What are people from Ireland best at?

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Priscilla Duck

All the above is bang on. I'd like to add a few things. They are huge stereotypes, but sure that's what this exercise is all about.

1. The Irish have a unique sense of humour. There's this concept of 'having the craic', which is when a group of people get together and have fun. It can involve drinking, eating and music, but it doesn't have to. You can have the craic at school, work or in the pub, with family, friends or total strangers. The most important element is that people slag each other off, i.e. tease each other and say bad things about each other, but always in good humour. Outsiders don't always appreciate this humour and can find it a bit offensive, but it's always meant to be gentle and it is a way of stopping people from 'getting above themselves'. We cannot abide people who are arrogant or self-important and will do all we can to deflate their ego in as public a manner as possible.

2. The Irish also have a terrible habit of hiding from reality. There's a saying which goes "Sure, it'll be grand". This is said anytime somebody expresses a concern or worry, e.g.

Student: "I'm really worried about my exams. I failed everything last time"
Teacher: "Sure, you'll be grand".

Reporter: "Taoiseach (Prime Minister), aren't you at all worried about the world-wide financial crisis? Why are you going on holiday?"
Taoiseach: "Sure, it'll be grand"

Engineer "Sir, I'm a bit worried about the size of this Titanic ship thing. Are you sure she'll float?"
Captain: "Ah sure, she'll be grand".

This leads us into all sorts of problems and you'll often see public figures in trouble because they ignored all the signs of impending doom.

3. We are adaptable and flexible. We have to be, given the amount of trouble the "it'll be grand" mentality gets us into. This is why you'll find Irish communities in almost every country you go to. When times are bad, we head out to foreign shores and make new lives and new communities there. These usually integrate well into the new society, but they always keep a sense of Irishness about them, things like keeping your family as your best friends, helping out other people just because they're Irish and gathering for music and the craic. It's why Irish pubs are so popular, they have a really good atmosphere.

I'm sure there are more but I need more tea. Oh, that reminds me...

4. Yep, we drink more tea proportionate to our population than any other nation on earth, even more than the UK, China or India, an average of six cups a day for every man woman and child in the country. Every occasion demands that a fresh pot of tea is brewed, whether it is the announcement of good news, disaster, or simply a chance meeting of flatmates by the kettle, "you'll have a cup of tea" is said probablly even more times each day than "it'll be grand". We love tea more than alcohol. You can have the craic as easily over a mug of tea as over a pint of Guinness, and the quality of the craic is usually better, because everyone is sober and no one sulks. Most nights out are ended with a cup of tea. We drink tea when we get home from work, after every meal, with a cigarette, on a break at work, after Mass, after funerals, at weddings, when we get up in the morning and last thing before we go to bed. Even when we go to a sports event or for a walk in the wilds, some of us pack a thermos flask and a packet of biscuits and enjoy a nice cup of tea half-way through. The favoured brands are Barry's and Lyons and if you drink one you slag off the other, vey few admit to liking both (a bit like the Democrat-Republican divide).

And like I said, I'm due a cup, so that's all for now...

Podge and Rodge Tribute Band

We're probably best at the drinking, the gambling and having the bit of craic. We're also best at bog snorkelling and tug of war (world champions). We once beat Pakistan at cricket although the Pakistani coach died soon afterwards (nothing to do with the Irish) so that got in the way of our victory. We once beat Brazil 1-0 in the garrison game at Landsdowne Road (Chippy Brady scored a lovely goal).
We're best in the world at horseracing. Aidan O' Brien and Johnny Murtagh are only legends and their horse Duke Of Marmalade has paid for our holidays this year.
Sometimes we're good at the rugger, other times we're shyte. Sonia was a great runner and Keano took Sunderland from nowhere in the old Division 2 into the Premiership.
We're best in the world at hurling and Gaelic Football mainly because no-one else plays it.

Oh and we won 3 gold medals for the swimming at the 1996 Olympics. A girl by the name of Michelle Smith, but we don't talk about her anymore. It turned out that she could urinate whiskey so now she's working for Jamesons.....

Hope all of this makes sense!

caitlinodwyer

irish people can talk for days... adding good food and drink can make that months

Orla C

It's a fact that the English spoken in Ireland that has been affected by the Irish language is the most beautiful and lyrical dialect of English in the world.

No surprises then that the best English-language literature in the world comes from Ireland. WB Yeats, Roddy Doyle, Marian Keyes, and of course the inimitable Oscar Wilde are all ours. Not to forget Eoin Colfer and Seamus Heaney.

This way with words also includes songs, and the nicest Irish songs are the ones that are still in the Irish language itself, like Buachaill On Eirne and Fhir a Bhata. I suppose it could be said that the Irish are rather good at singing and songs in general. Of all the nationalities in Europe, I think that songs from Ireland have spread out over the world and influenced other musical cultures more so than any other northern European country. Of course, I could be biased ....

Also good with horses, and other sports. Pity there isn't the budget to train people to do better at the Olympics.

Just Dave

Having been there twice, I'd say you'd be hard pressed to find anything bad about Irish people. They are among the nicest in the world.

Dublin might be different, but fashion is NOT one of their highest achievements. That is not to mention things that are knitted, which are fabulous,

Forever young

They smell like their soap, Irish Spring, and they're magically delicious.

JavaHelp

I lived in Ireland for two years. They love soccer and rugby. They also have a cool accent. Dirty sounds like dorty. Also, my friend there rides horses.

i know

Having "the gift of the gab" We can just keep on talking - Common phrase - Sure he'd talk for Ireland.
Also our colloquialisms
If someone asks how are you, It is common to answer 'I'm grand' (which people from other countries find odd)
What most people call erasers, we call rubbers. Things that are cool are brilliant or ddeadly or savage. In the country you don't dance, you jive. Most people speak a little Irish, and so we throw Irish words into everday conversation.
Calling someone a cute h**r is NOT an insult but a term of endearment.
We can hold our drink (even though I don't drink!, but I could hold it if I did!)
We can talk about the weather all day. But really its very interesting. Like today it was hot and sunny when I left for work, then it started to lash rain, then it got windy and cold, the sun came out for a while, then we had a thunder storm!
Can't think of much else. If you have any questions email me!!!!

Kaetlyn

What makes them special would be anything (and everything) that sets them apart from other countries.
-Their language
-Their history
-Their culture in general

Louise Ellen

Irish people generally greet each other in the street (even if you don't know them) - okay, I'm not sure about cities, but the smaller towns if you pass someone it's just instinct to say "Hi, lovely/shocking weather isn't it?" or "How are ya?"
It's kinda rhetorical but it's bred into us.

zippy

Drinking!
Talking
Making you laugh until your sides hurt
Complaining about the weather
Hangover cures

peter h

I'm from Ireland. I can answer this

Our History
Our Culture
Our Friendly People
Our Language
Our Tourist Attractions

Hope this helps

that guy

DRINKING hahah
laughing, singing.

oh and swearing.
but u probably couldnt put that in your project.

my mum and dad are irish and i lived there for a bit when i was younger but i dont really know anything specific that makes them uique. seeing as so many ppl in every country have irish heritage.
but the native language (gaelic) is a very unique language.

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