There are certain things that only people from small Irish towns will understand. Here are our top 10.
At the end of the day, there are certain things that only people from small Irish towns will understand. There are many pros and cons to living in a small town in Ireland, but no matter what you think of it, you will be able to relate to one or all of these 10 things if you’ve ever lived in one.
10. The local celebrity
Every small town in Ireland has a local celebrity. This could be someone who is the captain of the local GAA team, someone who got 600 points in their leaving cert, or anyone who has an achievement impressive enough that they become famous in their town but not enough to be famous in their county.
This person can often be found in the local pub because occasionally they will be bought free drinks as a result of their past achievement.
9. The person who thinks they’re famous
Just one step above the local celebrity is the person in every small town who is “famous”. Maybe this person has auditioned for X Factor or perhaps they played a bit of county GAA, maybe they even appeared on an episode of First Dates.
This person has done something that makes them famous in their town but the people in the rest of the county might also say “god, yeah, that name does sound familiar alright”.
8. The shock when a stranger knows you’re town
Another thing only people from small Irish towns will get is the strange emotion you feel when a stranger knows the place you are from. For example, you are in a pub in Dublin and you start talking to a stranger. They ask you where you are from and you say “Mountrath”.
You are now expecting them to say “where is that” but instead they say “oh yeah I know it well, I have been to Laois a few times”. That is the last thing you were expecting this person to say and you now have no idea how to respond.
7. That one fella that nobody knows
Every small town has one man who nobody knows. Everyone will know his name (often Mr. Murphy) but few people know anything about him. You will see him standing behind the goal at GAA matches, you will see him sitting at the very back of the church at mass, and you will even see him sitting in the corner of the local pub.
Everyone will nod their head to him and he will nod back but nobody knows a single thing about him.
6. The pain of going to the shops with your mam
For people from small Irish towns, going to the local shop with your mother is one of the most painful things you will ever do. Your mother will know every single person in that shop and will have to stop and chat with every one of them individually.
Before you even get into the shop, she will probably have already had three separate conversations while trying to put her euro into the trolley.
5. It is impossible to get served underage
Underage drinking in a small town in Ireland is borderline impossible. There is a 100% chance that the barman will either know your parents, have seen you playing minor football, or knows that you haven’t even done your leaving cert yet. There is no point in even trying.
4. The local politician
Ah, the local politician. In any small town, there is a 99% that they are the only person wearing a suit. I am sure that in big towns and cities being a politician isn’t a big deal, but in a small town in Ireland, you would want to have your facts right if you’re going to be the local politician.
3. Being related to half the town
Having a big family and growing up in a small town can often be a bad combination. You can’t do anything without your parents finding out and it is almost impossible to get the shift since everyone is your third cousin.
2. The stress of the bus
One thing only people who live in a small town in Ireland will get is the stress of trying to take the bus. If your town is even lucky enough to have a bus stop in the first place, it will probably only arrive once or twice a day. Both times it will likely either be two hours late or it just won’t turn up at all. An absolute nightmare.
1. When one of your friends gets a car
If you grew up in a small town in Ireland, then you know the newfound feeling of freedom and euphoria when one of your friends finally gets a car. Previously you were left with very few options for activities because there were very few things to do within walking distance of your house.
Now though, you and your friends can do seemingly exotic activities such as go to Supermac’s and sit in the car listening to music. The dream life.
