Pathetic scenes outside O Sullivans, Paris

Two things about this sort of behaviour
On the 5:30 EuroStar from London, four guys in Ireland jerseys were sitting opposite me at a table. Started chatting away and no problems with them.
About 30 minutes into the trip, one of them pulls out a set of iPod travel speakers. Now. I've been on my fair share of train journeys, and the one thing that annoyed me more than anything else was listening to some other person's interpretation of the perfect traveling music playlist. This is why God invented headphones. Told them to knock it on the head, and to let it go, but the guy with the iPod said they'd keep it down. I retreated between my headphones and pretty much ignored them for the rest of the journey.
But they didn't keep it down, and eventually a woman sitting about 4 seats back walked over and asked was it them who was playing the music and to stop it. When she stood up, the lads killed the music and stashed the speakers somewhere. She said she had no problem with them, and she was Irish herself, but other people had complained and there was no need for the loud music. The lads (all in their mid to late 20's) said it wasn't them, and they thought the music was coming from further back in the carriage. The woman apologised for accusing them in the wrong and moved on.

Whatever about playing music, to flat out lie about it was pretty low, that's the kind of thing you do when you're 7 and wake up your parents by pressing play by mistake.

When I walked down to find the bathroom, every other carriage I passed through was quiet, and anyone listening to music or watching a film was using headphones.

Second thing, Outside O'Sullivan's, I left for St Denis about 7 to get there aead of any crowds. I crossed the road to get to the Metro station, and three lads were crossing at the same time as me, two in front of me, and one behind me. The lad behind me was carrying bottles and started pounding on the bonnet of a car that stopped to let us pass. The woman behind the wheel was clearly disgusted with his behavior, and blared the horn to move him on, but no joy. So I slapped him across the chest, Ric Flair style, told him to behave himself, and apologised to the driver in my best (i.e. crap) French. And I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

It was my first away game, and the experience with other fans, by and large, was enjoyable, but if that is the sort of thing that goes on away from home (and it appears that it isn't) I won't be soon back.

As with most teams - the bigger and easier to get to the game - the more idiots you get crawling out from the woodwork.

I'd prefer the trips to the Faroe Islands and Norway than the French ones

What the Croc said. But really people playing music loud and slapping car bonnets is at worst inconsiderate and hardly worth a mention on a web forum. Or that level of self-righteousness.....

O Sullivans was good craic on the Thursday night,good singsong in there.

The levels of self righteousness are OTT for me here, I was in and around O'Sullivans and Corcorans Tuesday night and before and after the game as we were staying in the area. The craic inside in the night club area on Tuesday was quality, great sing song and a good atmosphere. While I was in no mood for singing after the game I was still able to have a couple of pints and a chat with some other fans after on Wednesday and all. There was a little foolish drunken behavoiur outside but it was not comparable to the sort of behaviour we've seen in the past from our neighbours across the pond and it's wrong to suggest there was. As usual on trips Irish fans policed themselves in the main, I witnessed a couple of occasions where older fans told younger lads to chill out a bit, that's how it's always been and continues to be.

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Originally Posted by Drumcondra 69er

As usual on trips Irish fans policed themselves in the main, I witnessed a couple of occasions where older fans told younger lads to chill out a bit, that's how it's always been and continues to be.

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It should happen more often, self policing I mean, as yobbish drunken behaviour is getting worse and whether you think it's self righteous of people to complain about it or not, it's unacceptable and embarrassing.

And if this sort of behaviour is acceptable to anyone I suggest they f#ckoff and follow Ingurland.

[QUOTE=Harpsbear;1278862][QUOTE=paul_oshea;1278196]Cant just say its french scumbags, it oculd have been the algerians. As the french always like to blame them.

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Very harsh and very judgemental and I'm sorry but I had to pick up on it. Its an unfortunate consequence of society we live in that people steal and that people are forced to steal. Its unfortunate that you should label them 'the Algerians' and qualify it by reference to the fact the French blame them. Sorry but it could have been anyone from any corner of the world. Just how easy is it to tell a story and add feathers, legs and a parachute to it. As much as stealing is a slur on society so also is uninformed judgement passing.

