Irish People abroad.

OPENROAD · 16-11-2007 08:36PM #1

Why is it that when the Irish go on holidays or to live abroad, they seek out the Irish pub to make it their regular

Latchy · 16-11-2007 08:38PM

OPENROAD wrote: »

Why is it that when the Irish go on holidays or to live abroad, they seek out the Irish pub to make it their regular

For the same reasons the English do , it's a tribal /clannish thing but i see your point.

johnnyskeleton · 16-11-2007 08:39PM

OPENROAD wrote: »

Why is it that when the Irish go on holidays or to live abroad, they seek out the Irish pub to make it their regular

Becaue they're thirsty after the long voyage.

Pj! · 16-11-2007 08:43PM

Because its a great way of meeting people who may have information on accommodation and jobs.
And an irish pub must be the easiest place in the world to be 'welcomed'. Nice when you are in a strange place.

philstar · 16-11-2007 08:44PM

because the irish are the most clanish/tribalistic of any race

personally i prefer to experience the local culture

Karoma · 16-11-2007 08:44PM

OPENROAD wrote: »

Why is it that when the Irish go on holidays or to live abroad, they seek out the Irish pub to make it their regular

Woohoo! I win! Sweeping Comment Bingo!
The Irish go on holiday in one large group? Every single Irish person goes to a bar? Every single Irish person goes to the Irish bar?
Some Irish people choose an Irish bar because they stock drinks that one can get at home. Maybe that's what they want. Maybe they didn't go abroad for a culture exchange. Maybe they just went for the weather or some event. Maybe.

Rovi · 16-11-2007 08:56PM

<tenuously on topic>
Has anyone else seen the new Carlsberg ad where the Irish lads are in a bar 'out somewhere foreign' and are pushed to 'do something Irish', so one of them recites a 'poem' made up of a bunch of vaguely remembered primary school Irish words and phrases?
I think it's the most genuinely funny thing on TV at the moment, and it raises a chuckle every time I see it.

He gets the babe at the end too

No sign of it on YouTube yet.

OPENROAD · 16-11-2007 08:56PM

Forky wrote: »

Because its a great way of meeting people who may have information on accommodation and jobs.
And an irish pub must be the easiest place in the world to be 'welcomed'. Nice when you are in a strange place.

Yea but its not just these types, people who have been living somewhere for ages.

As for Irish pubs being the easiest place to be welcomed, think that is a bit of a myth actually.

OPENROAD · 16-11-2007 09:07PM

Rovi wrote: »

<tenuously on topic>
Has anyone else seen the new Carlsberg ad where the Irish lads are in a bar 'out somewhere foreign' and are pushed to 'do something Irish', so one of them recites a 'poem' made up of a bunch of vaguely remembered primary school Irish words and phrases?
I think it's the most genuinely funny thing on TV at the moment, and it raises a chuckle every time I see it.

He gets the babe at the end too

No sign of it on YouTube yet.

doesn't say much for tv if it is the funniest thing on tv at the moment:D sin e.

16-11-2007 09:08PM

I know people of all different creeds, that seek out Irish bars whereever they go.
Because Irish pubs tend to be nice places to drink, they like the atmosphere and its a known quantity like McDonalds.
Also you tend to be able to meet other ex-pats.

Pj! · 16-11-2007 09:14PM

OPENROAD wrote: »

Yea but its not just these types, people who have been living somewhere for ages.

As for Irish pubs being the easiest place to be welcomed, think that is a bit of a myth actually.

Worked for me anyway mate. You're guaranteed a conversation in English (handy if in a foreign speaking place) and hints and tips of what to do and where to visit. Or work and accommodation as I said.

And we are one of the friendliest nations ( to ourselves anyway, I won't go into the foreigners argument). I found it all out travelling.

Latchy · 16-11-2007 09:15PM

OPENROAD wrote: »

Yea but its not just these types, people who have been living somewhere for ages.

As for Irish pubs being the easiest place to be welcomed, think that is a bit of a myth actually.

I agree , it's a myth thats being adopted by a lot of pub landlords over the world simply to make money in the same way that McDonalds sell burgers .

