Cultural Profile Resource: Ireland

A resource for aged care professionals

Birgit Heaney Dip. 19/06/2014

A resource for aged care professionals

Table of Contents

Introduction ...... 3 Background ...... 4 Irish Society and Migration …………………………………………………………………………………………...…5 Family ...... 6 Personal Hygiene ...... 7 Leisure and Recreation ...... 9 Religion ...... 9 Food and Diet ...... 10 Health ...... 11 Death and Dying ...... 12 Language ...... 13 Disclaimer ...... 14 References ...... 14

A resource for aged care professionals Irish Culture Profile

Introduction This profile of the Irish cultural community is just one of the many projects undertaken by Quality Aging.

This project aims to provide relevant information for community groups and residential aged care providers to implement “best practice” strategies of care for the older individuals from diverse backgrounds.

This project is about ensuring the needs of older persons from an Irish cultural background are met.

Population trends within Australia are increasingly characterized by a diversity of people, languages and culture. Together with this trend is an aging population, also with a rich diversity of languages and cultures.

Not surprisingly then, that residential aged care providers are faced with growing demands for culturally responsive facilities and care.

This profile aims to create a tool to provide aged care providers with

 An awareness of the cultural and linguistically diverse needs of older persons from an Irish background.

 It also strives to enable the professional capability and progress of staff in the provision of culturally inclusive care; and

 The organisation’s compliance with the Residential Care Standards and National Care Standards as they pertain to the issue of cultural and linguistic needs.

The profile provides beneficial information about a variety of subjects and resources.

This is a guide only and is not intended to replace one stereotype of this culture with another; it is only intended to provide some insight into the culture. Nor does it reduce the importance of you establishing the individual cultural needs of each person as part of your care planning process.

In an effort to continue to provide you with updated information of this profile and improve its contents, we encourage readers to provide feedback by contacting Quality Aging at [email protected]

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Background

Ireland enjoys a strategic location on one of the major sea and air routes between northern Europe and North America. Ireland, whose Gaelic name is Eire, occupies five-sixths of the island of Ireland which is to the west of Great Britain. The country is divided into four provinces – Connaught, Leinster, Munster and Ulster and 26 counties. Dublin is the capital of Ireland.

The Irish identify themselves more with their counties than with the cities from which they come. Inevitably, there are a number of stereotypes between the Irish concerning the characteristics of people coming from a particular county. The counties are subdivisions of the ancient Provinces of Ireland that were historically based on the traditional geographical areas. Today, the division of the country into counties is still important and has been adopted by cultural and sporting organisations that organise their activities along county lines.

The history of the country dates back to 600-150 B.C. when Celtic tribes arrived on the island. A significant point in Irish history is the English invasion, which started in the 12th century, beginning more than seven centuries of Anglo-Irish struggle marked by violent rebellions and harsh repressions. In 1921, 26 southern counties gained independence from the UK and the Irish Free State was created. In 1948, Ireland extracted itself from the British Commonwealth and in 1973 joined the European Community.

The division of the island into Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic was primarily based on the religious orientation of the people. Northern Ireland is characterised by a strong protestant community whereas in the Irish Republic, catholic orientation is prevalent. This religion-based division and issues stemming from it has been the biggest issue in Ireland’s history in the 20th century. In Ireland there still exist various opinions as to whether the two countries should unite or stay separate. In the past, the tension between the groups advocating different views has caused several conflicts. A peace settlement for Northern Ireland, known as the Good Friday Agreement, was finally approved in 1998 and is being implemented, albeit with some difficulties.

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Irish Society and Migration

Traditionally Irish society has been one of emigration. For hundreds of years more Irish people left Ireland than immigrated to Ireland. The most notable periods of emigration were following the famine in 1845 and more recently in the 1950s and 1980s when large numbers of Irish emigrated to look for a better life. This has changed since the late 1990s when the economy of Ireland improved dramatically. Since then many people have immigrated to Ireland. The Census in 2006 estimated that 1 in 10 people in Ireland were not Irish citizens; this figure included a significant proportion of UK citizens.

