49 Things that are Different in Ireland! [According to this American]
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- Опубликовано: 6 фев 2025
- #ireland #expat #lifeinireland
We had the joy of living in Ireland for 3 months. During that time, Chris noticed a few differences about Ireland. Some more obvious than others.
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The reason why waiters etc don't expect tips is because they're actually paid a living wage and don't rely solely on tips to pay the bills.
Those escalators you mentioned are known as travelators, and originated in airports and are designed for luggage on wheels and passengers.
Many American foods containing growth hormones are illegal in the EU. Which may explain the size of the American food section.
Black and White Pudding are like our version of salami
I noticed a lot of those things as well. My two favorite observations in Ireland were they quality of food, even what we would consider fast food, is much better and the people are so much nicer & more helpful.
Jean Mitchell The thing about ireland is that the only resource we have is the land and apart from growing trees the land is good for one thing and thats growing food,even if the bad land like bogs and hills not suitable for crops or dairy you can graze sheep
That is because there are no added chemicals in fast food.
All of the food is naturally grown.
Just a quick note, Shopping Carts/Trollies are FREE, you put a €1 coin (or a fob) into it to release it from the other carts, and when you are done shopping, you return your cart to the correct place (where you got it) and reconnect it, then you get your €1 coin back!
This is done so people return the carts back to where all the carts belong, if you fail to do so, you lose your €1 coin, which is a great idea!
Also, you should have tasted both the black/white pudding with bacon and sausage, it's amazing. We also have a Christmas Pudding which is not related to the meaty breakfast puddings, it's more of a dessert.
Polish food is very popular in most stores, due to the amount of Polish people now living in Ireland, and we LOVE the Polish people.
Spirits are sold in legally controlled measures in Ireland. Spirits are heavily taxed. Hence the dispensers or as they are called 'optics' that more quickly dispenser and allow the customer see the legal amount is dispensed.
Runners is the most common word in Ireland for workout/sports shoes.
Lots of what you describe is common across Scotland and the North of England. Black and white pudding are SO tasty- you need to try them! Essential for a proper fry along with potato bread, wheaten bread, and soda bread ❤
My wife and I just got back from a 3 week tour of the entire Island! Loved every minute! I want to stay in there now, for a couple of months at least, possibly more. I am a Sullivan, my wife is a Tierney, so needless to say, we felt amongst our People!
It is a special place.
'Cheap and cheerful ' didn’t realise it was not an expression in the US.😊
Chip as chips is more common in Cork
I really appreciate all the details of your food and excursion experiences.Your Ireland series has really helped me prepare, add some fantastic things to try and see, as well as give me a good idea of what to expect. I appreciate how organized Melissa is, which confirmed I made the right travel plans, and for the love of chocolate thanks for all of the doughnut & coffee recommendations.
We're glad we could help!
Nice video. For Number 9 "cheery and cheap" though, I think the phrase you are looking for is "cheap and cheerful"
You are right.
Trainers are also called Runners in Ireland,. Trainers is more of a British term
I’m Irish and Iv never called them trainers…Iv always called them runners and a lot of people I know call them runners too…I agree it’s mostly a British term.
The footpaths can be narrow. The thing is the buildings may have been there centuries so the width of the street is fixed. Since the width of cars and trucks are also fixed, the footpath could only take up what was left. The old streets vary in width from alleys to market streets maybe 100 to 120m wide. Thanks for visiting and glad you had a good time.
The average width of a street is 4m.
100 - 120m would be the width of a motorway.
@@gerardflynn7382 this is true. Market towns like Strokestown (not the widest) or Cookstown would have motorway width streets. For markets, mostly. These towns had a social structure around the markets. I remember Strokestown had 32 pubs at one stage for instance.
The streets were built for horses not cars.
All of our dairy are pasture fed and I think it shows. Hmm, I don't know about an American section in the grocery store (supermarket). But the majority of big and small supermarkets have a Polish section, because there's a very large Polish community.
I've never seen an American section in 53 years
the "flat escalators" are called travelators. they are in shopping centres so you can push shopping trolleys up them. the wheels lock into the groves so they dont slide around.
no the wheels are just magnetic
I'm Irish and live in Ireland and have to correct my son's Americanisms from watching tv and youtube. He says elevator, I say lift, he says line, I say queue, he says cookies, I say biscuits, he says candy, I say sweets luckily good manners are the same in both languages. I do joke with him and say im going to start a youtube channel and say " hey whats up you guys, like and
subscribe" and he just says thats so cringe Mom and I say its Mam not Mom! we live in Ireland, you havent emigrated yet!!
