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Introduction

Hello everyone! In this blog I will be doing a deep dive into the Irish culture. I have an interest in Ireland because some of my favorite books are by Irish authors and I enjoy other forms of Irish media as well. One of my friends recently visited Ireland to study abroad and told me all about her time there and showed me pictures of the beautiful country. From these experiences I have learned about only small parts of Ireland’s rich culture, and I am eager to learn even more. I hope to one day visit Ireland, and I think that learning more about the culture and being informed about its customs will help me interact with people from this culture. Through the process of making this blog I hope to also gain general skills when it comes to interacting with people from a culture that is different than mine to ensure that I am effective and respectful.

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I consulted the CIA Factbook to learn about some general features of Ireland and its culture: Ireland is located in Western Europe and has a population of roughly 5 million people. While English is used by the majority of the population, Irish (also termed Gaelic), is the traditional language of the country. It is still spoken by almost 40 % of the population. The major religion in Ireland is Roman Catholic, represented by almost 70% of the population.

In this blog I plan to cover topics such as Irish media, Irish cuisine, Ireland’s family structure, worldview, cultural history, language, business protocols, healthcare system, and education.

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“In studying other cultures, we do so very often from the perspective of our own culture.”

While looking at other cultures, it can become easy to compare your own customs and ways of life to the ones you are studying and play into your own biases. To ensure that I am collecting accurate and unbiased information from the perspective of individuals who live in Ireland, I will be mindful of the sources I’m using by making sure that they are of high quality, incorporating sources by Irish locals, and seeking firsthand accounts. I also think it’s important to have an open mindset and evaluate the culture on its own terms rather than judging it according to my own to capture a more authentic understanding of the culture.

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Irish Media

Normal People by Sally Rooney

“A stunning novel about the transformative power of relationships” (People) from the author of Conversations with Friends, “a master of the literary page-turner” (J. Courtney Sullivan).

(Was made into a TV show in 2020)

Intermezzo by Sally Rooney

"An exquisitely moving story about grief, love, and family―but especially love―from the global phenomenon Sally Rooney" (Amazon).

Foster by Claire Keegan (my personal favorite)

"Claire Keegan’s piercing contemporary classic Foster is a heartbreaking story of childhood, loss, and love; now released as a standalone book for the first time ever in the US" (Amazon).

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

"Small Things Like These is award-winning author Claire Keegan's landmark new novel, a tale of one man's courage and a remarkable portrait of love and family" (Amazon).

(Was made into a movie this year!)

Derry Girls (TV show)

"The personal exploits of a 16-year-old girl and her family and friends during the Troubles in the early 1990s in Northern Ireland" (IMDb).

The Secret of Roan Inish (movie)

"Young Fiona lives with her grandparents in a small fishing village where she takes an active role to unravel the mysterious secrets" (IMDb).

The Banshees of Inisherin (movie)

"Two lifelong friends find themselves at an impasse when one abruptly ends their relationship, with alarming consequences for both of them" (IMDb).

Bloody Sunday (movie)

"A dramatization of the Irish civil rights protest march and subsequent massacre by British troops on January 30, 1972" (IMDb).

The Cranberries

The Cranberries is a popular Irish rock band. They have sold over 40 million albums.

Some of their most popular songs are:

Dreams

Linger

Zombie

Sunday

Zombie was written in the 90s as a protest song about two young boys who died from a bombing amid the 'Troubles' in Northern Ireland.

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Irish Cuisine

A common conception about Irish food is that it’s bland, unseasoned, and mostly consists of potatoes. Although there is some truth to this, it’s important to emphasize how hearty and filling Irish food is. Irish dishes utilize fresh ingredients for their flavor rather than using herbs and spices. Irish cuisine often relies on potatoes, meat, and vegetables. Warm meals like stew and hot breakfasts are very welcome in Ireland considering that the weather is often cold and rainy.

Irish Stew:

Irish stew is very popular in Ireland because of how easy it is to make. The typical ingredients include onions, potatoes, and mutton.

Soda Bread:

Soda bread is made without yeast. It rises due to mixing baking soda with buttermilk. People will often eat soda bread with sugar, honey, and dried fruit if they want something sweet. Otherwise, it’s often paired with bran or oats.

