How Ireland surprised this Englishman

How Ireland is different to the UK part 1. From the perspective of a blow-in.
This video is a little different to my usual hiking videos. These hiking videos are on hold temporarily due to my severely damaged knee.
I thought it would be a good idea to give the people of my home nation of the UK an idea of how Ireland differs. Many British people think that Ireland is Britain with a funny accent but Ireland is a totally different country. That isn’t to say that there’s not still evidence of the historical British influence but the Irish culture and way of life is unique and I have come to love it.
For any Irish people watching this - I hope that you realise that I am not criticising anything of the Irish way of life. I have never been happier than since I moved here from the hell hole that Britain has become post Brexit.
A little error crept in. My car tax is €270 not £270 (old habits die hard).

[@ishbOutu1]

Very good video. I came from UK 15 years ago and became an Irish citizen 2 years ago. Thank you Ireland you have been good to me!

[@trishaprett7721]

💚

[@oh2887]

That's good to hear. I was made welcome when I worked in the UK I lived near Doncaster, a great bunch of people.

[@user-dg8gf8qd2n]

Thank you

[@heffo67]

I always find it interesting seeing Ireland through the eyes of someone from elsewhere. Enjoyed that, thank you!

[@OldHikingGeezer-lp7bu]

Our pleasure!

[@mgreengiant]

In an era of such negativity online, this video was a breath of fresh air. Thank you. Wishing you many happy years here

[@OldHikingGeezer-lp7bu]

Thank you for the lovely comments.

[@PB22559]

Heavy negativty online? As an Irishman, I can assure you our beautiful country is being destroyed beyond repair. It's looking more and more like a 3rd world ghetto by the day...

[@tribeoflight-ireland868]

Hello from a fellow Brit in Sligo, 9 years here nearly

[@karldoyle8470]

Good to have ya onboard

[@FrankKerins]

The House you are living in was the ancestral home on my mother's side for hundreds of years , and my siblings and I and our cousins played happily out in the back. It is great that the house is a home again .

[@OldHikingGeezer-lp7bu]

That is lovely to hear. What was your mother’s family name? We had two ladies ring the bell yesterday saying that this was the family home and that they were doing a piece about the history of the house for the National Museum of Ireland. Do you have any idea of the age of the house?

[@FrankKerins]

@@OldHikingGeezer-lp7bu Hiya , they were my sister's ....our Grandmother lived there , Mrs Murray...my sisters will be in touch again with more information

[@OldHikingGeezer-lp7bu]

@FrankKerins Thank you

[@RaulMeatFactory1975]

I was an Irish lad growing up in England for a time 1988 - '92, Maidenhead, down by the Thames to be exact. All in all it was a good experience. Good little video on Eire, thanks Old Hiking Geezer!

[@geraldadley6605]

I live in Colorado USA. I have a home in Co Leitrim. Brilliant video.

[@OldHikingGeezer-lp7bu]

In the early 1980s I was engaged to a girl from Denver.

[@cdunne1620]

Wet and dry, Leitrim and Colorado

[@ernest-pj2du]

I live in northern Ireland and I must say it is a pretty easy going way of life, I wouldn’t dream of living in England now .

[@conorfitzgerald6643]

Great video ,you could rent your meadows to the farmers for a nominal fee and get your grass taken care of.

[@pulchralutetia]

Great video. Very useful because I hope to be moving to Ireland in the next six months!

[@OldHikingGeezer-lp7bu]

Thank you. I look forward to hearing more about your move and good luck.

[@noreendunne431]

Thank you, it was so enjoyable to see my home country through your eyes! Many many thanks for posting up your beautiful photos and wonderful observations of Ireland, appreciation fun Bettystown, Co Meath😊❤🎉

[@Fred-wb5nz]

Great to see the English exploring their western neighbour. Despite the historical burdens, the two peoples have more in common that they might like to admit.

[@Snags-sy8is]

Spot on

[@bernardkelly6731]

pennys was never bought out, it’s still an Irish company it agreed to the primark brand outside Ireland due to a dispute with Pennys USA , similar to Bulmers / Magners cider, ceda mile failte 😊

[@stukafaust]

Very pleasant and relaxing video as well as interesting to see what life looks like in Ireland.

[@art322]

This was a lovely video, thanks for making it!

