To be surprised at how little British people seem to know about Ireland?

[WriterofDreams]

I'm from Ireland and I've lived in England for a total of two years. In Ireland we watch all the British channels and get all the British newspapers so most Irish people are pretty up to date on everything that's going on in Britain. Also, the Irish news tends to mention Britain a lot, so even if you only watch Irish tv or read Irish newspapers you'll still get a lot of information on current affairs in Britain.

When the whole thing with Ireland going down the pan financially came up on Channel 4 my mum rang me to say "Ireland's on the British news!" and we knew then it must be bad, simply because Ireland is so rarely mentioned over here. Now I know it's a tiny country but it's a close neighbour of Britain and a large population of Irish people live in Britain, so I would have thought it was reasonable that there would be a fair amount of mention of Ireland in schools and in newspapers and on the tv. But that's not the case.

Since living here it has struck me that so many people don't seem to know basic facts about Ireland, such as who the President is, who the Taoiseach is, what the native language is called, what the native sports are and so on. I've noticed in primary schools (not sure about secondary) that Ireland is rarely mentioned as part of history or geography despite the long and complicated historical links between the two countries.

Would it be fair to say that there isn't much mention of Ireland in Britain? Do you feel you know much about Ireland? Not saying we're special or owt, just curious.

Yes, I was viewed with suspicion by DH's family initially. And quizzed on Irish history. And asked what I thought about the Troubles (that was a really comfortable conversation). I think that it was only when DS1 was born that my MIL stopped referring to me as 'Chickens, the english girl'. I was quite bewildered at first. Still, when the Canary Wharf bombing happened DH was visited by special branch. He was living with three other Irish lads and that day they had all gone out early and returned late. Their Union Jack-flying elderly neighbour suspected them of being an IRA cell. Dh says that the officers were very nice, and after a brief glance at his passport spent the time discussing Guinness. People are just bloody weird.

Gosh, my family never said anything about DH being English.

The only person who every calls him a dirty furriner is me :o - coming over here, taking our women etc.

Writer - I know that English looking down thing youre talking about. The only place I've ever felt even remotely chippy about being Irish was in England. It's not something I ever considered to mark me out as thick or inferior, but spending time around (posh) English people made me start to feel I needed to prove myself as not being a thick Paddy. Unpleasant. Non-posh English people I have heard the jokes etc., but never work that "you are inferior" cloak of invisibility.

Chickens - that's horrible, sorry that happened to you.

Irish swearing is marvellous. Although I find in written form it can make the swearing averse think you're angry about stuff you're finding hilarious.

I definitely think that in Ireland swearing is much more innocuous than it is here in England. I think I come across as quite reserved so when people get to know me a little and hear how much I swear it shocks them quite a bit, whereas no one would bat and eyelid in Ireland. I don't think people are offended as I tend to use "shite" and "feck" which are a little weaker than their counterparts but I do feel like I have to edit my language somewhat especially at first because people seem to think I'm very annoyed about something when really I'm not - it's just a normal part of my language!

I totally agree with the superiority thing Spidookly, it used to really get my goat. A bunch of mostly nice middle class work colleagues used to get great fun out of telling me everyone in Ireland was an ignorant Catholic and that we need to get with the times. Of course when I asked them it turned out that none of them had actually been to Ireland, but still they were experts

A lot of British people know suprisingly little about different parts of Britain itself so maybe it's not suprising we don't know all that much about Ireland.

As to the swearing, well its awful ... shall I stop there or indulge in some really fierce language, Writer?

I love the relish with which the Irish swear! And the fact that "feck" is perfectly acceptable, even my church-going MIL lets rip with that one quite often.

Regarding the anti-English sentiment, I've not really had any problems. Some of DH's mates after a few drinks, when the singing starts, will have a few cracks, but it's all meant in good spirits (and I now know the words to The Men Behind the Wire and other classics!).

I think DH's family were initally uncertain about me, but they're used to me by now. I know they'd be happier if he'd married someone from the town!

Swearing is good for the soul so I would encourage that However, I feel you have your naughty face on Grimma, and I suspect I know what you're planning...

Sorry?

