The head on him

suicide_circus

Remember when we used to be able to go on holidays abroad? Yeah, good times.

Well it's a common experience that, when away on foreign shores, we can recognise a fellow Irishman at 300 yards. I would point out the paddies in a haystack and the wife (non national ie: foreign) would often question how I could make that determination of someone she wouldn't pick out of a crowd. The answer was invariably the same; the head on him.

I smile at the recollection but if push came to shove I don't think I could quite quantify the qualities of the ceann in question.

The head on him - what does it actually mean?

Rimmy

His head looks like someone from Ireland. Pretty easy to distinguish nationalities.

Line up an Irish man, a Chinese man and a Nigerian and pretty sure I could pick out the Irish person.

Rodney Bathgate

Did he have a GAA jersey on him? That’s often a giveaway.

completedit

Its one of the cringiest things ever when Irish people scoff at Irish people for wearing GAA jerseys or whatever when abroad. Like imagine if it was a group of Germans wearing football jerseys, nobody would bar an eyelid but because their skin is as bit milky and they're wearing a jersey, it's "embarrassing".

But I can spot an Irish lad abroad. Will be wearing a snapback and some t shirt that is way too small for him and outrageously short shorts. I call it "I'm trying to fit in but stick out like a sore thumb" irish college lad abroad

I was in a restaurant in Spain a few years ago and the waiter could tell people's nationality just by looking at them.

I put him to the test and he got 14/14.

Rodney Bathgate

completedit wrote: »

Its one of the cringiest things ever when Irish people scoff at Irish people for wearing GAA jerseys or whatever when abroad. Like imagine if it was a group of Germans wearing football jerseys, nobody would bar an eyelid but because their skin is as bit milky and they're wearing a jersey, it's "embarrassing".

Do Germans wear football jerseys while away on holidays? While not attending a football match / tournament or watching a match in the pub etc?

completedit

Rodney Bathgate wrote: »

Do Germans wear football jerseys while away on holidays? While not attending a football match / tournament or watching a match in the pub etc?

I'd say so. This is a people who love the sandle so I wouldn't put it past them.

I like playing that game in the airport when waiting

Rodney Bathgate

Rodney Bathgate wrote: »

Do Germans wear football jerseys while away on holidays? While not attending a football match / tournament or watching a match in the pub etc?

Quite often, yes.

Rodney Bathgate

completedit wrote: »

I'd say so. This is a people who love the sandle so I wouldn't put it past them.

Yes, never trust the Germans. Capable of anything.

Beechwoodspark

Usually a inflamed and blistered lobster red “tan” is the give away

Alf Veedersane

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I was in a restaurant in Spain a few years ago and the waiter could tell people's nationality just by looking at them.

I put him to the test and he got 14/14.

He guessed because they were the ones that asked for tomaho sawwwwse

Rodney Bathgate

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

He guessed because they were the ones that asked for tomaho sawwwwse

I throw them off the scent by asking for catsup.

JeffreyEpspeen

I've been mistaken for Polish by Irish people and Polish people. One time a group of Polish lads adopted me into their group in the nightclub under the assumption I was one of them but basically told me to **** off when I told them I was in fact Irish.

I think it's because I'm 6 ft. 3 and have an awful dour demeanour about me.

TheValeyard

Rodney Bathgate wrote: »

Yes, never trust the Germans. Capable of anything.

Stealing all the sunbeds at 5.30 in the morning

Insect Overlord

Couldn't put it any better than the master himself.

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

Badly Drunk Boy

Rodney Bathgate wrote: »

Did he have a GAA jersey on him? That’s often a giveaway.

In 2001, I was in the Valley of Kings in Egypt, dressed in black shirt, black jeans, and black steel-toe-capped boots, when I noticed a yellow-belly Wexford jersey on some lad. I didn't approach him...

dh1985

Badly Drunk Boy wrote: »

In 2001, I was in the Valley of Kings in Egypt, dressed in black shirt, black jeans, and black steel-toe-capped boots, when I noticed a yellow-belly Wexford jersey on some lad. I didn't approach him...

What was the story with your own get-up. Were you excavating the place

punisher5112

Throw a 5 cent coming on the ground..... You'll definitely know he is Irish, but moreso Cavan man

punisher5112

punisher5112 wrote: »

Throw a 5 cent coming on the ground..... You'll definitely know he is Irish, but moreso Cavan man

Eh? An Irish person wouldn’t strain their back for their €5, let alone 5c.

Church on Tuesday

Badly Drunk Boy wrote: »

In 2001, I was in the Valley of Kings in Egypt, dressed in black shirt, black jeans, and black steel-toe-capped boots, when I noticed a yellow-belly Wexford jersey on some lad. I didn't approach him...