I'm pretty defensive here because I spent quite a bit of my time walking around with an £800 worth camera and in my stupidy spent quite a bit of time walking around with it by myself even late at night. Nobody bothered me.I was an easy target and in all honesty I was stupid but I felt no less safe in Paris than I have ever felt in Dublin, Derby or Dubrovnik.

Rant over.

PS If anybody is missing a red woollen hat with a peak on it that was left behind in the stadium then you can have it back.I thought it looked cool at the time. I was badly mistaken.

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Sorry bear, meant no offence at all. Was just saying thats what the french always do, thye blame hte algerians instead of looking inward. I agree you cant just say it was algerians :)

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Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

Two things about this sort of behaviour
On the 5:30 EuroStar from London, four guys in Ireland jerseys were sitting opposite me at a table. Started chatting away and no problems with them.
About 30 minutes into the trip, one of them pulls out a set of iPod travel speakers. Now. I've been on my fair share of train journeys, and the one thing that annoyed me more than anything else was listening to some other person's interpretation of the perfect traveling music playlist. This is why God invented headphones. Told them to knock it on the head, and to let it go, but the guy with the iPod said they'd keep it down. I retreated between my headphones and pretty much ignored them for the rest of the journey.
But they didn't keep it down, and eventually a woman sitting about 4 seats back walked over and asked was it them who was playing the music and to stop it. When she stood up, the lads killed the music and stashed the speakers somewhere. She said she had no problem with them, and she was Irish herself, but other people had complained and there was no need for the loud music. The lads (all in their mid to late 20's) said it wasn't them, and they thought the music was coming from further back in the carriage. The woman apologised for accusing them in the wrong and moved on.

Whatever about playing music, to flat out lie about it was pretty low, that's the kind of thing you do when you're 7 and wake up your parents by pressing play by mistake.

When I walked down to find the bathroom, every other carriage I passed through was quiet, and anyone listening to music or watching a film was using headphones.

Second thing, Outside O'Sullivan's, I left for St Denis about 7 to get there aead of any crowds. I crossed the road to get to the Metro station, and three lads were crossing at the same time as me, two in front of me, and one behind me. The lad behind me was carrying bottles and started pounding on the bonnet of a car that stopped to let us pass. The woman behind the wheel was clearly disgusted with his behavior, and blared the horn to move him on, but no joy. So I slapped him across the chest, Ric Flair style, told him to behave himself, and apologised to the driver in my best (i.e. crap) French. And I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

It was my first away game, and the experience with other fans, by and large, was enjoyable, but if that is the sort of thing that goes on away from home (and it appears that it isn't) I won't be soon back.

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Tets what would be your view on a load of lads starting a sing song on the train.

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Originally Posted by NeilMcD

Tets what would be your view on a load of lads starting a sing song on the train.

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sorry, wouldn't have it.
I've gotten the train home to Limerick at the end of the work day enough times to know that enough noise to disturb anyone else on the train is out of order. All I want to do is relax (as much as you can in a train seat) and forget about the work day completed. It's why silent carriages were introduced on commuter lines in the UK.

Like I said, I walked through a few other carriages to get to the dining carriage, and all were silent, sod's law dictated I get stuck on the one with 4 idiots making more noise than the rest of the carriages I passed though combined.

There was a card game going on in one of the other carriages, but the lads weren't making noise, and weren't disturbing any of the other travellers.

If I want to listen to music, or watch a film, on a train, plane, or bus, then I use headphones. Have the courtesy to do the same.

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Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy

What the Croc said. But really people playing music loud and slapping car bonnets is at worst inconsiderate and hardly worth a mention on a web forum. Or that level of self-righteousness.....

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Such behaviour can be terrifying for the occupants of the car and therefore is totally unacceptable and people who wish to behave in this manner would be better of staying at home.

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Originally Posted by Greenforever

Such behaviour can be terrifying for the occupants of the car and therefore is totally unacceptable and people who wish to behave in this manner would be better of staying at home.

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Well said.

I wonder if these idiots would feel it ok if a drunken gang were to do it to their girlfriend/wife/mother ??

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Originally Posted by Desyf

Well said.

I wonder if these idiots would feel it ok if a drunken gang were to do it to their girlfriend/wife/mother ??

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The same applies to those who think kicking a football around on a crowded street and landing on some innocent individuals head, childs pram etc is acceptable. This behaviour really started around the Eiffel Tour in 2004 and unfortunately has got worse.

