Calling all rep-of Ireland Mumsnetters!! Main differences between Ireland and UK??

[Neighbour1]

Just that really, posting here for traffic!

What are the main differences that you can see, about lifestyle, wages, attitudes, work, education, people?? In general I can see a few on here so thought I’d ask, as the two countries are so close (and were once 1) there seems to be a lot of differences!!

I lived for 7 years in Ireland, applied for hundreds of jobs. I had two interviews but never any further.
It seems that for an ordinary job, you need a degree or even a Masters. I have neither but do have a professional qualification and a good few years experience.
When I came back to London, I applied for loads of jobs, got loads of interviews and was offered 3 jobs straight away.
Not sure why I was so unsuccessful in Ireland, I suspect my age (I was 50+) had something to do with it. However I am now 60+ and it hasn’t held me back here in England.

Oh, FYI, Ireland might have been under British rule until Independence in the 1920s but never ever thought of themselves as one with Britain. The Unionists in NI do of course but not in the Republic.

I have never lived in the UK so most of my understanding comes from TV and mumsnet and UK people living here. Firstly I think there are more similarities than differences and I hope this thread doesn't turn in to an excuse for either nationality to bash the other.

The main differences I have noticed are:

Much greater polarisation in UK as evidenced by Brexit and much bigger differential between the haves and have nots.

The class system. We don't have an identifiable class system here we just know who we are better than and who thinks they are better than us :)

Offense. We don't seem to get offended by as many things and seem to find humour in differences rather than offence.

I think our outlook as a country that was colonised for 800 years gives us a different outlook to one that colonised alot of other countries.

Funerals. We bury or dead a day or 2 after they die and go to the pub and sing.

Weddings. They always end at about 6am in the residents bar with a sing song and we give monetary gifts of around 250e per couple.

Reporting to authorities. We don't like to rat or snitch on others. I think this can be traced back to a time when were under British rule so we have a thing against authority.

Language. If we like you we insult you and call you a bollox or a cunt. If we don't we are polite.

Emotions. No stiff upper lip here.

Sex. This has changed over the last 20 years we can sort of enjoy it now without having to say 10 hail Mary's and a glory be to the father after it.

Probably loads more but all meant in a good natured way :)

Seasword I would say that we have a meritocratic system here and that qualifications are normally needed at entry level for alot of jobs. The bit of paper seems to hold high value and is essential along with experience. So many areas will not entertain an interview without the relevant bit of paper.

That's a great post, Audina, and fairly accurate in my experience as well.

Everyone knows everyone here!!

Size of house is no indication of how much you earn in rural Ireland. I know a postman and lady who works in (not owns) the local pub who live in a gorgeous self built 4 bed dormer.

Primary school finishes earlier. 1.20-1.40 for infants (first two years of school) 2.20-2.40 for the rest.

Teachers are paid very well and have been seen to leave school with the kids 😂😂

Gifts at weddings are mainly money (150+)

Most teenagers continue education to the age of 18 (leaving certificate) not many finish at 16

Most Irish don’t mind unannounced visitors and would probably be insulted if you announced that you had been within a 5 mile radius of their house but didn’t call in because you didn’t know if they were home!! 😂😂

We already did this one: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3435980-Differences-between-Irish-and-British-people

We know how to hold, and rehold if necessary, a referendum.

as the two countries are so close (and were once 1)

What to trolls eat in the morning? Anyone know?

Here's a trivial one - skirting boards in the UK are mainly painted white in Ireland they are often wood stained (an orangy pine colour)

I’ve reluctantly watched Mrs Browns Boys.... does that qualify me to comment on life in Ireland? Just asking because I’d hate to offend anyone with sweeping generalisations

Emmm the big difference is an Irish person would NEVER say we were once one country with the UK. We were always Irish just with a foreign government imposing its draconian and oppressive laws on us for 700 years.

Kid start school later, less pressurized I think.

None of the private v state angst that is all over mumsnet. Kids generally go to their local school.

3rd level entry is via an anonymous points entry system, so no one knows what school you went to when an offer is made.

Yeah, we were never one country. So that attitude for a start.

Massively better pay in the republic in my line of work at least. No sense of architectural heritage though compared to the uk.