MagicMarker · 16-11-2007 09:18PM

I'm moving to Canada next month, apparently there is an Irish bar in the City i'm moving to. So i'm looking forward to meeting some of local ''irish'' people and show them what the real deal is all about. muwah ha ha!!!

An Citeog · 16-11-2007 09:23PM

I usually go there to watch football or the rugby world cup when it was on. My local is a typical Catalan tapas bar run by a Chinese family. At €1.50 for a beer, I'm not complaining!

Sinfonia · 16-11-2007 09:23PM

MagicMarker wrote: »

I'm moving to Canada next month, apparently there is an Irish bar in the City i'm moving to. So i'm looking forward to meeting some of local ''irish'' people and show them what the real deal is all about. muwah ha ha!!!

Ha! There'll probably be about fifty

Latchy · 16-11-2007 09:28PM

SumGuy wrote: »

Ha! There'll probably be about fifty

And they will all have being over on holidays to ireland during the year .....::)

Terry · 16-11-2007 09:29PM

MagicMarker wrote: »

I'm moving to Canada next month, apparently there is an Irish bar in the City i'm moving to. So i'm looking forward to meeting some of local ''irish'' people and show them what the real deal is all about. muwah ha ha!!!

Say hello to Mordeth while you're there.

deman · 16-11-2007 09:33PM

OPENROAD wrote: »

Why is it that when the Irish go on holidays or to live abroad, they seek out the Irish pub to make it their regular

Because The Castle is the best pub in town (Turku). Good music, good beer, good company, good atmosphere. What else would you want?

OPENROAD · 16-11-2007 09:38PM

To be fair I'm a bit guilty myself, if I want to check out a football match, I will look out for an Irish or English bar.

Just curious as to what people thought, the feeling I get is that we want foreign nationals to integrate here and yes before someone jumps in I know everything doesn't/shouldn't revolve around the pub. Personally when England or elsewhere I will try and seek out a local pub to sample the local beer/culture and will avoid Irish bars except as mentioned for sporting events.

Again it is only on a personal experience I have found Irish bars to be no more or less friendly than other bars but as mentioned by a poster it is a great marketing point for the landlord.

giddyup · 16-11-2007 09:47PM

OPENROAD wrote: »

Why is it that when the Irish go on holidays or to live abroad, they seek out the Irish pub to make it their regular

emmm - why not? Life doesn't have to be one big cultural expedition - sometimes people just like a quiet roaster and in some places there's only one place you'll get that.

Moonbaby wrote: »

I know people of all different creeds, that seek out Irish bars whereever they go.
Because Irish pubs tend to be nice places to drink, they like the atmosphere and its a known quantity like McDonalds.
Also you tend to be able to meet other ex-pats.

All good points, especially the known quantity thing. I like dive bar kinds of places and I don't really care whether they are Irish or not but generally if I'm somewhere and I'm not too sure of the surroundings and I want a pint in a decent bar, an Irish bar will be a good bet. Some Irish bars are admittedly awful but the good ones are usually the best ones around.

For a fine example I'd swear by the Blarney Rock on W 33rd st in Manhattan - a great blue collar sh1t-hole of a bar. There's plenty of places like that dotted around our little globe.

tallus · 16-11-2007 09:55PM

Hurleys in Montreal FTW

OPENROAD · 16-11-2007 09:58PM

giddyup wrote: »

emmm - why not? Life doesn't have to be one big cultural expedition - sometimes people just like a quiet roaster and in some places there's only one place you'll get that.

each to their own, just not for me, if I go on holiday, personally want something different, and some Irish bars a re really really bad, you know the ones, the bike in the window and a traffic sign of how many miles it is to Galway :mad::D

giddyup · 16-11-2007 10:34PM

OPENROAD wrote:

some Irish bars a re really really bad, you know the ones, the bike in the window and a traffic sign of how many miles it is to Galway :mad::D

- Couldn't agree with you more - I'd steer well clear of those ones and it's a good rule of thumb that it will be a sh1te bar with a miserable barman.

