About Ireland

• The Republic of Ireland is the only independent Celtic nation state in the world
• Ireland and Erin are anglicised versions of the countries official name Éire which in turn is derived from the Celtic goddess Éiru
• The three most famous symbols of Ireland are the Harp, the Shamrock, and the Celtic Cross
• Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom
• Since the Good Friday Agreement, citizens of Northern Ireland can choose to apply for a British, Irish or dual passport.
• Irish is the official language of Ireland but English is the main spoken language
• Eskimos are said to have to 49 ways to describe snow, the Irish have at least 35 ways of desribing rain in the Irish language
• Over 40% of Irish people claim to have a tin whistle in their home
• St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on the 17th March and is a public holiday
• Belief in the fairy folk still persists in Ireland and most people would not dare cut down a fairy thorn tree
• Ireland is also known as the Emerald Isle, due to its lush green grasslands
• The ancient field game of Hurling is one of Ireland’s most popular sports and has been played for over 1,000 years on the island
• Ireland’s moderate climate is due to the Gulf Stream and the island rarely experiences extreme heatwaves or heavy snowfalls
• The highest mountain in Ireland is Carrauntoohil in County Kerry at 1,038 metres or 3,407 feet
• There are more sheep than people in the Republic of Ireland, numbering approximately 5.2 million
• The county with the most sheep is Donegal with a staggering 0.5 million
• The longest place name in Ireland is Muckanaghederdauhaulia
• There are over 50,000 Iron Age earthen ringorts in the Irish landscape – many of which were preserved as they were believed to be inhabited by the fairy folk
• The population of the Republic of Ireland is approx 4.904 million
• Ireland is only one of two island countries in the world, with a lower population now than it had in the the mid 19th century
• The population of the nation’s capital, Dublin, is over 1.8 million in the metropolitan area
• The Titanic ship was built in Belfast
• The Céide Fields in County Mayo is the contains the oldest known field system in the world (6,000 years old)
• There are 1.4 million dairy cows in the Republic of Ireland. The majority are grass fed and free range
• 3 million pints of Guinness are produced each day in the St. Jame’s Gate Brewery in Dublin City
• Guinness is the biggest selling stout in the world with 10 million glasses being sold every day in 150 countries
• The longest river in Ireland and Britain is the mighty Shannon at 360.5 km
• Almost 7,500 million litres of milk were produced on dairy farms in the Republic of Ireland last year
• The Guinness Storehouse, Dublin Zoo, the Cliffs of Moher, and Book of Kells in Trinity College are among the current top 5 visitor attractions
• Today, Irish people consume on average 85kg of potatoes per year, 2.5 times the world average
• Newgrange, Co. Meath (3,200 BC) is the best preserved Neolithic passage grave in Europe. It is also the oldest known solar observatory in the world

Customary Greetings

Most travellers would agree that the Irish in general are a jovial and friendly bunch, especially in rural areas. Someone in the Northwest of Ireland may greet you with a “how are you doing?” or “how you getting on!”. It is customary to simply say “I’m grand, thanks”, or you can follow up with “and yourself?!”

Let’s Talk About the Weather

The weather is an endless source of conversation for Irish people and is also a neutral subject to start up a conversation with. Someone may say to you, “isn’t the weather wet at the moment?” You can simply reply, “it is indeed”, or “hopefully it will improve soon”, which will be a genuine reply if you are on a short holiday break!

Dealing with Frustrations

Irish people, in general, are quite sensitive in character. People rarely lose their temper in public. The weather is mild and so are peoples manners. Visitors should always try and voice their complaints or frustrations in a similar fashion. Indeed beeping your car horn in frustration to hurry another vehicle in rural Ireland, is akin to an insult, as is raising your voice in anger to someone in public you don’t know.

Pub Culture Do’s and Donts

Pubs are still a great place to experience the very essence of Irish social culture. There are still many traditional style pubs in Ireland where you can enjoy good company and the craic, (which is an Irish slang word for chatting and having fun).

Religious and Political Sensitivities

It’s best not to ask questions about either religion or politics when visiting Ulster or Northern Ireland, (especially the recent conflict in Northern Ireland). Even local people tend to avoid these topics in pubs, as there are often subtle cultural and religious sensitivities to take into account. Besides the authentic pub is more for light hearted conversation and banter than serious discussions.

The Rounds System

This simple custom, while not as strong as previous times, is still an important aspect of Irish pub culture. If someone buys you a drink, it is customary to buy them one back. That’s why it’s almost impossible in Ireland to go to the pub for just one beer! The next round starts when the first person is about to finish their drink, even if you are only half way through your pint.

Pub Etiquette

Someone might also ask you in Ulster, “will you take a wee one”, or “would you take a wee drink from the top shelf?”This means would you like a whiskey, or some other alcoholic spirits of your choice. ‘Wee’ means small while ‘dram’ means a measure or small glass of whiskey. These words are also used in Scotland. You can decline this offer by simply saying, “no thanks, I think I will stick to beer!”

Pub Performances

If someone in the pub is asked to sing a song or perform a funny recitation, then it is customary to immediately pause your conversation and listen respectfully until they are finished. One sure way of impressing local company in the pub is to follow up by offering to sing a song yourself!

The Drink for the Road!

At the end of a good night out in the pub, you might be asked, “sure you’ll have a drink for the road.” This doesn’t mean that your drinking partner is giving you a drink to take home with you! This is an old Irish custom ‘deoch an dorais’ whereby you have one more farewell drink for the journey home. If you have had enough to drink politely decline as you don’t want to end up literally on the road, or in a ditch!