That's funny stuff. Our kids think our channel is super cringe! :D
Sneakers are Runners in Ireland. Police are The Guards, Gardaí, or Garda Síochána. Jaywalking isn't a thing in Ireland. Shopping Carts are free you just need a Trolley Token, you get your token back when you return the trolley, you can also use a Euro instead or two smaller coins stacked works (you learn this when you forget your Euro/Token). You bring your own bags to shops, and buy them if you don't have one so plastic use is reduced. Garbage disposal units in sinks are banned in the EU as they pollute the waterways.
Hey they have those outdoor gyms here in Florida! I thought it was strange, too, but it's nice I guess to work out next to the river. I didn't know if anywhere else had them.
CRAIC MEANS "FUN" NOT CONVERSATION!! GARDA IS ACTUALLY "AN GARDA SIOCHANA" WHICH TRANSLATED TO ENGLISH FROM IRISH/GAELIC MEANS "GUARDIANS OF THE PEACE"
To be fair, depending on how it is said, it could also mean great conversation.
How's the craic, what's the craic, the craic was mighty etc. Going out for a few drinks, a night out with friends for example, does include a lot of chatting, so if you said, the night was great craic, then you are referring to the conversation as well as the drinking, eating, singing, dancing and so on.
nope... it's literally Fun... it's a Irish language word that means fun.. and nobody says how's the craic... its what's the craic
you have to put money in to get a shopping cart in many grocery stores in British Columbia too. You get it back when you return the cart
Also in some grocery stores in Ontario.
Americans love to shorten words and often even shorten words or a person's name to just letters so why is it they call a fridge by its full long name - refrigerator and not just say fridge like we do here in Ireland and also in the UK. ?? Refrigerator has five syllables. Fridge just one! Just a thought.
our mispronunciation of the english language, and our love of profanity, is due to an inherent need to bollocks up the language of our conquerors and oppressors 😂
Go néirí an t-ádh libh ☘
Respect & Peace ☘
It is English but it is Hiberno - English so is in fact our own version of English.
The "flat escalators" are used usually near supermarkets are the shopping trolley can dock in the grooves and not move until you push them off.
Hi you should come back to Ireland during Christmas time. Christmas is very big in Ireland it lasts for two weeks. It’s just a beautiful time in Ireland
HI! Perhaps some day. ;)
Two weeks more like six weeks
Great content, I'm happy you enjoyed our stunning island. Did you mention you are in Portugal, I moved here from Cork over 20 years ago, Hope you're enjoying it.
Hi. It is a lovely place. And we are in PT now... videos will start coming soon.
@@chrisplusmelissa Oh lovely, I'm happy you are enjoying your stay. ALGARVE really is a wonderful part of the world and holds a Mystical Energy for me.
I live in Olhos de Agua and I have Holiday properties to rent,
I'd love to Offer you both a few days in one of our magical places - Complimentary that is. If you are interested, please let me know xx
Please contact us via the email provided on the about us section. :)
Now the flat escalator makes huge sense. Shopping centres are built for ,prams,buggies ,shopping trollies(the personal ones you use to bring home your shopping.
Easier and more practical than stair escalators.
Did you notice that sometimes in shops when you hand cash to pay for an item the cashier will sometimes say, "that's lovely" before making change?
Actually I do recall noticing that sometimes.
I believe dairy produce like cheese or chocolate are much better quality in ireland as they have basic dairy milk and no palm oil or additives
You don’t pay for a shopping trolley in Ireland. The coin releases the lock. When you return the empty trolley you get your coin back. It’s just to make sure the trolley is not left in the car park or anywhere but the trolley bay.
Tyres = Tires....from an entomological view point 'tyres' is the correct English spelling. I think Teddy Roosevelt championed more 'practical' spelling...colour = color etc great utube clip guys/lads !!
haha, you are so cute! shopping car accepts 1 or 2 euros to take the lock off, buy when you insert the lock back after you finished using it, the euros you input will come out itself! so it is free to use for sure😄
The most important thing is the Kit Kats
They have tons of different flavors as well as seasonal flavors but most of them are for the Asian market such as Japan.
