Irish Etiquette

splendid101

midlandsmissus wrote: »

Never ever answer to 'How are you' with something in the negative. The only acceptable answer is 'grand.

If some-one said 'How are you' and a person answered 'I'm......not great' the sky would probably blow up.

A woman I work with answers, "not great actually" sometimes, and then launches into a monologue of all the stuff that's wrong with her, her husband, her kids, her cat, etc., etc.

I try to just say "hello", or "hi" now to avoid playing the role of psychologist.

midlandsmissus

podgemonster wrote: »

I've heard of Radio DJ's grasping on to topics discussed on AH. "Ok guys, whats the stingiest thing you've seen people do, text us in" and suprisingly the text are carbon copies of the most thank post in the thread.

In fairness that article did heavily reference boards and even named the posters, just bitter my post didnt make it in.

On Topic:
An elderly person who's had a serious accident, fall, stroke or heartattack is decribed as "having a bad turn" and from there on looks "a bit shook after that turn they had that turn"

Ah yeah she had a bit of a turn ' for all elderly incidents - she had a stroke and fell and broke her arm, he collapsed and had to have a quadruple bypass:

= He/she took a bit of a turn.

Again anything to do with nerves/ mental illness

He's harmless
She took to the bed for a week = she had a complete nervous breakdown.

He's fond of the drink is anyone who has lost his home,family and everything belonging to him and is rolling around in the gutter. Only then would some-one be pushed to say he is 'fond' of the drink.

Anyone else is a normal drinker.

who the fug

Everything is Back the road

Never front the road, so which way is back

Reindeer

As an American, I can write a novel on Irish Etiquette after spending a few years in Ireland...so long as I don't write that novel in Ireland...

Real Life

Reindeer wrote: »

As an American, I can write a novel on Irish Etiquette after spending a few years in Ireland...so long as I don't write that novel in Ireland...

give us some of it. its always interesting to hear the views of people from outside.

who the fug

Reindeer wrote: »

As an American, I can write a novel on Irish Etiquette after spending a few years in Ireland...so long as I don't write that novel in Ireland...

A go On , sure what harm could happen

midlandsmissus

who the fug wrote: »

A go On , sure what harm could happen

Yeah we'd love to hear how you interpreted us Reindeer!

pauldla

Reindeer wrote: »

As an American, I can write a novel on Irish Etiquette after spending a few years in Ireland...so long as I don't write that novel in Ireland...

Come on, don't leave us hanging! A few choice vignettes would suffice...

Boombastic

Amara Early Symmetry wrote: »

Never mind planes, its every time you hear a car out my way and I'm as guilty as anyone. Being in the country everybody stops what their doing and looks up anytime you hear a car, tractor etc. Even in the house at night hear a car and two people make a scramble for the curtain and everyone else looking at you saying "who's that?"

The habit is hard to shake even when im in my rented spot in the city, though the constant stream of cars means a lot of looking out the window.





and when somebody arrives in a car you say "they're landed"

I would look up if tractors and cars where up there:p

Angeles

We will often say "go way" this in turn is the polite or more formal version of ***** off* when receiving shocking or interesting news.
It does not imply you need to remove yourself from presence.

midlandsmissus

Angeles wrote: »

We will often say "go way" this in turn is the polite or more formal version of ***** off* when receiving shocking or interesting news.
It does not imply you need to remove yourself from presence.

Mouth hanging open. Shocked face. 'Go. A. Way.'

You could see how a foreigner could get confused with that one alright.

seamus

seamus wrote: »

There are a few acceptable "soft negative" responses:

"Not bad"
"Could be worse"
"Sure, you know yourself"
"Surviving"

"Middlin" is another acceptable response.

Johro

I love 'I will in me hole'.

Household Charge anyone?

Johro

Angeles wrote: »

We will often say "go way" this in turn is the polite or more formal version of ***** off* when receiving shocking or interesting news.
It does not imply you need to remove yourself from presence.

Go'way'ou'o'tha'.

Shryke

To add to the understatement side of things, if someone has a mental breakdown in the middle of the street then "he went directing traffic one night".

Leslie91

He's in for some land (the young lad is in for a shock when he hears the news you've just learned of)

It was catmalojin (it was really bad)

I will in me bollix (there is no way I'm going to do what you say)

Ah would ya F off (replying to someone who has just given you incredulous news)

Reindeer

pauldla wrote: »

Come on, don't leave us hanging! A few choice vignettes would suffice...

I honestly didn't mean to tease you guys. It was a bit late for me when I so curtly replied. I was just agreeing with earlier posts that had mentioned the Irish are quite adept at giving out to one another, and no one outside that Irish club is allowed to join in. But, aren't most clubs such a way?

