Do people marry within their class in Ireland?

What is class? A set of attributes that places you in a certain sociological category...which attributes? Your income, your education, the people you know, your manner of speaking (including your accent, normal tone of voice and gestures), your occupation...these would be the main ones I would think. People who belong to a certain sociological category/class tend to go to the same places or same sort of place - whether that be the local pub, the golf course or charity ball, or universities - largely due to financial reasons. There, like mixes with like until the similarities seem universal and the differences are minimised. Thus a certain way of thinking, dressing and behaving emerges within that class. Classes have a sub culture of their own. Most people feel most comfortable with what's familiar and connect best with those who share their world view and background. Obviously they're also more likely to socialise with those of their own class...so it's no wonder they're more likely to marry within their class. However social mobility is quite possible in Ireland...if you refine your speech, educate yourself to a higher degree and change your usual social hang outs.

What's funny is we don't all agree about the attributes that make up class but we all recognise particular classes instantly. Somebody once said to me: The lower class derides, the middle class complains, the upper class patronises. Maybe that's why

I think it's disgusting to the point of verging on hilarity for anyone to unilaterally decide themselves to be of a superior class to another. It would be funny if it were not so narcissistic and idiotic.

To embrace class identity is to turn your back on the principles of hard work, human endeavour and all of the other noble struggles of human existence that make us so wonderful, in place of some lazy, hereditary caste system which often has anything but class.