to wonder what 'an Irish goodbye' is?

[UnreasonablyPissedOff]

I saw this term used recently and have to admit I have NO idea what it means....

Any ideas?

Never heard it used in England. So is it Irish people being racist about themselves then?

Had never heard of it until today on the wedding thread.

I’m Irish, always lived here and had never heard of an Irish goodbye, until Ryan Tubridy and Hugh Jackman we’re joking about it on his radio show last week.

Don't think it's Dublin, family from Monaghan and Mayo use it. It just means to slip away quietly.

It is not racist but a phrase. Bloody heck.

It doesn't seem racist to me.

It's not me saying it's racist. It's people earlier in the thread

The op thinks it's racist

I am still curious about this phrase.
The urban dictionary defines it as 'slipping out of a social engagement usually because you are too drunk to stay'

I don’t think it’s poor manners it actually the opposite. It’s to do with saying good bye taking about 5 hours cos you speak to everyone and everyone wants you to stay so you sneak off.

Never heard the saying in Ireland or England ever, just on Mumsnet!

I've never heard it called this, where I live it's known as "a back door boogie" at which my DH is also an expert when out drinking with his mates lol

I've never heard of it either (another Irish person here).

UnreasonablyPissedOff
That is exactly it, especially at a family celebration. If you're very drunk and want to leave, you will have a chorus saying no you're fine stay for the craic, it is easier to slip away quietly.

I thought an Irish goodbye is just a protracted one. I have only heard it in relation to a wake - which in Ireland tends to involve more and therefore longer cultural custom.

Not racist at all, just an observation in itself is neutral.

I’ve heard this. My Irish grandparents used it. But it wasn’t used in a derogatory way. It did mean leaving without saying goodbye but only because you know that everyone is so friendly and sociable that they’ll convince you to stay. I have only ever heard it used by Irish people themselves including Irish people in England but never as a derogatory or racist remark.

It comes back to the usual assumption that Irish people are drunks. It falls under the same stereotyping category as throwing a paddy and Irish twins.

Apparently it is not ok to ask advice on Indian cookery off an Indian man who sells specialist Indian ingredients. However throwing in jokes about Irish people regularly (particularly throwing a paddy, I read it here all the time) is totally fine.

Yes, as above, usually used to describe trying to slip away from a family celebration esp a wedding.

PrivateDoor this is exactly how I feel about it!

It's hardly racist if it's used by the race it refers to.

I've never heard of Irish Goodbye, only French Exit. I do it a lot!

It's been referred to as a French exit in my case, I used to do this all the time at work events!

Irish and living in Ireland.
Its a phrase, not a racist comment.
Its to slip away quietly from a night out, usually someone heading to the loo or to chat with someone but heads home as they feel they have had enough to drink.
Definitely not in any form racist!!
Tazzy.

I’m Scottish and get pissed off with the mean and drunk stereotype bandied about, but the one that bugs me the most is the fucking deep fried mars bar.
On a recent episode of The Apprentice they were travelling to Glasgow on an art selling task and all they could come up with for knowledge of Glasgow was that. Lazy and pathetic generalisations are very annoying.

I use it, as other posters said it's necessary to get away from family gatherings and that is exactly what I mean when I say it. I am Irish. I object to throwing a paddy, and being referred to as a mick/paddy and I truly truly despise the assumption I am a huge pisshead, but this one? No, this one does not bother me.