You know you're really Irish when...

[Gossipyfishwife]

...you tell the barman to put the change in the poor box.

Skinny mallink malojam legs
umberella feet
went to the pictures
couldnt get a seat

when the pictures started skinny mallink farted
skinny millink malojam legs
thats how i remember it.

I'll see your cat and raise you a catmelodian. Oh yes

lamandler

Until I was about 13, I thought 'melodian/malojian' or various spelling thereof, was an actual word.

Things were often 'malodian altogether' according to my father.

And my teacher in the last year of primary grilled me thoroughly on why I'd used the phrase 'quenched the match'. She had apparently never heard of it being used for 'extinguished'.

Resting- love the Christmas and wedding song

This is long but funny too

I'll see your Croagh Patrick and raise you Lough Derg

There's many a slip between the cup and the lip
Banshee warning of a death in the family
Wakes
Three knocks on window

Wakes definitely it always astounds people that you have a person back to be laid out in the good room and then pray drink over the corpse for a couple of nights of waking the dead.

I was so confused when I read comments on mumsnet referring to wakes being the 'reception' thing after the funeral. I mean, that doesn't make any sense, since the whole idea of the wake is to keep the dead person company. Bit late for that afterwards...

and for that matter, I don't get the thing in most of the UK where it takes ages to bury someone. Where do they stay, for starters? It creeps me out, if I'm honest, the idea of not being buried within a few days.

Anyone remember "Grushies" at weddings??

All the kids and aul wans gathered outside the brides house. When the bride and brides Dad where in the car, just about to leave for the church, the dad threw loads and loads and loads of coins out to the kids. All the kids would scramble around the path picking up the dosh.

It may just be a Dublin thing

What does turf burning smell like? I was back in Ireland last year and I kept smelling this lovely smokey perfumed smell but dh couldn't pick up on it. Whenever I think of Ireland I conjure up the smell.

God, grushies...

Grushies definitely must be a Dublin thing never heard of it. But what about giving hen and stag " a doing" tying them to lamppost throwing all sorts of muck and then for good measure stick them in a trailer and tour the around the neighbourhood!

No; definitely confined to the muck savages, Maverick. Grushies are so much more civilised...

Watching 'Realing in the Years' with my auntie (aged 74) who's commentary is amazing and goes to show what a small place Ireland is...
"I went to school with her"
"I dated him...
...and him"

Onthebottom I will look out for Coppers the Musical and book front row seats! The mind boggles. "Weeeellll, so where are ye from?"
Bet it will be at the Olympia.

Totally agree Treacle - freaks me out too & I find it v upsetting that the body is left on its own for such a long time. On the other hand, my DH finds it barbaric that you'd have a dead body in your house at all! I've told him he'll be home with me if he dies first whether he likes it or not

The first sign of Christmas - Switzers window.

Bosco.... and always going to the zoo

Miss a hot port especially on a cold wet day........

Also the best bread in the world has to be fresh warm soda bread

Bye bye bye bye :)

Isnt it funny how nostalgic you can get for a place? We love in uk but dh is irish and we go back every year. This thread makes me desperate to go back. I think this morning would be perfect for a hot choc from storm in a teacupat skerries and a walk along the shore.

DustyBaubles
"If half the people on this thread went to a meet-up, we'd probably discover our grandparents went to school together, or knew Michael Power in the chemist's shop."

Anyone want to play "d'ye know so and so" bingo?

Isn't it just? I want to sit in Bewleys and watch the world go by.

I had a boyfriend of Irish descent (mum from Kerry, dad from Galway) in my late teens early 20s and spent lots of time with the family in Neasden. We went to Ireland as a couple and I remember visiting a stream of rellies in various villages in Galway, where every single house had prepared us a HUGE slap up "tea" with cakes, pies, sandwiches, bread and butter galore. We literally would have five of these "teas" in one day and I never wanted to be rude so would stuff my face as best I could.

It took me a while to master the social dance of "Will you have some more to eat now Honey?" and them refilling the teacup and plate of sandwiches till I was fit to burst.

We stayed at his Uncle's in Roscommon who made us a fantastic cooked breakfast and then kept asking me over and over if I would have more "There's LASHINGS in the kitchen!" finally, thinking I must be being very rude to keep saying "Oh, no I couldn't" and him asking if I would have more I said "Well, OK I'd love some more mushrooms". His face fell and he disappeared into the kitchen and then closed the door. My BF starting to roar with laughter saying "He's only gone and run down to the village to get you mushrooms!" and sure enough he was gone about 20 minutes but suddenly appeared out of the kitchen smiling with the mushrooms! Great hospitality - even though I sometimes didn't get the etiquette right