You know you're really Irish when...

[Gossipyfishwife]

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

I'm English but both sets of grandparents were Irish.

One of my grandad's used to say "Pass me the statue girl" which was a statue of Our Lady containing Porcheen (Porcin?? Potato alcohol anyway) which he brewed himself and swigged daily.

I'll have to buy him this

Poitín I think Turquoise

The Child of Prague statue has to be put outside to ensure good weather" as Maryz says - shocked some lazy hours only stick it on the windowsill! You'd know when there was a big wedding or a big match on because the entire parish would have those bloody statues sitting in the middle of a flower bed.

Having the station in your house was a huge deal, involving whitewashing everything outside and completely redecorating it inside, and then feeding the priest and the most respectable neighbours in the good parlour which was only ever used at Christmas otherwise. And you could only feed him the best rashers.

Going off sweets for Lent but being allowed to lapse for St Patrick's Day.

And of course Santy was Santy. Santa was only for West Brits!

PML at the newspaper firelighters from the 89s youtube. Shop firelighters still have the heady allure of forbidden luxury

I always say going for the messages & talk about the hot press, the chile etc. Think my DH is just used to me now as he says messages & even talks about my mummy (as in how's your mummy today?)

Some of these I didn't realise were signs of my Irishness actually!

80s sorry

I remember my brother being scared of the bully down the road

My Mum would say, "Ahh sher every dog's bold on its own doorstep"

Slainte, 'cute hoor' is definitely kind of a backhanded compliment, in my neck of the woods, anyway. My PILs are visiting and called my toddler a cute hoor for managing to charm presents out of them (that he wasn't supposed to have until his birthday).

DH has regularly failed to find/ put away items in the hot press. Sudden dawning that it may not be domestic insubordination after all, rather mis-spent youth in England. What else do people call it?

' I wasn't rared eating sweet chilli sauce* ' (or alternatively 'sweet chilli sauce didn't rare me!)

• = 'raised' ** = 'any foreign food'

You know it Ireland when it says 'slow' then 'slower' written on the road and all directions given are based around the local pub

Puggle, the airing cupboard. Not that I could ever call it anything other than the hot press.

Or treacle 'It's a long way from focaccia/kundalini yoga/insert other quare foreign thing you were reared!'

Lol@Wheelie ...Proddy Dave etc....So true

Love this thread.

I dont know if its just a Co Wexford thing but my dad and uncles will always greet others with 'No strange?'

Granny (Galway) always said 'well, now' before doing anything

'well now, will we just have a little sit diwn here?'
'well now, put on the tay theres a good girl' etc

I dont know if its just a Co Wexford thing but my dad and uncles will always greet others with 'No strange?'

My parents are from Cork and when my Dad would come home from work, my Mum would greet him with "Anyting strange?"

Santy is common.

My Nan washes up the delf.

She says to the dog come here to me for years my mum thought the dog was called Timmy.

Going out for Hallowe'en & saying "help the Hallowe'en party" - not trick or treat.

Having a whole host of balshphemes to hand, whatever the occasion - 'Holy God', 'Holy mother of God', 'Sweet Jesus', 'Jesus, Mary & Joseph' as well as -'Jesus, Mary & Holy St Joseph'.

Boys born in 1979 being called John Paul.

Having a mass said for someone who's sick.

Shouting 'yes'll have me in Loman's' at the DC, who having grown up in the UK have no idea what I'm on about Just me?

'Santy is common'

Well I was brought up in darkest D4 and we said Santy.

you were brought up in D4? I feel like I need to curtsey or something. I'm from The North and even I know where D4 is!

If someone appears to be spending more than is usual on frivolities (clothes, books, whatever) they are said to be 'good to themselves' in tones of disapproval.

eg 'I see Tricia has another of them there coats on her. It looks like a dear one. Good to herself, isn't she. It's well for those that can afford it'

(cue much bosom hoiking)

no, hang on, I'm thinming of D2, aren't I? I was visualising you luving in a mansion next to the American embassy or something.

As you were!

My Mum...if she didn't like someone's accent.

"She has an awful twang on her"

'thinking' and 'living'

Gah...

You only need to curtsey to me once treacle, after that a respectful bow of the head will suffice.