Learning about and submerging in Irish Culture
To fully benefit from your time in Ireland as a foreign exchange student in Dublin is important to learn about Irish culture, heritage and what it means to be Irish. The people of Ireland are proud and known to be friendly and welcoming bunch, especially to those who have an interest in our culture. To receive the full extent of the “Céad Mile Fáilte”, which directly translates to “A hundred thousand welcomes”, it is important for exchange students to immerse themselves in Irish culture.
History
For such a small country, Ireland has a great history and story. From the arrival of the Celts to St. Patrick converting the Irish to Catholicism and in turn shaped Ireland into the predominantly Catholic country it is today, there is plenty for exchange students to be interested in. The effects of British rule and the Great Famine are well documented around Dublin in exhibitions such as the Irish Famine Exhibition and a range of museums. This gives foreign exchange students a great opportunity to learn about Irish history and impress Irish people with the knowledge they have about their history. The period from the 1916 rising to the War of Independence and then the Civil War is well documented in the National Museum of Ireland and gives a great insight into how the Republic of Ireland was established.
Language
Irish, or Gaeilge, is the official language of Ireland, however English is the most commonly spoken language. Gaeilge comes from the Celtic family of languages and slowly began to diminish roughly from the 18th century on and is now spoken by few on a daily basis. There are Gaeltacht regions around Ireland, located mostly in the West of Ireland, which are primarily Irish speaking regions and preserve a great part of Irish culture. Getting other Irish students to teach you phrases and sayings in Irish is always a great way to have a laugh. We are always happy to teach you how to say “Sláinte” in the bar and give you the “Céad míle fáilte”.
Food
When it comes to food, the Irish are known for their potatoes. The potato was a staple in Irish diets for most of our history but nowadays (thankfully), there is a broader food culture. One of the most famous Irish dishes is the “Full Irish”, a breakfast which consists of eggs, bacon, sausage, pudding, hash brown potatoes, soda bread. You can find it on every good brunch menu in Dublin.
Traditional Irish dinners such as a roast beef dinner, bacon and cabbage, and the famous Irish stew can be found in select restaurants in Dublin and will provide you with a taste of proper Irish food culture.
One delicacy that foreign exchange students probably won’t have heard about is the ‘Chicken Fillet Roll’. Unknown to the wider world, in Ireland it is a culinary gem. Unlikely to have popped up in web articles recommending ’10 Irish Dishes You Need to Try!’, ask any student you meet walking around an Irish University campus, and they’ll tell you to find your nearest deli.
Sport
Sport is a huge part of Irish culture and there is plenty for foreign exchange students to learn about as we have sports that are indigenous to Ireland. Global sports such as rugby and soccer are popular sports here in Ireland, the Irish national teams are known to have the best supporters in the world. The Irish rugby team compete in the Six Nations each Spring and if you’re a foreign exchange student that wants to get involved in the buzz, you should find an Irish sports pub around Dublin and enjoy the games every weekend with some passionate Irish supporters.
Although many foreign sports are loved and played by many, the centrepiece of Irish sporting culture is the GAA. The GAA was founded in 1884 and is comprised of indigenous Gaelic sports such as hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders. To fully submerge yourself in Irish culture foreign exchange students should become familiar with the national sports. Gaelic and hurling season stretches almost year-round and games are being played in Dublin continuously so exchange students will always have the opportunity to attend games. Whether it be in a local Dublin GAA club or in Croke Park (the mecca of the GAA), exchange students are sure to enjoy the first-hand experience of watching a thrilling Gaelic or hurling match.
Pub Culture
The Irish are known worldwide for their drinking culture. On any given evening, a trip to Temple Bar is where visitors can find congregations of people looking to unwind after a long day of work. The traditional Irish pub is at the heart of Irish social life. Attempts are made around the world to replicate the warmth and atmosphere in our pubs, usually falling short. It is essential that exchange students experience the unique feeling a traditional Irish pub inspires, especially with so many to choose from in Dublin. There you may find a Trad session – a gathering of Irish musicians playing traditional Irish music, and you’ll certainly find a nicely poured Guinness.
Irish pubs are an important meeting place where people go to meet with friends old and new. Although there is a big drinking culture in Ireland, drinking alcohol is not necessary to enjoy the pub experience. The most important thing for exchange students is that they spend an evening or two in these pubs, making sure to soak up everything that’s on offer.
Having a basic knowledge about the Irish culture is a great way of impressing Irish people when meeting them for the first time and having this information will make it easier to adjust to life in Dublin. If you’ve no idea about the culture in Ireland, getting involved in the things and places mentioned in this piece are an excellent way to start.