Tue 13 Jul 2010
What I’ve Learned.
Posted by Clare under Drinking Ireland, living in Ireland, Moving to Ireland
[19] Comments
Sunday mornings in Ireland
*In Ireland, you can buy a meat pie…in a can.
*That even though I’ve never been a nationalist, I can get defensive when the Irish slag off America/Americans. It’s the same thing with your bratty little brother; you’re allowed to say whatever you want about the little sh*tbird but when someone else does, it’s on.
*You know you’re turning Irish when you start dropping the “t” off words like what (“wha?”) and not (“noh!?”).
*Really depressing novels, especially ones that center on a former abuse victim who rises above adversity and creates a fulfilling life for him/herself, are very popular here. People go mad for titles like “Ma, He Sold Me for a Few Cigarettes” and “Don’t Tell Mummy.”
*Nudity on network television is no big deal in Ireland. That said, most of the naked people on TV are none you’d ever want to see sans clothing (see popular television show Embarrassing Bodies for many prime examples).
Heartbreak at the Leinster Final last Sunday.
*The Northern Irish accent is about as easy to understand as Swahili (assuming you do not speak Swahili).
*The GAA – the governing body of Gaelic football – really needs to embrace the technology of instant replay (see Leinster Final controversy here).
*That no matter how much I insist I will not end the night at a cheesy dance club, I will find myself dancing away with the rest of ‘em at 3 a.m. the odd Saturday at said cheesy dance club…and loving it.
*It takes four-and-a-half years of separation to be granted a divorce in Ireland. I now understand why so many couples I know prefer to stay “life partners” rather than officially tie the knot.
Nancy and her fabulous pastry
*That on any given Sunday morning, I can drive over to my friend’s house and there will be a fry-up breakfast waiting for me and whoever else happens to show up. This brings me great comfort.
*The pronunciation of traditional Irish names is as comprehensible as a diagram of the space-time continuum. Examples: Niamh = neeve. Aoife = ee-fah. Ailbhe = al-vah. Wha???
*If I keep converting Euros into dollars in my head everytime I buy something, no good can come of it. I do not want to know that I just paid $12 for a tiny bottle of nail polish.
*The Irish are fantastic at pastry. Give any of my friends’ mothers some flour, margarine, water and a wine bottle (for rolling) and she’ll make the best damn pastry crust you’ve ever eaten. Guaranteed.
Friends, of the Irish variety
*At least twice a week, around four in the morning, I’ll hear the drunk parade (singing, crying, fighting, laughing or all of the above) coming out of the nearby bars. Cheers.
*Pouring, lashing rain is normal around here, even in June. And July. And August.
*No matter how hard you try, the mullet is not nor will ever be fashionable. That whole “business in the front, party in the back” look should have died along with leg warmers and the Cold War. Yes, teen Irish girls, I’m talking to you.
Funnycrazynuts: My Irish friends
*That my Irish friends are completely crazy, fully frustrating and entirely endearing at once. I know I can count on them for anything, anytime.
*The clouds in Ireland are the most beautiful I’ve ever seen anywhere. There’s just something magical about the way they glide across the sky in fantastically fluffy formations.
*And finally: That Ireland is a pretty good place to hang my hat, at least for now.
If you ever find a good black pudding there that can be found in the states, let me know. I’ve been searching for a looooooong time…
The mullet thing.. Why?! Whhyyyyy?! I never have and never will understand it.
Great post 🙂
this post had me smiling.
Allison: Where in the states do you live? I know some butchers in Los Angeles that might be able to help you.
Sarah: I know, it’s a disaster!? How they think they look good is BEYOND me!
Sam: Glad you’re smiling! I miss your blog!!
Great post! Wow, 4 and 1/2 years to be separated before being granted a divorce?? I can’t even wrap my head around trying to understand that one!
And yes, never convert from Euros into dollars — just look at it like monopoly money. That’s what I did in Rome and it turned out a lot less stressful when I purchased anything…!
You’re settling in then, I take it? 🙂 And trust me, foreigners trying to pronounce Aoife as written always have my sympathy…
Natalie: Ireland is a heavily Catholic country. Apparently birth control wasn’t legal until the 1980s and abortion is still illegal here. There is no separation of church and state in Ireland.
Aoife: Yeah, pretty well settled :). I bet you heard some interesting pronunciations of your name over the years, lol!
No separation of church and state? Here’s what the constitution says:
Article 44
1. The State acknowledges that the homage of public worship is due to Almighty God. It shall hold His Name in reverence, and shall respect and honour religion.
2. 1° Freedom of conscience and the free profession and practice of religion are, subject to public order and morality, guaranteed to every citizen.
2° The State guarantees not to endow any religion.
3° The State shall not impose any disabilities or make any discrimination on the ground of religious profession, belief or status.
I think that means that church and state are legally separate, but sure we’re all good catholics really aren’t we so let’s not worry about it too much
Cormac: Perhaps on paper that is the case, but compared to the US there doesn’t seem to be a clear line. When public schools practice prayer and have names like St. Mary’s it’s hard to see the divide. I’m not criticizing it, just calling it like I see it!
Or, less sarcastically, it seems to me like the authors of the constitution, on account of historical experience here, wanted to avoid creating an established church, but couldn’t really conceive of Irish citizens who weren’t Catholic or at least subscribers to the Judeo-Christian worldview
Oops, some posting asynchronicity going on here. Yes, you’re totally right. Catholicism is really woven into the fabric of life here, especially rural life. Our Isabelle doesn’t do religion as a subject in school (she does other stuff while her classmates do the religion), but the class still says prayers every morning and there’s a statue of Mary in the school grounds etc etc
You know that after you find yourself dancing away with the rest of ‘em at 3 a.m. the odd Saturday at said cheesy dance club … that your neighbours can hear YOU singing, crying, fighting, laughing or all of the above) coming out of the said cheesy dance club!!! 🙂 Good party by the way 🙂
Cormac: Good for you for taking a stand 🙂 I was raised Catholic and I am not against the religion per se but I think people should fight for the right to make their own choices.
Earnan: I’ve only had TWO parties in my apartment! 🙂 But yeah, there is no way my neighbors did not hear that last one, especially with your distinct “singing” voice…
Stanley’s this Saturday night!! 🙂 Hoor of a session! 🙂
dropping the t in Ireland is a regional thing. Take a trip to the Wesht, it’s loud and clear there:) In Central Connecticut there’s no t at all. They say things like “moun-ain, and “impor-an” It’s so annnnnnoyyying.
Oisin, you made me die laughing
Oisin: I thought it was Mathews?! Regardless yes, it will be a hoor of a sesh, lol.
KM: This is so true…I find dropping the t in the middle of a word really irritating. “He’s fron-ing!” LAME.
Well spotted 😉
Irish names could be great source of fun for me too. Also weather forecast which is basicly description of different types of rain comming in different times of day.
I think that I was turning into Irish when I had my fish and chips on the beach followed by ice-cream on sunny day in January – 8 degrees outside. And when I call 15 degrees with a bit of blue sky nice weather!
I’m in the DC area. I know there are a lot of places that sell blood sausage, but so many different cultures have their own version that it’s hard to know what you’re getting. I even contacted Kerry to see if they export. No dice!