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The Irish goodbye becomes famous

There is even a Facebook site dedicated to the Irish goodbye. Molly Muldoon explains


Irish Goodbye = quick escape out the back door.

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The Irish goodbye is also known as the shamrock shuffle  It’s more than likely that once in your life you have committed this act.

Why it is called the Irish goodbye remains a mystery. Rumor has it an enraged woman coined the term after her second Irish boyfriend in a row disappeared without  a trace at the end of a date.

It’s that stage during the middle of a social gathering where by you decide to disappear into the abyss without telling anyone. Not bothered with niceties, extended farewells or the long kiss goodnight. You simply up and leave.

Considered rude by some and a clever escape by many, this move have been branded “the Irish Goodbye."

Once you have reached the point of no return, the time has come for your Irish goodbye (IGB). Perhaps you have had too much to drink; maybe that girl you got stuck talking to bored you to tears, or worse you have just spotted your ex across the bar. Whatever the reason, you need to make a quick exit, unnoticed.

Of course there are logistics to consider. Here are some tips to help you disappear into the dark of night, without been seen.

A/ Scope out the joint to locate your closest exit route. Take into account you want to run into as few people as possible on your way out. A back door can come in handy here for a quick stage exit.

B/ Planning ahead try not to bring any large jackets/coats/bags with you as this is the ultimate give away. If you cannot avoid this, then use the smoking excuse as part of your escape.

C/As you begin you begin your break out, try to look as casual as possible. If a comrade stops you along the way, assure them you are just dashing to the restroom. Your focus here should be on crossing that threshold. Once you get out that door, you are on the home run.

D/ Dependant on the group you’ve left behind, perhaps throw a text to one of your bff’s alerting them to your IGB.

Everyone does it so there is no need to feel guilty. Sometimes, it’s better to vacate the premises and what better exit strategy than an Irish goodbye.


Nster.com


21 Comments

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I have done this myself but never knew it was called "the Irish goodby".
I think it's really a guy thing - so you don't make promises you can't keep...
yeah.. obviously something invented in the minds of foreigners... the real irish goodbye, consists of many good intentions that will never be met ;)
I've heard of hitting the wall.. not the Irish goodbye.. Hitting the wall is where you've reached the point where you brain is telling you to get home before you collapse and you depart rather quickly. not particularly irish though
never heard that one in my 27yrs living in ireland (i was born here)we usually use the words (i fooked off lastnight without telling anyone)
I have researched the Irish Famine for a decade and my guess is that the Irish goodbye goes back to Irish young adults going to America which meant they were leaving home forever. No return trip was affordable. When they left for America, they would NEVER see family and friends again and thus the leavetaking was extremely painful and emotional. Many saved their families the cost of a goodbye party (american wake) and also prevented the sad relatives from trying to convince them to stay. I know some of my own ancestors secretly left and wrote back later. Relatives at first only guessed what had occurred. That is where I think it originated, although I have no absolute authoritative source for this. It was deemed easier to just leave at night to some without saying goodbye.
I've never heard this expression before. The only guy who did this to me (twice, the bastad!) was African American--not Irish at all. He thought I was going to dump him and took a preemptive powder (second time I just let him go--wasn't worth explaining!). That being said, I have left large, noisy drinky parties without taking leave of mein hosts...it was too much trouble to find them, and I figured they wouldn't remember anyway...it sounds really rude writing it, but at the time I thought it was OK. hmmm.
I'm an Irishman and have never be so cowardly as to do this IGB in my dating days. I never even had a female IGB experience. Better to be up-front, gentlemanly or lady-like and say "Look, this isn't working, so let's call it quits - eh?". Then run like hell is after ya!
Like the Houdini exit!!!
I was unaware of the term, but it was a common way I took my leave of an unwanted companionship during my dating years.
I always thought the Irish Goodbye was taking an hour to leave an event because you stand at the door and keep saying goodbye to everyone. Happened in my family all the time.
Wherever you go, you are still Irish. How many other Irish customs/traits do we all engage in and not realize it's due to green blood? Hilarious!
The Irish goodbye has been around for donkey's years. Check the Irish population of Liverpool. It goes back to W.W.II.
We used to call it "taking it on the Arhtur T. Duffy", the discreet exit. Don't know who Duffy was, but that is definitely an Irish name.
LOL, I never knew what this was called!!! I have done this many times over the years.




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