[Eric in the Ozarks]

When my son and a couple of his buds graduated from university, they flew to Ireland for a week. Had a ball. Usually, Americans go to ireland because they are Irish. None of the guys claimed any particular Irishness. They also visited N. Ireland and were immediately spotted as Yanks (their clothing, I think). They wanted to see the "troubles" area and were informed it would not be a good idea. They went anyway. My kid said it was damned spooky.

[Happygal]

Well Northern Ireland is scenically probably the most visually stunning area of Ireland. But 'spooky' would be a mild way of describing some of the 'troubled' areas of Belfast and South Armagh.

Glad your son and his friends enjoyed the Republic though. It's a great spot to live :-)