1. A tan comes from a bottle
Getting a tan in Ireland means buying a tube of tanning cream and applying it on yourself in patches. There’s not much other choice since you can’t sunbath in the rain (which most probably resulted in the pail complexion of the locals so even if there’s sun, they’re not getting any browner…).

 

2. Sun = flip flops
On the rare occasions when the sun is out, however, you’ll see loads of people in T-shirts and flip flops no matter the temperature… The Irish are anarchists that way when it comes to the Laws of Nature.

 

3. Green all around you
Come summer or winter, you’re surrounded with green pastures and mossy stone walls. High humidity levels make sure that it never gets very cold on the island. It’s a striking contrast to the drier countries if you travel outside of Ireland after a longer stay!

 

4. Say what?
Before coming to Ireland, you thought you spoke English. You no longer think that. There’s no shame in nodding your way through the period of getting used to the Irish accent…

 

5. Irish Gaelic
Thick accent aside, there’s also the Irish Gaelic which is another official language of the country. Most of the English names of locations derive from the indigenous Gaelic ones which at times may sound a bit funny for outsiders (such as Kilkenny from Gealic Cill Chainnigh and County Mayo – from Contae Mhaigh).

 

6. Hurling is a thing
I bet you’ve never heard of it but it’s THE sport in Ireland (alongside rugby, of course). Mixed gender teams with sticks chase a small ball. It’s not Quidditch but a close second.

 

7. Pub crawl
Whatever the occasion, be it a rugby match, a birthday or a Wednesday lunch (they serve food, too), you’ll end up in a pub. And rightly so: this is where both professional connections and wild memories are made! Following the locals, soon you’ll choose your favourite pub(s) and never set foot in others.

 

8. Bank holidays
Did you know that banks can go on holidays?! A few times a year banks close and those days (Mondays) are recognised as national holidays in Ireland…

 

9. Respect the potayto!
For me, it’s not the Guinness beer that is the epitome of Irish consumer goods, but Tayto crisps (there’s even a Tayto amusement park!). In general, the country and potatoes have a special history, perhaps that’s why it is much appreciated in the Irish kitchens (and shopping bags). It’s also quite common to be served a sandwich with a side of potato crisps…

 

10. Irish dolphins
I kid you not, there are dolphins in Ireland. The Irish climate does not strike you as sub-tropical, especially if you tried dipping into the freezing ocean, but because of the warm Gulf Stream to the west of the island, you just might get lucky and spot these beautiful creatures swimming into the sunset.

 

11. Religion is no laughing matter
Although the Irish are mostly secular in their everyday affairs, Catholicism still plays an important role in the country and it is best not to joke too carelessly about it. Especially if you come from a non-religious background, it is quite amazing to see all the little girls twirling in their white dresses on their First Communion, and you might get stuck in serious traffic around churches on Sundays!

 

12. Sarcasm
The Irish like a good laugh but you might not be laughing with them for two reasons: 1. It takes time to get used to (and master it yourself!) their sarcastic sense of humour; 2. You probably did not understand what was said because of the accent to begin with, so smile and nod… But sarcasm aside, the Irish are truly open-hearted people.

 

13. Ginger pride
A surprisingly large number of people in Ireland have red hair (usually accompanied with adorable freckles): the shades vary from saturated mahogany to soft orange.

 

Veronika Norvaisaite,
ELM team

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