I'll preface this with the fact that Americans, especially a Texan as I am, are certainly not without their faults. As with any sweeping generality, your mileage most certainly will vary. However, oddly enough, Texans share a lot in common with the Irish when you can look past the firearms and cowboy hats. Southerners are all about keeping up appearances and killing people with kindness, and smiling when it hurts. The calm and the politeness, or at least the appearance of it, is extremely important in both places. This has all sorts of unintended consequences for the both of us.

A nice harmless example is 'tea'. Nowhere in the world have I had to struggle with the formalities of being offered a tea so much as my first visit to Ireland. Texans are used to having their Tea red, cold, and maybe with some sugar. Drinking tea hot was an extremely rare event. We drink hot coffee during the 2-3 weeks of winter. So, at first, I honestly wasn't really eager to accept a warm mug of tea. The first time I was offered some by my Irish GF's mother, maybe 15 years ago or so, it went something like this:

"Cup o' tea?"

"Pardon?"

"You'll have some tea will you?"

"Oh, thanks. But, we must be going soon."

"Just a cup of tea then..."

"Oh no, thank you so much. I'm fine, really."

"Oh sure, you'll have some tea."

"Oh no, please don't put yourself out. I am perfectly fine. We'll only be here a moment before we've got to catch the bus"

"Oh you're silly. Sugar?" In Texas, it is very common for a woman that is your senior to refer to a man as 'sugar' or 'hon', in politeness. So, I was surprised to see some tea arrive moments later after I gave her a smile and a nod. I thought she simply had said, "You're silly, Sugar".

She dropped 2 lumps into the mug before me.

"Milk?"

"Oh, nah. Uh, plain is fine for me, thanks."

"Ah, you'll have a bit of milk."

"Oh, really this is just fine", I replied in earnest. Tea with milk? It was an odd suggestion for me at the time.

"Sure have some milk"

"That's really very kind to offer, but I'm -"

"Not a bother", She immediately poured milk in to my tea.

I tried not to act surprised. At this point I was curious to see how it would taste and was about to give it a try.

"Oh ohohoh. Wait." she admonished me. I stopped my drinking, and looked up to see her disappear from the room. Moments later she sticks her head out from the kitchen doorway and says,

"Biscuit?"

"Uh..." Still being new to Ireland, I thought she was literally offering me something like a scone or a danish. In any case, I was beginning to become confused by the whole tea process.

"I couldn't possibly. I'm really only just here for a few, you know. "

"We've some bourbons.", she looked at me and smiled.

"Bourbons? Oh, thanks really. The tea is more than enough."

She presented herself from around the corner holding a tray heavy with 'cookies' and a few other baked goods I didn't recognize, and I had my first tea and biscuits in Ireland..

In Texas, that exchange does't even really exist. If you are a visitor, you are simply politely presented with some iced tea without a word being said. If you are at the door, or may be in a hurry, you are offered a tea so as not to be rude, but with the full expectation of it being turned down if it is the case the person truly must be on their way with something like, 'Oh, no, thank you. I must be going." Which if you'll notice, was about my first reply up above.

I learned to never turn down an offer of tea in Ireland; want it or not.

I ended up getting hooked on the tea - absolutely love it now and couldn't start the day without it. Especially love it with a smoke. Cheers.

who the fug

Did you just make the Borg into the Irish Mammy

Resistance is futile we have tae

ViveLaVie

Reindeer wrote: »

pauldla wrote: »

Come on, don't leave us hanging! A few choice vignettes would suffice...

I honestly didn't mean to tease you guys. It was a bit late for me when I so curtly replied. I was just agreeing with earlier posts that had mentioned the Irish are quite adept at giving out to one another, and no one outside that Irish club is allowed to join in. But, aren't most clubs such a way?

I'll preface this with the fact that Americans, especially a Texan as I am, are certainly not without their faults. As with any sweeping generality, your mileage most certainly will vary. However, oddly enough, Texans share a lot in common with the Irish when you can look past the firearms and cowboy hats. Southerners are all about keeping up appearances and killing people with kindness, and smiling when it hurts. The calm and the politeness, or at least the appearance of it, is extremely important in both places. This has all sorts of unintended consequences for the both of us.

A nice harmless example is 'tea'. Nowhere in the world have I had to struggle with the formalities of being offered a tea so much as my first visit to Ireland. Texans are used to having their Tea red, cold, and maybe with some sugar. Drinking tea hot was an extremely rare event. We drink hot coffee during the 2-3 weeks of winter. So, at first, I honestly wasn't really eager to accept a warm mug of tea. The first time I was offered some by my Irish GF's mother, maybe 15 years ago or so, it went something like this:

"Cup o' tea?"