Colcannon:

Colcannon is a staple dish in Ireland during the winter because it’s a very comforting dish. It’s a combination of mashed potatoes, butter, cabbage, and spring onions. A similar dish, called Champ, includes milk as well.

Boxty:

Boxty is a traditional Irish potato pancake. It’s made by frying a mixture of grated and mashed potatoes. This dish can be paired with nearly anything because it’s very versatile. One recommendation would be to eat it with smoked salmon and Crème Fraîche.

Black pudding and White Pudding:

Black pudding and white pudding are very common dishes to eat with breakfast in Ireland. Black pudding is a blood sausage. It’s made of pork meat, fat, blood, suet, barley, and oatmeal. White pudding is exactly the same, except it doesn’t have blood in it.

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Family Structure and Function in Irish Culture

Traditional family structure in Irish households is majorly nuclear families, that of a husband and wife with children, but there is a growing acceptance of other family types and alternative households: LGBTQ+ parents with children, single-parent households, single person households, and couples without children as well.

One of the key aspects of socialization in Irish families is that children are very highly valued. When out and about with their kids, parents will expect those they encounter to interact with their children as well. Irish people see kids as something enjoyable and they make a point to have fun with them. Kids are also encouraged to run wild and mess around. Irish parents encourage their children to speak out, heavily disagreeing with the statement that children should be ‘seen and not heard’, showing a contrast compared to the rest of Europe.

There are two official languages in Ireland: English and Irish (also called Gaelic). There are many families that prefer their children to only speak English, placing less emphasis on their heritage language, probably because they see more value in knowing English considering that it is now the majority language of Ireland. However, Irish is still spoken throughout Ireland.

Family and faith are commonly held at the center of many Irish people’s lives and identities. Catholicism is a prevalent part of personal and family relationships in Ireland. Traditional Irish parents believe that “the family that plays and prays together stays together” (Lantz, 2020). Traditional Irish parents will still give their children freedom and encourage independence while also emphasizing strong family bonds a religious worldview.

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When it comes to gender roles in Irish families, they are influenced by the heavy presence of Catholicism in the country, which encourages traditional roles of a mother, like staying at home instead of working. However, gender stereotypes aren’t as strong as they once were depending on where in Ireland someone lives. Rural communities tend to be more conservative, while gender equality is more common in urban areas. In these urban areas it’s more common for both parents to work, especially because of the growing costs of living expenses.

Irish parents reinforce individualism by encouraging their kids to be self-reliant and independent. Children typically leave their homes around 18 or 19 to attend college. They might also leave around this age to move in with a partner, or if they are financially independent from their parents. While parents push their kids to be independent, collectivism is still evident in Irish culture. Children will make an effort to come home for Christmas, even if they are studying abroad. Family cohesiveness is also a fundamental part of their culture, placing much importance on extended family. It is common for extended families to live near each other, although less so in recent years because of growing urbanization.

As Irish children get older, their family of origin remains very important, probably because of the emphasis their parents placed on having strong family bonds. Parents remain respected as they enter old age, and their children will visit them often. The Irish demographic patterns have significantly changed over time regarding how many children a family has, now averaging under two. Because of this change, children will often form strong bonds with their grandparents.

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Worldview in the Irish Culture

The dominant worldview in Ireland is Roman Catholicism, which is religious in nature.

At the core of Catholicism, there is one God who is considered a Triune God, which means that he is made up of three parts: God the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. Catholics believe that God is a supreme being who lives in heaven, watching over everyone on earth. He is known to be almighty and all knowing. Jesus Christ was a Jewish man, born of the virgin Mary, who founded the Catholic Church. He lived a life on earth like any other human, except that he never sinned. He is said to have performed miracles, was crucified on a cross, and was resurrected from the dead and ascended into heaven. The Holy Spirit “is the personification of goodness and sanctity, arising from both the Father and Son” (Introduction to the Catholic Religion, 2024). The Bible is the main religious document used by the Catholic church, which is believed to be the inspired word of God.

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An important cultural expression in the Catholic Church is prayer. There are five types of prayer that Catholics will perform: praise, thanksgiving, intercession, petition, and blessing. Prayer is directed to either God or the saints, which are said to have lived very holy lives. Another key cultural expression in the Catholic church is baptism. Baptism is the act of pouring water on another’s head in the name of Triune God. This sacrament is what allows someone to become a part of Christ and a part of the Catholic Church.

