Great Irish Clichés

keepkeyyellow

I've noticed in the last while that us Irish people seem to love repeating ourselves, without any hint of irony. For instance I was listening to a conversation between my Dad and his sister the other day and they managed to repeat the fact that our cousin got a new van 3 times, in a 15 minutes conversation.

While working in a petrol station for 4 years people would always debate the weather until the bailout came in and then they'd just tack on some generic damn the bankers comment to anything they said, every day, without fail.

Even as my sister goes into Secondary school I'm hearing stories of Knackers vs Goths vs Common Sense, not to mention they still use sketch when a teacher comes.

But what annoys me the most is the arguments that happen when Jedward come on the television which always results in someone professing their love for Jedward and then someone wishing death on them.

Am the only one who's noticed this? Or is pointing out these clichés a cliché in itself.

chin_grin

I've noticed in the last while that us Irish people seem to love repeating ourselves, without any hint of irony. For instance I was listening to a conversation between my Dad and his sister the other day and they managed to repeat the fact that our cousin got a new van 3 times, in a 15 minutes conversation.

While working in a petrol station for 4 years people would always debate the weather until the bailout came in and then they'd just tack on some generic damn the bankers comment to anything they said, every day, without fail.

Even as my sister goes into Secondary school I'm hearing stories of Knackers vs Goths vs Common Sense, not to mention they still use sketch when a teacher comes.

But what annoys me the most is the arguments that happen when Jedward come on the television which always results in someone professing their love for Jedward and then someone wishing death on them.

Am the only one who's noticed this? Or is pointing out these clichés a cliché in itself.

Chuck Stone

Is this about cliches or repeating ourselves?

I hate it when people spell "cliché" as "cliche".

The Scientician

Actual cliches include:

Begrudery being an exclusively Irish trait.

When an Irish person wins 3rd prize in some bullshít we're still "punching above our weight", this is in sports, arts, etc.

Randomer.

It's called small talk, its fake as **** but I envy those who've mastered it, the only alternative being the dreaded awkward silence.

The less interested you are in common things (celebs/sports/xfactor etc) the worse off you are at this. I often wonder how many people intentionally force themselves to like something in order to better cope with day to day meaningless conversations.

Few people unfortunately, like having deep conversations.

I dunno if this really is an Irish thing though.

nirvanaholic

Worked in a hardware shop for a few years and heard the same few things everyday...

1. ''the weather is shockin'!''
2. ''the next budget will see the end of us all...''
3. Fianna Fail vs. Fine Gael debate

and being the employee I had to listen to this regularly...it becomes very annoying!

Tesco Massacre

The Scientician wrote: »

Actual cliches include:

Begrudery being an exclusively Irish trait.

When an Irish person wins 3rd prize in some bullshít we're still "punching above our weight", this is in sports, arts, etc.

Or (and this seems to have become quite common in recent years), some people classing anything negative you might say against someone or something Irish as 'typical Irish begrudgery'.

Chuck Stone

Randomer. wrote: »

It's called small talk, its fake as **** but I envy those who've mastered it, the only alternative being the dreaded awkward silence.

The less interested you are in common things (celebs/sports/xfactor etc) the worse off you are at this.

Spot on.

I can do it but it doesn't feel right. It feels like I'm doing it involuntarily.. as if my real self hides in the rational part of my consciousness and I wheel out the small talker with the feigned interest in shared local and national events with a garnish of fake smiles and laughs.

I have a good friend who does it like a champ and it seems like he genuinely enjoys it.

problemchimp

It's cliched to be cynical at Christmas!

whubee

Randomer. wrote: »

It's called small talk, its fake as **** but I envy those who've mastered it, the only alternative being the dreaded awkward silence.

I am master of the awkward silence, this is not by choice, i have had to sit prisoner through some fcking awful 'elephant in the room' type awkward silences.
some of which would kill a normal human.
the memories still haunt me.

mikom

My favorite Cliché is the one about a French footballer who went on to play for Manchester City.

The Scientician

Sacramento wrote: »

I hate it when people spell "cliché" as "cliche".

Meh, it's not French we're speaking, it's perfectly acceptable to drop the acute accent.

BOHtox

RATS OUT!

SteelyDanJalapeno

"inser joke about your ma"

AnamGlas

TiltedBrain wrote: »

"insert joke about your ma"

Done.

FinnLizzy

The most annoying cliché used on Irish TV is when, lets say, a group of do gooders or a bouncy, enthusiastic Jedward like bunch come on. Some one will always point out that they keeping people happy though the recession, or are taking our minds off the 'doom and gloom'.

Its one thing to bring it up when no ones thinking about it, but to assume that everyone's mood is affected by the banking crisis is a tad annoying.

On another note, I think that Riverdance is great. It really took my mind off the doom and gloom of the Rwanda genocide.

7sr2z3fely84g5

Yes that minister/official did get a scandalous amount in that massive pension.



*we not going to do anything about it

LH Pathe

derp .. derp"

"derp derp ... "

".. derp"

Adyx

Randomer. wrote: »

It's called small talk, its fake as **** but I envy those who've mastered it, the only alternative being the dreaded awkward silence.

The less interested you are in common things (celebs/sports/xfactor etc) the worse off you are at this. I often wonder how many people intentionally force themselves to like something in order to better cope with day to day meaningless conversations.

Few people unfortunately, like having deep conversations.

I dunno if this really is an Irish thing though.

Try working in a pub; "yeah, yeah that was quite the birdy Brian O'Driscoll scored in that hurling match between those two local sports teams".

Antikythera

The Scientician wrote: »

Meh, it's not French we're speaking, it's perfectly acceptable to drop the acute accent.

Yeah, cliche is an Irish word.

pickarooney

The Scientician wrote: »

Meh, it's not French we're speaking, it's perfectly acceptable to drop the acute accent.

A cute accent doesn't really come across well in text form anyway.

cianl1

Antikythera wrote: »

Yeah, cliche is an Irish word.

No, cluiche is an Irish word.