"Pardon?"

"You'll have some tea will you?"

"Oh, thanks. But, we must be going soon."

"Just a cup of tea then..."

"Oh no, thank you so much. I'm fine, really."

"Oh sure, you'll have some tea."

"Oh no, please don't put yourself out. I am perfectly fine. We'll only be here a moment before we've got to catch the bus"

"Oh you're silly. Sugar?" In Texas, it is very common for a woman that is your senior to refer to a man as 'sugar' or 'hon', in politeness. So, I was surprised to see some tea arrive moments later after I gave her a smile and a nod. I thought she simply had said, "You're silly, Sugar".

She dropped 2 lumps into the mug before me.

"Milk?"

"Oh, nah. Uh, plain is fine for me, thanks."

"Ah, you'll have a bit of milk."

"Oh, really this is just fine", I replied in earnest. Tea with milk? It was an odd suggestion for me at the time.

"Sure have some milk"

"That's really very kind to offer, but I'm -"

"Not a bother", She immediately poured milk in to my tea.

I tried not to act surprised. At this point I was curious to see how it would taste and was about to give it a try.

"Oh ohohoh. Wait." she admonished me. I stopped my drinking, and looked up to see her disappear from the room. Moments later she sticks her head out from the kitchen doorway and says,

"Biscuit?"

"Uh..." Still being new to Ireland, I thought she was literally offering me something like a scone or a danish. In any case, I was beginning to become confused by the whole tea process.

"I couldn't possibly. I'm really only just here for a few, you know. "

"We've some bourbons.", she looked at me and smiled.

"Bourbons? Oh, thanks really. The tea is more than enough."

She presented herself from around the corner holding a tray heavy with 'cookies' and a few other baked goods I didn't recognize, and I had my first tea and biscuits in Ireland..

In Texas, that exchange does't even really exist. If you are a visitor, you are simply politely presented with some iced tea without a word being said. If you are at the door, or may be in a hurry, you are offered a tea so as not to be rude, but with the full expectation of it being turned down if it is the case the person truly must be on their way with something like, 'Oh, no, thank you. I must be going." Which if you'll notice, was about my first reply up above.

I learned to never turn down an offer of tea in Ireland; want it or not.

I ended up getting hooked on the tea - absolutely love it now and couldn't start the day without it. Especially love it with a smoke. Cheers.

The appropriate response to ''You'll have a cup?'' is either ''Gasping!'' or ''I'd love a cup''.

Brilliant! Keep 'em coming!

Paddy Cow

davet82 wrote: »

some advice on Irish etiquette (my word of the day) that i seen on a website...

http://www.ediplomat.com/np/cultural_etiquette/ce_ie.htm

i found it amusing the idea of some foregin guy reading this before a trip...

so are all the statements accurate? any that you would like to add to the advice of foregin travellers before coming here for business/pleaure?

You missed the most important one......

Always buy your round of drinks.

FREDNISMO

IN the warm weather we turn our wellies down in an attempt to keep cool

pauldla

@ Reindeer

There is no injury in consent, sir, so please keep them coming!

cyrusdvirus

I'm SOOOO glad that i am sitting here in the office by myself, cos i am giggling away here at Reindeer's introduction to the Irish Mammy.

About the only thing missing could have been a look of confusion on his face as she mentions bourbon and comes out with biscuits instead of whisky!!

who the fug

gatecrash wrote: »

I'm SOOOO glad that i am sitting here in the office by myself, cos i am giggling away here at Reindeer's introduction to the Irish Mammy.

About the only thing missing could have been a look of confusion on his face as she mentions bourbon and comes out with biscuits instead of whisky!!

What intrigues me is the absence of his girl friend from the story, did she send Reindeer in first to sate the Irish mammy hunger before showing up

who the fug

If has nor been mentioned, never ever answer a direct question, till you figure out all the angles

Voodoomelon

Reindeer wrote: »

"Cup o' tea?"

"Pardon?"

"You'll have some tea will you?"

"Oh, thanks. But, we must be going soon."

"Just a cup of tea then..."

"Oh no, thank you so much. I'm fine, really."

"Oh sure, you'll have some tea."

"Oh no, please don't put yourself out. I am perfectly fine. We'll only be here a moment before we've got to catch the bus"

"Oh you're silly. Sugar?" In Texas, it is very common for a woman that is your senior to refer to a man as 'sugar' or 'hon', in politeness. So, I was surprised to see some tea arrive moments later after I gave her a smile and a nod. I thought she simply had said, "You're silly, Sugar".

She dropped 2 lumps into the mug before me.

