Two American tourists thought they could outsmart a Dublin carriage driver by skipping out on their fare during the bustling St. Patrick’s Day weekend.
But what happened next left the internet in shock, sparking a firestorm of reactions online.
A pair of American tourists learned a harsh lesson in Dublin after attempting to skip out on paying for a horse and carriage ride over St. Patrick’s Day weekend.
But instead of getting away scot-free, they found themselves on the receiving end of a furious carriage driver — armed with a whip.
Caught in the act
The tourists, visiting Ireland’s capital for the world-famous St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, allegedly bolted from the carriage without settling their bill.
However, their getaway was short-lived. In a now-viral video shared on X, the enraged carriage driver can be seen chasing them down in the streets of Dublin, whipping at them as they cower in an alleyway.
Two American tourists thought it would be a great idea to try and do a runner from paying for a horse and carriage ride in Dublin over #StPatricksDay weekend
They were taught a swift lesson and even said “thank you” 😳
Share and follow for more pic.twitter.com/c6UG9ye4WS— TheLiberal.ie (@TheLiberal_ie) March 18, 2025
”Pay Now!”
As the driver, a man in a black puffer coat and blue jeans, confronts the terrified tourists, he shouts, “Pay now, pay into my f**** bank account!”** while swinging his whip toward them.
One of the men quickly scrambles to explain, stammering, “I have money.”
He then pulls out what appears to be cash, nervously offering, “It’s 100 US, it’s extra,” as he hands it over. But the furious driver isn’t done yet, cursing at them, “F**** b*******.”**
Realizing they had no other option, the shaken tourists quickly apologize and attempt to de-escalate the situation. “I’m sorry, we’ve learned our lesson, thank you!” one of them says.
It remains unclear whether they had actually paid in full before the incident.
Internet Reacts: “Served them right!”
The video quickly exploded online, with users weighing in on the dramatic confrontation. Many sided with the driver, with one commenting, “Served them right!” while another added, “Brilliant, well deserved. He wasn’t holding back anyway.”
One user even called it, “Best video of the day.”
Surprisingly, even some fellow Americans backed the driver’s reaction. “I’m an American, and I approve of this,” one user posted.
Others, however, questioned the tourists’ response. “Why are they just standing there taking it?” one person wondered. Another found the politeness at the end strange, asking, “Did he just say ‘thank you’ after getting whipped?”
Carriage scams in Dublin?
Not everyone was on the driver’s side, though. Some suggested that Dublin’s carriage drivers often overcharge unsuspecting tourists.
“Probably being ripped off and overcharged,” one person speculated, while another added, “Con artists, those carriage drivers. Tell ya it’s €50, then at the end of the ride, it’s €50 each.”
Another user didn’t hold back their feelings, siding with the tourists simply because of the animals involved: “Glad they did a runner. No sympathy for him. Poor horses.”
”Send him after the wombat snatcher!”
The incident even led some users to call for the whip-wielding carriage driver’s skills to be put to use elsewhere. One person referenced a separate scandal involving American tourist Samantha Strable, a so-called “hunting influencer” who sparked outrage after illegally snatching a baby wombat in Australia.
Strable, who faced global backlash for the disturbing act, fled to Thailand, where she reportedly continued to send threatening messages to people calling her out.
Taking a dig at her, one user joked, “Could he come over here and sort out the wombat snatchers?”
If there’s one takeaway from this chaotic Dublin encounter, it’s that trying to skip out on a bill — especially from a fiery Irish carriage driver — might not be the best idea. And judging by their terrified faces, these two American tourists won’t be pulling a stunt like this again anytime soon.
