IT’S BEEN SAID before and it’ll be said again, so at this point there’s no point in denying it: some things are just quintessentially Irish.
And so, it follows that there are little things and pastimes at which we are uniquely gifted. We used to be known as the island of saints and scholars, whereas nowadays we’re more internationally renowned for our hospitality. But that’s all small fry when you compare it to the small but unique things we’re all so good at.
We mean the stuff you can only really get way with when you’re home and dry. Or home and slightly damp, depending on the forecast.
A careful and delicate chemistry as yet left shockingly unexplored by research scientists – the perfect cup of tea. It’s subjective of course, but there are very few other countries in the world in which you can genuinely lose dear friends over the ‘milk before or after the bag’ argument.
Forget Kevin Bacon (unless of course you can definitively prove he came from Skibbereen and knows your grand-aunt’s third cousin). One of the best ways to spend an evening over a pint is figuring out the mutual friends you have with a new acquaintance. Hands down.
Truly, we’re in a league of our own on this one. Irish people are the type that can get all gussied up for a great day out at Punchestown, then get caught up in the banter and manage to not see a single horse. All day. Sure, how would you manage to see a horse when there’s the chats to be had?
“Giving out” in itself is an Irish-ism. Say it to someone in the UK, even, and they won’t have a bog what you’re on about. And just like we made up the ingenious term “giving out”, we’ve also pretty much perfected it as an art form. Begrudgery, thy name is Ireland.
Never let it be said that we can’t turned even the most tragic of situations into a bit of craic.
“Oh it’ll be raining for the next month, will it? You wouldn’t happen to have next year’s Lotto numbers while you’re at it, would you, Nostradamus?” Yep, we’re all weather experts in Ireland – and we sure like to make that known.
Having notions – or, indeed, accusing someone else of having notions – is the pastime we can all get behind, in one way or another. Saying “to go” instead of “takeaway”? Utter, utter notions.
Another few things we excel at? Horse racing and having the absolute craic.
And those are the two things you can enjoy in spades at the Punchestown Festival, Tuesday 28 April to Saturday 2 May. It isn’t just for the lads in the flat caps who know the seed and breed of a horse – all you need to know is how to have great time with friends. Live music, a few drinks, shopping and style go hand in hand with the races. Now, show us an Irish person who can’t get behind that. Find out more information at punchestown.com.
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