When you move to a new city or country, there is always going to be a new type of culture that needs getting used to. Every place has its own traditions, history and its unique type of people. Dublin is no different. There are many great quirks to this city, and the ways people behave can take you aback if you are not ready for them. This article shows you how to best adjust yourself to the local culture.
General behavior in Dublin
For the most part, Irish people are friendly. They will usually help give you directions or some advice if you stop them and ask nicely. When you meet someone for the first time, usually a firm handshake and making eye contact is your port of call.
Irish people generally are a bit reserved when it comes to hugging and kissing people they do not know. Hugs and kisses are better suited for family members and good friends.
Irish people are very conversational and will talk about any topic under the sun with you. This could be while you are sitting on a bus or waiting in line. If you are stuck for something to say, you can always speak about the weather - a favourite topic for all Irish people.
When you are walking down the road, people walking by you will often nod, smile or say hello. This is not a sign that they want to begin a conversation; this is just a friendly greeting.
One big no-no is criticising the country or its culture. While Irish people are generally easy-going, they are usually very patriotic and do not like to hear people saying bad things about their country.
You will nearly find a pub on every street corner in Dublin. These are meeting places and the hub of a lot of cultural activities. Traditional music is often played and is usually the centre of a lot of people social lives.
A lot of Irish people are not good at timekeeping. If they say they will be somewhere in five minutes, it will usually be twenty minutes. While Irish people have a good work ethic, they are not always the most punctual of people.
Irish people generally are a lot more easygoing when it comes to cursing. They may use curse words in a casual way and can often be used as a sign of endearment.
Etiquette in Dublin
The way drinking in a group in Ireland works is through a 'rounds' system. You never buy a drink just for yourself. Instead, you offer to buy the rest of your group a drink. When it comes to your next drink, the next person in the group will get the round of drinks.
Somebody who ignores their round is not well liked in Ireland. Turning down an offer of a drink from someone can also come across as insulting to some Irish people, so this is something else to be careful about.
A lot of Irish people do not do public affection very well. While they are friendly and welcoming, they still like to keep things somewhat polite and conservative.
Besides, there is not much of a tipping culture in Dublin. Some restaurants have a service charge included in the price. Otherwise, if you get good service somewhere, you may decide to leave a tip of 10%-15% of the bill. Wait staff usually get paid a decent basic wage, so they do not survive on their tips.
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