I just don't like the default position (and I'm not saying that this is your position) that some people have of shock, cultural snobbery and opprobium when they hear that I've had a scoop in an Irish bar in Osaka.

I reserve the right to dance by firelight with the Lobi on Tuesday and lower a few pints with some King crisps in Ryans of Accra on Wednesday.

Unpossible · 16-11-2007 11:05PM

I go to them over here usually just to see what drinks they might have or to see what they are like (if they feel any bit like back home). The best pint of Guinness I've had in this country came from an Irish pub in Kaijaani, course the one in Kuopio had terrible stout

, but its closed now so it doesn't matter.

mise_me_fein · 16-11-2007 11:52PM

philstar wrote: »

because the irish are the most clanish/tribalistic of any race

personally i prefer to experience the local culture

Luckily there a people like you that can be better than as you say "The Irish"

BraziliaNZ · 17-11-2007 12:30AM

I drink in them here because all the ex-pats drink there and you're more likely to meet people who are looking for friends too because the locals generally have their own lives and aren't as open to meet new people as other foreigners. Simple as that. Also, going to pubs is our culture, just like Chinese people go to Chinese restaurants on Parnell St. Anyone who has a problem with this is obviously ashamed to be Irish when they're abroad or something, or a cultural snob. Get a grip! I'll be skulling a few pints of Guinness in the Mountmellick in Tauranga later!! Plus the Irish barman gives me free drinks and shots quite a bit!

OPENROAD · 17-11-2007 12:35AM

Anyone who has a problem with this is obviously ashamed to be Irish when they're abroad or something, or a cultural snob. Get a grip! I'll be skulling a few pints of Guinness in the Mountmellick in Tauranga later!! Plus the Irish barman gives me free drinks and shots quite a bit![/QUOTE]

Absolute rubbish- "ashamed to be Irish"

and I AM NOT a cultural snob for avoiding Irish bars abroad, come on !!

fantasma · 17-11-2007 12:44AM

Because traditionally you always feel at home with your own. Once you feel comfortable then you either stay with your own or move on. In my own experience the best Irish move on and check in occassionally with their brethern while abroad but only for a rain check.

OPENROAD · 17-11-2007 12:46AM

[QUOTE=In my own experience the best Irish move on and check in occassionally with their brethern while abroad but only for a rain check.[/QUOTE]

Sounds about right to me.

tallaght01 · 17-11-2007 01:22AM

I think it's a bit more understandable for Irish people to spend time in Paddy bars when they're living abroad.

But when your on hols, I personally think it's a bit of a sad thing to do. I remember ending up lost in Hong Kong in a very dodgy area late at night. We weren't sure how to get home. So, we saw an Irish bar, and went in to get some advice on making our escape. We had a drink while we were there, and bumped into a load of guys who were from Ireland. They were in HK for a week, and spent every evening in this bar. "and when it's closed there's another late Irish bar we go to". They never went to HK bars and clubs.

I mean, for christs sake. Some of the best nights out I've ever had have been in bars and clubs where I can't speak the language and there isn't another European in sight. I will also concede that some of the worst nights I've had have been in places like those. I guess there's comfort in the "known quantity".

There's nothing worse than meeting a load of punters in a hostel or wherever from back home, who wanna go to the Irish bars every night. It's a very real phenomenon, despite what Karoma thinks.

Having said that, it's not unique to the Irish. When I lived in Scotland, I used to be amazed at guys going abroad. I'd ask "how was you holiday in Phnom Penh?" They'd say "it was great..there was this amazing Scottish bar there.....".

But everyone to their own. It's a free world. There's 3 Irish bars where I am here in New Zealand. Haven't been to one of them yet, and not intending to go either. But everyone in work keps giving me helpfula dvice about where the local Irish bars are.

I think when people go on package holidays to tenerife or whatever, you may as well go to an Irish bar though, coz you ain't going on those hols for a cultural experience, by and large.

fantasma · 17-11-2007 01:31AM

Indeed. Holidays are different. Less time, and then theres the langauge:D

Irish People abroad.

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