Like – This is used in a lot of other countries however the Irish use it a little differently, it's usually placed at the end of sentences. For example, 'she is crazy, like'; 'It was some good craic, like'. It is often like an accentuation to the story.
Like doesn't really mean anything like. You can pretty much throw it in at the end of any sentence like. Especially prevalent if you go to the southern parts of Ireland, with Cork being a stronghold of ending sentences with like, like.
Ending a phrase with “so” is as common as randomly dropping the word “like” into a sentence, which is another quirk of language in Ireland. Saying goodbye could be “Later so” or “Are we going for a pint, so?” It can mean “then” or some suggest “eh”.
“May the road rise up to meet you” is one of the most famous Irish blessings. You can read all about the meaning behind it here.
Basic Etiquette
Irish will usually queue in a line and wait their turn to be served. In a social setting, it is polite to shake hands with people when you first see them and again when you are leaving. When driving in rural areas, it is proper etiquette to acknowledge other drivers.
“Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.”
"Gowl" is a popular Northern Irish slang term that is used to refer to someone who is annoying or irritating.
The term Irish Goodbye is believed to have originated from the stereotype that the Irish are heavy drinkers. It is said that they would leave social events without saying goodbye to avoid being caught by the authorities for being too drunk. However, this is just a theory, and the true origin of the term is unknown.
An old Tudor phrase for lavatory, jacks is a term more commonly used in Ireland. This is likely a reference to Jack Power, who invented the first multiple cubicle toilet.
Irish people have the reputation of being very friendly and easy-going. Small talk is an important part of everyday life even among strangers. Being polite is also very important: people use 'please' and 'thank you' often and they use indirect ways to ask for something.
Rice University's database of neologisms says the term comes from Boston, Massachusetts, which has a large Irish-American population. Rice specifically describes the Irish goodbye as a drunk person leaving without talking to anyone in order to avoid revealing how drunk they are.
Non-Verbal
Physical Contact: The Irish tend to have a warm and friendly disposition, but generally restrain themselves from showing a great deal of physical affection in public. Men are usually less comfortable touching one another than women, but a friendly slap on the back and other gestures are still common.
Go raibh maith agat
Pronounced gur-uv mah ah-guth, “go raibh maith agat” is the phrase the Irish use to express their gratitude for something or simply “thank you”.
Bless us O God as we sit together. Bless the food we eat today. Bless the hands that made the food, Bless us O God.
Irish people physical characteristics include pale skin (due to their Celtic roots), red hair, and often angular faces. There are also many Irish people with green eyes. Like many other groups, the Irish carry a mix of ethnicities due to the invasions from various races and ethnicities in the early days.
To say Goodbye in Irish you would say “Slán leat” – literally meaning “goodbye (health) to you”. You can be less formal and just say “Slán”, bye.
So how do you say “Cheers”? “Cheers” in Irish is sláinte which is pronounced a bit like “slawn-che”. Sláinte means “health”, and if you're feeling brave, you can say sláinte is táinte (“slawn-che iss toin-che”), meaning “health and wealth”.