« Land of Saints and scholars: Beckett? "Don't know him." Riverdance ? "Oh yes!"
We might like to think of Ireland as a cultural beacon, but not all tourists come here for our artistic life, as Una Mullally discovers in Temple Bar.
Peter and Hilda Vin Zanan, THE NETHERLANDS.
Did you come to Ireland for culture ? This is the third time we are here. Last time we went to Wicklow, Cork and Kerry. This time we started in the North. I like the culture, the scenery, the history.
Have you done anything cultural here ? Newgrange. We did the Yeats tour in Sligo, and I took picture of a line from his poem [The lake Isle of Inisfree] and sent it to a friend. Last time we were here we went to the Natural History Museum.
Do you plan to go to anys museums, galleries, concerts or plays ? Some.
Have you heard of these people ? James Joyce I know Joyce, but I haven't read any. Samuel Beckett Don't know him. Seamus Heaney He is a writer. U2 I know U2 the band but don't know the members. Jedward Don't know. Oscar Wilde I've read one or two of his books. Riverdance Yes, Riverdance is very famous. Book of kells I don't know this.
Riidun Wiring, NORWAY.
Did you come to Ireland for culture ? No, for a holiday.
Have you done anything cultural here ? We went to Guinness and Jameson. I want to see Riverdance.
Have you heard of these people ? James Joyce He wrote Ulysses. Samuel Beckett Never heard about him. Seamus Heaney Don't know him. U2 Yes of course: Bono. Jedward The boys with the funny hair ? Oscar Wilde I know about him, but I couldn't tell you what he wrote. Riverdance Yes, very much. WB Yeats (Wiring's friend asks if he was married to Paula Yates) No, that was Geldof.
Caroline Zysset and Adrian Zopf, SWITZERLAND.
Did you come to Ireland for culture ? No. We would like to see the Guinness place and do some shopping.
Have you done anything cultural here ? No.
Have you heard of these people ? James Joyce We have heard of him. Samuel Beckett He writes plays. Seamus Heaney Don't know. U2 Yes, of course we know U2. Jedward No. Louis le Brocquy Don't know him. Oscar Wilde Don't know. Riverdance Yes, we know this. Book of Kells I saw pictures of this on the internet.
Jerry Joiner, UNITED STATES.
Did you come to Ireland for culture ? We've been travelling all over Europe. We've done about nine countries.
Have you done anything cultural here ? We just got here last night, so no.
Do you intend to go to any museums or galleries ? Probably not.
Have you heard of these people ? James Joyce He's a writer. Samuel Beckett Don't know. Seamus Heaney No. U2 They're an Irish rock group. Louis le Brocquy No. WB Yeats Don't know. Riverdance I don't know that. Thin Lizzy Yep!
Karin Gellen and Annie Sieger, GERMANY.
Did you come to Ireland for culture ? Yes.
Have you done anything cultural here ? This is just our second day, but we want to go to St Patrick's Cathedral, Christ Church, Trinity College, the Cliffs of Mother and the Wicklow Mountains, Glasnevin Museum and on the Viking Splash tour.
Have you heard of these people ? James Joyce Yes, a writer: he wrote Ulysses. Samuel Beckett I can't remember what he wrote. Seamus Heaney No. U2 They are a band. Jedward Don't know. Oscar Wilde Yes, The picture of Dorian Gray. Riverdance Oh yes! Sinéad O'Connor The singer.
Simon Grassa and Matthew, AUSTRIA
Did you come to Ireland for culture ? We are here with our school.
Have you done anything cultural here ? Dublin Castle, Glendalough. This week we are going to a museum and the Guinness factory.
Have you heard of these people ? James Joyce He was a very famous writer. Samuel Beckett Don't know him. Seamus Heaney Never Heard of him before. U2 Of course. Bono lives near Dun Laoghaire. Jedward The Eurovision band ? I don't like them. Oscar Wilde Yes, The picture of Dorian Gray. Riverdance No, don't know this. Sinéad O'Connor Don't know. WB Yeats Don't know. Louis le Brocquy Is he an actor ?
Enrica Calloni, MILAN
Did you come to Ireland for culture ? We came for Red Hot Chili Peppers concert.
Have you done anything cultural here ? No.
Have you heard of these people ? James Joyce I read Dubliners when I was younger. Samuel Beckett Yes, Waiting for Godot. Seamus Heaney I don't know. U2 I love all of their songs. Jedward Never heard of this. Oscar Wilde I have heard of him. Riverdance Yes, we know the theatre where it is on. Book of Kells That is in the library in Trinity. Louis le Brocquy No. »
Photographs: Cyril Byrne