Stephen Termini: American tourist attacked on Talbot Street says Mayo is better than Dublin

Mr Termini was staying in the town of West Mayo, which his great-grandmother Anne Donnelly left as a teenager during the Great Famine.

“I don’t even waste my time in Dublin,” he said.

Stephen is due to fly home to the US shortly, but before boarding his flight he told a local reporter from The Mayo News that he still wants to become an Irish citizen.

The factory worker (56) is trying to obtain proof of his family connection to Ireland in order to obtain Irish citizenship.

During his interview at The Mayo News offices at The Fairgreen in Westport, Mr Termini described Westport as “a fantastic little place”.

“I’m telling you, with all the money people have donated, I would buy a house here,” he said, referring to the money the public has raised on his behalf.

“No spectacular this or that. Even if it requires a little work. There is a small land where I can grow my own vegetables and give the leftovers to people and be near the water to get my fish because I don’t eat meat or chicken or anything like that anymore; fresh fruits and vegetables and seafood.

“That’s all it is, a small place. Not attached to another property where there are people everywhere. Because I don’t want to disturb them at 2 or 3 in the morning playing bass and drums.

“So yeah, it feels like the place. It’s not Dublin, definitely not Dublin.”

“I just feel the desire to be here. Even if I come back to the States, I will come here at the next opportunity.”

The widowed father of two explained how he likes the atmosphere in the west in contrast to the city.

“This city should know that this is much better than Dublin. It’s safer, it’s relaxed, it’s cool, I mean why would you want to go anywhere else? I like what they have here and what I’ve seen so far.”

New Yorker Termini, a talented musician, reportedly spent a few evenings getting to know the locals in the city.

“I like being around older people who don’t get into the nonsense as much as the younger ones. They walk around with cell phones and the girls all wear tight pants. I don’t know how their parents can let them get away with this. I don’t like all of this.

“I just want to play some music for people to have fun. Especially people who work. They work hard and like to listen to cool music after work, and I want to be able to be a part of that in some way.

“The food is fantastic. It’s just a really beautiful place, a really beautiful place from what I’ve seen,” he added