Ireland? Is that somewhere near Spain?

I don't count shite or fecking as swearing. I realise others may

I've lived in Ireland for years, Irish DD, Irish ExH, Irish family. Am in the UK tho but keeping up my end with the swearing .

I don't see the problem really with "Southern Ireland", I lived in South Tipp so if I say it it's accurate and it is clear. To be honest, does it really matter so much? It strikes me as one of those things people get chippy about when it's said in benign ignorance. But I did used to get riled when people said "the mainland" to mean the UK so I get where you're coming from.

As for the Irish/Gaelic thing, is Gaelic not the Anglicised spelling of Gaeilge? So it's just three ways of saying the same thing? Or am I being thick?

God I wish Omirian, then I might not look like a walking milk bottle.

What I found quite funny when I moved over is the fact that I had to change how I say a lot of things as British people didn't understand what I meant. I never realised how much of what I say is composed of purely Irish expressions.

Any non-Irish people know what these things mean? (People with Irish spouses keep schtum)

To "give out" to someone.
A "copy"
"I'm after doing that"
A "parer"

Any Irish people got any more? It was only after several people looked shocked/laughed in my face that I started remembering that here in England pants mean knickers and you must say trousers for the things that go over your knickers

I still give out. And have a hot press.

I do not butter my biscuits though. That's a culchie thing.

I also sing the breakfast roll song sometimes to many faces.

May I add:
Press
Messages
Soother
All caused bafflement at first

DD, despite having a full head of hair and no particulary bravery is bold. Often. (Yes, I realise it's not bald but that's what they think when I say it).

I also find myself saying "C'mere to me while I tell you" and "Would you ever" a lot. Luckily I live in rural Devon so speaking oddly blends right in.

If you say "southern Ireland" to refer to the southern part of the country of Ireland, then of course that's ok, as it's geographically accurate. So Cork is in southern Ireland. BUT if you refer to the country itself as "Southern Ireland" then that's just plain wrong. England isn't called "Southern Britain" is it?

in terms of the Irish language "Gaeilge" is a noun, like French, English and Irish, whereas "Gaelic" is an adjective (although it is used as a noun in the term Scot's Gaelic - yes I know, confusing). So it's fine to say "Gaelic heritage" or "Gaelic games" or even "Gaelic languages" but saying someone speaks "Gaelic" really means they speak in a Gaelic way, which doesn't make much sense. Sorry to get so technical, it's the only way to really explain that whole Gaelic/Irish thing.

Besides all that technical stuff though SuePurbly, do you not agree that it's a bit annoying when someone who knows nothing about a cultural topic comes along and insists on calling it something the people who actually know about that topic would never call it? For example, if Irish people came along and started calling Robin Hood Robin Wood, started making books and programmes about Robin Wood, and said "well that's what we call him, and why does it matter?" wouldn't that be a little bit annoying? (sorry can't think of a better example!)

God yeah, the yo-ghurt/yogh-urt thing causes constant consternation (hehe) in my house. DH has even said (in jest) that I'm not allowed to feed the baby yoghurt until he's had a chance to teach him the "right" way to say it. I feel this may be the cause of many (non-serious) battles in years to come!

Everyone does that though, don't they? I mean, we call Spain 'Spain', not 'Espana' etc. Every language kind of bastardises (is that a word?) other languages. I think the history between the UK and Ireland causes it to feel offensive, even though it isn't meant that way. Not sure if that will make sense to anyone else, but I know what I mean

Put on your rig-out, where going down the town

Bold=Naughty (child)

Being called bold is a compliment where I came from (not Ireland).

We found these ones strange when our English cousins came to visit -

someone having "pudding" after dinner (in our house we had "dessert")

And picking something up off the "floor" even if it was outside!

Also:
Culchie
Scorpy
Doody
Janey Mack
I'm so used to things like 'hot press', 'wash cloth', 'washing your teeth' etc that I don't notice them any more

The pudding thing actually really annoys me, which is strange I know. To me pudding is a specific dessert, as in sticky toffee pudding or Eve's pudding, so when someone offers me pudding, I expect A pudding, not a bowl of icecream!!