In Ireland, the Irish know how to entertain! Irish hospitality is renowned for being one of the warmest – and most surprising! Indeed, the Irish are exceptionally kind, immediately inviting simplicity and conviviality. So don’t be surprised if an Irishman gives you a friendly nod or wave as you pass on a deserted road or pedestrian street: it’s commonplace here!
In Ireland, people live in towns and villages on a human scale, which encourages contact between Irish people. Tourists are no exception to the rule, and are likely to be greeted with a friendly hello, a friendly smile, or some other gesture of welcome.
Because let’s make no mistake: the Irish love tourists, and their interest in their Irish country. They see it as a real cultural enrichment to come into contact with them, and don’t hesitate to assist them with any questions or help they may need. Irish people are also happy to lend a helping hand to travelers, for example by picking them up hitchhiking, or offering them a pint in the pub after a chat.
Strange as it may seem, the Irish love a good chat, but refuse physical contact, which is rare. Irish people will usually shake your hand when you first meet them, or greet you with a simple hand or head gesture. There’s no need to think about kissing: it’s almost non-existent in Ireland, except among young people, who are rather shy about trying this new practice.
If, however, you’re rather close to your Irish friend, he or she may tap you on the shoulder as a sign of good fellowship… It mainly depends on the type of relationship you have with the person in question.
In any case, you should know that the essence of Irish hospitality is to be found in the Pub, where Irish people gather on occasion, to enjoy a pint of Irish beer with friends, or in front of a Gaelic sports match.
In Ireland, people express themselves with certain Irish expressions and proverbs, which you’ll need to know if you want to perceive all the subtleties of a conversation. First and foremost, Irish people like to approach topics of conversation with a certain fatalism.
So when you’re asked “How are you?”, don’t hesitate to answer with:“It could be worse” or“Not so bad, not so bad“.
You can also discover the panoply of Irish proverbs by consulting our article dedicated to their best quotes… They are imbued with inimitable wisdom and humor!
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