Social Classes in Ireland?

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I should be doing something else

We don't really have such a thing as Upper/Middle/Working class anymore, that is a very old fashioned thing although you do hear it now and again.

Now people are more commonly divided into unofficial groups such as culchies, yuppies etc etc...

Sshhhh! It's Podge and Rodge

One of the biggest social classes is what we call the 'nouveau riche' or 'parvenus'. You know the type, lots of cash, very little taste. The type who like to drive around in their convertible cars with the roof down looking like right eejits. They've also probably got a 4 wheel drive to bring little Kyle to school because you wouldn't know what sort of difficulties an ordinary car might encounter in the challenging jungle environment known as the suburbs.
They eat paninis and think they're sophisticated wine connoisseurs because they shove any old cheap plonk down their gobs.

Thankfully these people are on the way out, and good riddance to the lot of them!

Wolfgirl

From a socio-economic point of view, there certainly are class divisions in modern Ireland, and they are pretty much the same as in any society. The lower-working class tend to be those in low-skilled, low-paid jobs or those who are unemployed. Working class are generally in low-paid manual jobs too, but have slightly higher levels of education and are more financially secure. Upper working class have skills, probably have a mortgage but are less socially mobile than the middle classes. There is not much distinction between them and the lower middle class in terms of finances, but there is in terms of mobility. Lower middle classes have a mortgage and send their kids to college, but it is a struggle. They expect that their children will do better than they have. Middle classes are the likes of Gardai and teachers - they generally are pretty well off but don't usually see it that way as they can see what the next lot up have and don't see why they shouldn't have the same. This lot are suffering the most in the current recession as many of them overstretched their finances during the boom and are now pee-ed off with everyone else because it didn't work out for them and they might lose their precious Bulgarian investment property. Upper middle classes own more than one property, are probably mortgage free and know how to be tax exempt. Upper classes aren't really the same here as in other countries - they tend to be made up of established millionaire families who don't like others to know about their wealth. It's not based so much on birth as cronyism.

Add to this where someone is from and whether they are a Traveller or immigrant. Travellers would not be accepted as middle class even if they were loaded. Immigrants have a better chance, depending on where they live. Middle class people generally don't believe there is such a thing as class as it disturbs their feelings of entitlement and can cause their lattÃ©s to repeat on them. The ESRI has published loads of reports on socio-economic stratification, if you prefer that label to 'class'. There's a great book called 'A sociology of Ireland' by Tovey, Share & Corcoran if you want facts rather than vitriolic arguments.

The don

landowning class
upper class
middle class
working class
lower class
travellers
emingrants
that is it around where i am

ayhartlasketchup

Well there aren't really classes as such more as loads of social groups.

There are the families who always had money, mostly in South Dublin (D4s)
New money that spent way too much over the last few years (thats gone now because of the recession)
Normal people who live normal lives
Scumbags
Lol start counting the thumbs down...

bluebell

The Irish Constitution declares that all Irish people are equal - but let's just say some are more equal than others. Every town and village has some who consider themselves better than the rest - and it's not just about money. Snob values. Unfortunately, they often contribute less to the community than the folk they think they are better than, even though they live a life of privilege. Look to our politicians for glaring examples. With greater participation in third level education, the demarcation lines between the classes are more blurred than in the past, but they are still there.

gaspipe

theres not really classes of people as such, theres certain groups that have names like scumbags/nackers who start fights and drive shite cars that they decorated and blear there music and drive like muppets, theres emo,s, D4s,!
i dont know? I dont really know what you mean, sorry?

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