Although emigration has been a constant feature of Irish society, the late 1990s also saw a trend of Irish emigrants returning home to live in Ireland. Many millions of people around the world particularly in the UK, USA, Australia, Canada and New Zealand claim Irish ancestry. For many generations most Irish people have had family that live in other countries, something that is now also characteristic of immigrants to Ireland.

Greetings

Irish people have the reputation of being very friendly. Generally people will shake hands when they meet for the first time. Friends will hug or just say hello. Sometimes people will kiss on the cheek if they know each other well. People generally make eye contact because it is a sign of trust and that you are interested in what they are saying.

Time Keeping

Sometimes it may seem as if time keeping is not very important in Ireland. Generally when someone arranges to meet you at 8pm this will usually mean 8.15pm or later. Irish people, in general, are very relaxed about time.

Manners The Irish are generally well mannered. People will generally say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’, for example, when getting off a bus most people will thank the bus driver.

People also usually queue in line and wait their turn, for example, in a shop.

Humour

The Irish have a reputation for their wit and humour – which they call having ‘the craic’ [pronounced crack]. As well as quick tongued with jokes they also make eloquent and witty speakers.

They pride themselves on being able to find humour and it is often self-deprecating or ironic. It is common for the Irish to trade insults and tease one another (called “slagging”) with people to whom they are close. If you are teased, it is important to take it well and not see it as personal.

They have a rich history in storytelling which was used to pass information down through the generations (poems and songs also served the same purpose).

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Cultural Taboos If a subject that is inappropriate is introduced, your Irish counterpart will be quick to point this out. As a golden rule, it is essential to keep in mind that Ireland and Northern Ireland are two completely separate countries and political entities, since many conversational issues arise from this difference. Although under certain circumstances it may be acceptable, the topic of Anglo-Irish relations should be avoided in business conversations. Despite the approval of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, the notion of the Anglo-Irish struggle still lives on in Irish society. By discussing it, the speakers put themselves on very thin ice and may endanger otherwise harmonious relationships.

Other controversial topics in Ireland include the English, immigrants, the Catholic Church, crime and sexual identity. It is also sensible to avoid asking personal questions about a person’s background, religion, age, previous or current relationships, children, appearance or weight, earnings and occupation – unless these topics are raised by the host. Behaviours that should be avoided are, for instance, greeting strangers with a kiss and spitting in public. The Irish are generally a “politically correct” nation, where it is best not to make assumptions about people based on appearances.

Family

Marriage Marriages are seldom arranged in modern Ireland. Monogamous marriages are the norm, as supported and sanctioned by the state and the Christian churches.

Divorce has been legal since 1995. Most spouses are selected through the expected means of individual trial and error that have become the norm in Western European society.

The demands of farm society and economy still place great pressure on rural men and women to marry, especially in some relatively poor rural districts where there is a high migration rate among women, who go to the cities or emigrate in search of employment and social standing commensurate with their education and social expectations.

Marriage festivals for farm men and women, the most famous of which takes place in the early autumn in Lisdoonvarna, has served as one way to bring people together for possible marriage matches, but the increased criticism of such practices in Irish society may endanger their future.

Domestic Unit The nuclear family household is the principal domestic unit, as well as the basic unit of production, consumption, and inheritance in Irish society.

Inheritance Past rural practices of leaving the patrimony to one son, thereby forcing his siblings into wage labor, the church, the army, or emigration, have been modified by changes in Irish law, gender roles, and the size and structure of families.

All children have legal rights to inheritance, although a preference still lingers for farmers' sons to inherit the land, and for a farm to be passed on without division. Similar patterns exist in urban areas, where gender and class are important determinants of the inheritance of property and capital.

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Kin Groups The main kin group is the nuclear family, but extended families and kindreds continue to play important roles in Irish life. Descent is from both parents' families.

