Cringeworthy irish traditions that won't just die

Fred Swanson · 13-12-2017 05:31PM

This post has been deleted.

retro:electro · 13-12-2017 08:07PM

Not sure if it's particularly Irish but saying the words "Lord have mercy on them" when you're referring to a person who is now deceased. Or their name and RIP after it. "Oh those shoes used to belong to Martin, RIP". Martin has been dead about 20 years like he's well rested don't worry

FatherTed · 13-12-2017 09:41PM

JupiterKid wrote: »

The Mrs Doyle “ah, you will, you will, you WILL!!” and the recipient/guest going “ah no, sure I can’t” even though they actually want to accept the offer. What is all that dancing around about?

Whenever I visit from the US I always spend a day going around to the aunts and I've had two aunt situations - I've actually had my hand burnt by one aunt who proceeded to pour a second cup of tea(or was it the tenth?) - "ah go on a second cup, no thanks, ah go on, truly thanks but no, ah you must, no really thanks I must be going, ah sure you will" then ouch poured the tea over my hand covering the cup.

The second aunt got really annoyed and put out when I declined tea, which would have been about the tenth for the day. Almost kicked me out she was so upset. The next day my mother says "why didn't you drink the tea at Aunt Mary's?, She's in a fierce huff now". Word had gotten back quickly this major world event had occurred. Needless to say I've learned to always say "yes please that would be grand, thanks" when visiting Aunt Mary since then.

foxy farmer · 13-12-2017 10:14PM

FatherTed wrote: »

Whenever I visit from the US I always spend a day going around to the aunts and I've had two aunt situations - I've actually had my hand burnt by one aunt who proceeded to pour a second cup of tea(or was it the tenth?) - "ah go on a second cup, no thanks, ah go on, truly thanks but no, ah you must, no really thanks I must be going, ah sure you will" then ouch poured the tea over my hand covering the cup.

The second aunt got really annoyed and put out when I declined tea, which would have been about the tenth for the day. Almost kicked me out she was so upset. The next day my mother says "why didn't you drink the tea at Aunt Mary's?, She's in a fierce huff now". Word had gotten back quickly this major world event had occurred. Needless to say I've learned to always say "yes please that would be grand, thanks" when visiting Aunt Mary since then.

Ah sure all they want is a good ol chat. Nephew home from the States. That'll keep the old chin wagging with other oul wans going for months.

PeterParker957 · 13-12-2017 10:19PM

anna080 wrote: »

Not sure if it's particularly Irish but saying the words "Lord have mercy on them" when you're referring to a person who is now deceased. Or their name and RIP after it. "Oh those shoes used to belong to Martin, RIP". Martin has been dead about 20 years like he's well rested don't worry

I've literally just talked about my mam who passed in 1993 and said "my mam, may God rest her soul..."

Funny thing is she'd take the piss if anyone said that in front of her!!!

goat2 · 13-12-2017 10:28PM

Sweetemotion wrote: »

Tractors being allowed to drive on motorways.

They also pay road tax, have same right, I think

Esel · 14-12-2017 12:17AM

goat2 wrote: »

They also pay road tax, have same right, I think

There is a minimum speed limit on motorways, afaik.

server down · 14-12-2017 12:25AM

Elemonator wrote: »

Thinking when we go abroad everyone loves the Irish. They don't.

Self congratulating ourselves on everything whether it be football fans or "craic". Self congratulations is moot.

It’s more of a cringeworthy Irish tradition to think we think that.

14-12-2017 12:28AM

anna080 wrote: »

Not sure if it's particularly Irish but saying the words "Lord have mercy on them" when you're referring to a person who is now deceased. Or their name and RIP after it. "Oh those shoes used to belong to Martin, RIP". Martin has been dead about 20 years like he's well rested don't worry

More of an expression of respect than an actual prayer id say. I wouldnt be religious myself and i would say it more out of habit and out of respect for the deceased than any wishful thinking.

LirW · 14-12-2017 12:32AM

Might not be Irish but damn, the way you can sell the Germans Ireland is insane. Print Ireland on it and suddenly they all go apesh1t. What they know: There are sheep, green fields, a few coastal rocks, Guinness. Maybe support that with the 1-week exchange they have where they all go to: The Guinness warehouse, Bray, Temple bar and the wealthy ones might even get a trip to the Cliffs of Moher.
Then they go back home and camp the local Irish pub that pulls sh1tty pints and feel more or less like one of them and making plans to make it big in Dublin and dreaming about a wonderful spacious Berlin-esque apartment in Temple Bar.

That. Is. So. Cringeworthy.

darkdubh · 14-12-2017 12:39AM

LirW wrote: »

Might not be Irish but damn, the way you can sell the Germans Ireland is insane. Print Ireland on it and suddenly they all go apesh1t. What they know: There are sheep, green fields, a few coastal rocks, Guinness. Maybe support that with the 1-week exchange they have where they all go to: The Guinness warehouse, Bray, Temple bar and the wealthy ones might even get a trip to the Cliffs of Moher.
Then they go back home and camp the local Irish pub that pulls sh1tty pints and feel more or less like one of them and making plans to make it big in Dublin and dreaming about a wonderful spacious Berlin-esque apartment in Temple Bar.

That. Is. So. Cringeworthy.

Don't forget Enya. Some mad German lad even tried to break into her castle in Dalkey because he wanted to marry her.

LirW · 14-12-2017 12:43AM

Nah, they all go crazy about Dropkick Murphys.
This is literally all they play in Irish pubs over there.

