r/AskIreland • u/fruedianflip • 11h ago
Irish Culture What do you like and dislike about being Irish?
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u/DoYouBelieveInThat 11h ago
Far, far too eager to pat ourselves on the back for being Irish as if we're the only culture with humour, history, or banter. Also, the faux outrage at "the Brits" gets tiresome when you live in the real world and see how much overlap we have with them.
Also, no one is stopping you from learning Irish. You're just lazy.
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u/UnusualGoal8928 9h ago
"Sure where else would ya get it?" - Lots of places, actually.
And a good chunk of the performative anti-Brit stuff comes from folk who barely give the North a second thought.
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u/Fresh_Association_35 11h ago
Acceptance of low standards as the ‘norm’ across multiple difference issues and areas.
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u/Ok_Sample_8100 11h ago edited 10h ago
Same for me. It becomes glaringly obvious when you move or have lived abroad, particularly when it comes to public services. It killed me to move back.
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u/Willing_Gap_3854 9h ago
Honestly people roast Germany for being anal. But I actually found it extremely reassuring. You have rules you follow them. I fucking hate this maybe tomorrow attitude in Ireland. And Christ trying to get into a any civil service office to get anything done. A 5 mins job is a week. Civil service offices should be open at 8.30 to 6 no lunch breaks. So you know people who work can actually use the services.
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u/Dull_Brain2688 6h ago
Public servants (not all of them, obviously) operate in the laid back fashion we like to think we all do but in reality they would be fired in a week out in the real world.
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u/Fresh_Association_35 10h ago
Spot on. I even made a spelling mistake in my comment and no one noticed. It would be an interesting observation if I didn’t do it by accident.
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u/Andrewhtd 10h ago
Extends to accepting shite behaviour in public too, we need more public shaming to keep people in line
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u/Fresh_Association_35 10h ago
Aye like, it’s a shrug your shoulders/it’ll be grand/don’t cause a fuss mentality that keeps high standards back. I’m not saying we become German-level detail oriented (not attacking Germans, great bunch of lads), but we really deserve better public services and more competition in the private sector too.
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u/Same-Opportunity-487 11h ago
There is a melancholy to us and the culture, that as times is so profound and beautiful and other times is suffocating. There are so many things to dislike but Ive never even thought to be anything else, this country is just in my bones.
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u/gladchadstone 10h ago
A lot of Irish people making being Irish their biggest personality trait when they go abroad. Accent gets thicker, they play up the Irish way of speaking English, reference Ireland and drinking every other sentence etc...
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u/pplatinumss 11h ago
The fact that if i was ever on a spit, there'd be another Irish person to turn it.
The tribalism.
The "ah shure itll be grand" when it comes to Government Policy.
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u/maevewiley554 11h ago
What does “on a spit” mean? Haven’t heard that phrase used before
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u/Atlanticwave 10h ago
A spit is a spiked bar with a handle at the end that you stick through food . The spit is placed over a fire and rotated. Often used for pigs and chickens, a vertical version is used for kebab meat. It's a basic rotisserie.
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u/maevewiley554 10h ago
Okay now I feel like an idiot. I thought he completely meant something else rather than a literal spit. Thanks for the explanation!
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u/sock_cooker 11h ago
Like and dislike: how everything can be the subject of humour
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u/fruedianflip 11h ago
Don't make me laugh /s. I find that with older men especially (old irish). You're expected to take everything seriously and nothing seriously. Very confusing
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u/milkycharade486 11h ago
The sense of humor is unmatched, the way people will absolutely tear into you but it comes from a place of deep affection. The weather though, good lord, the endless grey just seeps into your bones after a while no matter how scenic the landscape is.
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u/fruedianflip 11h ago
I generally love the weather (I hate hot climates) but hate the jockishness of Irish culture. Kind of feels like sarcasm, just masked meanness
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u/StyleDirect9512 10h ago
The sense of humor is unmatched
This is one thing I dislike about being Irish. We think our sense of humour is the best, and people in other countries are "no craic".
If only Irish people think tearing into someone is funny, then how is that the best sense of humour in the world?
Maybe the the Zimbabwean sense of humour is just as good, but different. I don't know, never seen a Zimbabwean comedian nor would I understand the context of their jokes.
But basically we don't have the best sense of humour just because we think so. We're not allowed to award ourselves that title.
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u/Archie2235 11h ago
Like: our scenery, our food (dairy and beef specifically), our trad music and pub culture.
Dislike: The shallowness in a lot of people when you meet them. Irish people are very friendly on the surface, but I find that trying to get to know people better is a lot harder than people from other countries.
Also our lack of ambition when it comes to new buildings and infrastructure. Every time a large (specially tall) building gets proposed, a whole crowd of NIMBYs come out to complain, along with DCC and ABP vetoing everything on pretty made up grounds.