I'd say you were melting that day fair play to ya.

pgj2015

JeffreyEpspeen wrote: »

I've been mistaken for Polish by Irish people and Polish people. One time a group of Polish lads adopted me into their group in the nightclub under the assumption I was one of them but basically told me to **** off when I told them I was in fact Irish.

I think it's because I'm 6 ft. 3 and have an awful dour demeanour about me.

I get mistaken for Polish a lot but i'm Irish, my great grandfather was English. I was just asking someone lately though about something, I was in a nightclub in Germany and this German woman came over and started talking to me in English, I was wondering how she knew I wasn't German.

JeffreyEpspeen

JeffreyEpspeen wrote: »

I've been mistaken for Polish by Irish people and Polish people. One time a group of Polish lads adopted me into their group in the nightclub under the assumption I was one of them but basically told me to **** off when I told them I was in fact Irish.

I think it's because I'm 6 ft. 3 and have an awful dour demeanour about me.

How square is your head?

Church on Tuesday

pgj2015 wrote: »

I get mistaken for Polish a lot but i'm Irish, my great grandfather was English. I was just asking someone lately though about something, I was in a nightclub in Germany and this German woman came over and started talking to me in English, I was wondering how she knew I wasn't German.

I've been mistaken for being Polish too by an English work college.

Mind you, he was a fairly simple chap so...

pgj2015

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

How square is your head?

is that a polish or Irish trait?

pgj2015

JeffreyEpspeen wrote: »

I've been mistaken for Polish by Irish people and Polish people. One time a group of Polish lads adopted me into their group in the nightclub under the assumption I was one of them but basically told me to **** off when I told them I was in fact Irish.

I think it's because I'm 6 ft. 3 and have an awful dour demeanour about me.

Never laugh if trying to pretend you are polish, gives you away every time.

BuboBubo

The head on him...

He'd make a b1tch eat her own pups

Rodney Bathgate

dh1985 wrote: »

What was the story with your own get-up. Were you excavating the place

Graverobbery outfit.

Rodney Bathgate

TheValeyard wrote: »

Stealing all the sunbeds at 5.30 in the morning

If you want a window into how depraved mankind can be, visit Munich. The birthplace of “munting” I believe.

pgj2015

pgj2015 wrote: »

is that a polish or Irish trait?

We have big round heads.

Alf Veedersane

Badly Drunk Boy wrote: »

In 2001, I was in the Valley of Kings in Egypt, dressed in black shirt, black jeans, and black steel-toe-capped boots, when I noticed a yellow-belly Wexford jersey on some lad. I didn't approach him...

Used see that kind of get up in the Harriers in Tullamore in the 90s.

pgj2015

completedit wrote: »

Its one of the cringiest things ever when Irish people scoff at Irish people for wearing GAA jerseys or whatever when abroad. Like imagine if it was a group of Germans wearing football jerseys, nobody would bar an eyelid but because their skin is as bit milky and they're wearing a jersey, it's "embarrassing".

But I can spot an Irish lad abroad. Will be wearing a snapback and some t shirt that is way too small for him and outrageously short shorts. I call it "I'm trying to fit in but stick out like a sore thumb" irish college lad abroad

I saw an Irish lad on a lowrider bike today, no socks, big stupid curly head of hair on him, in Ireland. that is the kind of guy you are talking about id say.

pgj2015

Badly Drunk Boy wrote: »

In 2001, I was in the Valley of Kings in Egypt, dressed in black shirt, black jeans, and black steel-toe-capped boots, when I noticed a yellow-belly Wexford jersey on some lad. I didn't approach him...

Marilyn Manson over here.

Bobblehats

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

We have big round heads.

I have a blockhead

ThewhiteJesus

If you never heard of one direction and was shown a picture you’d pick Niall all day as irish, the head on him

Deebles McBeebles

Deebles McBeebles wrote: »

The spud head and the walk like your leading cattle always gives it away.

Sums it up fairly well I reckon.

beauf

Rimmy wrote: »

His head looks like someone from Ireland. Pretty easy to distinguish nationalities.

Line up an Irish man, a Chinese man and a Nigerian and pretty sure I could pick out the Irish person.

It's got nothing to do with nationalities.

https://www.irishslang.info/roscommon/roscommon/the-head-on-him-and-the-price-a-turnips


It's basically making out some one looks like an eejit. Or stands out for some reason. Even if they don't...

https://youtu.be/OhdXJrGr1iM

StevenToast

The Irish are one of the ugliest nationalities out there...big spud heads with pale complexions...

