It appears there is a class system in Northern Ireland? Or AIBU?

[AngelL7]

Ok so this is just very light hearted but I’m just curious to other people’s opinions on this as this is whole new concept to me, lol. (Maybe I’m just incredibly green)

Until a few weeks ago I thought there wasnt really a class system in Northern Ireland, that reguardless of wealth / occupation / education we all were the same. In the aftermath of this Ulster Rugby rape trial it appears there is a whole secret elite class of people in Belfast that I didn’t know about! (It’s been reported that all involved in the case were from affluent families that went to private schools, they all talk without an accent, socialise exclusively with each other etc - I wasn’t even aware there were private schools here)

So anyway, today I was speaking with a friend about a career opportunity that I am qualified for but passed up on & the possibility of going back. Without giving too much away this career would definitely be considered prestigious. My friend said there would be no point as the only people who succeed at it are from at least middle class families with links to the industry. My friend is probably right as he works in a similar field and it wasn’t said in a mean way. It was just a frank conversation.

So my question is - what are the differences between the classes? What defines it? Does it come from family history, or each prrsons’s indiviual money / job / Education?

I think I would be working class (sounds so weird saying that), clearly my friend thinks so too 😂😂.

I’m from a poor, catholic, farming background. But my parents had a rags to Riches story and are now millionaires. (I’m most certainly not but in the future I probably will be). I talk with a broad accent (you can probably tell by my style of writing) but I’m well educated, I went to a prestigious school and got there by sitting an enterance exam and have under & post graduate degrees in this career. Obviously I don’t work in this field at all but I have my own businesss. I live in a rural area far from Belfast.

So am I right in thinking I’m ‘working class?’ And if so it seems to be something you are born into?

Only ‘private school’ is Campbell College which is a different type of grammar school in NI due to the fees they charge and even it receives funding from government. Considered to be for thick rich boys, gets very poor results....

Prep schools in NI are a dying breed, there are a reducing number, no doubt because our schools tend to be so good.

Methody is a routine ‘grammar school’ and is no way in the field of top performing schools here, but has a beautiful building and tends to have a lot of the rich kids although absolutely not exclusively. It’s easier for kids to get a place in Methody than in other city based grammar schools that out perform them!

probably going to out myself ....

in my experience, yes,there is a "class" system in NI/Ireland but as pp have said, it is MUCH less pronounced than in England/Wales/Scotland.

i would say this has a lot to do with the widespread presence of several grammar schools in most towns whether they are larger or medium sized towns. in England and Wales, in my experience, you're seen as a bit more special or privileged if you have attended grammar schools but in NI, they are very common, still great that you've passed your test etc but so much more accessible.

i dont know of any private schools truly comparable to even basic private schools in england where even a not very fancy one cost £13,000 per year per child but maybe things have changed since i lived there.

also, im my probably limited experience, there are fewer upper middles class with generation after generation of Doctors/ accountants/ County Court Judges/solicitors which has allowed wealth to build up in families. a lot of wealth has built up in farming families too.

in my experiences, there are a lot more semi- professional(?) families with teachers/ nurses/ council staff with professional qualifications.

there is actually a lot of poverty for such a small area which is very sad.

i had guessed that you were struggling to renter or re-enter the legal field as either a barrister or solicitor as again in my experience, you need connections or to educational elite by attending Trinity Dublin, Oxbridge or somewhere else elite in england like durham or st andrews etc.

sometimes achievement on your own merit isn't enough.

FirgoodnessSake you might be quite surprised by Campbell's recent academic results. New headmaster who is really pushing it, and they have had a fair few boys go to Oxbridge in the last number of years (in fact in one year sent 5, whereas Inst didn't send any).

My understanding is that Campbell say they are an all ability school, and they have an academic stream and a less academic stream, but their ethos is that whatever a boy's academic ability, they will maximise his individual potential. I quite like that as a philosophy, but it does mean they won't generally compare with the 'pure' grammar schools in exam results.