[@OldHikingGeezer-lp7bu]

Thank you. More on the way.

[@itaomahony502]

You’re all welcome 🤗

[@anthonydowling3356]

Good video .I lived in London for 20 years but now back in Dublin .Most stand alone houses in rural have a standard half acre of ground .The new houses built in Cities have tiny gardens .The West of Ireland does indeed get most of the rain .I lived for a few years near Wexford town in the S.E and there i found the ideal Irish climate .

[@3saok]

Absolutely loved your video .I even paused to make a ice coffee to continue watching with my young daughter. We are irish and we know how precious iteland is..we don't go on holidays abroad we stay in iteland ,love from shannon Co clare..

[@OldHikingGeezer-lp7bu]

Thank you

[@declandowling5496]

Happy to see the bushmills go on my son

[@eboyjim]

Some of the things you're noticing are fairly unique to the part of Ireland you're living in. We have a holiday home up there. It's incredibly depopulated. And stuff like the lack of refuse collection is not the norm nationally. Likewise, you will see petrol stations outside of the grocery stores on the east coast, but where you're living in the west is like Southern vs Northern Italy. It's a very different economic reality to more connected places. The only people who still live where you live are either blow-ins, holiday home owners, farmers, remote workers or the people who work in the services for those people. But I feel like a Brit from Essex wouldn't enjoy the East Coast as much, even with the additional conveniences. Being in the stix out there and being self sufficient is a big part of the charm. Glad you're enjoying it so much!

[@OldHikingGeezer-lp7bu]

Thank you for your comments. They are much appreciated. When I started this series I did, and am still doing, a lot of research. I am now finding that some of the information that I am getting does tend to only be true for certain areas. I have made Irish friends and they suggest things for these videos but some things like, for example, bonfires being illegal. I have since had conflicting information for this. Even on the internet. These comments are a huge help and I learn a lot from them so, again, thanks.

[@Rasher1974]

Thank you for a super straightforward no nonsense video.

[@shelleykeary9045]

Glad you are at home and enjoying beautiful Sligo. I'm definitely surprised that you found the health system good - possibly if you wanted a hip replacement or exploratory surgery - you would have a different opinion! Banks open for lunch everywhere and the mobile coverage is excellent, 99% .... except when blocked by a mountain or trees!! You've probably discovered that by now though 😅

[@OldHikingGeezer-lp7bu]

I bank with AIB and haven’t yet found one that doesn’t close for lunch. I have type 2 diabetes and have had excellent care and the follow-ups to my knee surgery was first class. The HSE may not be perfect but it is equal to the NHS. Thank you or your comments. I learn so much from them.

[@TheLiamMurphy]

As a man that loves Hiking & nature, why don't you seed your garden with wild Irish flowers and just leave it. The sacks of wild Irish flower seeds can be picked up in garden centres and the birds and the bees with thank you for it.

[@OldHikingGeezer-lp7bu]

Got the seeds already and have cleared an area ready but I’ve left it a little late this year for most of the plants.

[@coldphinger]

Make your ride on lawn mower pay for itself and get a trailer and strimmer and offer grass cutting services in the area....👍 Glad you're enjoying life in the motherland...

[@ritalally7018]

What a lovely video, you are soo welcome and hopefully you will enjoy many years of health and happiness in our beautiful little country.

[@OldHikingGeezer-lp7bu]

Thank you for those kind words

[@Vegan123]

Thanks for a great video and it's great to see English/UK people here as we have all moved between these Islands for many hundreds of years. British people form the largest immigrant community here by the way and are indeed more than welcome. ! I was made welcome in Brixton many years ago at the height of the 'troubles'. 4:50 Miwadi - MIneral - WAter - DIstributors St. Patrick's Day drinking - it was a day during Lent that you could 'take a break' from Lenten observances and drink so that's why it sometimes went overboard - Ireland now has the highest percentage of non-drinkers. You can get a 'lifetime' dog licence from the local council cheaper than buying an annual licence. There is a move now to re-municipalise the waste/refuse collections but we will have to wait for a change of government probably.

[@OldHikingGeezer-lp7bu]

Thank you for the info. I learn so much from the comments that people leave.

[@finbarrocarroll7772]

Love to see the British coming to Ireland and contributing to our society and integrating. We're basically cousins with the same Christian culture that we need to protect.

