Ah, the species that is known as 'culchies' really are a brand of their own.
Some of my best friends are from all corners of Ireland but there's something uniquely different about them compared to those of us from Dublin or as it's known 'The Big Shmoke'.
They do tend to stand out from the crowd so here are 15 ways you can spot a 'culchie' in Dublin.
This is a massive thing I noticed even in college. It seems that every person from the country packs their latest GAA county jersey wherever they go and parades it around proudly. Everyone takes pride in where they come from.
Dublin to anyone who is not from it can be a very confusing, jumbled together place. There isn't really any structured, uniform layout like the city of Paris, for example. Even we get lost from time-to-time around the city and need learn the names of streets we've never heard of. But those from the country know the main streets and anything else is a plus.
Everyone is a 'lad'. When you greet someone or want their attention you say 'lad'. Can you tell me someone from the country who doesn't say this? And sometimes instead of saying 'hello' it is 'yes, can I get...' 'yes, how's it goin'?'
If you want to spot a big amount of 'culchies' under one roof at any given time, the place to go is Copper Face Jacks. It's the only nightclub everyone seems to be mad for. Coppers is always a unique experience but the selection of lads and gals you'll find are from all over the country.
If you ever want to impress that certain someone all you have to do is talk about the amount of road frontage you have back home. I've heard this expression many a time. It's supposed to be the way to someone's heart. If you have friends who are 'culchies' you will know the topic of farms and animals comes up more often than you think.
When your friends actually come up to Dublin for a day or so they more than likely always need somewhere to stay. For them it's free accommodation to crash on the couch while you are classed as 'sound' for putting them up.
Although jeans have gotten a lot skinnier over the years the bootcut is still the go to choice for country folks. The cut really helps frame the brown shoes in a nice fashion. It's the ultimate outfit and goes perfectly with a checkered shirt.
It was a tradition quite some time ago to go to mass with your family on a Sunday. Mass is a focal point for 'culchies' and everyone from the town goes. All 50 of you. Even when they're in Dublin they tend to go to mass on a Sunday. It's just a given.
There's other variations of soup? Crazy talk. Although vegetable soup is the staple and my go-to soup, God forbid that the soup isn't vegetable in the restaurant a 'culchie' goes to. What has the world come to?
Driving a car is easy, they say. They've been driving the tractor since they were 12-years-old. You feel bad when you still haven't learned to drive while your friend has years of experience back home. Guess it's time to finally do that theory test?
The ultimate way to dress-up? A checkered shirt. Just a casual few pints in the pub? Ah, just throw on a checkered shirt. It's the go-to fashion statement for 'culchies'. They can never own enough checkered shirts.
You may have tried to spike your hair with gel when you were younger to look 'cool' but for country folk it's still something they resort to even as an adult. Spiky hair is still somewhat in fashion. We think.
There has been so many times my friends have come to Dublin just for the shopping with their family. They did it as a kid and still come with their Mammy every now and again. It's a big trip that they plan weeks in advance.
We know that tracksuits are extremely comfortable. 'Culchies' on the other hand tend to take this to the next level and wearing a tracksuit is perfectly acceptable at most social occasions.
The look of horror on their face when you tell them that you have never been. To them, it's a massive tradition. Every year it's a given family day out. It's definitely the most Irish event to ever happen.
Can you relate to any of these?
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