To think Irish people have more personality and character

What a stereotype... do you imagine all Irish people to be jovially having "a bit of craic" while dancing a jig in the pub and telling stories about leprechauns.

Maybe you just relate to Irish people more than you do people from other countries? I use mumsnet some but mainly stick to Irish forums online because I don't have double check what I'm saying to make sure it won't be taken the wrong way and I prefer the sense of humour and generally just 'get' people in a way I don't on mumsnet but I am Irish so that makes sense. There are quite big difference between Irish and English culture, one isn't better than the other but maybe you just gravitate more to Irish.

The op isn't being racist as Irish is not a race. They are however being xenophobic

Why not a lot of work often gets done in my office! Lots of story telling!

More extrovert ≠ more character.

No. I had an Irish grandparent and she was thoroughly unpleasant. Her siblings (there were many, Catholics) were mixed, some lovely. They're as mixed as every other group.

One is lovely, but the other is bloody awful. The voice goes right through your skull

No. Any my mother was Irish and being one of eight kids I've got loads of Irish relatives. Also have had two Irish boyfriends. They are not 'more' than anyone else. In many cases they are less!

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Jy6bsVsWg/?

great story tellers. Loads and loads of people are like this in Ireland.

As an Irish person I'd like to take that as a compliment but I think you are being far too broad and generous there! Cultures can have a common behaviour like an openess or air of formality or tendency towards certain types of humour, dry wit or self deprecating etc that draws you to them. Different people can feel that pull towards or away from different cultures, you obviously feel that pull and affection towards Irish people and that's fair enough.... but it is just your experience and personality and not a fair generalisation.

Well, I guess the lads in the Kinahan cartel do have a lot of 'personality'

I agree that many Irish people have a great sense of humour. Previously lived in Edinburgh and definitely not as good craic.

This, exactly 💯

@TheErinyes

Aren't you misunderstanding what a generalisation is though?

No, the English aren't all anything.

But that's not what a claim about the English is.

Were people in the fourteenth century poorer than those in the twentieth? Obviously yes. That's not a claim about all fourteen century people or all twentieth century people.

What in all your learning makes you think it is?

I'm Irish and think we are the same as most other nationalities - some great people and some assholes, no more than anywhere else.

We have an election next week and I don't anyone at all running has a great personality or character whatever your political leanings. If you watch any of our election coverage, you won't be long changing your mind!

It comes across as a "You people" type of statement. Better to not say whatever it is you want to say. Intentionally, or not, it's patronizing.

There are cultural norms that influence how people behave to strangers and acquaintances, in public, at work etc. They're not the only influence on people's behaviour, but they exist and they account for some differences.

People also like to live up to stereotypes, where stereotypes are positive.

I wouldn't say Irish people have more personality than anyone else. Personalities vary. I would tentatively agree that many feel called upon to entertain or charm when socialising or in public interactions, and that they get a lot of positive reinforcement for doing so, abroad. They are English speakers (massive soft power) who aren't seen as warmongers or colonists - nobody's real enemies. They come from a state with a long history of emigration, so when abroad they are often genuinely seeking to make connections and put down roots while maintaining links to a nebulous Irish temperament and heritage.

None of that accounts for everything or applies to everyone or makes Irish people unique, but maybe it's part of what OP is seeing and saying.

I’m from somewhere else in Europe and I have to agree. I haven’t met a ton of Irish in my 2 decades of being in the UK, but every single Irish I’ve met had me hooked on their personality and humour (and some outstanding beauties as well!). I get a little excited every time I hear the accent.

It is patronising, though. You’ve been to Ireland as a tourist a few times. You’ve never lived there. I spent 25 plus years living in three very different parts of England, and while I could write a thesis on manifestations of the class system, regional identities, types of English indirectness vs other cultures’ indirectness, English literature and drama, English work cultures in my field, politics, attitudes to emigration etc etc, I could not claim to think a single generalisation about ‘English people ’ had any validity. English people aren’t all anything.