Top ten ways to pass as Irish - tips for tourists in Ireland

Here I thought that saying a few words in Polish would really impress them!

There's a lot of nonsense in Smith's article. Number 2,--no Irish say "Slainte". They say "Cheers", which they have copied from the British. And number 8, quote Joyce and Yeats? Nonsense--few Irish have ever read these authors. You'd stand a better chance if you quoted 50 Shades of Grey.

joke - stagger with tweed hat on head and drool.

I really enjoyed reading this. I'm sure as soon as the locals hear my accent they would know right away that I'm am American. lol. I've been to Dublin and this nice old man told me I had the looks of the Irish. I guess that's because I have really light skin. Anyway thanks for these tips. I'll try them out when I finally get to go there again.

Many Americans already do #1 and #2. #5, rambling about the hills, is an excellent suggestion to see the true beauty of the country and perhaps run into someone for a chat. Otherwise be yourself. I never passed as Irish when staying with relatives over there but I was taken to be Canadian or even English when staying with Irish relatives there, lol. My Irish relatives in England were often told they were English, not Irish, an unintended insult, since it meant that they did not fit the stereotype of the Irish. Had to do with accents. Certain Irish accents sound like the Atlantic accent.

@bogsidebunny I don't speak for the Irish, just speak for myself, your comment "The love the Palestinians and other presumed oppressed peoples and really do not think America is anything more than DisneyLand or the relatives that immigrated. The country of America represents Capitalism and Greedy Rich Republicans" does not represent my views thanks ;-)

To my fellow Americans: we do tend to talk extra-loud when abroad. I agree with jamieLM: be proud to be an American, be proud of who you are, but lowering the volume on our voices just a bit will go a long way in making your trip a more pleasant one, in Ireland and elsewhere in Europe. Bogside also makes a good point with the O'Irish clothing. Slainte ... ;)

Good for you jamieLM. Trying to be someone your not will only bring more guffaws from the locals. I've had boots on the ground for 20 years and I still talk like I'm from outside NYC, which I am. I'm an American first and foremost and after 20 years hear I realize what I left behind. So just be polite, try not to talk loud, wear hideous "faux" Oirish clothes. Like a green tam-O-Shanter with a fuzzy ball on top. And most important do not forget you are in a predominantly Catholic Socialist country, however the natives are more Liberal than any NY Jew. The love the Palestinians and other presumed oppressed peoples and really do not think America is anything more than DisneyLand or the relatives that immigrated. The country of America represents Capitalism and Greedy Rich Republicans and trying to defend it for the most part is taboo. Also forget talking Irish. Even the one word you learned before making the trip. 90 % of the Irish do not use the Irish language other than in ceremonial circumstances and even then they often botch it up.

I have no interest in trying to "pass as Irish", as if I could fool anyone in Ireland that I was. LOL I'm polite, respectful, and law-abiding when I'm in Ireland. I'm not playing golf in the rain, eating black pudding, or saying "craic" because I'm not Irish, I'm an American and everyone knows it.