It is grand in a park environment where it is away from bystanders and people passing through or where there is a dedicated area for the supporters but not in other circumstances. Interestingly the people who post that this is ok (and generally on other forums) are the ones slagging off someone for going asleep in the pub, I know which is the least offensive and threatening to innocent people they come across.

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Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

sorry, wouldn't have it.
I've gotten the train home to Limerick at the end of the work day enough times to know that enough noise to disturb anyone else on the train is out of order. All I want to do is relax (as much as you can in a train seat) and forget about the work day completed. It's why silent carriages were introduced on commuter lines in the UK.

Like I said, I walked through a few other carriages to get to the dining carriage, and all were silent, sod's law dictated I get stuck on the one with 4 idiots making more noise than the rest of the carriages I passed though combined.

There was a card game going on in one of the other carriages, but the lads weren't making noise, and weren't disturbing any of the other travellers.

If I want to listen to music, or watch a film, on a train, plane, or bus, then I use headphones. Have the courtesy to do the same.

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I agree with this. If the whole carriage is full of Ireland fans then its different, but if there are random punters there, who gives us the right to impose ourselves on them?!

Without sounding like a 60 year old, its simple manners, something that a minority, but an increasing minority nonetheless, of our fans simply don't have.

If that's "self righteous" then sign me up.

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Originally Posted by Greenforever

The same applies to those who think kicking a football around on a crowded street and landing on some innocent individuals head, childs pram etc is acceptable. This behaviour really started around the Eiffel Tour in 2004 and unfortunately has got worse.

It is grand in a park environment where it is away from bystanders and people passing through or where there is a dedicated area for the supporters but not in other circumstances. Interestingly the people who post that this is ok (and generally on other forums) are the ones slagging off someone for going asleep in the pub, I know which is the least offensive and threatening to innocent people they come across.

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It was in Korea in 2002, have to be honest I think its great craic - but then think of the women and the prams!!!
In Korea a Korean guy tried to copy the Gaelic style of the Irish but failed miserably and kicked the ball straight thought a shop front window!!!

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Originally Posted by bennocelt

It was in Korea in 2002, have to be honest I think its great craic - but then think of the women and the prams!!!
In Korea a Korean guy tried to copy the Gaelic style of the Irish but failed miserably and kicked the ball straight thought a shop front window!!!

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You must have been in a different part of Korea to me, where we stayed in Suwon you would be arrested for jaywalking even where the roads around the stadium were closed off to traffic.

Are you possibly talking about in a fanszone, which would be acceptable as its an area dedicated to the fans.

How would you feel if it was your wife and baby in a pram that got a smack of a ball??????

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Originally Posted by Greenforever

You must have been in a different part of Korea to me, where we stayed in Suwon you would be arrested for jaywalking even where the roads around the stadium were closed off to traffic.

Are you possibly talking about in a fanszone, which would be acceptable as its an area dedicated to the fans.

How would you feel if it was your wife and baby in a pram that got a smack of a ball??????

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ha ha thats funny, wow in Hooker hill (Suwon) it was an all nighter - waking up in nightclubs every night, hanging out with the GIs.
The police didnt go near us at all, but then we were fine - only havin the laugh
Not only was there gah, but the olympic style Luge, piggy back running, and the usual arm wrestling comps with the locals
Trust me I have the pics!!!!!!
Why would a woman go for a walk into an area with 10,000 Irish football fans!?

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Originally Posted by bennocelt

ha ha thats funny, wow in Hooker hill (Suwon) it was an all nighter - waking up in nightclubs every night, hanging out with the GIs.
The police didnt go near us at all, but then we were fine - only havin the laugh
Not only was there gah, but the olympic style Luge, piggy back running, and the usual arm wrestling comps with the locals
Trust me I have the pics!!!!!!
Why would a woman go for a walk into an area with 10,000 Irish football fans!?

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Cant make out what you are saying, our match was in Suwon therefore we stayed in Suwon.

Where do you get 10,000 Irish football fans??

Outside O Sullivans there were at most 100 to 200 blocking a main street in Paris and creating an intimidating athmosphere for anyone passing through minding their own business.

That behaviour would not have been tolerated in Japan or Korea.

There were nowhere near 10,000 Irish in Korea.