[@dishy1939]

Really enjoyed your video. Thank you.

[@derekmulready1523]

Domestic water is funded by 1% off the tax collected by Revenue. Businesses pay rates for theirs. Very good video.

[@marywynne6496]

ive watched the both video's. and thanks .they are excellent..I'll wait for No 3 ...🎉🎉🎉

[@TheWanderingIrishman]

The videos are definitely improving Graham, I really enjoyed this one and was surprised by a few things too. Glad to see you're happy here.

[@nualafuller7223]

. I enjoyed your video a lot and along with other vlogs I watched about British couples and other nationalities in the last 5 years or so moving there . I love that you are all saying how great and friendly the Irish people are. But I do worry now, especially with the Internet, that these videos are attracting the wrong kind of people to the country.

[@joequirke5749]

Great show, well done

[@mhagain]

I always do the Pulp Fiction joke about Dealz: "what do the call Poundland in Ireland?"

[@ericdunn555]

Another excellent video; thank you for producing & sharing it.

[@wernercook1005]

St John’s night is the traditional bonfire night in Ireland (Republic of) 23 June. Great to burn garden waste but some people burn old tyres (not very environmentally friendly). Illegal fireworks are imported from the North.

[@Witchaven]

Had never heard of this. Only ever associated Halloween with bonfires. Everyday is a learning day :)

[@siogbeagbideach]

​@Witchaven we still light them in the Aran Islands, Samhain/ Halloween we don't, that night is for mischief. Oíche Tine Sheáin/ Oíche Tine Chnámh ( St John's Night/ Bone Fire Night)

[@jamesbyrne4072]

That's new on me never heard of it or burning tyres.

[@Jcolbert123]

@wernercook1005 That's not true for all of Ireland. Limerick celebrates 'bonfire night' on the 30th April on the eve of the Celtic festival of Bealtaine. I don't know exactly where else but I know Limerick is not the only place to celebrate the. Bealtaine festival.

[@andrewogrady8117]

Brilliant watching

[@garyscott5601]

the pronounciation of Lidl as 'Leedl' is correct as this is the german pronounciation

[@OldHikingGeezer-lp7bu]

That is what Gabi, my German wife, tells me but pronouncing it “ Liddle” was a hard habit to break.

[@NikCan66]

This is excellent

[@OldHikingGeezer-lp7bu]

Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@cdunne1620]

.. just to say that this video is very specific to Sligo which is in the west of Ireland and so is more of an isolated location. The house prices, refuse collection etc is very different in other parts of the country

[@OldHikingGeezer-lp7bu]

This is mostly true but please don’t think that I am being negative. We live in County Sligo, about half a kilometre from the border with Mayo and about five kilometres from County Roscommon. This is the area of Ireland that I know best. We arrived in Ireland in September 2022 and, since then, have been renovating our house. This has only left time to explore the local areas but, as time goes by, we will spread our wings. My wife and I are originally from very rural areas, me in England and her in Germany, but, as many do, we ended up in more heavily populated areas. We both love the countryside and definitely love Ireland. Nobody is going to agree with everything we put in the videos but please accept that they are made with a love of the country and the people. Thank you for commenting. The more comments that we get, the more we can improve these videos.

[@PatDonlon4711]

Lovely presentation, may the sun shine on your face and the wind at your back ( old Irish saying)

[@jj8526]

Really enjoyed this Vlog...👏👏☘

[@OldHikingGeezer-lp7bu]

Thank you. I just want people to enjoy Ireland like we do.

[@MauraNolan-ky7xr]

I have family in Tobbercurry. lovely place.

[@harshbutfair8993]

Btw my own two cents here, but I'd personally enjoy your videos a lot more without the background music throughout the video. You've got an easy voice to listen to, and not that the music is bad, but I find it a distraction from just enjoying the scenery you present and especially your great narration.

[@OldHikingGeezer-lp7bu]

Noted!

[@tonymurray814]

Me Wadi😂😂spoken like an Irishman but we actually pronounce it My Wadi!!

[@michaelgarry1]

Great video , if you get a chance you should explain the eircode and its link to google maps, important for visitors ,I think!

[@OldHikingGeezer-lp7bu]

Great suggestion! I will do my research and try to include that in the next one. Thanks

[@Witchaven]

And how illogical it is in comparison to the UK one. I like how the first part of theirs ties to the geographical area as in the letters used matches the name of the area (mostly), ours is tied to geographic area but the naming doesn't have any link to the area. E.g. in Meath, we use Axx.