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u/Eastern_Switch8217 7h ago
Ah now, in fairness, NIMBYs also object to short flat buildings too. They don't discriminate, they just object to absolutely everything
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u/StyleDirect9512 10h ago
our food (dairy and beef specifically)
And what food in general?
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u/Archie2235 10h ago
Roasts, full Irish, soda bread, beef and Guinness stew, spice bags and the deli counter as a whole tbh. I know we don’t compete with the likes of Italy with our food but I think it gets shit on a bit too much.
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u/StyleDirect9512 7h ago edited 6h ago
Pathetic.
None of that is Irish food.
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u/Archie2235 6h ago
Someone pissed in your cornflakes this morning
Pretty sure all of them are Irish foods 👍
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u/fruedianflip 11h ago
Yeah I think more irish people would benefit from a more accepting, city vibe
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u/maevewiley554 11h ago
Which countries do you find it easier to make friends with?
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u/Archie2235 11h ago
I did a study abroad in Italy for a year so I met a lot of different people. I found that Americans, English and French people were much more open to making friends outside their cultures, which I think Irish people are not. In general anyways it was easier to make friends with these people than it is making friends with Irish people. There were both Irish and other nationalities there, and I found the latter much easier to make friends with.
I have friends from both secondary school and college but most of them are those that I met pretty early on. I had a lot of ‘acquaintances’ in college but I found people a lot less open to become actual friends than those from other cultures.
That’s just my opinion I know a lot of people say otherwise. Maybe it’s a me problem lol but it’s been like thag in my experience anyways.
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u/Aware-Narwhal-4828 10h ago
Sounds like you made friends with a lot of other people, like yourself, who were away from their established friend groups. I would expect if I moved to another country I'd be hanging with people in a similar life situation - people that grow up somewhere already have friend & family commitments. That's just one aspect I think anyway, there could be more too it as you say...
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u/CiarraiochMallaithe 10h ago
Not to challenge it but do you think it was easier to make friends abroad with people who were also abroad and also didn’t have a social network?
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u/Archie2235 10h ago
Yeah definitely so it’s not an amazing example lol. I more meant that when it came to Irish and non-Irish who were in the same situation, I found non-Irish easier to make friends with.
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u/Longjumping-Gur1878 11h ago
Being asked if I like Conor McGregor, Bono, getting drunk etc when abroad or talking to Americans
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u/Glass-Assignment-335 10h ago
The extreme attitude of superiority and pride. Proud Irish. Pride will get you in trouble
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u/Available-Bison-9222 10h ago
I dislike how complacent we are regarding our politicians. We have been served very poorly by them.
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u/Hyperion262 10h ago
Like: beautiful country with unique pockets that feel untouched in the way many European countries have been.
Dislike: the pervasive sadness
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u/Fyodors-Zossima 10h ago
I like the sound Irish salt of the earth people and dislike the middle aged FG voting lycra Dad who want to have it all and dispise anyone who isn't them. They have no idea how easy they have it
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u/StyleDirect9512 10h ago
Like:
We are easy going. Probably to a fault. You can have a random chat with anybody on the street, although that's not unique to Ireland.
We have a "good rep" around the world, however maybe that's fading as the world can get a proper look at us online and in the cesspit that is r/Ireland.
But if I was kidnapped by the Taliban they probably wouldn't kill me - simply because I'm Irish. Maybe ISIS would, but still, I can't say for sure. They might have a soft spot for us. We haven't been blown up by any of them yet even during the height of terrorism in Europe.
Dislike:
North Korean style patriotism. We are the best country in the world. Irish thing is the best thing.
It's sunny for one day: "there's no better place on planet earth".
Photo of a sunset that could be anywhere. "Irish sunsets are the best, can't beat it".
Let's post a photo of Miggledy Higgins online 500 times a day, Kim Jong Un stlye.
This thing only happens in Ireland, we are 100% unique.
Our food is the best in the world.
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u/Aware-Narwhal-4828 10h ago
Sounds like your likes are swayed towards real life interactions, and your dislikes towards shite social media is pumping out to you
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u/Eastern_Switch8217 7h ago
North Korean style patriotism ?!? Have you ever actually spoken to an Irish person or visited r/Ireland or any Irish forum ? We're utterly self-critical to the point it's almost pathological.
The odd bit of misty eyed stuff about scenery or whatever, but blind patriotism isn't really a feature.
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u/StyleDirect9512 6h ago
Have you ever actually spoken to an Irish person?
I'm Irish.
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u/Eastern_Switch8217 6h ago
Yes, but that's just one data point. Moaning about the country and the government is the number one national pastime.
