@georgia japan was probably considered barbaric because the period of isolation set back their technological progress relative to the west, but people began to view them more favorably once they modernized, unless you count the ww2 period where propaganda portrayed them as barbaric again.
as for the irish, I don't think they're considered cultured by most westerners outside of america; and lots of americans have irish ancestry, so they're biased.
maybe in britain the irish are seen a little better these days, but that's probably because third-world immigration has increased their relative standing.