Talk of “two Irelands” usually refers to the political division between North and South, but another distinction becoming increasingly evident lies in the contrasting image of postcard or mythical Ireland on the one hand, and the enterprising, modernizing EU state on the other. Mythical Ireland suggests the “little people” and the Emerald Isle, folk music and scenic hills imbued with fifty shades of green. The real Ireland is very different. The youngest country in Europe, it has been vigorously bolstered by EU subsidies, transforming itself from a predominantly agricultural society to a near-urban manufacturing one (one-third of the republic’s inhabitants live in Dublin). The darling of EU economies with a high growth rate, particularly among high-tech companies, Ireland has reached (or exceeded) the British standard of living, although it still sends about 20 percent of its exports to the U.K.
Given the proximity of Ireland and the U.K. and their relative isolation from mainland Europe, it is not unreasonable to suppose that a close political union might have been realized. Both islands were occupied by the Celts before 300 B.C. and later shared ravaging attacks by numerous Viking raiders in the eighth and ninth centuries. Their historical heritages did not remain parallel, however, since the Romans conquered Great Britain in 55 B.C. but never ruled Ireland, having found England rainy enough. Wales and Scotland, like Ireland, remained largely Celtic, but the decisive political development that caused England to diverge from its neighbors was the Norman French invasion of 1066. The more sophisticated Anglo-Norman combination conquered Dublin in 1169 and English power was consolidated later, under Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. Henry’s split with Rome left England largely Protestant, while Ireland remained Catholic. The hail of death and destruction left in Ireland by Oliver Cromwell during the English Civil War put an end to acceptable relations between the two countries.
As a predominantly Celtic nation, Ireland differs culturally from Anglo-Saxon-Norman England. Celts embody both linear-active and multi-active tendencies and are clearly dialogue-oriented. The most notable Irish values (some of which are shared by the Welsh and Scots) are as follows:
| rural simplicity | poetic tendencies |
| vision and imagination | love of literature, music, theater |
| romance and idealism | warmth, charm |
| irony, sense of humor | mistrust of the British |
| informality | social anchors of land, church, family |
Many simply think of Northern Ireland as Protestant and Ireland as Roman Catholic. It is not so simple. The Protestant/Catholic split in Ulster is 58 to 42 percent. While the South is predominantly Catholic (95 percent), there are over 100,000 Protestants, several of whom have been and are very influential. The republic’s first president, Douglas Hyde, was a Protestant, as were three outstanding writers, Oscar Wilde, Samuel Beckett and W. B. Yeats. Protestant citadels like Trinity College and the Irish Times championed nonsectarian liberalism.
Although Catholicism has long been the backbone of Irish Celtic identity, it has lost much of its influence in the modern republic, largely due to its attitude toward women. Former president Mary Robinson referred to it as the “patriarchal, male-dominated Catholic Church.”
Leadership was once invested in the kings of Ireland, and in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries was greatly influenced by the Catholic Church. Priests were instrumental in guiding the flocks. In the twentieth century politicians came more to the fore. Writers were influential. In the first decade of the twenty-first century, Irish leaders, both in business and politics, are progressive-minded and favor meritocratic and open-minded procedures.
The distance of comfort in Ireland is slightly less than in Britain. Friendly backslapping and various degrees of tactile behavior are common. The Irish are relaxed about time, especially in the countryside. Modern urban Irish are as punctual as the British.
Irish people speak in a more animated manner than the English and have been described as “audacious in speech.” This audacity often borders on hyperbole and not infrequent embroidery of the truth. This results in what the Irish call blarney and must be taken into account when conversing with them. Warmly informal at all times, the Irish are great improvisers during discussions and resemble the Italians in their skill at showing apparent agreement and compliance. They are definitely more poetic and philosophical in speech than the British.
When listening, the Irish are courteous and attentive and rarely show open dissent. They often have a strong desire to interrupt (as they are bursting with ideas) but rarely do so. Their feedback is ample enough, but occasionally is rather ambiguous or even devious.
Meetings with Irish people are invariably warm and friendly, but they can sometimes also be confusing. They are not great agenda followers and digress enthusiastically when confronted with an interesting idea. Ideas are infinitely more important than plain facts. The Irish have a strong affinity for the abstract, the innovative, the theoretical. In this they are like the French, although less strong on logic. This characteristic causes a certain tendency toward procrastination, while they look at new ways of approaching problems and tasks. It also leads to creativity: they are unconventional and independent spirits who resist structure and routine. Latins find this easier to accept than Germans, English, Swedes and Finns do.
Be warm, friendly and hospitable, as they are. Show vision and use your imagination. Tell a lot of stories. Think in terms of beauty and aesthetics. Emphasize simplicity. Don’t call them English or praise the English too much. Don’t be sarcastic, but accept their gentle irony. Don’t show any snobbery or keep them at a distance. Don’t be too factual, and don’t try to pull wool over what you see as rustic Celtic eyes.
| MOTIVATION | |
| KEY | Show warmth, friendliness and humor |
| Cross-century mood |
• The Irish are enjoying the fruits of their late-twentieth-century boom.
• English hesitancy about full EU involvement encourages the Irish to participate more fully.
• They are anxious to throw off their previous backwardness.
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| Motivating Factors
• Be original when you can.
• Show sympathy for past Irish problems.
• Be folksy.
• Be poetic, if you can.
• Be humorous whenever you can.
• Emphasize tolerance.
• Accept occasional procrastination on their part.
• Align yourself with their affinity for the abstract and the theoretical.
• Recognize their innovation and creativity.
• Respect their history, Catholicism and sense of nationhood.
Avoid • Making things too complex.
• Confusing them with Scots.
• Trying to delude them and talking down to them.
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