What are some things an American should know about the Irish Culture?

WickedWest

bluewolf wrote: »

WickedWest wrote: »

Okay, that's the first thing I'll say when I get to Ireland, right after I ask how the policeman's mother is and take his hat so I can't be arrested.

they're called the guards

That's better, policeman is a bit of a mouthful anyway.

WickedWest

Meow_Meow wrote: »

'PS I Love You' is fiction. And bad fiction at that.
We apologise for the misleading propaganda, and to all the disappinted Yankettes it has left in its wake

Ooh, that is disappointing, perhaps I should go to Scotland instead?

Just kidding, I haven't actually seen it, I don't care for sad movies. That, and I didn't want to watch a movie in which Gerard Butler was already dead before the opening credits

Red Hand

Potatoes are and have been the cause and solution to all Irish problems.

markie29

Red Hand wrote: »

Potatoes are and have been the cause and solution to all Irish problems.

you are thinking about beer

WickedWest

tfitzgerald wrote: »

A fag is something you smoke

Confab post 144 is very good

I did know that, but thanks! Are you a trekkie, by any chance?

Red Hand

markie29 wrote: »

you are thinking about beer

Poiteen can be made from potatoes.

My point still stands!:D

looksee

I think she's ahead by a nose (or maybe a sock) at the moment.

Meow_Meow

Oh, also worth noting that by American standards, Irish people (especially the older generation) can sometimes be quite un-PC. Try not to be offended by it and just go with the flow. I remember ordering from Apache pizza and my American housemate made a big deal over the fact that one pizza was called 'tomahawk' something, and it was rather irritating. Unless it's blindingly obvious that a person means to be offensive, just let it go.

WickedWest

looksee wrote: »

I think she's ahead by a nose (or maybe a sock) at the moment.

Who's ahead of what? This is my own thread and I can't even follow it!

WickedWest

Meow_Meow wrote: »

Oh, also worth noting that by American standards, Irish people (especially the older generation) can sometimes be quite un-PC. Try not to be offended by it and just go with the flow. I remember ordering from Apache pizza and my American housemate made a big deal over the fact that one pizza was called 'tomahawk' something, and it was rather irritating. Unless it's blindingly obvious that a person means to be offensive, just let it go.

I don't even know why someone would take offense to that.

WickedWest

cena wrote: »

Come over and Marry me. Don't mind the rest of the lads here. i WOULD SAY yOU WELL like Ireland. Many americans like it here

Can I get a green card if I marry you? If so, sounds perfect!

Meow_Meow

WickedWest wrote: »

I don't even know why someone would take offense to that.

Apparently it's a racial slur (???)

Where To

WickedWest wrote: »

I don't even know why someone would take offense to that.

It is also important to replace all letter ssesses with cesses when in Ireland.

offense becomes offence
defense becomes defence
sock becomes cock
etc.

cml387

One other thing.

It's very uncool to admit to liking U2 in Ireland.

The cool thing to say is that they went downhill after "Boy".

You are of course welcome hold the view that they are the best rock band in the world,but just don't admit it.

micropig

On a clear day you can see Boston Massachusetts from the west side of Achill Island (Co. Mayo)

robindch

Don't bring up the topic of religion like this tourist did:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaGj1rJdPKo

longshanks

Ok I'm back from rescuing those orphans, what did I miss?

btard

Driving on the left is easy enough to get used to. Incidently, you should always offer any male friends a ride. This will make you very extremely popular.




*cough*

Jimoslimos

WickedWest wrote: »

What I'm looking for in Ireland isn't big city life

Avoid Leitrim so.

Should you find yourself in the (unlikely) situation of taking a fancy to an Irish lad whilst over here, and in the course of your romantic dalliances said lad is spending too much time engaging in foreplay (even more unlikely) a quick "Horse/Lob it in to me boss" should suffice without hurting anyone's feelings.

jaffacakesyum

Jimoslimos wrote: »

Avoid Leitrim so.

Should you find yourself in the (unlikely) situation of taking a fancy to an Irish lad whilst over here, and in the course of your romantic dalliances said lad is spending too much time engaging in foreplay (even more unlikely) a quick "Horse/Lob it in to me boss" should suffice without hurting anyone's feelings.

Had to lol at this :pac:

languagenerd

OP, I think this thread is your first test of working out when the Irish are taking the piss and when they're being serious :P

Some serious advice for you cause you said you don't drink - I don't either and I get on grand - you just have to show that you don't mind others drinking and that you can have a good time without it. Some people I know don't even realise I'm not drinking (if we don't get into rounds).

Also, the others here may kill me for telling you :P, but be warned that "ride" means "to have sex" so don't ask for "rides" home - if you want someone to bring you home in their car, it's a lift you're looking for, not a ride.

We really do say grand all the time - it means "fine" more or less. And we also say "sure" a lot for no real reason ("Ah, sure, it'll be grand" - that's our general mentality, tbh). Oh and "how are you?" (often shortened to "howiya") just means "hi".

Don't ask about leprechauns (seriously, just don't) and don't expect us to sound like Hollywood Irish accents (NO-ONE actually speaks like that!) :P

exador

GAELIC is not some sort of homosexual act

A Euro is worth about 20 american dollars

Gee is like a fanny but on the front

Conchir

languagenerd wrote: »

OP, I think this thread is your first test of working out when the Irish are taking the piss and when they're being serious :P

+1 to that. If you can keep up with this thread in any way, you'll be grand Good luck!

pache

do ya take pipe?.