[@michaelgarry1]

@@Witchaven I think by using the eircode with google you get to your destination quicker and easier, if you just want a map then that’s a totally different approach.

[@Witchaven]

@@michaelgarry1 It is quicker for sure, just don't get why they couldn't have made them a bit more structured/logical. Post codes are much easier to remember as there is a logic to the routing code, eircodes are just so random. Once you get outside of Dublin, the routing code doesn't have any tie to the geographic name (to do with not favouring one language over the other), but it works perfectly fine for car registration plates.

[@fiachramacaodha1260]

I don't know if bonfires are banned or not, but you'll see them everywhere on Halloween night and also St. John's night in some parts of the country. Fireworks are totally banned without a special license but the weeks up to and on Halloween night Dublin will sound like a warzone. Petrol stations attached to supermarkets are very rare but not unknown, in my 16 years of driving I've only come across two Tesco's selling petrol.

[@ExcellentStreetImages]

Very well done

[@CliveBilby]

Cow Dung festivial was a missed opportunity, should be renamed "Saint Cow Pats Day!"

[@Irish780]

Your very welcome here 😊

[@OldHikingGeezer-lp7bu]

Thank you

[@Joseph13163]

there is a laundry in ballymote ,i used it when my washing machine died

[@OldHikingGeezer-lp7bu]

Since uploading the video I have also found one. Can’t replace the audio once it is uploaded. There are still far fewer here than in the UK. Hope you got your washing machine sorted.

[@Joseph13163]

@@OldHikingGeezer-lp7bu Thanks i had a spare from a late relatives house that was hardly used ,it was only a matter of getting it plumbed in and its working fine.

[@raymonddixon7603]

Not a Magdalen one I hope.

[@cdunne1620]

.. the health care in Ireland is in a shambles, long long waiting lists etc

[@peterdunne2756]

I have health insurance €155 a month and there’s never a waiting list.get a job and get covered won’t be a problem

[@nancysmith-baker1813]

Really nice .thankyou . You kneed to get a sheep 🐏🐑🐏🐑😅 or 🐮🐄.for that meadows . So good they band fire works they have become dangerous in the states . Thankyou you tell and show us a lot . Have a good day .

[@Witchaven]

Goats are great for keeping the grass down too, but can be rather noisy at times and are proper little escape artists. Our goats actually came from Sligo, it's beautiful part of the country.

[@tomasofaolain3117]

Very well done you old geezer

[@mkirksmith]

Tesco in Wexford has a petrol station.

[@Witchaven]

Yeah, the one in Drogheda used to have one too but it's now a Certa. Supermarkets with a petrol station are few and far between in Ireland, much more common in the UK.

[@taintabird23]

Tesco in Coonagh in Limerick has a petrol station too, but aside from the one in Wexford you mention, I never seen them at any other supermarket.

[@cdunne1620]

.. no most traffic lights I’m aware of go red then amber then green, maybe for small towns the lights behave differently

[@christophermccarthy7589]

I have been driving in Ireland for 44 years and the only lights that change from red to a flashing amber are pedestrian crossing lights. All junction lights go from red to green or from green to amber then red.

[@vincenthigginbotham8729]

Delighted you are living the dream

[@peadaroduinnin572]

Anamhaith, a chara. (Very good, mate.)

[@gerryclarke9795]

Brilliant!

[@OldHikingGeezer-lp7bu]

Thank you

[@finbarrcorcoran9342]

Move to South East,climate is chalk and cheese compared to rest of the country.

[@harshbutfair8993]

Nice video, but will correct you on one thing. Tesco definitely do have petrol stations in Ireland. Not sure why the one you go to doesn't, maybe it's a relatively small Tesco's or they didn't get planning permission for it.

[@OldHikingGeezer-lp7bu]

I haven’t seen one yet. I did quite a bit of driving in 2022 looking for a house to buy including driving from south County Limerick to north Donegal and back in a day plus trips from the ferry terminal at Rosslare to County Limerick, County Sligo and back and I didn’t see a single one. Could they be a mainly east coast and Dublin thing?

