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).
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.
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.
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.
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.