Ah yes, we Irish people are gentle and loving. But there is no doubt these ten things are a sure-fire way to insult Irish people the most.
Earlier today I posted “What annoys an Irish person the most? ☘️“ this post on my Facebook page.
Within an hour, I had over 500 comments, haha, so I guess it was not only me who had these issues.
Today I took the main points and put them into this list of ten things that insult Irish people the most.
- “What part of the UK is that?” Being thought of as British or from the UK! It amazes me still how, even in this day and age, people still think Ireland is in the UK. And question any Irish person about this, you will hear all about it very quickly. In fact, I remember being in the Cook Islands when I told someone I was from Ireland. They asked, “What part of the UK is that?” Needless to say, I did not take their answer too well, haha.
- “Happy St Patty’s day!” – Ohhhh, do not say this! This is by far one of the quickest ways to insult Irish people.
- The clover and the shamrock – Yes, I know I have even mistakenly put a clover on an image once or twice. Don’t worry; you will be quickly reminded!
- “Being asked to say 33 and a 1/3” Haha, oh my, I actually have heard this many times on my travels. It really does happen!
- Been poured a pint of Guinness in a Bulmers/Magners glass – If you run an Irish bar and you pour a pint of Guinness in a cider glass, be prepared for outrage! There is nothing worse. Well, except the bars being closed completely, haha.
- “Oh, I’m Irish!” I was in a shop in New York when the teller asked where I was from. I said “Ireland”. She said, “nooo way! I’m Irish too!”. Delighted to meet a fellow Irishman, I asked, “what part?”. To which I got the disappointing response, “Well, my great grandmother was from Co. Cork, so somewhere around there”. Our conversation quickly ended thereafter, haha. Enjoy this supercut of every “I’m Irish” in movies.
- When someone says “top of the morning to ya”, Please note nobody in Ireland says “top of the morning to ya”.
- The idea that if you’re Irish, you are automatically addicted to alcohol.
- Bad Irish accents on TV – When actors from other countries play the part of an Irish person, their accents are so forced and so false.
- Others worth mentioning:
When people ask me, “Do you know a Paddy Murphy from Belfast?” he works here in New York, … Whilst I’m in New York!!
They think we all know each other…
A compliment! We Irish don’t know what to do with ourselves when complimented.
When you don’t salute a magpie
Well, I hope you haven’t exploded from reading that list! It is certainly the best way to insult Irish people.
What other things really piss you off? Comment below!
Otherwise, thanks for reading and be sure to sign up to get your weekly dose of Irish straight to your inbox here.
Cheers,
Stephen
finbarr
Monday 12th of April 2021
you: You're from Galway, you must know xxxxxxx from Loughrea.
me: Feck it, I actually do know him/her
Shay
Sunday 11th of April 2021
People, on hearing you’re Irish, just go ‘Potato’ supposedly in some humorous reference to the ‘famine’ which was actually a genocide, as food was being shipped out of the country while people starved. Hilarious indeed 🤨
Mary-Kate Victor
Sunday 11th of April 2021
When I get called a "Yank" because I am an American. I immediately think of the Northeastern US. I am not a Northeasterner; I am from the Midwest. The Middle. There is a whole big country adjacent to the East Coast of America.
Pat Murphy Colliss
Friday 2nd of April 2021
My father hated being called Paddy. He was red hot about how Guinness should be poured, he would refuse a badly poured Guinness then explain to the bartender how to hold the glass under the tap and the correct way to pour his Guinness.
Connie
Friday 2nd of April 2021
Try be Canadian and ALWAYS being asked "What part of America are you from?" Blood boils. BTW. My ancestry is mostly Irish and Scottish.