Reddit users have made some surprising observations about Irish etiquette on a forum created by a curious tourist ahead of the summer season.
An American planning on visiting Ireland over the summer with their family reached out to ask for some tips from locals about how to behave when on Irish soil, with somewhat unexpected results.
Volume was a surprising concern shared across the platform, with multiple users saying noisy chatter should be kept to a minimum in bars, restaurants and pubs as the Irish are “softly-spoken.”
READ MORE: Everyday English words that you didn’t realise came from the Irish language
But what typical advice should be imparted on tourists coming over this summer? We share some wisdom on how international visitors can avoid riling us up and not have a disastrous trip.
Don’t call Dublin small in front of locals
Viewers of Sally Rooney’s TV adaptation of ‘Conversations with Friends’ may remember Dublin being labelled somewhat condescendingly as “a baby city” by American character Bobbi, played by Sasha Lane. This is definitely a faux pas that overseas visitors should avoid making.
Dublin may not be big, but constantly referring to it as a “small town” tends not to go down too well.
Over a million people still call it home, even if the chances of bumping into someone you know in town are reasonably high.
Avoid political debates
Many Irish people lean on the liberal side politically, which may be a shock for some visitors. American tourists, for example, might be surprised by some Irish people's perspectives on Trump or the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Being loudly pro-Trump may lead to awkward silences at best, depending on who you talk to. Try not to go in too heavy about world issues from the get go.
Be tactful when talking about Irish heritage
Many incoming visitors will have Irish family members or ancestors. People will generally be interested in this and happy to discuss your ancestral past.
However, overconfidence in your Irish heritage might not go down too well.
Irish people are accustomed to people stating they’re 100 percent Irish on the basis of having a great-great grandfather from Cork and it can get a little tiring. Recognising that there is a distinction between being part of the important Irish-American community and living in Ireland will go a long way.
Ireland is not the UK
The most obvious saved for last. Genuine mistakes are usually forgiven but jokingly referring to Ireland as Britain or part of the UK may result in intense judgement or wrath.
Jokes exclusively about the UK, however, usually go down a charm.
Try to stick to these basics and you should have a hassle-free time while on holidays here.
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