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Original poster

Irish mn'ers, how much can you relate to UK mumsnetters?

498 replies

Anotherdayanotherdollar · 02/06/2018 21:50

I read a lot of different threads on here, and recently I have come across so many issues/practices that I think just don't happen in Ireland. Now, I could be completely off the mark here, obviously there's local/cultural differences everywhere!

I don't know any parents who attend childrens birthday parties with their children (unless family etc),

I'm not aware of any dads who work "compressed hours" to care for their children. Although I know a lot of parents who work opposite shifts I suppose.

Funerals and the culture and practices surrounding death are all very different.

I don't have an abundance of parks/softplay/childrens activities nearby. If I did I'm sure they'd be too expensive to just pop in after school etc. 2 within 40 mins drive of me are €8-10 per hr.

Most children just go to their local school (baptism barrier dependent)

New mums here all seem to be inundated with visitors in hospital after their babies are born. I've never come across a new mum who isn't having visitors for the first week/fortnight etc so that they can bond.

Just a few examples there. So, are these typical observations of Irish people? Or just where I live/work? I know that local amenities are dependent on funding etc but it just seems that despite our close proximity to the UK there are big differences in day to day life.
I hope that all comes across ok. I'm just curious really.

OP posts:
MarDhea · 07/06/2018 07:51

But the leaving cert is an actual national standard test. Over 90% of 17-18 year olds sit the LC and everyone in the country studies the same curriculum for a subject, and sits the same paper (well, hons or pass) for a subject on the same day at the same time. It's a nationwide, culturally important rite of passage! I love reading the LC analysis in the IT Blush - and when I was sitting my own LC, I felt vindicated when the analysis agreed that one horrible paper was rather tough that year!

A-levels are very different. Only about 40% of 17-18 year olds sit final A-levels (where they're used, so excl Scotland), there are loads of different exam boards who set their own slightly different curricula and exams, so different people sit different exams for a subject on different days. It's not a nationwide, culturally important rite of passage at all, so you only get newspaper reports when something goes wrong.

CosmoXavier · 07/06/2018 09:48

The LC is one of the most important events in every Irish persons life. Only a few weeks ago I had a dream about my LC maths exam (I hadn't studied and couldn't answer the questions) and it is nearly 30 years since I did it 😂

CherryBlossom23 · 07/06/2018 15:20

I did my LC in 2003, so the year of the leaked English Paper 2. Oh the drama! Still remember hearing about it on the news and finding out the exam would be rescheduled. I didn't mind too much extra cramming time

DramaAlpaca · 07/06/2018 15:37

I occasionally dream about my A levels from over 30 years ago, but honestly A levels were a walk in the park compared to the Leaving Certificate. The LC nearly broke two of my DC, and me, it was so stressful. With A levels, you're only doing 3 or 4 subjects which you've chosen because you like them & you're good at them. You don't have to do 7 subjects, some of which might be a struggle or which you hate.

honeyrider · 07/06/2018 15:54

The answer to passing exams in Ireland especially the Leaving Cert

Irish mn'ers, how much can you relate to UK mumsnetters?
lostinsunshine · 07/06/2018 18:37

My mum stuck pins in armchairs to find lost things to supplement prayers to St Anthony.

MarDhea · 07/06/2018 18:41

I much prefer the broad 7 subject spread of the LC compared to only 3 subjects for A level. It's very unusual from an international perspective to have such a narrow curriculum from the age of 16. Plus the subjects you pick can determine what courses you're eligible for at university, and it's very seldom a 15-16 year old knows for sure what they want to study at university - it's hard to hedge your bets with only 3 subjects.

And before someone says it, this isn't a dig at the English. It's exactly what education thinktanks in the UK have been saying for years, and one of the reasons the international Bac has become so popular in British private schools.

corcaithecat · 07/06/2018 18:44

When we go to Ireland, it feels like time has stood still, Ireland feels less evolved and rather parochial.
Have you been stuck inside watching too many re-runs of Father Ted?
I moved to the south west of Ireland from the UK and there's no Brexit, Ireland was the first country in the WORLD to legalise gay marriage and in my local town we have access to 1000 mbps broadband connection, equivalent to Tokyo and faster than London.
Parochial, my arse!

