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?

"Something I've noticed is housing in rural Ireland is usually a detached house, surrounded by a garden and maybe fields on 3 sides, and grouped in linear formations. In rural England, a lot of houses seem to be built in a cluster, sharing walls with neighbours and gardens adjoining and complicated access/rights of way. There might be a semi-detached building and then nothing for miles.

Is there a historical reason for that, does anyone know? "

Planning laws are different is the reason. One off rural housing isn't permitted in England, it is in Ireland (although there are conditions). So people often give a field to a child to build their house in.

I disagree. Most nations have broad stroke characteristics that define them and set them apart the citizens of other countries

I disagree - all people are different. If you did the Myers Briggs thing you'd have lots of personality types, you wouldn't have everyone the same just because they're Irish or Italian or German. They'd all vary.

Saying there is a "national character" is lazy stereotyping.

Drunkandstupidagain I left 14 years ago but go back all the time. In my little town and neighbouring areas it’s still very much as per my previous post. I always have to have cash and I really can’t think of a single pay at pump within miles. I think people driving off without paying has been quite common though in the past.

I have lived and worked all over the uk and Ireland and honestly don’t think the Irish (bar a funny accent) lie outside the spectrum inside Britain in any way. There is huge variation in people across the uk and culturally at least Ireland has been no different to other parts of the uk outside the south east in a very long time.

The only exception perhaps is that they think they are different in some way.

"culturally at least Ireland has been no different to other parts of the uk"

Ireland hasn't been part of the UK for almost one hundred years.

@PurpleTrillby

So the English and Welsh don’t know their history very well but Scotland might and the Irish definitely do?

There are differences in knowledge of history but that is due to the curriculum. History has been a compulsory subject to age 16 in Ireland. Everyone knows about 1916 Easter Rising, War of independence etc. whereas I definitely never learned that in England, although it's really as much UK as Irish history being as there were two sides.

foxtiger I'm Irish and I don't drink tea.

It's sometimes seen as cheeky to accept refreshments on first offer, typically a gentle no will be followed by a couple more offers. Think Mrs Doyle in Father Ted, her character's "go on, go on, go on", is an exaggeration of Irish social mores.

Since I don't drink tea and rarely take coffee, I cut it off with "oh no thank you, I don't take either - a glass of water would be lovely, thanks". Not hard.

Yes, there's a kind of game you play in Ireland:

Hostess: Would you like a cup of tea?
Visitor: No, no I'm grand.
Hostess: Ah you'll have one. Go on.
Visitor: No, honestly, don't be putting yourself to trouble.
Hostess: It's no trouble at all. Now you'll have one
Visitor: Well that would be very nice. Thanks very much.

Wow some sourpusses on this thread, convinced it's going to turn racist and antagonistic. The only antagonistic posts are from them.

@foxtiger - is there a secret code word you have to say to get your host to realise you genuinely don't want any?

It's very simple. You're asked 3 times. If you still refuse on the 3rd time, you really don't want it. However, if you accept on the first offer, you're a bit "forward".

A distant cousin was on his first visit to Ireland. He had obviously heard about the 3 offer thing as, when he visited us, he knew to say no to the first offer of tea. Except he didn't realise that my father was the exception to the 3 offer rule.

My father offered him a cup of tea first, as is only polite when he was visiting from abroad. He said no thanks. So my father, rather than offering again, moved on to the next person, who, knowing my father said yes immediately, as did the next and the next and...

Eventually, someone felt sorry for the cousin and asked him was he sure he didn't want a cup of tea. He immediately answered Yes please :-)

I disagree - all people are different.

FFS, are people being wilfully dim on this thread. Nobody is claiming that all people are the same, course they are different on an individual level. It is however, possible to observe that many regions/countries/cultures have common traits and characteristics that set them apart from other regions/counties/cultures. It’s not ‘lazy stereotyping’ to say for instance that Kiwis love their rugby, it’s extremely popular to follow the all blacks out there, that’s not saying every single person in New Zealand loves rugby, there are quite a few who don’t, or prefer cricket or whatever. Enough people DO follow the game for it to be noticeable at a national level.

