BEING Irish abroad, you often encounter people who find Ireland and its people quite fascinating. This can mean a daily challenge of explaining our unique colloquialisms, names and culture to our inquisitive new friends – as well as setting them straight on some misconceptions. Here are some of the most frequent things that require explanation from the Irish abroad…
Giving out is practically a national pastime (Picture: iStock)1. Giving out
The Irish always love a good chance to tell someone off and 'giving out' perfectly embodies that. No, we are not physically giving you anything, just a lecture! It comes from the Irish ‘tabhair amach’ which means to give out or an issue. "Ah ya, mam was giving out to me about coming in late last night, but I made her some tea and she was grand again!”
As well as indoor plumbing, we even have electricity (Picture: iStock)2. We are a First World country
Many people think that Ireland is populated by little old ladies in shawls and that we don't have toilets inside. In fact, we are not a Third World country and we do have a good education system!
This is football. Not a foot in sight (Picture: Inpho)3. Soccer
Non-Irish simply cannot fathom that we call football 'soccer' because we refer to GAA as football. This will then result into a conversation about the rules of GAA and all that the sport entails. 'What do you mean they can pick it up with their hands if it's football?"
To be fair, we probably don't help ourselves by holding ginger conventions like this one in Cork (Picture: Getty Images)4. We’re not all drunk and ginger
Contrary to popular belief, everyone in Ireland is not ginger and is not always drunk. This can be a difficult fact for people to digest who envisioned a different Ireland until you tell them the cold hard truth.
Young love… (Picture: Photocall Ireland)5. The shift
Within a short period of time in knowing an Irish person, 'the shift' will no doubt be mentioned. Getting the shift is always the gauge of a good night out, an achievement, with nothing sinister about the act. We wouldn't consider it as romantic as a 'kiss' but more on the level of a 'snog' with no expectations.
We were into geneaology before it was cool… (Picture: iStock)6. Our cousins
Irish people will always have a good knowledge of who they are related to within a 20-mile radius. We have the ability to rhyme off how we are connected to Joe (our third cousin once removed). Why is this important? Knowledge is power – there'll be no fear of shifting your cousin on a night out!
It's not how it looks… (Picture: iStock)7. The pronunciation of Irish names
Having a name like Áine will inevitably cause issues abroad. The reasoning behind the pronunciation of your name will cause discussion and trying to explain the importance of the fada is for a whole different day!
We're right about this one, hence the preface 'under' for the garment on the right (Pictures: iStock)8. Pants
Irish people call trousers 'pants' which causes much confusion when the rest of the world considers 'pants' to be underwear. Compliments to people's 'pants' in the middle of your office spurs panic and worry of garment exposure.
There was more to the Great Famine than one failed crop (Picture: Hulton Archive/Getty Images)9. The Famine
"But why didn't they just go and find other food instead of starving?" Well, unfortunately there were not many Tesco branches back in the 1800s and with the potato being our main food staple it was difficult to cope. And no, we aren't over-compensating now by eating potatoes at every meal!
Yes, it's the capital. No, we don't all live there (Picture: iStock)10. Not everyone is from Dublin
"Oh you're Irish, are you from Dublin?" Everyone abroad assumes that you must be from Dublin. When you explain that you are from Carlow you are met with a bewildered expression.
Picturesque Belfast – and not a flak jacket in sight (Picture: Tony Pleavin/Tourism Ireland)11. Belfast is not the 'Beirut of Europe'
With worldwide coverage of the Troubles in Belfast since the late 1960s, people find it hard to believe that it is a safe city to visit. It can be hard for people to understand that you will be as safe in Belfast as Dublin. Pictorial evidence of you and your family on holiday in Belfast may be required.
Not everyone gave the Queen a warm welcome (Picture: Photocall Ireland)12. The Republic does not have the Queen
Her Majesty’s visit has caused a lot of confusion for people when it comes to explaining that, unlike Canada and Australia, the Queen is not our Head of State. "But why would she visit the South, then?"
Oh you have police? In Ireland, we have guardians of the peace (Picture: Photocall Ireland)13. Gardaí
Being one of the only countries in the world that doesn’t use a variation of police to refer to our law enforcement officers, An Garda Siochána (guardians of the peace) are always a hot topic for curious folk. Luckily for us, Brendan Gleeson has informed the world about a day in the life of an Irish guard.
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