13 Irish Habits You Can’t Avoid If You Live in Ireland
No matter where you live, a little bit of that place will stay with you. Because Ireland is such a friendly, people-oriented place, there are lots of little things that people do there that will remind you of your time there. If you move here, you might not be able to get rid of some of these great Irish habits. Not only does the country stick with you, but so do some of the things you’ll get used to from its friendly people. These are the things we’ve learned, the habits we’ve picked up from the area that have stuck with us.
Always talking about the weather
The saying goes, “If you don’t like the weather, wait a minute.” It’s true that we have strange weather, and we talk about it almost every time we meet someone new. Which is strange in a way, since we’ve also learned not to be too moved by it. We swim in cold water, hike in the pouring rain, and run outside when the clouds break a few times every summer, but we still talk about it. It’s an unhealthy obsession, but it’s how we connect with each other.
Swearing like a trooper
Being Irish means having a bad mouth. There are some words we only use when we’re really mad, but using a little bit of language that’s close to being offensive in, in some cases, almost every sentence is nothing if not very common. It catches on eventually, especially since the locals swear so elegantly that you’ll probably end up finding it charming.
Spending the whole night in the pub talking to strangers…
…And then not talking to them ever again. Or until you see them again six months from now. When it comes to friendship, the Irish are often happy to pass the time in the moment and move on. This habit can be a little confusing for people who are visiting: it’s not that we don’t like you, it’s just that we had fun with you in the pub and we have another day to live. You get used to it, and everyone’s openness in the bars becomes something really special. Keep going out, and those friendships will start to stick sooner or later.
Breakfast rolls all the time
Okay, it’s not just breakfast rolls. The Irish love stuffing sausage, bacon, eggs, black and white pudding (yes, it’s blood sausage), and sometimes baked beans or hash browns into a baguette and calling it a meal. Check out the corner store, especially on a morning when people are likely to have a hangover, and you’ll find one of the country’s best-kept secrets. Disgusting? Arguably. Awesome? Hell yes.
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Complete carelessness when it comes to fame
We don’t like to be bossy, so much so that when Beyonce and Jay-Z came to Ireland a few years ago, many American websites were sure that the Irish didn’t know who they were (utterly untrue, for the record). Most of the time, we just like to leave people alone. In fact, we don’t care much about fame. For example, almost everyone in Dublin has a Bono story. Even though we’re not sure if we like our biggest rock band or not, many of us know where they hang out. We just let them do their thing.
Making fun of everything and everyone
If people in Ireland aren’t making fun of you, it’s either because they just met you and are still getting to know you, or they don’t like you very much. Outside of the workplace, ripping each other to pieces (verbally, of course) is almost like a national sport. It’s not good for people who are easily hurt, but it sure makes life interesting.
Getting to social events very late
We’ll do things right on the job. But from a social point of view, if you invite a dozen locals to a party at 8 p.m., you might still have an empty house at 8:30 p.m. Is it rude? Outsiders might think that, but it’s so common in Irish culture that most hosts would be shocked if someone showed up when they said they would. After all, we all know how this one works: you can’t beat it, so it’s best to just join the club.
Not bringing an umbrella
Did we say we’re crazy about the weather? But we will never change how we dress to fit the weather. People often walk around town in just a shirt and jeans, even when it’s wet enough to get out the shower gel. This is so common that it’s not worth mentioning. Even so, we’ll grab a pair of shorts as soon as the sun comes out.
Not being able to accept a compliment
“You look great?” “What is it?” “Good job?” “I’m just working.” “You ran a marathon, right? That’s amazing” “Really, it’s nothing.” We Irish are naturally modest, and with the exception of Conor McGregor, we find it hard to accept praise from anyone. The result is that everyone in the country says their clothes are “Penney’s finest” and that we all look like we just got out of bed. But, sure, we don’t like it when people talk themselves up. This is how we like it.
Giving the bus driver thanks
We get off our big blue and yellow double-decker buses one by one and thank the driver, whose job it is to take us around the city. We gave him money, and all he did was pick us up at our stop and drive through the traffic. But even if 20 of us get off at the same time, we’ll all thank him individually because the poor driver will have to sit there and watch us all get off. We do it all the time.
Getting a round
In Ireland, no one buys their own beer, and since there are usually no tabs, you have to pay cash each time you order. The best way to deal with this is for everyone to give their orders to one person, who pays the bill until it’s time to go back for more. It’s easy to get used to, but don’t make it a habit to throw expensive drinks on someone else’s tab, and ALWAYS buy your own round.
Using religious references often
Most people don’t know that Ireland isn’t as religious as they think it is. Over the last two or three decades, the country has changed a lot because of Catholic scandals and the rapid modernization of cities. But that hasn’t changed the way people talk. From a long, tongue-in-cheek “jaaaysuuus” when they hear something strange to a “for the love of God” bolshyulshy complaint, these figures of speech quickly become part of the language of the people who live there.
Learning some language that will stick with you
Not what you think: don’t call it “St. Patrick’s Day,” and don’t even think about saying “top of the morning” unless you want to be shunned in public (no, we don’t say that). Modern Irish slang is more subtle, like “I’m after going” as a poetic way to say “I’m going” or “What’s the craic?” as a way to say “How are you?” It’s bright, fun, and a big part of how people in the area see themselves. Most love it.
Topic: 13 Habits You Can’t Help Picking up If You Live in Ireland
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By: Travel Pixy