Would it be lazy stereotyping to say that Moroccans like mint tea, or that Bavarian’s like their beer, or that South Africans like biltong?

The Nepalese or Thai have reputations for being extremely friendly, I’m sure there are quite a few grumpy fuckers in each country but when I have visited both places I was blown away as to just how helpful and quick to laugh both sets of nationals were, the stereotype was entitely in line with what others had told me and what guide books had stated.

Swearing - I speak from experience as my mum is Irish and we spent a lot of happy hols there. Maybe just my family - but there was always a 'feck it' or 'gob sh*te' in every sentence and it was not toned down in front of the kids!

Feck is very mild indeed - I'd say similar to damn. Not related to fuck at all. I wouldn't sensor in front of older children I don't think.

Feck isn't a swear word. Plus (as someone Irish) I don't recognise the tea ritual some of you are talking about - it's perfectly ok to say yes or no on when offered and for that to be accepted.

I’m English, lived in NI for 3 years and never once paid for petrol before pumping. Can confirm that English and northern Irish petrol station, from supermarket to totally isolated rural all work the same way

it's perfectly ok to say yes or no on when offered and for that to be accepted

What you mean rhat all Irish people aren't lkke Mrs Doyle? I'm shocked i tell you! Shocked!

Here’s one, everywhere in Ireland, the north at least, people are talking about the border and Brexit, and what in God’s name will happen. On the bus, in shops, in work, on local programmes. In England - people mostly oblivious in comparison in the disaster that could be a hard border between the north and south and what that could mean for the Peace Process, Good Crofay Agreement and the future of the whole island. I was just in N.I. And asked several times what people were saying about the whole mess back in London and was almost embarrassed to say - not much, sorry. Out of sight...

@CherylStreep - it's perfectly ok to say yes or no on when offered and for that to be accepted.

You're obviously from a very inhospitable part of the country then😁

In fairness, it's usually more a: do you want a cuppa? No thanks. Are you sure? Yeah.

And that's it.

Irish people are grumpy, complain about everything even the weather. They say ‘grand’ a lot. Swear an awful lot more that British. They are not so great at organising and time keeping. More laid back. Different sense of humour definitely. They are very loyal to their families. British like to try and be perfect in everything.

Weddings are the big thing Ive noticed- but that might be mn rather than British. defo the present budget in Ireland is bigger, and I think the assumption is kids are invited by exception rather than rule. Beyond my brothers I don’t think there’s another wedding I’d expect my kids to be invited to, but I could be wrong on that.

The other one I’ve noticed is halloween, again possibly an mn thing. It seems to have more religious controversy in the UK, I’ve never heard of autumn festivals or discos in Ireland- but it could happen, or could just be something on mn rather than irl.

Loads of the stereotypes are true, but I'm relentlessly punctual and Irish.

So I think I'm the exception that proves the rule.

Namelessinseattle I’ve been to shitloads of Irish weddings and never ever been to a child-free one. But have been to quite a few child-free ones in England. Present budget is definitely far bigger in Ireland.

We’ve noticed in the last few years that Halloween has got really big in Ireland (or NI anyway), more so than England I’d say. My husband thinks that Ireland seems to follow America in terms of holidays, not sure I agree with that, they certainly haven’t implemented Thanksgiving anyway.

HollySwift I must have made up the pay before pumping thing then, and imagined all the signs in the petrol stations. You might get a shock if you ever visit South Down. The supermarkets don’t do it, I’ll give you that, but hardly anywhere near my family have pay at pump, the nearest big Tesco doesn’t have a petrol station, and it’s all pre-pay.

And yes, feck is not a swear word. You’d say feck in front of your mammy but she’d go batshit if she heard you saying fuck.

Halloween originated in Ireland so in fairness the Americans took this holiday from us. Halloween has always been big in Ireland - it's only become big in the US over last few decades.