"Milk?"

"Oh, nah. Uh, plain is fine for me, thanks."

"Ah, you'll have a bit of milk."

"Oh, really this is just fine", I replied in earnest. Tea with milk? It was an odd suggestion for me at the time.

"Sure have some milk"

"That's really very kind to offer, but I'm -"

"Not a bother", She immediately poured milk in to my tea.

I tried not to act surprised. At this point I was curious to see how it would taste and was about to give it a try.

"Oh ohohoh. Wait." she admonished me. I stopped my drinking, and looked up to see her disappear from the room. Moments later she sticks her head out from the kitchen doorway and says,

"Biscuit?"

"Uh..." Still being new to Ireland, I thought she was literally offering me something like a scone or a danish. In any case, I was beginning to become confused by the whole tea process.

"I couldn't possibly. I'm really only just here for a few, you know. "

"We've some bourbons.", she looked at me and smiled.

"Bourbons? Oh, thanks really. The tea is more than enough."

She presented herself from around the corner holding a tray heavy with 'cookies' and a few other baked goods I didn't recognize, and I had my first tea and biscuits in Ireland..

In Texas, that exchange does't even really exist. If you are a visitor, you are simply politely presented with some iced tea without a word being said. If you are at the door, or may be in a hurry, you are offered a tea so as not to be rude, but with the full expectation of it being turned down if it is the case the person truly must be on their way with something like, 'Oh, no, thank you. I must be going." Which if you'll notice, was about my first reply up above.

I learned to never turn down an offer of tea in Ireland; want it or not.

I ended up getting hooked on the tea - absolutely love it now and couldn't start the day without it. Especially love it with a smoke. Cheers.

In fairness that's not your typical offering of tea, she sounds like a pushy nutjob.

salad dodger

Another unique take on the english language:

'my uncle died last week'
'oh ya, what'd he die of?'
'he died of a tuesday'

fupduck

I read elsewhere on boards that the tea thing comes from the famine, (I cannot remember where, so can't quote ) . Not sure how true it is , but it made sense to me'
Basically the poster said, that if somebody came to your home, you were polite and you offered them tea, whether you had tea or not. As everybody was in the same boat, if offered, you refused the offer. If the second offer of tea came, then , you would know that there was in fact tea in the household, so it was then perfectly ok to accept the offer.
I'm sure the original poster phrased it much better than I have just done, but hope you get the basic drift :-)

WoollyRedHat

When refering to a member of the opposite sex, " She's good craic" or "sound" generally means she isn't that great looking.

Come here till I , is usually followed by a threat of violence, mostly from ones mother or father when you've done something wrong.

A wooden spoon is a weapon, not a cooking instrument.

When ringing the Guards to report a crime, coming out after 30 minuets is early.

The culinary choice for the general irish college student on their lunchbreak is usually the chipper or a chicken baguette role.

Most nights out will result in a compulsory visit to the local chipper or abrakebabra, which is only frequented when drunk.

The word like and omg make up the majority of words in the lexicon of the ferverent class known as a D4, a posh wannabe california girl that wears lots of fake tan.


When someone is flat out broke, it usually means they can't afford to go out on the piss.

The word town is synomnous with Dublin City Centre. Anyone that lives outside the capitol Dublin is regarded as a culchie.

The number of words or phrases used to describe ones drunkenness is infinite. Said description of ones drunkeness is usally given when summing up how good/ mad a night was had...

When an Irish person uses the word dying when describing the morning after going out, they are not actually dying but just suffering from a particularly bad hangover. The ailment to said hangover usually involving a good old fry up and tea.

The serving of tea is an acceptable form of consoling somebody after something particularly bad has happened, such as a death, or having a bad accident.

Going to the shop usually refers to the local convenience store, despite it's generic meaning. Going abroad and using this will certainly confuse anyone not Irish

When somebody says thank you, it is not unusual to be thanked for saying thank you.

When someone asks if you're well, do not reply back with a description of your health, just say you're grand.


The leaving on of the immersion in your house while empty is the equivalent to leaving a nuclear reactor unattended.

It is customary to sing the national anthem down the country at the end of a night.


The bitching of a friend one second to automatic change of attitude as soon as said friend comes into room.

"Can I borrow a cigarette off you" is a common request, despite making absolutely no sense.

After Christmas dinner, the left overs constitute the staple of an Irish persons diet for at least a week " Sure that turkey will do you for your sandwiches for tomorrow" . This probably explains the serving of turkey as a yearly event, as everyone is sick to their stomach after enduring a whole week of dry turkey sandwiches.

baldbear

"what did your parents die from?" " Auld age." It always made me smile when my dad said this to the doctors.