to. It is the law and is only applied if you look like a refuge. Business people aren’t bothered by customs people. They just ask what you are there for (business, tourist, etc.) and then stamp your passport.

Well, I guess it was the swagger of false confidence that got me through!?

Really? How come I’ve entered the EU from the US too many times for me to count and have NEVER been asked to prove anything, other than I’m carrying a US passport?

Because you are a habitual liar. In your dreams doesn’t count.

The few times I have entered the EU and even other countries, I have always been asked where I will be staying and how long I will be there. I have even been asked to show evidence I could afford my stay (France).

Of course, since you habitually lie, …

No, I blame people, for electing them in the first place!

I have to agree with most of the comments here, the guys must’ve given the customs officers some attitude or something to get refused. Ireland is generally pretty relaxed when it comes to this sort of thing, unless some new memo has been issued since the “economic meltdown”.
Amuses me that this makes the news when the US/Canada/Australia etc. have much more stringent entry requirements with visas.

# 20 probably hit the nail on the head, there is a certain feeling that by holding a US passport, citizens think they are exempt from the rules.”I am a US Citizen, and I DEMAND entry!”.
Of course, I’m not suggesting that this stereotype is completely true, can’t paint everyone with the same brush, but you’ve gotta understand that there is a lot of resentment of US-foreign policy, NOT the people. If you must blame someone, blame the government for creating this climate of fear/paranoia, oh and McGyver for his years of flaunting borer regulations

In less serious news, Texan border patrol shoot a suspected illegal immigrant in a convenience store:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/02/us/02brfs-BORDERPATROL_BRF.html?ref=us

Thankfully, the holiday plans of white people were not affected.

Arrogant Americans – huh. Truth hurts. Problem is you don’t need to rub other’s noses in it – that’s just rude and stupid.

#39 Wrote that comment from the Doctor’s waiting room. Been there for 3 months already. But hey, it’s free!

Quite often people get “effed-up” here in Australia by just wandering around in places like the Kimberly without enough supplies, comms options and/or telling people where they’re planning on going.

If you want fascism, you should try getting into the USA some time battling cocky and under-scrutinised TSA goons fearful of some fictitious “terrorism” threat.