Children in general adopt their father's surnames. Christian (first) names are often selected to honor an ancestor (most commonly, a grandparent), and in the Catholic tradition most first names are those of saints.

Many families continue to use the Irish form of their names (some "Christian" names are in fact pre-Christian and untranslatable into English).

Children in the national primary school system are taught to know and use the Irish language equivalent of their names, and it is legal to use your name in either of the two official languages.

Attitudes to Residential Care

Traditionally in Ireland the younger generation are expected to take care of elderly parents at home. However due to the amount of women now in the workforce this has been difficult.

The attitudes of placing elderly parents into residential care is now changing, though still an expensive exercise it is now more readily accepted.

The main concern the older generation have is the possibility of neglect and abuse in residential care. However the attitudes are slowly changing.

Personal Hygiene

Schedules and choices surrounding the following personal hygiene activities greatly affect the person’s sense of self, pride, dignity and confidence.

Bathing There are no particular customs in bathing; most Irish people prefer to shower daily.

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Dress These days’ Irish people wear the same sort of clothes that other people in Europe wear.

The clothing fashions of Ireland varied with the passage of time that started with simplicity and gradually enriched with modern effects. Traditional dress of Ireland was quite uncomplicated but well-made and elementary in nature.

We have no perfect knowledge about the ancient design of the Irish clothing but it is a strong belief that the Irish people, both men and women wore simple knee-length outfits made with wool. The countryside peasants used to wear liene which was the garment of the highlands of Scotland and Ireland. Liene was actually a long tunic shirt and its design was attested by the stone carvings found on the Cross of Muiredach. Men wore just the leine, while women often used these shirts as undergarments covered by open-sleeved dresses. Men also wore leine with a woollen jacket, breeches and a type of shaggy cloak called a mantle. The mantle was fastened at the front with a bodkin or brooch.

Grooming Men and women look after themselves and are concerned about how they look. Women will prefer to wear makeup, jewellery, nail polish, perfume and have neat hair, that is be well groomed. Men tend to use cologne/aftershave, clipping nasal and ear hair and trimming nails etc.

It is important that the hygiene preferences of each person are established as part of the care planning process.

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Leisure and Recreation

Leisure and recreation in Ireland is very similar to many other Western countries in terms of TV, cinema and popular music and literature. However, one aspect of leisure and recreation in Ireland that makes it somewhat different to other cultures is pub culture.

The term ‘pub’ refers to a ‘public house’ or bar. While there is a recognised issue of over- consumption of alcohol in Ireland, pub culture is about more than just drinking. Typically pubs are important meeting places, where people can gather and meet their neighbours and friends in a relaxed atmosphere. The character of pubs varies widely according to the customers they serve, and the area they are in. Since 2004 it is illegal to smoke in an enclosed place of work in Ireland, including pubs.

A routine needs to be established with each individual relating to their personal preference in regards to leisure and recreation.

Religion Most people in the country are Roman Catholic. Until the early 1990s the church had a very strong voice in society as well as politics. Their role however has diminished. There is now something of a generational divide with people over 50 still being quite observant and conservative in their views. Religion still very much has a say in society’s view of family, marriage, and abortion.

Other religious groups in Ireland include the Church of Ireland, Presbyterian, Methodist and Baptist Churches as well as Eastern Orthodox, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons and Salvation Army Communities. There are also centres for Buddhists, Hindus, Baha'is and those of the Islamic and Jewish faiths.

You need to establish each person’s religious preference and link them into a local minister of that religion.

Important cultural and religious days can be found in the Multi-Cultural Events Calendar

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Food and Diet

The Irish diet is similar to that of other Northern European nations. There is an emphasis on the consumption of meat, cereals, bread, and potatoes at most meals.

Vegetables such as cabbage, turnips, carrots, and broccoli are also popular as accompaniments to the meat and potatoes.

Traditional Irish daily eating habits, influenced by a farming ethos, involved four meals: breakfast, dinner (the midday meal and the main one of the day), tea (in early evening, and distinct from "high tea" which is normally served at 4:00 P.M. and is associated with British customs), and supper (a light repast before retiring).