We built home made racers from the trolleys (what you call carts) , lol. That and many other things. The shops made you pay a dollar (for example) and you got your money back when you returned the trolley.
you had 3months and never had a full Irish breakfast. you can't beat black and white pudding. most of your points are also British things
Craic means fun a great time example last night with the lads the craic was 90, meaning in America the night out with the guys was so much fun, flat escalators are for baby buggies or prams or as u say strollers or shopping trollies they actually have grips to stop a full trolly or as u guys say cart from rolling,and black pudding is actually made from actual blood so there u go and it's delicious
The"craic"actually means finding everything to be funny whether it is or not. This happens when everybody drinks far too much and they are falling around the place. Jazz cabbage helps as well!
Black pudding and white pudding are gorgeous... Esp. If eaten with bacon, sausage and egg.
And mushrooms, beans and hash browns?
#47. You really don't have to pay for the shopping trolley, you just put a coin into the locking mechanism to release the chain, but when you have finished shopping, you return the trolley to where you got it, and rejoin it with the chain, and your coin pops out.
Craic isn't gossip it's fun a good time good things happening. I've never ever heard cheery and cheap I've only ever heard cheap and cheerful. We don't have side walks we have paths/foot paths,and walking on roads is grand there's room for everyone. Waitstaff all work together to make sure everyone is looked after,tipping not necessary as everyone paid proper wage but it's nice. Hiking is pretty safe in general. Women are one of the lads so we drink whatever. The outdoor laundry mats are handy for stuff like horse jackets etc. And you can drive up put stuff in and it will text you when to come back. We drink alot of spirits so saves time. American stuff is very sweet and has way more ingredients and so expensive. We love orange chocolate. Never seen anything about a grease pole. We usually pay for trolleys, still do but alot leave them unlocked since covid. We have sweet pudding creamy stuff, cake pudding, meat pudding, fruit alcohol cake pudding all sorts. Good video mostly accurate.
Pudding is made from blood. But thete is drsert puddings as well. Sponge pudding and steamed pudding and sticky toffee etc
When I lived in Ireland I distinctly remember one very long straight road in Kildare, and this was in the 1960s, so it wasn't a motorway.
As we've Black pudding here in Spain, I'd guess you have it there in Portugal also. Nothing nicer that black pudding fried in olive oil with fried eggs and a few slices of bread. Also Ireland does breakfast properly
Apart from the olive oil I completly agree with you butter or margarine
Mmm you are making me hungry.
Do not tip in Ireland, the employer pays the employee. The employer makes the profit so should be obliged to pay a living wage, not the customer. Workers should not be relying on customers whim about how much they should get paid, they are employees not charity cases.
unfortunately that's not how it works in the US, specially in restaurants the staff make their income from tips!
Tipping is included in all the bills, but IF YOU REALLY LIKE THE SERVICE, throw them a few Euros extra.
The Menards store in St Paul has a flat escalator. My local ALDIs store in Minnesota has coin carts.
Craic is conversation and gossip but it mostly means fun
the outdoor washing machines are a relatively new thing.
You will find those machine in Portugal and Spain too
Easy way to remember what side of the road to drive on the driver is always in the middle of the road in any country
Never heard 'cheery and cheap' in reference to purchases, 'cheap and cheerful' is occasionally used to describe maybe a cafe or b&b.
Craic means more fun than gossip.
It would be very rare (I have never seen it) for a floor to be numbered 1 if it is street level. Its G for ground and the next one up is 1st floor.
There is very little tipping, maybe for special service in a restaurant, a round up figure for a taximan, but it isn't a compulsory part of life, or at least it wasn't until Americans came and upset the social norms by tipping all around them. European service staff get paid a living wage, leave the automatic tip culture at home.
The 'flat escalators' are to enable you to take a supermarket trolly up them (or a buggy (pram/stroller)) when the car park is on a higher floor.
Shopping trolleys are absolutely free, you need a coin to release the lock but you get it back when you return it.
You should have tried the pudding - I am not a fan of black pudding but the white pudding is delicious.
I absolutely LOVE you two!! (Especially Melissa 😂) I subscribed just because I enjoyed it so much!!!
She is a delight. That's for sure! :D Thank you for the kind words.
Tony Little, now that’s a name I have not heard in a loooonnnng, long time. Thanks for this friends, we’re two weeks and counting for our Irish Getaway. Nice to know if we get homesick we can find the supermarket American Zone. Orange Kitt-Kats, I feel a great disturbance in the force!!
A lot of that is just specific to the southwest cork and kerry
,never seen an american section in a supermarket up in the northwest
Trainers is more of a british thing most people call them runners again it maybe different in cork
Hitch hikers haven't seen many of them anymore ,but again that part of ireland gets more tourists and many of them are hitch hikers
Black and White puddings are not the only meaning of pudding it also means dessserts like brad and butter pudding.
