Sunday Drives, Divilment & Glenroe: 9 Of The Best Things About Growing Up In Ireland

Growing up in Ireland, sure it was deadly wasn’t it? Running around the place, getting up to divilment and having your mam threaten you with a wooden spoon if you didn’t behave yourself – those were the good old days.

You never really appreciate how good your childhood was until you’re a responsible adult. We thought it would be fun to reminisce about our younger years and come up with a few of our favourite memories from growing up in Ireland.

If you think we’ve missed anything feel free to get in touch. Sure we only love hearing from you: hello@her.ie.

Now let’s get rambling down memory lane…

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"Are we there yet? Where are we even going?!"

1. Going on Sunday drives with your family: Yes they were boring and yes, you never really understood the point of just driving around the countryside for two hours on a Sunday afternoon. However, that being said, you did like it when your mam finally gave in and bought you and your sister sweets in order to stop the two of you fighting in the back seat.

2. Staying up late for Glenroe: Your usual bedtime was eight o’clock but on a Sunday night you were given the privilege of staying up late to see what kind of shenanigans Miley and co. were getting up to down in county Wicklow. When Father Ted started it was even better because you got to stay up late on Tuesday nights as well. Score!

3. Staying up for Podge and Rodge when your parents weren’t home: You knew that your mammy would go mental if she found out you had watched that ‘filth’ on the telly, but whenever she wasn’t home your older sibling would let you watch it. They hoped it would scare you but it just taught you how to use the insult s**tehawk.

When the suitcase came down from the attic, you knew it was summer

4. Getting the summer clothes down from the attic: Once Easter was over, your mammy climbed up to the attic and unearthed your summer clothes. This was how you knew hot weather and holidays from school were on the way.

5. Getting a day off school if your county won the All-Ireland: We were never that interested in hurling but when our county made it to the quarter finals we became rabid fans. Mainly because we wanted them to win so we’d get a day off school.

6. Playing in the field: If you grew up in the country, then chances are your primary school had a field. This field was mostly used for football, but during the summer they’d open it up and let you play there instead of in the yard. Once you saw all that green grass, you went a bit mental and usually ended up getting in trouble for rolling down the grass hills.

A visit to the city meant one thing: a Happy Meal

7. Visiting Dublin/Cork and getting McDonalds: Was there anything better than when your parents took you to the city for a day out? You’d get to go on the train or in the car and as a treat they’d buy you a happy meal. If you grew up in the country, you’ll know how deadly it was on the rare occasions you got Maccy D’s.

8. Being force-fed flat 7up when you got sick: It’s kind of hilarious how much Irish mammies depend on flat 7up when a child is sick. But hey, it works. And to be fair you sort of loved it at the same time.

9. Being allowed to go a little mad when you finish the Leaving Cert: For three whole days you’re allowed to go crazy. Actually it’s sort of expected from you. Nothing is said to you if you get up to a bit of divilment. However, once those three days are over you have to stop acting the maggot or you’ll be killed.