British and Irish cultures are similar?

[malman]

The fact that Britain and Ireland are two different islands means that culture was bound to evolve differently on both islands. But if we are really honest we would all admit that we, the Irish, the English, the Welsh, the Scottish and the Unionists are all pretty similar culturally speaking compared to the rest of Europe.

That is not to say we are all one nation. But we are neighbouring islands; our cultures are not isolated from one another. Our cultures are interconnected both through natural population movements but also through colonization.

It is this unnatural displacement and deliberate manipulation; the juxtaposition of two similar yet distinct cultures, which has led to an inharmonious relationship between Unionism and Nationalism on this island.

This fractious relationship is insular and tribalistic and as such it blinds each tradition from the similarities of both cultures.

Would you agree?

[Thranduil]

They are similiar in many ways, since both countries have largely spoken the same language in the last hundred years and with the invention of powerful means of communication such as the TV and the Radio, this process had an early start. However it could also be said that Belgian, French, Polish etc cultures are very similiar to us now too despite language gaps,this is because increasing globalisation gave us all a consumerist culture with standardised laws (more or less) and we all buy the same things, often believe the same things too. It also depends on how you define 'culture', we aren't talking the Seanchai, tanistry and worshipping the Morrigan anymore in Ireland, but for example the French do not continue many of their 16thC or earlier practices anymore either. On the other hand Irish dancing and indigenous sports remain very popular, and cultural memes still persist.

The modern world has experienced globalisation and more than any other country in the world England (by itself and through colonialism and the influence of it's former colonies themselves) has contributed more than anyone else to the standardised global 'culture', from law to literature and sport - the background 'global' culture is largely of English origin, although the global 'culture' has also rebounded and reshaped Britain itself.

One aspect of culture that will always divide the two is how they perceive history, there will never (and should never) be agreement there. The British will always perceive their history in a different way to how we perceive it and i think our British co-posters on these fora demonstrate how their perceptions of our history are at variance with our own. Likewise Unionists and Nationalists in Ireland.

This fractious relationship is insular and tribalistic and as such it blinds each tradition from the similarities of both cultures.

Being insular and even tribalistic has it's advantages also, perhaps being insular lends itself to creativity and the production of talented writers? Perhaps tribalism binds communities together more strongly? I would say they are not really alike because of colonialism so much as they are alike because they are both exposed to global culture and mass media, although Britain being an influential and powerful point of emanation of global culture (Premiership etc) exerts strong cultural influence over it's neighbouring island which picks up all it's TV channels. This global cultural 'glue' is probably the only thing keeping the two 'tribes' from knifing each other any change they got , ok just kidding but it does lend towards harmony.

[H.R. Haldeman]

We have more in common with the Brits, and they have more in common with us, than with any other nations. Our cultures and societies could hardly be more intertwined.

Our relationship is literally and metaphorically familial in nature.

[FutureTaoiseach]

We are culturally similar because of the linguisticide of British rule followed by the passive linguisticide during independence by policies that harmed Irish as unintentionally as Britain harmed it intentionally. Naturally that has left a lasting overlap in aspects of our cultural tastes, in terms of British soaps like Corrie, English-language popstars, movies etc. However we differ culturally from Britain in other respects, including a more favourable attitude to the EU (despite growing disquiet in this area of late) and in our political culture e.g. written constitution, opposition to abortion-on-demand, belief in referenda, lack of belief in monarchs, and our support for a neutral posture in global affairs (which certainly differs from the UK). 800 years of foreign rule has inevitably left a strong cultural imprint, but we are certainly different nonetheless. In particular our written constitution owes more to American than British influences.

[shutuplaura]

Yeah, talking to an Indian taxi driver who wanted to know where i was from once. He never heard of Ireland so I told him it was an island next to Britain. When he asked me if it was different, really I had to say not that much. However, on I do believe there are subtle yet stong differences in our culture and national psyche. Historically there have been even greater differences. I guess we are similar now in the way most wetern countries are broadly similar.

Whether its insular or tribalistic - perhaps, I wouldn't see it that way though. I'd say its insular and tribalistic to not acknowledge the differences in culture and society that do exist. The causes of our fractious relationship are based on economics and politics as much as anything else. Economically Ireland didn't do well out of relationship with Britain and politically, english rule was disasterous for the native landowning class - Ireand was a nation of tenant farmers from the 17th to the early 20th century.

[TradCat]

I wonder have we as much in common with America as we do with Britain. In terms of music film and books I would have much more American stuff than British. And more Irish stuff than British.

Then there is the whole Catholic influence which (like it or not) would be stronger here The way we handle death is quite different because of that for example.

And in terms of history our perceptions are extremely different. The British may be divided over the justification for Iraq war but few of them appear to doubt their right to invade other countries if the justification can be established.

In sport of course we have soccer and rugby in common but not Gaelic games and cricket.

In politics of course our republicanism puts us in a different category.

Having said all that, I don't like the word but we are part of the Anglosphere, democratic English speaking nations like the US, Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

[blinding]

We have more in common with the Brits, and they have more in common with us, than with any other nations. Our cultures and societies could hardly be more intertwined.

Our relationship is literally and metaphorically familial in nature.

You may be right but unfortunate for us(the Irish) we were all too often treated as the black sheep of the family.

And if we are family as you say is it not time for the family to forget some of our indescretions and forgive.We of course would have to the same.

It would be nice if the family would come clean about its demonisation and discrimination against the black sheep and admits its wrong doing in the past and that it will treat all the family equally in the future.

Therefore is it not time that the head of the family apologised for all injustices carried out in her name against the black sheep.

We may just have to accept that too much has happened for the family to be put back together again.Just as in ordinary families we have just got to get on with our own lives and unite as much of the close family and get on with it ourselves.

Of course there are many uber-brits and uber- unionists that never thought that we were fit to be part of their family in the first place.

Maybe just maybe it was all a mistake and we were not related in the first place.

[Rich OC]

I wonder have we as much in common with America as we do with Britain. In terms of music film and books I would have much more American stuff than British. And more Irish stuff than British.

Then there is the whole Catholic influence which (like it or not) would be stronger here The way we handle death is quite different because of that for example.

And in terms of history our perceptions are extremely different. The British may be divided over the justification for Iraq war but few of them appear to doubt their right to invade other countries if the justification can be established.

In sport of course we have soccer and rugby in common but not Gaelic games and cricket.

In politics of course our republicanism puts us in a different category.

Having said all that, I don't like the word but we are part of the Anglosphere, democratic English speaking nations like the US, Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

Lets call it the "Whiteosphere"

[Talvisota]

we're all part of the wider anglosphere I suppose and we're all very much the same. I think you really see how similar we are when we're abroad. If you've ever spent time working in another country then you know what I mean - the Brits, the Irish, the Aussies, the Yanks, the Kiwis and the Canadians always seem to congregate around one another. I went off to Finland for a year and then Norway and Sweden and there is a very healthly British/Irish/Aussie groups in every major town I went to.

Oddly enough, even things many in Ireland find rather non-Irish, like the Orange Order, are considered to be completely Irish phenonoms. I do agree with TradCat about the differences religion brings however I think this is more cause for division at home than it is abroad.

[Andrew49]

TradCat wrote:

The British may be divided over the justification for Iraq war but few of them appear to doubt their right to invade other countries if the justification can be established.

Powerful point and so true.