Catholicism expresses its ethics through the Ten Commandments which are recorded in the Old Testament of the Bible:

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Honor thy father and thy mother.

Thou shalt not kill.

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Thou shalt not steal.

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods.

There are also six commandments of the Catholic Church:

Attend Mass on all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation.

Fast and abstain on appointed days.

Confess sins once a year.

Receive Holy Communion at Easter.

Contribute to the support of the church.

Observe the laws of the church concerning marriage.

When it comes to notions about death, Catholics believe that once someone dies, their soul continues to live. That soul then faces judgment in front of God. Depending on the kind of life that person lived, God will determine whether their soul goes to purgatory or hell. If someone lived their life loving God, their soul would go to purgatory, where they would wait until they could eventually enter heaven. If someone rejected God during their time on earth or didn’t repent for their sins before dying, they would go to hell, which is a place of eternal torment.

Cultural Catholicism is on the rise in recent generations of Irish people. A cultural Catholic is someone who was raised in the Catholic Church and attends mass for holidays or special occasions, like Christmas, Easter, and baptisms. However, they would not be considered practicing members of the Catholic community because they don’t regularly attend mass, read the devotionals, or commit to the teachings of the Church. Those who are considered practicing Catholics are usually a part of the older generations in Ireland. This major shift is due to more progressive politics in Ireland in the last 30 years or so.

The Roman Catholic worldview is fairly homogeneous in Ireland with almost 70% of the population being Catholic. The other 30% or so is made up of several other religions such as Protestant, Orthodox, Muslim, and more. Although Catholicism is the majority in Ireland, the constitution of Ireland guarantees that citizens have the freedom of religion and discrimination based on religion is prohibited. However, there has been evidence of school authorities showing preferential treatment towards students practicing Catholicism and denying students the right to opt out of religion classes in school.

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Irish History: Timeline

The Great Famine: The Great Famine, also known as the Irish Potato Famine, began in 1845 when Phytophthora infestans, a type of mold, spread rapidly throughout Ireland and ruined half of Ireland’s potato crops. Over the course of seven years the mold destroyed three-quarters of the crops. Farmers in Ireland relied very heavily on their potato crops as a source of food. By the time the famine ended in 1852, about one million Irish people died from starvation or causes related to the famine. One million people also had to leave Ireland as refugees. During the famine, Irland was being governed by Great Britain. Despite Ireland’s struggle to get food on the tables, exports from Ireland to Great Britain, including livestock and butter, increased during the famine. There is debate about whether the British government played a detrimental role in the Potato Famine by their poor response to the situation, but either way, the catastrophic loss sparked a growing desire for Irish Independence. The Great Famine still plays a role in Ireland’s culture today, having memorialized the event and the lives lost on several different occasions.  

The Easter Rising: The Easter Rising was a rebellion that took place on April 24 of 1916. A group of Irish nationalists and many of their followers rebelled against the British government in Ireland in proclamation of establishing the Irish Republic. They accomplished seizing important buildings in Dublin and continued to fight with British troops. After two weeks, many were dead, and shortly after, the leaders of the rebellion were executed. There wasn’t very much support for the Easter Rising by the Irish people in the beginning because of the destruction and death caused by the conflict. The perception held by the public later shifted, hailing the leaders of the rebellion as martyrs. Resentment towards the British began to grow even more. This event is seen as a major steppingstone towards the War of Independence, which began only three years later and holds major significance in Irish culture.

The War of Independence: The Irish War of Independence technically started in 1919 and ended in 1921, but violence preceded and continued after this conflict. It was a conflict between Ireland, the British state, and its forces that were stationed in Ireland. Many violent acts and riots transpired during this war. About 500 people had been killed by the end of 1920. That number tripled within the first 6 months of 1921. The continuous fighting ended on July 11th of 1921 due to a truce that was negotiated between the British and Irish Republic forces. However, violence in Northern Ireland continued through the second half of 1921 because of rising tensions between republicans and loyalists, and Catholics and Protestants. The results of this war were an independent Irish Free State and Northern Ireland, which continued to be a part of the United Kingdom. The War of Independence was only the beginning of subsequent war and violence that took place, somewhat tarnishing its image. However, the creation of the Irish State was very openly celebrated until the 1970s. Because of this war and the civil war that proceeded, Irish culture was greatly affected by the attention brought to the killing of civilian lives and the decreased endorsement of the Irish Republic Army campaign.

