The people of Ireland (for the most part) are just a joy to be around. Especially out in the countryside. You’d be hard pressed to find friendlier reception from strangers anywhere in the world than you would in Ireland. They’ll buy you a drink if you promise to buy one for the next traveler that comes to your hometown. They’ll ask where you’re from and how you like it on their island. They’ll laugh as you try to pronounce the Gaelic words written everywhere, then teach you how to say them (don’t even try to get it right on your own, you won’t). They’ll drink with you, laugh with you, tell you their life story, (usually in pub settings after a few drinks), did I mention they’ll drink with you? But seriously, there’s plenty of stories of people coming to Ireland to trace their lineage, finding a family related to them, and those people welcoming them with open arms, proclaiming them as family. If you’re an Irish-American/Canadian, chances are you will share a last name with plenty of folks over there somewhere down the family tree. If you find them, they’ll clink glasses with you, offer up a slàinte (their version of cheers, it means health) and tell you about your collective family.