Paddy Etiquette: The ‘-isms’ That Make Us Irish

There is a multitude of little ‘-isms’ that make us Irish. The amount of diverse accents from such a small island and our ‘We’ll take life as it comes’ attitude can leave some foreigners baffled.

This morning, the Irish Sun compiled an etiquette guide for modern Ireland, based on online advice found on boards.ie. Tell us your own and we can add them to the list of Paddy Etiquette...

Ireland must be a tough country to fit into!

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1. Someone who has moved into the area 20 years ago is still regarded a ‘blow-in’.

2. When giving you a cup of tea, Irish people will say ‘Now’ for no apparent reason when they place the cup on the table.

3. The repetition of the word ‘Bye’ a million times as you hang up the phone.

4. ‘Well’ can suffice as ‘Hello’.

5. It’s normal practice in some parts of the country for women to put on pyjamas in the morning instead of taking them off.

6. When someone invites you to “go for a pint”, be prepared for at least six.

7. The steering-wheel wave (a single finger raised off the steering wheel) is commonplace in the country, even to people you don’t know.

8. When anyone ever offers you something, you must always, out of politeness, refuse the offering first. If the offer is genuine they will offer again and only then is it polite to accept.

9. You should always make sure you buy a newer (insert item here) before your neighbours. If your neighbour purchases the item before you, you must then buy a higher priced model.

10. You must always thank the bus driver as you step off the bus.

11. Automatically tick ‘Catholic’ in the Census despite not believing in God and only going to Mass when you come home at Christmas to keep your mother happy.

12. ‘Grand’ means ‘okay’ or ‘fine’, not fancy. Although, “Ah sure, it’ll be grand” may mean it definitely won’t be grand.

13. The Irish will constantly make fun of their own country, their friends and themselves. It is inadvisable for foreigners to join in.