‘Don’t be a stuck up arrogant Brit’: Expats in Ireland warn fellow Britons
Brexit: 'Ireland never believed it would happen' says Bassett
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British expats all over the world are sharing their experiences with fellow Britons who may be dreaming of a life overseas. Ireland is a popular option for Britons who want a change without leaving the British Isles.
Jeff Smith answered a question on Quora about the way Irish people see Britons in Ireland.
He said: “There are approximately 300,000 Brits living in Ireland including me, English born. I don’t know the breakdown between English, Scottish or Welsh. I have heard Scottish accents, but not any Welsh.”
Jeff shared he had not “bothered renewing my UK passport” and was quite content where he was.
Eamon O’Kelly, who grew up in Ireland, said Britons were welcomed.
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Jeff Smith answered a question on Quora about the way Irish people see Britons in Ireland.
He said: “There are approximately 300,000 Brits living in Ireland including me, English born. I don’t know the breakdown between English, Scottish or Welsh. I have heard Scottish accents, but not any Welsh.”
Jeff shared he had not “bothered renewing my UK passport” and was quite content where he was.
Eamon O’Kelly, who grew up in Ireland, said Britons were welcomed.
He wrote: “[Britons] are welcomed as friends, neighbours, work colleagues, in-laws, and relatives.”
However, he also warned: “You should expect, however, to hear vocal anti-English sentiment when England are playing Ireland in the rugby. Or when England are playing Wales or Scotland, for that matter.
“But don’t worry—it’s not to be taken seriously.”
One of the hardest things to do when relocating to another country is to be accepted by locals.
In Ireland, locals were found to be “friendly” and “helpful”.
However, Paul Phillips, speaking to an Irish newspaper, warned fellow Britons: “It’s important not to come across as a stuck up arrogant Brit.
“Some British people think they are better than the Irish people.
“We’re not, but there is definitely this ingrained superiority in some English people here.
“When you live here, you have to realise you’re on a different time clock.
“People don’t turn up on time to do jobs, but they always get done. The thing is, not to get irate about it, but understand that’s the way things are done here.”
John Connolly, who lived in France with his wife for 19 years before moving to Ireland said: “I feel more at home here than I ever felt in France.
“We might have lived in France for 19 years, but we’re Brits. The Brits have never been comfortable with Europe.
“They have an attitude of sheer bloody-mindedness; they don’t like people telling them what to do.”
Josephine Jefferies said: “In England, growing up, there was a song about Cromwell knocking lots of Irish castles down.
“That’s about all I knew of Irish history.
“When I got here, and after I learned what the English did to the Irish, I don’t know how they still let us live here.
“I wanted to go and find a rock and hide under it.”
Jenny Pyburn said: “The biggest mistake English people make is not understanding the Irish ways.
“If you’re coming to another country, you have to learn their ways. Ireland is not England.”
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