Rural salutation in Ireland?

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Priscilla Duck

Yeah, it's called a 'salute'. It's very important to get it right. You salute EVERYONE in the village you come from or on roads with grass up the middle, all farmers with livestock, cars you think you recognise and tractor drivers. You don't need to salute in town, but if you see someone you know you flash your headlights manically and beep your horn saying 'Weeelll, howsssdegooooin!' Strangers are known by their inability to get the salute right.
"Didye see yer man that's meetin yer wan of d'Ryan Sallys? Shur yid know he's a tan by the cutofim, but didn't he salute d'oil man yesterday and nearly cause him to crash..."

As for the dogs, get a pair of dog-proof wellies in the local creamery and wear a thick coat. Carry the butt of a blackthorn stick with the thorns left in and deploy as necessary. And shur what would you be walkin' in d'countryside for anyways? Tis only women and ne'er do wells that walk the roads. Real men don't need exercise - they get all they need wrestlin bullocks, hoistin rocks and liftin pints...

barbara b

as a Dub, we call it the culchie wave. It's only comes into effect beyond the M50. Its a positive salutation. Shows, I've seen ye, and I wont be running ye over.

As for the dogs, mine is the same, she is just over protective. Best thing is to say, " I see ye, ye little fecker, ah no, yer not gonna bite me" whilst trying to rub itprofuselyy. Then congratulate the owner on having such a great dog, it knows yer a foreigner . He wudda been great back in the day.

Orla C

I know the greeting, it's more of an 'I acknowledge you and won't run you over this time' type of salutation.

I never have trouble with dogs when out walking, yes they bark like they're rabid but I don't remember getting bitten seriously.

cloudisland

Ah you made me laugh, so I gave you a star!
Don't know the name of the 'driver's salute' as I call it. As for the dogs, what is it with dogs in rural areas, they go for me too!!!!
I take my mother with me, she's great with dealing them, but alas can't rent her out as she's got an exclusive contract with me.

Poptart007

Ah the old one finger salute, it's a 'howiya' mainly seen on roads that are well off the beaten track!
As for the dogs - maybe bring some doggy treats in ur pocket to throw in the opposote direction while you make your escape hehe

Sean

The 'finger thing' is for sure a greeting or salutation.
It's the equivalent of a hello, howaya, good morning or good evening, great day, great weather, an awful day that etc etc.
O Boy the dogs, they are a bloody menace and to add injury to injury they s**t all over the place especially along the footpath which the owners do not scoop up as they are supposed to. They (the dogs that is) are also supposed to be on a lead - not always conformed to either, rarely conformed to, might be nearer the mark.
The 'buggers' seem to sense fear, so steady as you go, no sudden moves and maybe a 'click - click' seems to pacify them and suddenly you have become a dog owner and cant get rid of him. In such circumstance you hope that the following combination of events does not happen and they are the dog s**ts and a dog warden appears simultaneously. At this stage the dog has all the body language of your lifelong pet. And the dog doesn't seem to have an Irish accent.
Sorry about the 'feckin' tan' bit.

reginaldstower

the fingered gesture is called a salute
bring a big stick with you and point at it the dog if it tries to bite you

Haz

PMSL.....

O.K I think the ' how are yer' has been covered.

With regard to 'the bold dog'..I SWEAR when I was 7 I was climbing a farm gate and when I got to the other side a black dog was giving me the evils. So I climbed back up the gate.

Now everyone I 've told this to laughs at this point ,but it is true. The dogs eyes turned red... Really. It did indeed go into a frenzy.

I put it down to the dog mistaking my 7 yo legs as uncooked chicken drumstix. I can't account for your trauma. :-)

Misty Blue

You know,as you pass from one town land to another the aul salute changes very subtly.I think it's a very endearing quality of us country folk.You can pick someone up at Derry airport and bring them up to Donegal and all along the way you'll get a salute and yer man'll be sitting there thinking 'Gordon Bennet do you know everyone in Ireland?!'
Course ye never let on.
The dogs?Turn your head away,don't make eye contact,it's a territorial thing.

Candy Canes

it means wazzzz upppp???

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