Photo: Ireland’s War of Independence

A documentary about Ireland’s history that I would recommend watching is titled “Spotlight on the Troubles: A Secret History”. Both parts one and two can be found on YouTube. In this documentary, a team of investigators go to Northern Ireland to uncover secrets about the 30-year long conflict that is commonly called the ‘Troubles’. Previously classified documents, unseen footage, and new testimonies are highlighted in this documentary. The investigative team starts at the beginning by analyzing the unrest in the 1960s and the arrival of the British Army, and then continues by focusing on the violence and division that followed.  

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Language in Ireland

There are two official languages in Ireland: English and Irish (also called Gaelic). English is spoken by most of the population, but Irish is considered the traditional language of Ireland. It’s spoken by almost 40% of the population.

The term English as a lingua franca refers to the way that English can be used as a shared way of communication between people with different native languages. Using English as a lingua franca would positively impact my ability to communicate effectively with someone from Ireland, especially considering that their majority language is English. Even those who can speak Irish fluently are probably also fluent in English, considering that it is spoken by over 97% of the population.

Some Irish Vocabulary:

Hello! - Dia dhuit! (jee-ah ghwitch)

Yes - Sea (sha)

No - Níl (neel)

Please - Le do thoil (leh duh huh-el)

Thank You - Go raibh maith agat (guh ruh mah UG-ut)

Can you help me? - An féidir leat cabhrú liom? (fay-dir lyat cow-roo lyum?)

I don't understand - Ní thuigim (nee hig-im)

I don't speak Irish - Níl gaeilge agam (neel Gway-il-geh a-gum)

My name is [your name] - [your name] is ainm dom ([your name] iss an-im dum)

I found that many of these words were difficult to pronounce, especially the phrases “go raibh maith agat” and “an féidir leat cabhrú liom?”. The pronunciation is very different compared to how it would be read in English. It would be important to learn words like these before traveling to another country because it shows that you are giving an effort to communicate with the locals. Because English is the majority language in Ireland, someone would probably do fine without knowing any Irish, but there still might be a time when it comes in handy.

I found an Irish poem written about Ireland:

Mise Éire: Sine mé ná an Chailleach BhéarraMór mo ghlóir: Mé a rug Cú Chulainn cróga. Mór mo náir: Mo chlann féin a dhíol a máthair.

Mór mo phian: Bithnaimhde do mo shíorchiapadh.

Mór mo bhrón: D’éag an dream inar chuireas dóchas.

Mise Éire: Uaigní mé ná an Chailleach Bhéarra.

When I put this poem into Google Translate, it translates to:

I am Ireland:

I'm older than the Witch Bear My glory:

I bore Cú Chulainn bravely. Great my shame:

My own family sold their mother.

Great my pain:

A biopic for my constant harassment.

Great my sorrow:

Those in whom I expressed hope died.

I am Ireland:

I'm more than the Witch Bear.

Something I noticed from translating this poem from Irish to English, is that parts of the translation don’t make a lot of sense. In the actual translation, “a biopic for my constant harassment”, is more correctly translated as “my irreconcilable enemy who harasses me continually.” This phrase makes a lot more sense in the context of the poem, pain being the “irreconcilable enemy.” The term “Witch Bear” is also meant to say, “the old woman of the Beare.” This comparison shows that Google Translate is not always very reliable and can easily misinterpret phrases.

"Language influences our view of reality."

There is debate about whether language influences our reality, or reality influences language. The idea that language influences our view of reality is called the Sapir-Wharf Hypothesis. I have a friend who speaks both Portuguese and English fluently, English being her second language. She told me that trying to express herself in English is completely different than expressing herself in Portuguese. To her, it’s as if she is two different people, depending on which language she is speaking. I think that this is a great example of how language can shape someone’s reality. Some things are more salient in certain languages compared to others. In Ireland, the Irish language is seen as a historical treasure, and it plays an important role in Irish identity and culture. Music is an important component in the Irish language, as they often use Irish songs and ballads to preserve customs and traditions.