"Oh and I love Irish music"
"like what?"
" Dropkick Murpheeeeeeys is sooo keeewl"

whisky_galore · 14-12-2017 09:22AM

Blessing yourself at every church and graveyard while driving.

PeterParker957 · 14-12-2017 09:29AM

whisky_galore wrote: »

Blessing yourself at every church and graveyard while driving.

** pretends I haven't just done that literally this second **

CruelCoin · 14-12-2017 09:33AM

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

I have actually never heard this.

I don't make calls to old people, so maybe that's it.

CruelCoin · 14-12-2017 09:35AM

Said by my wife's friend:

"Sure, he's the 7th son of a 7th son. He's got the cure of the tooth"

"the cure"....As if it's a registered ****ing superpower.

I didn't know it was possible for people to be this amount of stupid/superstitious.

seamus · 14-12-2017 09:37AM

Fourier wrote: »

An equivalent of that occurs across the world and has for centuries. There's nothing odd or Irish about calling your parents Mam or Dad instead of by their names.

I think he's referring specifically to "Mammy" and "Daddy" rather than Mam, Mum, Ma, Da, Dad.

There's something very deferential, very childish about saying "Mammy" when you're 25.

Speedwell's post made me laugh though. American traditions around names are weird; calling bosses by their surnames, saying "Yes, sir" when talking to more senior colleagues (I've a guy in work does this, he's older than me!), calling your in-laws "Mom" and "Dad"...<shudder>. I call our CEO and founders by their first names, I can't imagine saying, "Hello Mr. <name>" to anyone, except when I'm talking to my kids about their teachers.

It's funny, I remember growing up that the people on the road who didn't have kids, the ones who were just the quiet neighbours, were Mr/Mrs Somebody. Whereas your mates' parents were called by their first name or their full names. You'd always call them John or John Somebody, not Mr. Somebody.

whisky_galore · 14-12-2017 09:37AM

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Never heard it either, are you posting from 1946?

whisky_galore · 14-12-2017 10:36AM

Esel wrote: »

There is a minimum speed limit on motorways, afaik.

Yes they pay (or should pay) the so-called 'road tax' like every other motor vehicle and as long as they can attain the min. speed for a motorway they're entitled to be on it.
Like it or not.

Most modern tractors are fast, relatively speaking. It seems that contractors are using them for work that used to be done by trucks, hence the numbers of them on motorways.

Alun · 14-12-2017 10:46AM

Esel wrote: »

There is a minimum speed limit on motorways, afaik.

Kind of ... a vehicle has to be capable of travelling at 50km/h in order to be allowed on a motorway, but once on it can travel as slowly as they want.

granturismo · 14-12-2017 10:52AM

Twink still on TV. She was on Nationwide this week and Mary Kennedy seemed a bit amused at Twink's attempts to dictate how to cook.

ohnonotgmail · 14-12-2017 10:59AM

Esel wrote: »

There is a minimum speed limit on motorways, afaik.

if you believe the wikipedia page on the subject then there is a minimum speed limit of 30mph. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_speed_limits_in_the_Republic_of_Ireland

unfortunately the wikipedia page is wrong. It gives a cite for the claim but the link doesnt work. It is trying to link here http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1974/act/6/enacted/en/print There is no mention of a minimum speed in that act. It only says that the government may prescribe the class of vehicles that can use a motorway.

Speedwell · 14-12-2017 11:04AM

I recently (within the last couple years) got my full Irish driving license. One of the requirements was that I be able to show that I was not unnecessarily impeding the flow of traffic and was progressing appropriately for road conditions and visibility. I got a mark on one exam for nothing more than the instructor thinking I didn't pull away from a corner in good time.

It is not unreasonable to assume, as was the case in my 30-year driving history in the US, that a vehicle that is impeding traffic flow is a road hazard regardless of its speed or suitability.

whisky_galore · 14-12-2017 11:10AM

granturismo wrote: »

Twink still on TV. She was on Nationwide this week and Mary Kennedy seemed a bit amused at Twink's attempts to dictate how to cook.

Natural wastage is the only thing that rids some celebrities from RTE.

Oops69 · 14-12-2017 07:34PM

Irish people classifying restaurants by portion size e.g “that’s a great restaurant , heaps of food “, Jesus get some class you potato shoveling muck savages .

RocketRaccoon · 14-12-2017 07:37PM

****ing arseholes singing in bars after they've stopped serving. The bane of my existence when I worked in pubs.

Oops69 · 14-12-2017 07:42PM

It’s usually a cork arsehole who thinks he’s a cultural icon because he knows all the verses to ‘an poc at bhuile ‘ .

Ulysses Gaze · 14-12-2017 07:50PM

granturismo wrote: »

Twink still on TV. She was on Nationwide this week and Mary Kennedy seemed a bit amused at Twink's attempts to dictate how to cook.

And yet RTE want us to pay even more for a license fee so they can keep producing this "quality", "World Class" "entertainment"......

foxy farmer · 14-12-2017 07:50PM

Oops69 wrote: »

It’s usually a cork arsehole who thinks he’s a cultural icon because he knows all the verses to ‘an poc at bhuile ‘ .

Aaaaaaaa leeeee lllluuuuuu Tá an puc ar buile:pac:

branie2 · 14-12-2017 07:51PM

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Victor Meldrew did it in One Foot in the Grave

Cringeworthy irish traditions that won't just die

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