Come again?

I have a final blog to wrap up the Ireland trip that’s a reflection of economic and cultural shifts I’ve seen since the early ‘90s which I’ll post in a few days. However, as many of you have expressed interest in visiting my beloved country, I thought I’d share a brief list of things I found handy. If any of my Irish friends are reading this, I cringe with embarrassment at the education you guys had to give me.

Yer Man: If someone says, “Yes, I called up, and yer man is going to fix my oven on Tuesday,” don’t give your husband or boyfriend a funny look. Yer man is basically a generic pronoun used very, very often and has nothing to do with anyone who might be yours. There is, of course, a yer woman version. At times, it can be used often in one conversation referring to several different people. Keeping tally of this can be quite daunting.

"Yer man totally tossed my suitcase down from the dock without looking."

Pitch: If you don’t know this through watching rugby or other sports, this is the field of a sporting area.  When my friend and I saw U2 at Croke Park a few years ago we were consistently directed toward the unknown pitch. We finally clued in when we walked out onto the field.

Fry-Up: Another word for a full Irish breakfast. See food below.

Jackeen: As with any area, there are regional stereotypes. A jackeen is derogatory term used for Dubliners used by those in other parts of the country. A statement regarding cluelessness, pretentiousness or arrogance usually accompanies this.

A bunch of rowdy jackeens heading to invade the peaceful island.

Culchie: The opposite of a jackeen. Someone from the country with accompanying rural stereotypes when used by Dubliners.

Tinker: A group of indigenous Irish migrant workers who travel about from job to job in groups. Like gypsies in other European countries, tinkers are often referred to as an ethnic minority and looked down upon by other members of society. They have distinct cultural practices of marriages, death and language. As many of the groups were traveling metal workers, it’s said the word tinker come from the sounds heard near their camps.

Snug: A small isolated booth or table in the pub, at least partially protected from view. Historically, the snug was for those who might not care to be seen or disturbed in the pub, say a woman or the local priest. Today, it’s more of an intimate setting for couples.

Bookmaker: You’ll see the signs everywhere, but this shop’s specialty is betting on winning horses, not best-sellers.

Fair play to you: good job or great idea

It’s brill: no problem or cool Please note, until I was comfortable with the accent, this phrase consistently sounded like, “It’s Braille.” I was not sure what writing for the visually impaired had to do with running a little late.

Food – so important to me, it has its own section

Biscuits: Not the kind with gravy, the cookie

Black pudding: blood sausage, or by my definition, a fried scab

Carvery: A buffet-style meal offered at some pubs or hotels during lunch. Not as disgusting as a Golden Corral and without the offering of Luby’s mac and cheese, but you get the idea.

Carvery line set up with rolling serving chambers in a Dublin hotel pub.

Chips: fries

Chipper: We’re not talking wood, it’s a fish and chips shop.

Crisps: potato chips

Full Irish (or a fry-up): Traditionally, fried eggs, rashers, sausages, black and white puddings, potatoes, grilled tomatoes and toast.

Luckily, many places now serve a Vegetarian Full Irish.

Rashers: slices of pork belly or back bacon, more like what Americans would call Canadian bacon but can be almost as large as a generous ham slice.

Tayto: a specific brand of popular crisps made in Ireland. I found Tayto is used almost like Coke to reference all sodas in the South.

White pudding: a sausage made with meat fat and oatmeal.