FourFriedChickensDryWhiteToast · 07/06/2018 18:47

" *When we go to Ireland, it feels like time has stood still, Ireland feels less evolved and rather parochial. "

well I am sitting in Dublin right now, my first visit in 23 years, and it really doesn't (feel as though time has stood still).

In fact it feels like a different city to the one that I visited as a teenager back in the 1970s, a different city completely, and even quite different to my last visit in the 90s.

Ophelialovescats · 07/06/2018 18:53

Time stood still in Ireland 😂
I wonder if that poster has watched or read the news in the last three years ....

Or , are you sure it was Ireland you were in....be be sure ,to be sure ??

SamBob · 07/06/2018 18:55

Ireland was the first country in the WORLD to legalise gay marriage

I agree completely with most of what you're saying but can we be clear on this, we were the first country in the world to legalise it by popular vote. Many other countries introduced it before we did.

AnLaBrea · 07/06/2018 19:45

Even Irish people who grew up here but emigrated in the nineties 'miss' an Ireland that doesn't exist any more. I find. It's not just foreigners or the children of Irish diaspora (to quote michael d) who only think they know Ireland.

My friend from school lives in America now and when she comes back to Ireland she is looking for ten marlborough lights and telling us that in america, you can order indian, thai, italian or chinese all from the same place. I told her 'yeh, in Ireland you can too'. She still remembers a pre-internet Ireland circa 1993 and every time she comes home she gets a bit of a shock that it's not here!

corcaithecat · 07/06/2018 19:45

SamBob whoops, my incredulity about Ireland being referred to as parochial ran away with me there. Blush

keyboardkate · 07/06/2018 20:20

Just check your Irish passport eligibility. Sorted for Brexit if you are fortunate enough to be eligible and want to do this. Seriously, it ain't looking too good on the home front at the moment!

keyboardkate · 07/06/2018 20:22

I have to say I was stunned at the 66/34% vote in favour of abortion.

I never thought the Yes vote would be that high. But given all the scandals and so on and the way women were treated over the years, I suppose it was inevitable. Clever and intelligent people there who will not be told what to do anymore.

MrStarkIDontFeelSoGood · 07/06/2018 20:29

Is it still the case though with the LC that if you fail English, Maths or Irish you fail the whole Cert or have they changed that ?

(I liked the broader spectrum of it but was glad that no subject was compulsory at A Level)

FourFriedChickensDryWhiteToast · 07/06/2018 20:35

" Sorted for Brexit if you are fortunate enough to be eligible and want to do this. Seriously, it ain't looking too good on the home front at the moment! "

what difference would having an Irish passport make, exactly? to our everyday lives I mean?

Should we run like rats from a sinking ship?

keyboardkate · 07/06/2018 20:37

FourFried,

Well in fairness I think it gives you options (just in case you need to run from that sinking ship lol). And you really do know this already so why ask me?

MrStarkIDontFeelSoGood · 07/06/2018 20:40

I held both passports before it was popular.

There are certain countries when having a British passport has come at a cost for those carrying them...

DramaAlpaca · 07/06/2018 20:48

I'm about to apply for Irish citizenship. I've lived in Ireland for 20 years, DH is Irish, I've brought up 3 Irish DC, I work here, my home is here. And I consider myself European as well as British & want a European passport. It'll cost me the best part of €2k but it'll be worth it.

FourFriedChickensDryWhiteToast · 07/06/2018 20:52

" There are certain countries when having a British passport has come at a cost for those carrying them..."

lol..Grin I was explaining to my brother about the advantages of holding an Irish passport if you are on a tour bus or cruise ship that gets highjacked by fundamentalists...

He didn't stop laughing for at least 10 minutes..

MrStarkIDontFeelSoGood · 07/06/2018 20:55

Grin at your brother

It actually HAS happened though at that terrorist attack at the hotel in India

lostinsunshine · 07/06/2018 20:57

An Irish relative has had a direct experience of better safer less scary treatment compared to British husband in the same very very scary situation abroad.

Slanetylor · 07/06/2018 20:59

Will people from U.K. be able to get European health card after brexit? Could you get one with an Irish passport? That could be really handy.

FourFriedChickensDryWhiteToast · 07/06/2018 21:02

Yes I know it is true, just I had a hard time convincing the brother.

Then he said, what about my wife and children with British passports? Should I abandon them at that point?

I said...nooo they get Irish passports too!

Soon so many people will have Irish passports that ...that...that....oh I don't know..