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Nonverbal Language in Ireland

It’s important to understand the nonverbal language of a particular culture when interacting with others from that culture because nonverbal language differs across cultures. What one gesture or nonverbal behavior means in one culture, might mean something completely different in another. For example, a thumbs up in my culture would be a good sign, but in another culture, it might be considered offensive. It’s important that you’re careful about what sorts of nonverbal gestures or behaviors you use so that you don’t offend someone from another culture or give them the wrong idea about what you’re saying.

Some potential obstacles to accurately understanding the nonverbal messages of other people could be related to all sorts of cultural differences:

The use of eye contact: Western culture values direct eye contact, while many Asian cultures consider it to be disrespectful.

Gestures: A thumbs up is considered positive in the West but is offensive in South American cultures.

Personal space: North American cultures put more value on personal space, while Latin American cultures are comfortable with being closer to others.

Facial expressions: Smiles are seen as friendly in many cultures, but in some Asian cultures it can be a sign of discomfort.

Head movements: In many cultures nodding your head is meant to show agreement, while in India it means the opposite.

One way that Irish people communicate specific messages is through hand gestures. A common gesture in Ireland is call the finger salute. This gesture is often used on Irish roads; drivers use it to say hello to an oncoming driver, to say thank you, or to signal to pedestrians that they can cross the road.

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Another common gesture used in Ireland is the peace sign. Although the peace sign is used throughout many countries in the world with the meaning of victory, anti-war protesters adopted it as a symbol of peace. If you use it in Ireland, it’s important that you keep your palm facing out, otherwise you might offend someone.

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Another nonverbal behavior that Irish people use to communicate a specific message is eye contact. Irish people think that someone who shows consistent eye contact is trustworthy and sincere. However, they don’t appreciate constant eye contact.  

When it comes to personal space in Ireland, it’s the norm to stay about an arm’s length away from someone else. Irish people aren’t huge on physical touch when they’re talking to someone unless it’s with someone they have a close relationship with- like a family member. They also don’t push people in public, like when they are waiting in lines or on public transportation. I think that I would be very comfortable interacting with someone with these cultural norms regarding personal space in public settings. I would say that they are pretty similar to the norms we have in the United States.

In Ireland, physical touch or affection is generally not used in public. However, Irish people are still very friendly and warm when interacting with others. Women are more likely to touch each other than men, but men will commonly slap each other on the back as an appropriate gesture. In comparison, Americans are more comfortable with physical touch and affection in public between friends and family members. It is also common and acceptable for men and women to hug in casual settings. However, people will generally only touch people that they know well. Depending on where someone lives- like in a large city or in a rural area- the amount of physical touch used on a day-to-day basis varies.

In Ireland, time is very fluid because it has a polychromic culture. Although punctuality is considered important, time is often stretched so that various external factors are taken into consideration. This type of time allows trust to develop because it emphasizes flexibility regarding interactions and building connections with others. It’s important for someone to know this cultural norm if they are visiting Ireland so that they create less misunderstandings. For example, a tourist might invite a local to their accommodation to have a meal. If the local were to show up late, the tourist might take offense if they don’t know that Ireland generally operates on polychromic time.

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Business In Ireland

Ireland has specific business protocols and practices:

Common and expected business greeting behaviors in Ireland are a firm handshake and direct eye contact. You are expected to maintain eye contact during your conversation as well, while avoiding staring. Avoiding eye contact might make you seem untrustworthy, while staring too intensely could come off as rude. It’s important to find a good balance between the two.

Because the Irish are very warm conversationalists, it’s appropriate to share witty stories or jokes as initial conversation topics. They may even make jokes at your expense, but playing along and joking back would show that you have a sense of humor.

Typical business dress code in Ireland consists of conservative clothing like formal suits. Flashy colors should be avoided, while tweeds, wools, and muted colors are embraced. It’s also important to follow the lead of your business partners when it comes to adjusting your style.

Generally, gift giving is not appropriate in business contexts in Ireland. The only time that a gift is well received is if you are celebrating the end of a negotiation.