WickedWest

btard wrote: »

Driving on the left is easy enough to get used to. Incidently, you should always offer any male friends a ride. This will make you very extremely popular.




*cough*

Why? I mean, I give people rides here in Nebraska all the time, but I dont think I'm any more popular for it.

WickedWest

Where To wrote: »

It is also important to replace all letter ssesses with cesses when in Ireland.

offense becomes offence
defense becomes defence
sock becomes cock
etc.

But you wouldn't find it weird if I were to text you saying, "I need to buy some cocks at the store tomorrow."??

WickedWest

longshanks wrote: »

Ok I'm back from rescuing those orphans, what did I miss?

Just some lessons on giving rides, not liking U2, and replacing 's' with 'c' even in the case of socks...

...Or should I say cocks?

I'm PRETTY sure I know which ones are jokes.

WickedWest

pache wrote: »

do ya take pipe?.

What's pipe?

WickedWest

languagenerd wrote: »

Also, the others here may kill me for telling you :P, but be warned that "ride" means "to have sex" so don't ask for "rides" home - if you want someone to bring you home in their car, it's a lift you're looking for, not a ride.

Oh god, I wish I had just skipped ahead to read this post...

ballsymchugh

micropig wrote: »

and just two kisses for greeting hello, one on each cheek..some countries in Europe do three kisses

what? when did the belgians take over?
handshake for the lads, shifting for the burds.

Where To

WickedWest wrote: »

Just some lessons on giving rides, not liking U2, and replacing 's' with 'c' even in the case of socks...

...Or should I say cocks?

I'm PRETTY sure I know which ones are jokes.

The ancient Irish art of self-loathing forbids any notions of narcissism

Just a heads up:pac:

mcw92

exador wrote: »

A Euro is worth about 20 american dollars

Jimoslimos

WickedWest wrote: »

I'm an American woman from the heartland of the United States, and I've been thinking about getting involved in the study abroad program at the university and studying in Cork, Ireland.

Providence strikes oil off Cork coast

Hmmmm........

WickedWest

ballsymchugh wrote: »

what? when did the belgians take over?
handshake for the lads, shifting for the burds.

What does that mean?

WickedWest

Where To wrote: »

The ancient Irish art of self-loathing forbids any notions of narcissism

Just a heads up:pac:

I see what you did there! Let me rephrase: "I'm relatively sure I know which ones are jokes."

Better? God forbid I become a narcissist! If I were to actually refer to myself as pretty, it would be in sarcasm lol.

rab!dmonkey

WickedWest wrote: »

What does that mean?

One of many localised colloquialisms for what is known as 'making out' in the US. Some of the other words have even more mundane standard meanings.

WickedWest

Jimoslimos wrote: »

Providence strikes oil off Cork coast

Hmmmm........

You caught me, the only reason I want to go to Ireland is oil. I'm such a greedy American!

Where To

WickedWest wrote: »

What does that mean?

Fornicating if you believe some of our TD's*






*TD's are the Irish version of Jabba The Hut, if you are a Star Wars fan

Jimoslimos

WickedWest wrote: »

You caught me, the only reason I want to go to Ireland is oil. I'm such a greedy American!

Stereotypes are fun!

WickedWest

rab!dmonkey wrote: »

One of many localised colloquialisms for what is known as 'making out' in the US. Some of the other words have even more mundane standard meanings.

Girls make out in greeting?

tuxy

This might help http://www.slang.ie/ although some of the descriptions are a bit vague.

WickedWest

Jimoslimos wrote: »

Stereotypes are fun!

Give me some other stereotypes, I'll tell you if they fit me or not

tuxy

Do you talk too much in a very loud obnoxious way?

WickedWest

tuxy wrote: »

Do you talk too much in a very loud obnoxious way?

I'll try to be objective lol.

Only if I'm VERY excited about something. Soo... Not very often?

Where To

This poor girl is gonna end up in France or somewhere if we don't start playing nice
.

WickedWest

Where To wrote: »

This poor girl is gonna end up in France or somewhere if we don't start playing nice
.

Oh God - never!

whatdoicare

One thing to remember - whatever you've seen in the movies about Ireland - just disregard it.
Look up "Darby O' Gill and the little people" - it's a true life story and everything about it is factual. Copy everything that Darby says and does and you'll be "Grand" or "A OKAY".

Jimoslimos

WickedWest wrote: »

Give me some other stereotypes, I'll tell you if they fit me or not

Well, my preconceptions about American girls, especially college students tend to revolve around GGW springbreak types!

EDIT: ***NSFW*** -at the very least don't search images or have safe-search switched on please

WickedWest

Jimoslimos wrote: »

Well, my preconceptions about American girls, especially college students tend to revolve around GGW springbreak types!

Nope, that's not me, lol. Just so you know how much that isn't me, I actually had to look up GGW on Google. I shoulda known.

WickedWest

whatdoicare wrote: »

One thing to remember - whatever you've seen in the movies about Ireland - just disregard it.
Look up "Darby O' Gill and the little people" - it's a true life story and everything about it is factual. Copy everything that Darby says and does and you'll be "Grand" or "A OKAY".

I'm watching it right now, so if it's not factual (which I'm guessing it's not) it had better be hilarious!