Are you trying to justify loutish behaviour with a pathetic attemt at humour??

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Originally Posted by Greenforever

Cant make out what you are saying, our match was in Suwon therefore we stayed in Suwon.

Where do you get 10,000 Irish football fans??

Outside O Sullivans there were at most 100 to 200 blocking a main street in Paris and creating an intimidating athmosphere for anyone passing through minding their own business.

That behaviour would not have been tolerated in Japan or Korea.

There were nowhere near 10,000 Irish in Korea.

Are you trying to justify loutish behaviour with a pathetic attemt at humour??

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yeah sorry, just got there before I could edit - meant sole! In suwon was the game, the suburb miles away:o

10,000 - no but there were a good few around - enough to keep the bars rolling all nite long

Im just saying the football stuff was around in Korea too
But there was virtually no aggression in Korea - all good fun

Lads this is madness, I agree if the scenes outside O Sullivans seem bang out of order. But I have heard loads of stories and have met lots of people on Ireland trips, precisely because we made our prescence felt by singing sons and the people joined in or some even go to the games on the back of it.

Tets I get the feeling you would not chat a girl up in case you were disturbing her night and she never asked you to intervene and disrupt her good night.

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Originally Posted by Greenforever

Cant make out what you are saying, our match was in Suwon therefore we stayed in Suwon.

Are you trying to justify loutish behaviour with a pathetic attemt at humour??

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Sorry GF misread your post - got mixed up - (but Suwon was miles away from all the craic!)
No Im not, but there is really a very short line between irish style fun and what is considered normal behaviour by others

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Originally Posted by Greenforever

Such behaviour can be terrifying for the occupants of the car and therefore is totally unacceptable and people who wish to behave in this manner would be better of staying at home.

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It's not desirable and wouldn't do it myself, but a bit of high spirits never hurt anyone. And whoever that said that 'sexist' comment about mother, sister or whoever, mine'd probably try and run them down, if they got in their way, that much......

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Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy

It's not desirable and wouldn't do it myself, but a bit of high spirits never hurt anyone. And whoever that said that 'sexist' comment about mother, sister or whoever, mine'd probably try and run them down, if they got in their way, that much......

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It wasn't sexist :rolleyes:

It was a reference to the other post about a group of pished Ireland fans gathering around a car driven by a woma, and banging on the cars roof.

To my mind it's intimidation and bullying, and yes, that would be intimidating for a bloke too, but the poster referred to a woman so I responded in kind.


To be honest the fact that some on here think it is acceptable or puts it down to harmless high jinks, says a lot to me about the people who follow the team.

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Originally Posted by Desyf

To be honest the fact that some on here think it is acceptable or puts it down to harmless high jinks, says a lot to me about the people who follow the team.

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Don't be so po-faced.
If you'd followed Ireland all round the world, like numerous people have, this kind of incident is a tiny blip and if it was as bad as people make out, most regular fans if they saw it would intervene.

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Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy

Don't be so po-faced.
If you'd followed Ireland all round the world, like numerous people have, this kind of incident is a tiny blip and if it was as bad as people make out, most regular fans if they saw it would intervene.

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I have followed them all around Europe and have seen and heard more of this sort of stupid carry on lately and I don't like it and I don't think it's being po faced not to like it.

Maybe banging on a car roof isn't the worst sort of yobbism, let's be honest I've been on the recieving end of a lot worse, but then I didn't say it was the worst thing, I just think it mirrors a general malaise in society these days.

Drunken yobbism dressed up as "only having fun, having a laugh".

I've been pished and enjoyed myself all over Europe (can't afford the really long trips) but it's never even crossed my mind to carry on like a tw#t.

I was in O'Sullivans and Corcorans till about 8 or 9pm on the Tuesday and I'm very glad I left early and there was no way I was going there after the game..

We ended up in a quiet bar near the hotel with a few apologetic locals...much better.

Did you pick up your baguette from there desyf?

I was expecting you to arrive in with a beret and a glass of wine the next time i saw ye.

Deysf walking around the paris bars with a baguette in his hand.

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Originally Posted by paul_oshea

Did you pick up your baguette from there desyf?

I was expecting you to arrive in with a beret and a glass of wine the next time i saw ye.

Deysf walking around the paris bars with a baguette in his hand.

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Food is very important when on the lash.