How to Behave in Ireland!
For the most part Irish people are relaxed and laid back and welcome all visitors warmly. But it's useful when visiting a foreign country to have some idea of how things are normally done - it helps to avoid misunderstandings and to smooth social interaction.
Meeting & Greeting: Talking to People
Chatting in Galway. Photo by sterteKeep it casual is the best advice when meeting people in Ireland. Irish people are naturally gregarious and talkative and will happily chat with total strangers, falling into conversation while waiting for a bus, standing in line in a store or traveling on a train. Mostly the topic of conversation will be the weather in such situations - there is always something to discuss when it comes to Ireland's weather!
People will frequently say "hello" or "nice day" or just nod and smile a greeting when passing a stanger on the street - though obviously not so much in crowded places!
Handshake or Kiss?
When first meeting someone or on encountering an aquaintance, people may shake hands or not even do that on informal occasions - a friendly greeting is often enough. Relatives and close friends often kiss each other on one or both cheeks, continental style, a habit that is becoming more widepread in recent years, but this would not be the norm when greeting strangers.
The Finger Twitch
When driving on narrow country roads, where there are few cars and speeds are low, drivers meeting an oncoming car may acknowledge the other motorist by raising a hand, or more often just a finger, from the steering wheel in salutation. It doesn't necessarily mean they know the driver of the other car, they'll greet everyone this way and a response in kind is expected.
In the Pub: Observing Custom
Tynan's Bar, Kilkenny. Photo by sduffyThe pub in Ireland is more than somewhere you go to drink, it's a meeting place and there will often be a lot of regular customers present who know each other well, even if this isn't immediately evident to someone walking in for the first time.
This is particularly the case in rural pubs, less so in very large pubs in towns and cities. However people in pubs are there for the social occasion and are usually very happy to talk to visitors and to include them in conversation.
Where to sit?
As a general rule of thumb if you sit (or stand) at the counter other customers are likely to strike up a conversation with you, if you take your drinks to a quiet table in the corner they will leave you alone.
Standing Your Round
Round of Pints, Photo by IanLWhen in the company of a group of people in a pub, a system of 'rounds' is traditionally used, whereby each person in turn will buy, or offer to buy, a drink for all others in the company. It is not the done thing to just buy yourself a drink without making the offer to buy one for everyone else - and those who fail to 'stand their round' in this way risk being looked upon as mean and unsociable.
The best advice for dealing with the rounds system is to get in with your offer to buy as early as you can. Otherwise you can end up drinking a lot more than you intended to while waiting for your turn to come - and you daren't leave before it does unless you want to earn an instant reputation for meanness!!
There is no tab system in Irish bars. You are expected to pay for your drink, or round of drinks, as it is served.
Tipping in Ireland: When & How Much
Tipping is not as universal a practice in Ireland as it is elsewhere. Most restaurants apply a service charge which theoretically replaces the tip, but if service has been good an additional tip of about 10-15% is sometimes left.
Some more casual restaurants have a plate or bowl at the cash desk where you can leave a tip to be distributed among all the staff. Unlike the situation in the USA, wait staff do not depend so heavily on tips for their income, though they certainly appreciate acknowledgement of a job well done.
Taxi drivers, hairdressers, spa staff and others are generally tippedabout 10%. Hotel porters and room service staff will usually expectsomething round €2-€5 depending on the extent of the service provided.
Drivers/guides on tour buses are usually tipped at the end of atrip, sometimes with a communal tip collected from all of those on thetour. The amount is up to the individual, and will depend on the lengthof the tour and the quality of the service.
Owners of B&Bs do not expect to be tipped, nor do they expect gifts.
Tipping in Pubs
Tipping staff in pubs is a special case. While staff who bring drinks to a table may be given a small tip, those serving from behind the counter don't expect tips and if you leave money on the counter may assume you have forgotten to pick up your change and return it to you.
If you do want to leave a tip, the more polite way is to hand some money over while saying something like "Have one for yourself later" - theoretically you are not giving a tip, you are buying a drink at some future time, which is far more acceptable.
Smoking in Public Places
Since March 2004 it has been illegal to smoke in any enclosed public space, which includes bars, restaurants, shops, offices, public transport, cinemas - pretty much all indoor places except your home or a designated smoking bedroom in a hotel.
The ban on smoking brought with it a massive increase in sales of awnings and patio heaters as pubs made arrangements for their smoking customers to enjoy an outdoor cigarette in some level of comfort - many pubs, hotels and restaurants how have designated areas for this purpose.
Don't be tempted to try to beat the smoking ban by lighting up indoors and pleading ignorance, it will not be tolerated by those around you and there are hefty fines and even prison sentences for transgressors.
Religious Customs
Killarney Cathedral.
Photo by Carmelo AquilinaIrish people are not as observant of religious practice today as they were in the past and regular attendance at church services have been falling for quite a few years.
However you will still commonly see people make the sign of the cross when passing a church or a graveyard, and hear people say things like "God bless" for "Goodbye", or "God speed" for "bon voyage". A few will sprinkle holy water on departing cars, or even people, to keep them safe on their journey!
Funerals in Ireland are very public occasions and you may come accross one in your travels. It is traditional for people to walk behind the hearse as it goes to the church or graveyard and there can be hundreds, occasionally even thousands, of people walking in procession in this way when a funeral is taking place.
It is expected that anyone walking or driving on the street at the time will stop and remain stationary while the funeral procession passes, shops may turn out their lights or temporarily close their doors and bystanders will bless themselves or say a quiet prayer.
Dress Code in Churches
No special dress code is required for entering churches, such as applies in some parts of continental Europe, but you are expected to be quiet and respectful and particularly so if a service is taking place during your visit.
Cursing & Swearing
Many visitors are a little shocked to hear how often Irish people will say "Jesus" or "God" in everyday converstaion, not in a prayerful way but as an expression of surprise, frustration or even annoyance. However it sounds it isn't intended in a blasphemous way, it's just a sort of verbal tick that has become habitual for many.
The use of "the F word" is also very common in public, it's even, strange though it may sound, used in a friendly way at times. Just ignore it, for the most part it isn't meant to shock or to be interpreted as an agressive thing, it's just a very unfortunate national habit.
Your Comments
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Posted by: Gord Wilson
02 Aug 2007, 02:24
Very good advice! I wish I had read this before I went to Ireland - not to
say that we encountered any difficult or unusual situations. Well, I guess
I'll just have to visit again with my newfound knowledge.
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