[@harshbutfair8993]

I'm from Ireland myself, but have lived abroad for over 2 decades, was back for 5 months in 2022, so I'm far from an expert on modern Ireland. I can absolutely confirm there was one in Killarney, I'm almost sure there are some in Cork, but can't visualise them right now. I would imagine if Killarney (South West) has then must be elsewhere, but others will know better.

[@harshbutfair8993]

I just searched that petrol station in Killarney, went to the street view. It's actually Certa, not Tesco itself, but they do have a partnership. I did a quick bit of questioning on Chat Gpt and it does seem more on the East coast like you suggested, though there's also one in county Tipperary.

[@OldHikingGeezer-lp7bu]

@harshbutfair8993 Thanks for that. If I pass one I will video it and use it in a future post.

[@harshbutfair8993]

Haha, that could be fun Tesco Garage Spotting. I've never been to the North West, actually plenty of my island that I haven't explored, if I ever do get back to live there I'll have to check out the beautiful spots on your video.

[@cdunne1620]

.. don’t use Connaught Gold, just buy KerryGold butter, much healthier and tastier

[@amcgowan1970]

No DO use Connacht Gold. It's a locally made brand, and NCF is the best milk I've ever tasted.

[@cdunne1620]

St Patrick banned the snakes 🐍

[@jamesfitzpatrick6627]

A bit more critical my man, but well done. Keep it up

[@OldHikingGeezer-lp7bu]

I don’t mean to be critical as I love Ireland. It is the quirky, from a Brit’s perspective, that gives Ireland its charm. Now if you want to hear me be critical, ask me about the UK and why we left to come here. 🤣🤣🤣

[@jamesfitzpatrick6627]

@@OldHikingGeezer-lp7bu Apoligie I did ment to be a bit more critical of Ireland. Just watched your part 2 love it. Make sure you visit munster with your camara for part 3, Clare, Limerick, Kerry and Cork, thjats where our island is most beautiful

[@OldHikingGeezer-lp7bu]

@jamesfitzpatrick6627 I’ve been trying to get around a bit but I’ve been doing my house up so I’ve only been able to do local trips but I will get further afield.

[@John316OBrian-cm4fj]

Bonfires aren't banned ,you would light a bonfire to welcome home your team after a county final win

[@gerryadams9868]

Brill vid bud

[@cdunne1620]

.. don’t pay for a tv licence, you don’t own a tv, right?

[@marywynne6496]

we have lots of Tesco's here in cork ..not onne with petrol ..🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@PirateStuffy]

Nice video. Makes me homesick

[@jerrybarnes6611]

Maith an fear!

[@OldHikingGeezer-lp7bu]

Thank you

[@anthonymullen6300]

Penneys and Primark are still Irish.

[@oh2887]

Someone may loan you goats for the meadows

[@paulsmith4467]

No snakes yes, but thank god no moles!

[@raymonddixon7603]

Plenty of two legged snakes though!!!

[@user-kc2ig1gk3s]

FALL-CHA ...

[@diddyKite2010]

Of my very close friends I have as many English as Irish. Don't believe the hype neighbours. History is just that. History. If you have hate in your heart then the West is not the place for you. Or maybe it might cure you. x

[@OldHikingGeezer-lp7bu]

I totally agree. We are not defined by what our ancestors did but by what we do. I have received nothing but warm welcomes in the west. I have had a couple of negative comments (which I have deleted) but the comments have almost exclusively positive. This only serves to reinforce my belief that the Irish people are among the nicest and kindest in the world.

[@diddyKite2010]

@@OldHikingGeezer-lp7bu as are 90% of the people in the many countries I have travelled to. I have rarely had a problem. Those of weak mind and character exist everywhere. Beware those who would try to convince us that "They are all the same" and "We will save you from them". Wolves in sheep's clothing. Now that's history worth remembering.

[@jamesbyrne4072]

​@@OldHikingGeezer-lp7buI'm originally from Dublin live in Scotland, I have worked all over the UK and have always been treated well . There are lovely warm people on these islands but sadly the nasty ones get all the press. Loved the video .

[@amcgowan1970]

We don't want imported racism either. We're fine with refugees and don't blame poor unfortunates for our problems.

[@luckiegit]

lucky peopl!

[@colmcarroll7396]

Try using aah instead of A. Just like in Espánol

[@AlainnCorcaigh]

Bonfires most definitely not banned, great video otherwise