In Ireland, this was a very popular advertisement that I saw throughout the trip. It is an advertisement for Heineken and the ad reads " Social Networking Since 1873". This is a very clever advertisement. It is comparing Heineken to a social network in the fact that when alcohol is involved people are more likely to socialize. It is saying that by drinking Heineken, it will bring friends closer together and you will be able to meet new people, much like a social network. Although I have yet to see this same advertisement here in the United States, I do believe that it probably does exist here, and is not just an ad specifically for Ireland. I feel that this advertisement would be very useful anywhere in the world where social networks are popular (which is basically everywhere). This is an example of an advertisement that is relevant in many areas of the world.

Comparing the Irish and American McDonald Websites

                For the websites that I will be comparing I chose McDonalds. The first obvious difference between the two is that the American website ends with ".com", and the Irish website ends with ".ie". On the main page of the American website, one of the first links on  the bottom that they are advertising is their super value menu. This shows how fast food has become a major part of our culture because it is extremely easy and affordable to get. Fast food is part of our fast-paced culture, and also contributes to the obesity problem in our country. We have become so accustomed to being able to grab a quick and cheap bite to eat whenever we please. This is why the advertising is geared towards their value menu. Another link on the homepage is to the Ronald McDonald House. Charities also seem to be very common  in our American culture. I feel as though our country has many more charity foundations set up then other countries, and this is a very good thing. When a customer sees that an organization has a successful charity such as the Ronald McDonald house, they may be more willing to spend money there.

                When entering the Ireland McDonald website, the homepage has a picture of a farmer and the caption says "We know our Irish farmers by name. Meet Liam Delaney." This is a huge selling point for not only McDonalds, but the beef industry throughout Ireland. On my trip to Ireland, I learned that the people here support their local farmers immensely. Consumers are willing to pay the extra euro in order to ensure that the beef they are consuming is coming directly from the cows here in Ireland. McDonalds utilizes this selling point in their advertisements. I even ate at a McDonalds here in Ireland, and noticed the same advertisement inside the restaurant. This is a major difference from the United States, where most consumers of McDonalds could careless where the beef comes from, only that it provides them with an inexpensive meal. 

This was an advertisement that was seen outside almost every pub.  I was unable to get a picture of it, but  found the exact advertisement online. Pubs were giving away free pints of Heineken to the first 90 fans.This ad shows how important sports and alcohol are to the Irish culture. This was one of the many promotions going on for the Euro cup. Everyone in Ireland seemed to be watching this event, supporting their country's team. The fact that 90 pints were being given away for free at many of the pubs shows how many people were expected to be watching this game. This ad targets all of the soccer fans in Ireland, which is almost everyone. Soccer isn't even the most popular sport in Ireland, nonetheless, the support shown by the people of Ireland was amazing. This shows how important sports are to the culture of Ireland.

This advertisement for Guinness is as simple as it gets. However, this doesn't take away from how effective it is. The first thing I noticed when walking the streets of Ireland was all of the advertisements for Guinness. Pretty much every bar has this simple advertisement outside. I can guarantee that there isn't one bar in all of Ireland that doesn't serve Guinness. Back home, it is much more rare for Guinness to be served at a bar. Guinness isn't just a beer, it's part of the Irish culture. The harp seen in this is a major symbol of Ireland. The harp, along with the toucan, is one of the symbols that will be seen in the majority of the advertisements. The entire company as a whole has had such an influence on Ireland, and will be forever associated with the Irish culture.