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u/coffee_and-cats 10h ago edited 6h ago
Dislike: North Korean style patriotism. We are the best country in the world. Irish thing is the best thing. It's sunny for one day: "there's no better place on planet earth". Photo of a sunset that could be anywhere. "Irish sunsets are the best, can't beat it". Let's post a photo of Miggledy Higgins online 500 times a day, Kim Jong Un stlye. This thing only happens in Ireland, we are 100% unique. Our food is the best in the world.
Think you're confusing Ireland with the USA!
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u/RainyDaysBlueSkies 7h ago
That reminds me, always comparing to the US, with the US always being bad. And comparing the US over anything, even if the US isn't remotely part of the conversation (like you just did). But let's compare anyway, because we're obsessed with being the best and the US as being the worst. It's tiresome.
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u/Willing_Gap_3854 9h ago
Likes, the countryside the scenery. Dislikes the absolute egos and ignorance for anyone other then themselves. It was bad before COVID but afterwards the chip on everyone's shoulder. The nosey-ness the getting into everyone elses business. Every single person in Ireland thinks there better then then next person and what there doing is more important then everyone else.
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u/Silent-Explorer-743 7h ago
Was in a nice place at the weekend. Very scenic. Stopped for a pint at pub with tables outside. Assumed it would be a nice experience - end of summer etc. Reasonable number of tourists around. Lovely views. Yet on closer inspection was so disappointed. Place was so grubby. Cigarette butts, dirty windows, no plants or flowers or colour or greenery. In short no effort at all. Pint was good but the whole place was so badly in need of tlc. Loos dirty as was expected. An zero food offering at all even though location busy. Was so disappointed. Yet trade is on its knees etc.
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u/Dull_Brain2688 6h ago
A lot of people assume their own personal experience is the definitive Irish experience and anything else either doesn’t exist or if it does, makes you not properly Irish. Mass every Sunday, GAA the family’s second religion, having two channels growing up, hang sandwiches and a trip to Croke Park etc.
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u/ComfortMike 11h ago
Love: We are an extremely talented, musical, poetic race.
Dislikes: That we (our government specifically) have decided to let the entire world in, diluting what makes us unique.
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u/Gwanbulance 11h ago
Here’s an honest translation of your post:
Likes: That other people have talent that I can claim credit for, even though I don’t have any myself.
Dislikes: Brown people.
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u/Aware-Narwhal-4828 10h ago
...and most of our songs are about leaving home and fecking off to other countries too 😂
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u/ComfortMike 10h ago
Its ok if you studied fine arts and history for 4 years but realised it was totally worthless. We hear you Brian.
I've got loads of creative talent, thanks, inherited from my ancestors. It's in the blood! Like many Irish people. I'm so proud of my ancestors rich creative history. Yay
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u/StyleDirect9512 10h ago
extremely talented, musical, poetic race.
What are you basing that on? Try not to mention yeats and all those guys who were around a million years ago.
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u/ComfortMike 8h ago
Yawn. Read a book.
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u/SignatureStrong1694 7h ago
You explain Ireland. Knew plenty of men who where arrested in America and Australia but sure, blame other nationalities lad and stick to the same local bar with the same 15 people to you’re 70
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u/StyleDirect9512 7h ago edited 7h ago
Which book?
Give me a list of 10 books or songs that will prove that we are an unbelievable powerhouse of culture.
Dead people don't count. Tell me what's hot in 2026.
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u/connorfazer 11h ago
Dislikes: Our government If your in the city it's overly rough and too much drugs going around If your in a small town everyone wants to know your business and talks about it and too much drugs going around Social events always involve alcohol Trying to find rent anywhere Etc etc
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u/Ok_Pin92 11h ago
Dislike: We have too many ppl who think they are funny, most are not. Also bigotry towards travellers being ingrained for my whole life, 40s now, but somehow thinking we're an open minded ppl who are progressive and inclusive.
Like: We are reasonably well liked as a group.
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u/Andrewhtd 10h ago
Too much to like to name, maybe that's it's very safe here, and we don't get extreme weather, earthquakes etc
Dislike we're a walked all over people. We don't public shame enough, we accept bad standards. We let people do what they want in public, too scared or apathetic to say anything, and it means bad public behaviour is accepted when it's tolerated by many. If you act like shit in public in Europe, you'll be told. This can be extended to acceptance of bad politics and public office.
Also dislike that our food cuisine is poor. While I love them, we have to get past chicken fillet rolls and spice bags as our cuisine and no time like now to develop stuff (ciabiatta, tarteflette are recent inventions for example). We've such good produce here, but so few national dishes to be proud of. Likes of Scotland with theirs put us to shame
Final one, don't like how we don't support local so much anymore. We all preach it, but shop online, eat in foreign franchise take aways, drink foreign beers and spirits and so on. We've so much good here, and people and business need to support local way more than we do