I suspect that most Americans would not include the British Isles (including Ireland , Scotland, Wales etc.) in any description of European, since the Brits et. al. speak "our" language, English. This may be based on ignorance, preference, or on regionalism.

"Continental" or "European" is frequently thought of in conjuction with speaking one of those "foreign" tongues, like Spanish, French or German. And while many Americans will often lose interest in hearing anything in those foreign tongues, they will sit for hours to overhear Scots, Irish, Welsh, English, and yes, even Canadian accents. And one of my dearest West Virginian friends told me that, to him, Australians sound like Englishmen with bad colds.