Stinginess! I lived in the UK for many years and never failed to be amused by housemates writing their name on milk cartons/locking cupboards and remembering if someone borrowed 50p from them with no qualms in asking for it back.

In Ireland people would NEVER ask for 50p back from anyone and are more likely to throw a fiver in your direction if you asked to borrow 50p. Obviously there are some... ahem... "frugal" people in Ireland but they're generally ridiculed

@Divebar, no, Mrs Brown's Boys is a perfect representation of life in Ireland.

I kind of HATE sweeping generalisations myself, of any nationality, even those made by people of that nationality. which is why some posts on this thread have irritated me ever so slightly

Astonishingly, some Irish people don't really like unannounced visitors. We don't all sit around an open fireplace saying 'begorra you're very welcome' anytime someone wanders in before handing them a bottle of whisky

We don't all have a great sense of humour and I do not think Irish people generally find humour in differences rather than get offended. I mean, sure, some probably do but not all

We don't all go to the pub and sing after a funeral. Yes that happens, but not all the time. Someone might go to the pub and cry. Or they might go home. Or they might stay at the graveside. Or they might jump on a plane. They might do any of many things, being individual human beings and all.

I could go on.

are so close (and were once 1) well from that astonishing level of ignorance your education on the subject can only get better.

@MysweetAudrina I really like your take on it you are spot on!
The class divide comment is particularly interesting and true.

Smalls towns in Ireland don't have any high street stores as the UK ones have. People have to go to a city to get those types of shops. Nowadays small towns have a shop or a supermarket, multiple pubs, a church, a pharmacy (not a franchise), a chipper and a chinese.

Having a curry is not a big deal in Ireland - unless it's a curry chip.

I think there is a perception that the Irish love to drink a lot, which they do, but my experience in the UK (and watching the soaps) is that UK drinks much more frequently.

There is a massive focus on the car you drive, the house you live in etc, you are judged by that a lot in Ireland.

Irish people are really friendly and welcoming. But they are not so good at giving advice - like when in a restaurant:
Irish person: "this is disgusting, I can't eat it" while they complain to those at the table
Waiter/ress: "how is your meal".
Response "oh it's lovely, thank a million"

Irish people don't get the kebab obsession.

Also a lot of the UK is globalized, it's impossible to find a nice boutique here sometimes. TK Maxx etc everywhere... it gets dull

I love both sides. I love the differences.

Someone always comes on to these threads to talk about how much better we Irish do weddings and funerals, and that always seems to be indicated by the fact that we end up drinking late and singing. I've been to multiple weddings and some of the drinking has been appalling at them, embarrassing really. I do agree that the Irish do funerals well and I think that is to do with a very spiritual side of us.

I'm also tired of this constant impression that we were all sexually repressed because of the church. 30 years ago I decided as a catholic that I wasn't going to let the church dictate to me on my sexuality and I had a great time in college and in my twenties with no guilt or shame involved. All my friends also were not going around shrouded in guilt over Sex and I knew people who were openly gay. There seems to be this persistent idea that we were all cowering in shame because of the Catholic Church, maybe some were but many of us weren't.

Finally, I love being Irish and am proud to be so, but I'm afraid that as a nation we are a little bit too please with ourselves and love to compare ourselves more favourably over the British or more usually the English. The Irish love to claim they are more craic, more friendly more welcoming, funnier etc etc. I think we overestimate ourselves sometimes and I wish we would be a little less full of ourselves, there is still a lot wrong in our society, a lot of inequality, major issues in health provision etc. Yes we are on the right side of Brexit but that does not make us perfect.

My parents lived the first 7 years of their marriage in England for my fathers training and said that their English friends and neighbours were among the loveliest friendliest most sincere folk they had ever met.

Much better history education. We were never one country.

I think the differences are becoming fewer and fewer. There is so much movement now, not just between ROI and U.K. but with r/Europe and even US and Aus too. Both U.K. and ROI are becoming a lot more culturally diverse and more alike each other.

OSTRICHRUNNING well said, couldn't agree more!!👏🏻

Reading bubbles' post, it seems pretty similar to me. You're definitely judged on what car you drive/how big your house is in the UK (in my bit of southern England, anyway) and it's definitely not British to complain about things.

I've never eaten a kebab.