There is always potential for communication challenges when visiting a country different from your own:

One potential communication challenge that an American businessperson might face if they were to find employment in Ireland is adapting to the Irish sense of humor. The Irish love making and telling jokes that might be confusing to someone from a different country. As I mentioned before, even if they make jokes at your expense, it’s best to go along with them and joke back.

The expectations for time and punctuality in Ireland differ from those in America. An American businessperson shouldn’t be surprised if their Irish associate is 15 or so minutes late. This relaxed sense of time applies to things like negotiations and deadlines as well, which can make the decision-making process somewhat lengthy.

Another thing that might make communication challenging in Ireland is the use of professional titles. In Ireland, professional titles are not seen as relevant and don’t elicit respect as they might in America. Using your credentials to greet someone might make you seem arrogant or come off as boastful.

If I was a U.S.-based manager who has been assigned a new employee who recently moved from Ireland, I would use the following strategies to help my existing employees navigate cultural expectations related to attitudes toward work, decision-making, and conflict management:

The Irish place a lot of importance on building strong relationships with their colleagues. I would encourage my existing employees to make a point about getting to know our new employee by engaging in small talk and inviting them to work-related social gatherings.

As I mentioned earlier, in Ireland, the decision-making process can be lengthy due to a more relaxed sense of time. I would encourage my existing employees to be patient with our new employee as they become accustomed to American norms in the workplace, especial surrounding time and efficiency.

Like in America, communication in Irish culture tends to be very direct when it comes to conflict management. The Irish also value a more personal and approachable style of communication by incorporating light humored jokes. I would encourage my existing employees to play into our new employee’s sense of humor, especially when conflicts arise.

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Healthcare in Ireland

The Irish healthcare belief systems are very similar to those of the United States, being mostly aligned with the scientific/biomedical approach. Health services, such as drug and medicine prescriptions, hospital services, and dental services are available practices in Ireland. In contrast to the United States, Ireland’s healthcare system is ranked very highly because of how affordable it is and the availability of treatments. However, Irish folk medicine is also an important part of Ireland’s heritage which takes a more holistic approach. The use of Irish folk medicine relies on the natural world and herbs. Traditional healers were called faith healers. They knew how to apply herbal medicine to ailments and used healing techniques that focused on mind, body, and spirit. Irish folk medicine has a supernatural/magical element as well. Charms and rituals were used to ward off illnesses or to bring someone strength through the spiritual realm. In modern society, those who practice Irish folk medicine stress the importance of bridging the gap between traditional holistic approaches and scientific medical knowledge.

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In Ireland, the rituals surrounding death are very important. Funerals are seen as a way to celebrate the life of the deceased. It’s also common to attend funerals for people you don’t know. Funerals are often considered community events. Wakes are very common in Ireland as well. They give mourners the opportunity to spend time with the body and work through their grieving process. There is usually a feast following a wake in honor of the person that has passed on.  A more traditional belief surrounding death in Ireland has to do with protecting the body from bad spirits. The body would not be left alone for three days leading up to the wake to ensure that the body is safe. To help each other stay awake, mourners would play games and tell stories.

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Because the health care belief systems in Ireland are so similar to those in the United States, I’m not sure how different being a medical worker there would be. If I had a friend that was going to Ireland to do medical related work, I would advise them to educate themselves on Irish folk medicine because of how important it is to Ireland’s heritage, and they may come across patients who prefer to incorporate a more holistic approach into their medical care. Because English is spoken by over 97% of the population, they probably wouldn’t need to worry about learning a new language. Learning some terms in Irish (Gaelic) wouldn’t hurt though.

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Education in Ireland

In Ireland, the education system is split up between primary school and post primary, or secondary, school. Secondary school is split up between Junior and Senior cycles. Public and state-funded schooling is available for both levels, but private school is also an option. Children are required to attend school from at least age 6 to 16, but a typical student will attend school from age 5 to 18. Children who are pre-school age can attend Early Childhood Care and Education Scheme to receive free care and education. Pre-school education is also an option, although it is privately funded. The National Childcare Scheme will often help support parents so that they can pay for private childcare.  

