Differences between Irish and British people

[Picnicinnovember]

Inspired by the very interesting thread on differences between British people and Americans.

I'm Irish and over here we watch British TV, have loads of British chain stores in our towns and cities, read very similar newspapers, British magazines, grew up reading British comics etc. but yet we're very different in many ways from British people, particularly English people I would say.

I'm just wondering what people think the main differences are? We're pretty crap at timekeeping in Ireland, have a fairly distinctive sense of humour, and aren't that bothered about breaking minor rules and regulations.

Any other differences people have noticed?

Actually a lot of the Engtlish thank bus drivers too if they get off near that end or are the only person on the bus. I always do.

Some English have always gone along to anyone's funeral. My great aunt in her older years used to turn up (in England) at random funerals and apparently try to get invited to the wake afterwards.

A lot of Zulor's points would apply in rural Northumberland too. May be it's a countryside v. town issue.

English people are very reserved and take offense quite easily. You have to constantly be aware of what you're saying, as you're likely to offend someone
That didn't work then did it?'

This is a bad thread. I am English of Irish parentage. English people are not one race, but an enormous melting pot of ethnicities and cultures. Broad generalisations of traits are usually offensive. I realise this is intended as light hearted but as another poster said, it will not end well

If an ambulance passes, they have to find out who's in it.

This

You'd be surprised how much land is worth. The farm across from me, one of the sons married a very well to do lady from Dublin - I do feel sorry for her being isolated rurally, but they mix in different circles than I would, so I expect have a lot of dinner parties and such. The daughter married another big farmer locally. Their other son (who was in my class in school) sadly died of cancer. He was the oldest son. His parents couldn't bare to live in the house any longer so moved. It's a massive big country house, and they own about a quarter of the land in Ireland (maybe a slight exaggeration). For e.g. Bertie Ahearn (former Taoiseach) and Michael O'Leary were at the funeral of the son. Just different circles to us mere mortals. But land in Ireland, makes you a big-shot.

Davros - a case in point. You can't say anything over here.

BackINTime - God yeah. I lived at home for a couple of months about two years ago and had to call an ambulance in the middle of the night. It's my late grandmother's house, so nobody else there but myself. The next morning my Dad lands in 'You had an ambulance here?' Me 'How the hell do you know?' Well sure 'O'Reilly told me it was here from midnight until about 1 o'clock'. (O'Reilly being the next door neighbour and what he was doing peeking out his window at that hour I'll never know!)
I couldn't get back to London quick enough.

As one good friend put it to me 'If you farted in Cork, they'd know about it before you got to Limerick'.

Oh and another thing. You must have the curtains pulled open early in the morning, or 'they'll think there's been a death'. And don't dare put the lights on in the middle of the day. As for the immersion? Don't go there.

It's not a bad thread. That you think it's a 'bad' thread, just exemplifies the difference between Irish and English. I don't think anyone has said anything derogatory about English people here. God, you can't open your mouth.

If there are any Irish on here who prefer more free speech and Irish humour, there's a Facebook group called Irish in London that I usually resort to when here gets a bit too much.

Although my elderly English neighbour says she is our personal "neighbourhood watch" as she knows who comes and at what time, almost night and day ( she and joke about it and I don't mind - nothing slips by her) so I suspect it might also depends on the person. She did once call the police when I was just having some furniture delivered as she thought it was burglars stripping the house of furniture.

I realise this is intended as light hearted but as another poster said, it will not end well

And yet here we are ten pages in and most people have taken thread in the spirit it is intended despite the efforts of the professionally offended to derail it.

We recognise the differences. English are posher maybe and more civilised, Irish are wilder and more into music and shenanigans. It's just the way we are. Different. Nobody better, just different.

And here's something for my Irish friends to enjoy, or indeed anyone who appreciates Andre Rieu.

And if anyone has played violin, you'll appreciate that Andre Rieu did brilliantly with a tune he wouldn't be familiar with at all.

I see funerals as occasions to bury the dead with quiet dignity and respect, not into a day trip out for all and sundry.

My father's funeral was huge. I'm not the prpfessionally offended, not by a long way, but to suggest that we didn't bury him with dignity and respect is a cruel thing to say. How dare you suggest that we have no dignity?

Off topic I know, but I was very privileged to see Andre Rieu in Maastricht. OMG what a night!

As others have said there is no real difference between Irish and English, subtle differences alright, but nothing major. I have always found the Irish love a bit of fun and go for it. They are very generous too and will feed you to within an inch of your life.

But I think that applies to English people also.

Personality differences and a different approach to life are what I notice. Irish people are very politically aware too. Probably comes from the STV system for elections. They love em!

treaclesoda I agree. In Ireland, a measure of how well a person lived their life is how big the funeral is. If someone was well loved and well known, you wouldn't get into the chapel. In Ireland it's less about paying respect to the dead, but rather supporting the family and saying 'we loved him/her too'. It's a respect thing. To NOT go to a funeral of someone in the village is awful. Your absence will probably be noted. 'He didn't even go to the funeral'. There have been funerals where police had to direct traffic due to the volume of people attending. There are two elements to the funerals in Ireland, you have the removal and then the funeral. Removal is usually evening time, so people who are working, go to that. Funerals are during the day. But if say a young man, heavily involved in sports and clubs and with a wide group of friends, you would easily have 1000 people attend to pay their respects. It's more to show your support to the bereaved.

MissionofMercy Yes, I was going to say that Irish people discuss politics a lot more than English people, because of course over here, you really can't say anything. Whereas the Irish will happily debate the various parties. Myself and my Dad love nothing better than a political debate haha. Me and my Mam however, disagree on everything, so we don't generally go there lol.

Zulor,

That's lovely.

Clearly the most important difference of all is the late late toy show

I'm not the prpfessionally offended, not by a long way, but to suggest that we didn't bury him with dignity and respect is a cruel thing to say.

Well your reading and comprehension isn't up to par then. I explained that in the culture i grew up in, funerals and the cremation in particular are reserved for close friends and family. It would be ghoulish and insensitive to rock up if you were a passing acquaintance. You clearly grew up in a different culture to me. So a large funeral with many attendees would be appropriate.

It isn't about you.

Funky, that was my father's slight weird aunt - (in England) - had the reputation for turning up at strangers' funerals.

Funky, you may have missed the premise of the thread. The differences between Irish and English. It's not about any one of us, just us in general. Please don't take offence.

Livlemer I can't get it to play on rteplayer!