# Irish people abroad **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 19, 2018, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-people-abroad/824812 "2018-11-19T19:10:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2018, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-people-abroad/824812/21 "2018-11-28T21:56:37Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Simple enough, why would you need a burger joint when nearly everywhere had a corner pub or two and tavern food? Actually kind of awesome. It’s the drive-thru that is distinctly American. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2018, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-people-abroad/824812/22 "2018-11-28T21:57:18Z")
a 7 course meal in Ireland is a 6 pack and a potato ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2018, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-people-abroad/824812/23 "2018-11-29T11:22:00Z")
> [@ZonexandScout](#): > > Not intended to be a hijack… > > In the 1970s, I found myself doing a research stint in the US with several other people, including two Irish post-grads. They both (independently) did exactly the same thing: they bought huge, second-hand land yachts and ate every meal at fast food places. One or the other would pick me up in his ginormous Olds Delta 88 and we would have to stop by a hamburger joint on the way to wherever. They also both threw all the wrappings in their back seats. (I’m not kidding…you would need a snow shovel to clean out the car.) > > They both told me that huge gas-guzzlers and burger joints were unknown in Ireland (at the time) and that they just couldn’t resist. Even back then, I found it hard to imagine that they didn’t have burger joints, but who am I to argue with an Irishman? > > BTW, they did NOT drink and drive, which DID surprise me. I’m guessing these were men, if we’re talking stereotypes. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-people-abroad/824812/24 "2018-12-05T17:38:57Z")
This Irish YouTuber mentions this phenomenon in a list of things Irish people do on vacation — [10 Weird Things EVERY Irish person does on Vacation - YouTube](https://youtu.be/bJbY0F5yUNk?t=519) (link starts at 8:39) ---
**Author:** ![hibernicus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hibernicus/32/2802_2.png) [@hibernicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hibernicus)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-people-abroad/824812/25 "2018-12-05T20:41:43Z")
> [@ZonexandScout](#): > > They both told me that huge gas-guzzlers and burger joints were unknown in Ireland (at the time) and that they just couldn’t resist. Even back then, I found it hard to imagine that they didn’t have burger joints, but who am I to argue with an Irishman? It’s true. Burger joints were (almost) unknown in Ireland in the 1970s. The standard and ubiquitous fast food at that time was the fish-and-chip shop (the chipper), usually run by Italians. We got our first McDonalds (in Grafton Street in Dublin) in 1977, but for most of the country it would have remained an exotic novelty until the 1980s. Big cars were also almost unknown. Cars in Europe were mostly small and fuel economy was (and remains) a very important consideration. Our roads, car parks and homes were not built for large cars. Most American car brands were not available in Ireland at all (the exception was Ford, and we had Anglias, Escorts and Cortinas, not Mustangs, Broncos and pick-ups). ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-people-abroad/824812/26 "2018-12-07T03:14:41Z")
> [@hibernicus](#): > > Big cars were also almost unknown. Cars in Europe were mostly small and fuel economy was (and remains) a very important consideration. Our roads, car parks and homes were not built for large cars. Most American car brands were not available in Ireland at all (the exception was Ford, and we had Anglias, Escorts and Cortinas, not Mustangs, Broncos and pick-ups). Did you have the Ford Prefect? That character’s name in _Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy_ was based on a model sold only in Britain. American readers were clueless about the joke. ---
**Author:** ![hibernicus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hibernicus/32/2802_2.png) [@hibernicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hibernicus)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-people-abroad/824812/27 "2018-12-07T08:13:34Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Did you have the Ford Prefect? That character’s name in _Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy_ was based on a model sold only in Britain. American readers were clueless about the joke. Before my time. I don’t remember ever seeing one. ---
**Author:** ![kferr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@kferr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kferr)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-people-abroad/824812/28 "2018-12-07T12:43:14Z")
According to wikipedia the Prefect got around a bit > [@wiki](#): > > In addition to the United Kingdom and Australia, Ford Prefects were also sold in the US,[17] New Zealand (where they were locally assembled), Argentina and Canada. The Canadian model was left-hand drive. The Prefect was also license-built in Latvia by Ford-Vairogs as the Ford-Vairogs Junior. In Ireland, the Prefect was assembled at the Ford Cork plant until 1962. In South Africa, they were assembled locally at the Ford Struandale plant in Port Elizabeth. Singapore-based Ford of Malaya had also built the Prefect 100E with imported CKD kits.[12] > **[Ford Prefect](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Prefect)** > > The Ford Prefect is a line of British cars which was produced by Ford UK between 1938 and 1961 as an upmarket version of the Ford Popular and Ford Anglia small family cars. It was introduced in October 1938 and remained in production until 1941. Returning to the market in 1945, it was offered until 1961. The car progressed in 1953 from its original perpendicular or "sit-up-and-beg" style to a more modern three-box structure. Some versions were also built and sold by Ford Australia. > Like its s... ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2018, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-people-abroad/824812/29 "2018-12-09T07:26:19Z")
I think it may have to do with Ireland exporting its best known natural resource, emigrants. Maybe many Irish people don’t travel to visit a new area but more to visit the Irish people in that area. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2018, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-people-abroad/824812/30 "2018-12-09T08:09:46Z")
Worldwide most of the heavy drinking is performed by citizens of Eastern Europe. The Irish, and we Australians stand out as pissheads to most because we lead the English speaking nations in overdoing the drinking. Years ago I used to work in an alcohol dependency unit and all the stereotypes you hear held firm. Some cultural groups were never represented while others were always in attendance. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2018, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-people-abroad/824812/31 "2018-12-09T21:38:36Z")
It stands to reason I saw so many Irish in Thailand, because of all the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), Thailand is consistently named the heaviest drinkers. And with good reason too, I’ll clue ya. One thing I learned early on is if you value your health, _never_ drink with a Thai. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2018, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-people-abroad/824812/32 "2018-12-10T23:41:40Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Did you have the Ford Prefect? That character’s name in _Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy_ was based on a model sold only in Britain. American readers were clueless about the joke. That’s alright. We had the Ford Galaxy. British readers were clueless about the joke. Dennis [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-people-abroad/824812.md?page=1)