Yes we have outdoor gyms in the US. Parks, beaches, recreational areas.
You really should have tried the black pudding. I had it in Scotland near the end of our trip and I regretted not seeking it out every morning. It isn't available in the US. 😢
Usually when streets are narrow its because the houses were built when the horse and cart were around , well before car,lorries and even some countries ever existed.
The euro put into a shopping trolley is automatically returned once you put the trolley back.
we don't charge to use shopping trolleys - you rent them for the duration of your shopping - you need to use a euro coin to release the lock and you get it back when put the trolley back and engage the locking mechanism again
Respect & Peace ☘
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Its not a sidewalk in Ireland, we call it a footpath. Generally just shortened to path. I much prefer white pudding. I always think that black pudding is an acquired taste, a bit like Guinness (from what I've been told). We generally call them launderettes. If you had good outfits or something awkward, you would bring it to your local launderette rather than using your washing machine at home. Like others have said, the outdoor laundromats is a fairly new thing. In hiberno english, the 'soft th' sound is generally pronounced as a hard 't'. Its a carry over from our native language as Irish does not have a 'th' sound.
footpath in Australia too.
"Cheerful & Cheap" said no Irish person ever.
Cheap & Cheerful, certainly, but usually "Cheap as chips"
Outside laundromats are relatively recent.
Handy for washing and drying duvets, as the typicial domestic washer/dryer is about half the size of those public ones.
Outdoor gyms are mostly aimed at the more active "old age pensioner" out for a morning stroll. And free.
We have craic and crack . 1 means fun 1 means you need help . 🇮🇪
:D
Black Pudding is made from ox blood suet and spices. Delicious.
You don't have to pay to use the shopping cart, the coin slot is just to make sure you put the trolley back at the end. Once you return it, you get your Coin back. 😅
Hirberno English is a real thing look it up. It’s fascinating that the Irish speak English the way they would’ve spoke Irish.
"the Irish speak English the way they would’ve spoke Irish" Not really tbh.
I think your 10% tip is fair but many places dont take or allow it
What Americans call "sweaters" the Irish call "jumpers."
I did not know that! Thank you for that tidbit.
Great video though I have to mention this; for #11 we call sneakers "Runners", in the United Kingdom they are called "trainers". That's an important difference, believe me.
Thanks for the info!
Yep runners not trainers
You just tip if you felt the service was good there is no rule but you should leave a tip as most of the young waitresses and waiters are students
The flat escalator means you can bring prams or trollies on them.
Actually... we remembered.. we HAVE seen these at Ikeas in the USA.
How was the washer/DRYER? 😮 😊
Some massive hits. I didn't realise myself. Less bangers but a fair few. Entertaining nonetheless. Appreciate it.
I did a few jobs in your part of the world in late winter. Sweet holy moma... travelled through the city without having to go outdoors. What is it like in full winter?
We did not spend time there during the winter. :( We were there for only 3 months... Aug, Sep and Oct.
@@chrisplusmelissa I meant the twin cities. You sound like that is your part of the world
Yes... that is where we are from. :D It's tough in the winter for sure! However, with our travel adventures, we've missed 3 winters in row now!
Kitkat in Japan it's crazy! Green tea flavour, Wasabi flavour, and lots of others.. Sushi flavour coming soon?, Maybe Ramen..
Oh... that sounds wild.
Guys, the payment for the shopping cart is only a deposit to ensure you bring it back. Once you clip it back in you get your coin back.
NOW WE KNOW! :D Darn it... we could have been using carts the entire time!
The idea is that people return them to a trolley bay, retrieve their coin meaning that the trolleys are not just left anywhere in the car park etc. tidiness.
@@chrisplusmelissa I'm surprised you didn't run into those in BC. One of the LMD Walmarts just went to those and they look identical to the ones in your video.
Those escalators are for your shopping karts. Most escalators have steps. Spray deodorants are everywhere.
