How to piss off Irish People – (as a tourist)

For some reason Irish people have to deal with their fair share of ‘stereotypes’ some are good and some are not so good.

Often tourists threat our little island almost as if it is a theme park featuring mystical creators and happy dancing men…yes I am talking about Leprechaun’s.

As an Irish person it can be hard to be taken seriously, it’s is as if we are seen as people ‘stuck back in time’ with very little connection to the modern world.

Honestly, it can be frustrating, we as a society are just as advanced as any other western country yet, our ‘stereotypes’ fit into that of a movie script.

And to make matters worse we are rather polite nation, and don’t really have the tendency to correct people.

Typically, we will give a little smile and try to divert the conversation elsewhere, but my god some things tourists say can really push a button or two.

So, naturally to combat this, I have compiled a list, of interaction’s you should avoid in Ireland unless you are on a mission to piss off as many people as possible!

4. “What’s Your Opinion on Irish Unity?”

I get it, Irish politics is not exactly easy. And most people who ask this question are just curious but my god since Brexit I have lost count the number of times I have been asked a United Ireland.

It’s like people didn’t even realise the Republic of Ireland existed before the boarder became a hot topic. We where just seen as part of the UK, and don’t get me wrong, I am glad that finally after a 100+ years of independence the world is aware of our little country.

But sometimes it is treated as it is part of our personality, like every individual Irish person thinks about it every minute of the day. Spoiler Alert: We don’t. Irish people, both North and South have a lot more problems to be worrying about, for example the country is experiencing an insane cost of living crisis and there are barley any houses to go around.

Personally, I would love to see the North and South become one again (with unity from all those who live on the island), but only if it could be done is a peaceful way.

5. ‘Your Accent Makes Me Laugh’ ‘Can you say thirty tree?’

Look, I know Irish accents sound different to those from other countries. Believe me, I have been told, multiple times. So much so, that when I lived in the states no one called me Laura, instead they called me ‘thirty tree’.

But it is so weird to have someone tell me I have a funny accent when I’m in Ireland. It’s like they don’t realise that they’re in my country. So, technically, they’re the ones with the funny accent.

And, yes we can not say the ‘Th’ sound properly but what many people don’t realise the reasoning for that stems from the Irish language.

6. “Top o’ the Mornin’ to Ya”

Let’s just avoid this one all together. I don’t think I have ever heard an Irish person actually say it…like ever!

I kind of just associate it with a Hollywood stereotype of a cringy man doing a sh*te impression of an Irish accent.

7. ‘You Don’t Look Irish’ ‘Why Aren’t You Ginger’?

The amount of times I have been told, as a fair haired Irish woman that I don’t look ‘Irish’. In other words, I do not fit the stereotype of ginger hair and freckles.

And, yes, Ireland holds the record for the country with the highest number of red heads but that does not mean EVERYONE carries the gene.

In fact, not one of my family members has ginger hair and our DNA is over 95% Irish. However, I sadly did manage to inherit, the pale skin that lacks any sort of tanning capabilities. Lucky me 👍

8. ‘Wow, Ireland is so much more advanced than I expected’

For whatever unknown reason, many people seem to be under the impression that Ireland is a land stuck back in time.

I have quite literally been told by tourists that they where surprised to see things like ‘highways’, ‘direct flights’ and ‘iPhones’. Yes, iPhones 🤦‍♀️

It may come as a surprise but just like the rest of the world Ireland has moved on with the times. We are just as a developed as any other European country. And we are also highly educated so I don’t know why people expect us to be dumb.

9. ‘I’m Irish Too’

We hear it time and time again. Everybody wants to be Irish. And I get it we are pretty class 😉

But if you where not physically born in the country or moved here at an early age then in the eyes of an Irish person you are not Irish. You’re of Irish decent. And yes it’s different.

We see Irish people as someone who grew up in Ireland, with our customs, our schooling, our weather, our own unique environment.

Now, before you come at me, I am not disputing anyone who has Irish DNA. It’s more the terminology that tourists tend to get wrong. If you have Irish parents, grandparents, great grandparents or someone in your bloodline that was Irish. Then yes, of course you have Irish heritage. And that is something you should be really so proud of. And maybe in your home country you drop the word heritage or decent but in Ireland it’s probably best you use it.

Someone once said to me ‘I’m Irish too’ and then their follow up sentence was ‘but I’ve never been to Ireland’. Can you see how that is kind of contradictory?

10. ‘My Aunty Mary lives in Letterkenny do you know her’?

This one I can not get my head around. There are over 5 million people living in Ireland but for some reason tourists are under the impression that we all know each other.

Yes, the population is small compared to other countries but it’s still 5 million people the likelihood of me knowing your Aunt in Letterkenny is slim to none.

11. ‘I Heard it’s Legal to Marry Your Cousin in Ireland’.

No, we do NOT marry our cousins in Ireland, it’s not legal or practiced for that matter. It’s a weird one but yes I have been asked this question before, sadly more than once.

12. “You’re from a Rural Area? Have You Even Heard of the Internet?

Ah, yes, because clearly the moment we leave Dublin, we all revert back to the Stone Age…

It might be hard to believe but there is actually this thing called the ‘internet’ in rural Ireland. It’s quite a handy service too.

Of course in some more isolated area’s you will experience patchy singnal but for the most part you will be able browse online without any issues.

13. ‘You Must Drink Every Single Day’

Contrary to what the world leads people to believe the Irish are not a nation of alcoholics.

The reality is our weather is sh*te 99% of the time, so a good old natter (chat) in the pub goes down a long way but that doesn’t always mean we are falling out of it at 2am each night.

Don’t get me wrong, we love a night on the town but the presumption that every person has an unhealthy relationship with alcohol is very much a stereotype.

14. ‘Why Can’t I Drive to London’

This one takes the cake but maybe, just maybe it’s due to the big body of water called the Irish Sea in the way?

Unless you have discovered leading tech that will allow you to drive through water you’re not driving to London anytime soon.

I quite literally argued with an American guy once in a hostel because he was CONVINCED he got a 16 hour train from Belfast to Manchester 🤦‍♀️ Nothing I said or did changed his mind.

15. ‘Irish Names Sound Funny’

Oh, you mean names like Caoimhe, Siobhán, and Tadhg? Yes, that might just be because they aren’t in the English language.

The amount of times I have heard people laugh and say ‘how on earth can that be Caoimhe, where’s the v?’

And then it shocks them when I say there is no ‘v’ in Irish.

Have a Ireland Travel Question?

Then join my FREE Facebook Community, I pop in once a week to answer as many queries as possible. Please do not email or DM. It is easier for me to manage everything in the one place 😊