Ireland has been voted as the world's friendliest destination according to a list compiled by the Lonely Planet travel guide.
The dark sense of humour, craic and welcoming nature placed Ireland ahead the US, Malawi, Turkey and Scotland on the publication's Bluelist 2008.
Ireland has retained its warmth and was now feeling an air of cautious optimism with the ending of years of sectarian violence, according to the list.
The Irish were praised for a deliciously dark sense of humour and welcoming attitude towards strangers.
According to the Lonely Planet Irish people also have the ability to find craic, or fun times with convivial company as the writers describe it, in boom or bust times.
Other welcoming nations which failed to match Ireland were all from Asia; Fiji, Indonesia, Thailand, Samoa and Vietnam.
The book's take on Ireland states: "Centuries of turmoil, conquest and famine - and subsequent immigration - have certainly taken their toll on the Irish; it's left them with a deliciously dark sense of humour and a welcoming attitude towards strangers.
"The famous ability of the Irish to find craic (fun times with convivial company) in boom or bust times - means you're always in for a treat.
"These days after the end of the 'Troubles', a cautious optimism reigns supreme, infecting the land once again with the feeling that anything's possible."
Ireland also gets a mention in the Lonely Planet's best brews section which ranks Guinness as one of the top ten in the world.
Describing the stout as a syrupy, black nectar, it praises the Guinness Storehouse as Ireland's number one tourist attraction touting itself as a brewery tour without letting visitors in to see the magical process take place.