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In Ireland, the school year typically begins in September and ends in June. However, state exams are held during June for 3rd and 6th year students. The school day usually starts at 9am and ends at 4pm. Students attend school five days a week: Monday through Friday. Something interesting that many Irish schools offer is a Transition Year. It takes place between the Junior and Senior cycles. This optional year gives students the opportunity to try out a broader range of subjects without exams and to get more work experience.

About 60% of Irish high school graduates continue on to higher education. Ireland’s college graduation rate is 56%. I couldn’t find very many differences based on demographic factors, but female graduates do outnumber males. Women make up 54.7% of the total number of college graduates.

In primary school in Ireland, there are 7 different curricular areas:

Language: English and Gaelic

Mathematics

Social, Environmental, and Scientific Education

Arts Education

Physical Education

Social Personal and Health Education

Religious Education (depends)

With such a wide range of subjects, this curriculum aims to provide children with various learning opportunities aimed at reaching their full potential.

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In secondary school, students are required to take:

English

Mathematics

Irish

Otherwise, students can pick and choose which subjects they want to study. There are also certain circumstances where students can be exempt from studying Irish. When it comes to religious studies, secondary students are not required to study religion as long as their parent or guardian gives them permission not to. If a student is 18 years old or older, they can decide for themselves.

I think that the Irish curriculum reflects some of their more historical and religious values. The Irish consider the Irish language (Gaelic) to be a historical treasure, which would explain why it’s taught in school even though over 97% of the population speaks English. The element of religious studies also reflects Ireland’s heavily Catholic worldview. Compared to the topics studied in the United States, I think that they are very similar. However, it seems like students in secondary school have more freedom to pursue the subjects they are most interested in.

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Managing Differences

I think that vacationing in Ireland for one to two weeks would be relatively easy because there wouldn’t be a language barrier and there are quite a few similarities between Irish and American culture. Living in Ireland for one year or more would probably be hard at first, but I’m sure that it would get easier as time went on and I adapted to the culture. A challenge that I would expect to face in the process of adapting to Irish culture is the sense of humor. Teasing and making jokes at the expense of others is an integral part of the Irish sense of humor and is often a part of casual conversation between acquaintances and friends. I think that it would take me a while to get used to this type of humor because I generally only tease people that I know very well. This cultural difference could easily manifest itself in social settings, like when trying to make new friends in Ireland. Another challenge that I would expect to face in the process of adapting to Irish culture is the use of polychromic time. Time is very fluid in Ireland and flexible punctuality is emphasized. A polychromic view of time is a very stark contrast compared to the United States. I’m very used to having a stricter sense of time and focusing on punctuality. This cultural difference could manifest itself in professional and business settings. It would be typical for an Irish associate to be 15 or so minutes late to a business meeting.

One thing that I can begin doing today to make cultural adaptation less difficult would be continuing to learn more about Ireland’s background, cultural values, verbal and nonverbal styles, social etiquette, etc. Another thing that I can do to make the cultural adaptation less difficult is guard myself against ethnocentrism. Ethnocentrism is the idea that one’s own culture is superior to another. Both visitors of a country and those local to a country can be vulnerable to ethnocentrism. Something that I can do to reduce the chance of ethnocentrism is to learn about how my own culture influences my perceptions, values, and beliefs.

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An important component of intercultural ethics is being aware that communication produces responses. When communicating with someone from a different culture than you, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to predict their response. Another important ethical component is respecting others. Everyone wants to feel respected and valued when they’re having a conversation with someone. Seeking commonalities is another ethical guideline when communicating interculturally. Cultural similarities can act as guidelines for how to treat someone regardless of what culture they are a part of. Recognizing and respecting cultural differences is important as well. Lastly, being responsible for yourself is a vital component of intercultural ethics. It’s important to be mindful of our communicative choices and how they affect others. I can begin to internalize these ethical components so that I can apply them during future intercultural exchanges by being mindful and aware of how my attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors are shaped by my own cultural upbringing. I should also keep in mind that everyone is shaped by their own culture.  

While it may not be possible for me to visit Ireland any time soon, I can engage with Irish culture while remaining in the United States by continuing to do research about the culture, looking at other blogs about Ireland, and attempting to make some traditional Irish dishes. I can also continue to consume Irish media by reading more books by Irish authors, finding new movies or TV shows that take place in Ireland, and listening to Irish musicians.