Interesting vid! Trolley is your shopping cart. Is it "cheery and cheap", coz I think you mean "cheap and cheerful"! We usually call workout shoes 'runners' in conversation, shops call them trainers. On lifts etc., your first floor is our ground floor - when we go up one flight of stairs we're on the first floor. Tyres with a Y is correct for wheels. We don't have a tipping culture in Ireland coz staff are paid full wages so you're not expected to supplement that - it's appreciated, but not at all necessary. If you got dry, flaky cheddar it's probably 'mature' cheddar, there are different types. The flat escalators are travelators and are usually in shopping centres (malls) that have grocery stores coz they lock the wheels of the trolleys to stop them rolling, but also good for buggies (pushchairs) and some wheelchairs. Finally, most of us have fake coin keyrings for the trolley locks ;)
Thank you for the tips and info! :)
@@chrisplusmelissa i got a great trolley key called trolkey cost about €3 and can be used in €1 and €2 slots on trolleys which works in most supermarkets.
Those washing machines outside are a relatively new thing here in Ireland
Haha great difference spotting. All those you mentioned are the same in the UK as well
To Melissa - What you know as tires, REALLY ARE tyres in Britain and Ireland.
*Dark comment warning.* Now that you've been warned, let's procee: When you were wondering about the flat escalators (which are extremely useful for people with mobility issues, specially those on a wheelchair), it hit me that most of America doesn't love people, they love clients. And that explains the American healthcare system and also seems to shed a light on other quirky things about America.
Nivea Cool Kick roll on is my favourite 😆.
Your video's are very enjoyable. Note Irish town's predate medieval times so hence the small footpath's etc They were designed with one horse & carriage in mind. Many American roads were designed in much more recent times with the car in mind.
Black & white pudding is delicious and very nutritious also.
You left out some of the big things - crime, cost of living etc.
Thank you for the compliment. We didn't notice any crime... luckily. And crime and cost of living seems to be going up in the USA. I tend to notice quirky things. :)
Ireland is the third safest country after New Zealand, Iceland.
Just stumbled upon your vlog. Good work.We are in Ireland for 3 wks in May.
I have 1 question.
Have you guys lost weight since the beginning of your odyssey?
Sorry for missing your question here... I (Chris) have not lost weight, but I do feel a lot better. It's hard to explain. I think if we can incorporate a good workout regime in our new place, we'll maybe be able to lose a few. However, having a travel channel kinda monkeys with keeping the calories in check. 😁
Sidewaljs are called pavements or footpaths
That bacon looks like Canadian peameal bacon. It is so, so good, as is black pudding (aka blood pudding).
They are called travelators and are because people have to get to the other terminal to transfer or exit the airport
black pudding is DELICIOUS
White and black pudding...... Both are amazing and don't taste like sausage
50th thing that is different- there are no madman running around shooting people in schools and shopping centres.
And the best one is the bathroom are always called toilets...I had a friend who works in a bank and someone came in looking for a restroom. She didn't know what to do so she took them to an empty office and said you can rest in there if you like...I burst out laughing when she told me
The escalators with no steps are called Travelators.
Pudding is delicious. You missed out by not trying it.
We don’t tip in Ireland the prices are high enough as it is
If every place was like america would you travel to Ireland or anywhere else?
Viva la difference
Black pudding is pig blood 😂 it's sooo good 🐷💚🇮🇪
Most cars in Ireland are Manuel Drive
There's no need to tip in Ireland, it's really a thing
I'm not sure I like some of the conclusions here. Often Hiberno English is coloured by Gaelige pronounciation. And there are quite a few misunderstandings there too, but I accept it's well intentioned. Oh, and craic isn't gossip, it's fun. Craic agus ceol - music and fun. That's what an Irish night out is all about.
G is ground floir. The floir above ground is first or 1. . If you walked in at 1 that is because ground floorcwas the floir beliw and it had multi level access. Sometines basement is b or minus 1
great craic means great fun .
Cilantro is coriander? Wow! In Phoenix metro, though, there are almost NO sidewalks (and even less grass). Maybe that's part of the reason why pedestrians get hit? I think the tipping thing mght be different because in the US food servers are, ironically, legally paid starvation wages by the employer and tips are necessary for the server to live.
Here are some more (unless you already mentioned them and I missed it):
Oregano in Ireland is pronounced like the state (Oregon + O).
Larger refrigerators are called "American-style."
You don't turn off the light; you close the light.
Weather isn't humid; it's "close."
A "drop of tea" is usually about four cups LOL.
It's okay in Ireland to leave meat on the counter for days.
Insults usually mean you're a part of the family, and its fine to insult back.
Who leaves meat out on a counter for days? Never heard of such a thing. It goes straight into the fridge!
@@ClaireQuinn566 I remember when I was living in suburban Dublin, my roommates used to leave ham out for several days. Maybe because it was salty? Come to think of it, I don't remember other sorts of meat being left out - but then, we really didn't eat many other kinds of meat.