Roasts and stews, of lamb, beef, chicken, ham, pork, and turkey, are the centerpieces of traditional meals. Fish, especially salmon, and seafood, especially prawns, are also popular meals.

Until recently, most shops closed at the dinner hour (between 1:00 and 2:00 P.M. ) to allow staff to return home for their meal. These patterns, however, are changing, because of the growing importance of new lifestyles, professions, and patterns of work, as well as the increased consumption of frozen, ethnic, take-out, and processed foods.

Nevertheless, some foods (such as wheaten breads, sausages, and bacon rashers) and some drinks (such as the national beer, Guinness, and Irish whiskey) maintain their important gustatory and symbolic roles in Irish meals and socializing. Regional dishes, consisting of variants on stews, potato casseroles, and breads, also exist.

The public house is an essential meeting place for all Irish communities, but these establishments traditionally seldom served dinner. In the past pubs had two separate sections that of the bar, reserved for males, and the lounge, open to men and women. This distinction is eroding, as are expectations of gender preference in the consumption of alcohol.

Food Customs on Ceremonial Occasions

There are few ceremonial food customs. Large family gatherings often sit down to a main meal of roast chicken and ham, and turkey is becoming the preferred dish for Christmas (followed by Christmas cake or plum pudding).

Drinking behavior in pubs is ordered informally, in what is perceived by some to be a ritualistic manner of buying drinks in rounds.

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Health Medical services are provided free of charge by the state to approximately a third of the population. All others pay minimal charges at public health facilities. There are roughly 128 doctors for every 100,000 people. Various forms of folk and alternative medicines exist throughout the island; most rural communities have locally known healers or healing places. Religious sites, such as the pilgrimage destination of Knock, and rituals are also known for their healing powers.

Attitudes to Illness and Pain There is no obvious objection to Western medicine. Medical professionals are seen as someone that can reduce any discomfort. The person generally won’t talk about it unless a family member or close friend mentions any changes they have noticed.

Perceptions of Health Professionals Attending to health professionals is normal and Irish-born persons are used to the medical hierarchy (i.e. General practitioners for overall health with referral to Specialists as needed for more thorough treatment).

These persons are viewed as professionals and will be treated respectfully by the patient.

It should be noted that whilst respectful of their professional status, the person will question the doctor freely e.g. asking about drug side effects, the implications of the illness on their specific lifestyle etc.

Complementary medicine is also seen to have an important role in the health of Irish-born persons, often alongside western medicine. It is not uncommon for the person to seek medical advice and medication and then also seek help from other health practitioners e.g. herbalist, naturopaths, homeopath or acupuncture and undertake a remedial exercise program.

This may mean YOU shouldn’t perceive an Irish person who questions a doctor or health professional as being difficult. Nor should you consider the person as ‘being difficult’ should he/she want a second opinion or to access complementary medicines or some type.

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Death and Dying

There are many ideas on the origin of the Irish wake for example one such myth is that it originated as a result of the Irish fondness for drinking stout which used to be drunk from pewter mugs and this unfortunately had the side effect of causing lead poisoning. The symptoms of this illness was a catatonic state (where the victim appeared to be dead) but would recover a few hours later so friends would watch over the ‘corpse’ to see if they would eventually awaken. We much prefer the belief that it originated with the Celts. The Celts believed that when a person died they were moving on to a better one in the afterlife and that this was a cause to celebrate.

To-day wakes are held pretty much as they always have been. The wake will traditionally be held in the home of the deceased or at the home of a close relative; this is known as the wake house. A room will be prepared for the deceased, in the past it would have been a parlour but more often these days a bedroom is used.

After death a window is opened to allow the spirit of the deceased to leave the house, no-one must stand or block the path to the window as this may prevent the spirit from leaving and will bring misfortune to the person who blocks the route. After two hours the window should be closed as this will prevent the spirit from re-entering.