Easy to spot....

frag420

Rimmy wrote: »

His head looks like someone from Ireland. Pretty easy to distinguish nationalities.

Line up an Irish man, a Chinese man and a Nigerian and pretty sure I could pick out the Irish person.

Was it Jason Sherlock?

pgj2015

StevenToast wrote: »

The Irish are one of the ugliest nationalities out there...big spud heads with pale complexions...

Easy to spot....

That is seen as great beauty in certain parts of the world. id say we are actually a good looking nation overall.

Balmed Out

Badly Drunk Boy wrote: »

In 2001, I was in the Valley of Kings in Egypt, dressed in black shirt, black jeans, and black steel-toe-capped boots, when I noticed a yellow-belly Wexford jersey on some lad. I didn't approach him...

Spent a month that summer traveling about Egypt and I dont think I met any Irish person bar the two other Corkonians I was with. It was so hot that wearing a light tshirt you would be covered in sweat, I gave up shaking fly's off me.

Bobblehats

StevenToast wrote: »

The Irish are one of the ugliest nationalities out there...big spud heads with pale complexions...
Easy to spot....

Amidst all that generic brownness?

Go to the Far East see how they break out the brolleys in sunshine. How they aspire to paleness; aspire to beauty. Aspire to purity.

*I, for the record am not pale.

Errashareesh

Wouldn't have my milk white skin any other way.

Awful how much Irish people put themselves down.

andekwarhola

The recieved notion about how irish look abroad is pretty flimsy. I would have thought a typically caucasian Irish look was more likely to be dark hair, pale skin. I think what really marks us abroad is more subcultural: dress, choice of destination; behaviour etc. The stuff about mallet heads and so on is funny but way off the beam and based on the type of place people travel to more than anything else.

Atlantic Dawn

You spot them negotiating with lucky lucky men trying to bargain down the purchase of complete lashed together fake football tops, then when they have secured said purchase they tell everyone what a bargain they got when in reality they have been completely ripped out.

Kaybaykwah

JeffreyEpspeen wrote: »

I've been mistaken for Polish by Irish people and Polish people. One time a group of Polish lads adopted me into their group in the nightclub under the assumption I was one of them but basically told me to **** off when I told them I was in fact Irish.

I think it's because I'm 6 ft. 3 and have an awful dour demeanour about me.

I wonder about the Polish lasses, when they found out you were Irish, would they not touch you with a 6 foot 3 pole?

Pyr0

dh1985 wrote: »

What was the story with your own get-up. Were you excavating the place

Too much of a metal head to dress comfortably for the climate, I would reckon.

Wibbs

TheValeyard wrote: »

Stealing all the sunbeds at 5.30 in the morning

and invading Poland. Sneaky teutonic feckers they are.

Bobblehats wrote: »

Amidst all that generic brownness?

Go to the Far East see how they break out the brolleys in sunshine. How they aspire to paleness; aspire to beauty. Aspire to purity.

*I, for the record am not pale.

I'd be the whitest guy in the room at Dracula's book club meeting and I like it tbh. Plus I can't tan. Hell I can't even burn. Must have the palest melanin on the planet. That said in southern Europe talking to me the locals almost always kick off with the local language rather than English or German, so I must look somewhat Latin.

On airports; younger Irish folks you can't really tell I've found, unless yeah they're in GAA shirts and the like. Irish people past 30? Then yeah, much easier to spot in general. Pale, bad hair, spud heads and some gut showing in clothes too tight for the occasion and clothes would tend not to be too curated. Shorts too. It is my long considered opinion that shorts should never ever be worn by men over 30. Especially for ill proportioned blokes already those long ones that make your already stumpy legs look even stumpier and make your midsection look like you're about to give birth to a space hopper. We tend to get middle aged spread at a younger age. Italians can look stylish and/or tacky but they tend to pork up quite young too. The Spanish not so much, but less "stylish" than Italians. The French tend to be more well bolted together I've found, but depends on where they're from. The Dutch are giants. The English tend to follow their stereotype of being in ordered queues bumbling about with about the same style levels of us, but with less craic to them. I'd say IMHO and very generally that the French in international airports tend to look the most polished.

Rodney Bathgate

... and the price of turnips.

Wibbs

Actually one thing stands out with Irish people, we're much more smiley, more open of face. Some nationalities... no names, no pack drill, but, well let's just say a confirmed dry sh1te in Ireland could be a nationally known comedian in some such places.

ExMachina1000

Same as with travellers. I can always know straight away . Certain traits I suppose.
No different to an Irish person on holiday