The body is washed and dressed; in times gone by they would have been clothed in white. If the deceased was a male he would have been freshly shaved. This is known as being ‘laid out’. A rosary is then wrapped around the hands and a cross placed around the neck depending on the religion of the deceased. Candles are placed at the head and foot of the coffin and remain lit while the deceased is still present in the house. Family members or close friends will stay with the deceased at all times taking it in shifts to watch over the departed. All clocks in the house will be stopped at the time the person died and all mirrors will be covered or turned to face the wall as a mark of respect. Also, traditionally all the curtains will be closed.

In earlier times ‘keening’ would have taken place. This is when the women family members would cry and wail over the deceased. This took place after the body had been laid out, if the women started ‘keening’ before the body was ‘laid-out’ it would invoke evil spirits. ‘Keening’ would have carried on for some time. One wonders if this has some bearing in the legend of the banshee. To-day ‘keening’ has faded out of Irish funerals.

Although death is a sad occasion a traditional wake is seldom solemn. Friends and family alike gather and share memories and funny stories about the deceased. Food and drink is always present and although the church tried to ban alcohol from wakes it was unsuccessful. You can always spot a wake house as the men tend to congregate outside if the weather is good. The women will be in the kitchen making tea, sandwiches and washing the dishes. Friends and neighbours will bring a cake or a plate of sandwiches to help out as wake houses do tend to get very busy with a constant stream of visitors.

The visitors will on entering the house be met by a close family member when they have offered their condolences they are then taken into the room where the deceased is. They will then go to the coffin and stand for a few minutes paying their respects or saying a prayer. They will then be taken into the other room and offered refreshments.

Depending on religion the rosary is said twice a day with everyone in the house present to say the responses. There is a special rosary for the dead and it is traditionally said around midnight before the visitors leave.

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The Funeral Procession

A wake can last for a few days to allow people to come from afar to pay their respects and to say good-bye. It will end when the body is taken out of the house for the last time and moved to the local Church. On the day of the funeral the coffin is carried by 6 males, usually family or very close friends. A Hearse leads the procession to the Church with family & friends following behind the males carrying the coffin.

The funeral mass is usually in duration of 45 minutes with priest and loved ones speaking about achievement made by the departed. Again, the coffin is carried by family & friends to the cemetery. If the procession is to pass the house of the departed it will stop as a mark of respect.

People who are not part of the funeral celebration will stop in the street or road allowing the procession to pass ahead as a sign of respect for the deceased.

There are cremations in Ireland but it is more common within the larger towns or cities than rural Ireland who tend to bury loved ones as part of the Irish burial traditions.

Language Irish and English are the most widely spoken languages in Ireland. English is the most widely spoken language on the island overall, and Irish is spoken as a first language only by a small minority, primarily.

In contrast Northern Ireland, like the rest of the United Kingdom, has no official language. English, however, is the de facto official language.

In addition, Irish and Ulster Scots have recognition under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, with 8.1% claiming some ability in Ulster Scots and 10.7% in Irish.

In addition, the dialect and accent of the people of Northern Ireland is noticeably different from that of the majority in the Republic of Ireland, being influenced by Ulster Scots and Northern Ireland's proximity to Scotland.

Several other languages are spoken on the island, including Shelta, a mixture of Irish, Romany and English, spoken widely by Travellers. Two sign languages have also been developed on the island, Northern Irish Sign Language and Irish Sign Language.

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Disclaimer The information herein is a synthesis of information from a range of sources believed to be reliable. Quality Aging gives no warranty that the said base sources are correct, and accepts no responsibility for any resultant errors contained herein or for decisions and actions taken as a result and any damage from these decisions or actions.

References

http://businessculture.org/northern‐europe/ireland/

http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global‐etiquette/ireland.html

http://www.everyculture.com/Ge‐It/Ireland.html

https://www.insightguides.com/destinations/europe/ireland/profile

http://www.yourirish.com/culture/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Ireland

http://www.livinginireland.ie/

http://www.everyculture.com/Ge‐It/Ireland.html