Being a culchie isn’t a bad thing, but how do you know if you are one or not? We are here to give you the ten signs you might actually be a culchie, so let’s see if you fit the bill.
By definition, ‘culchie’ is a term used to state that someone from rural Ireland. There are, of course, many giveaways to being a culchie, and many of us can spot one a mile off.
Don’t be alarmed; they’re just like the rest of us, just with a few hidden quirks. You even may be surprised that, after reading these ten signs, you actually have a bit of culchie in you.
Or maybe you are a full-blown culchie; who knows? So, let’s check out the top ten signs you might actually be a culchie.
10. GAA runs through your blood – no other sports matter
Many culchies are GAA obsessed, and the team they support generally runs in the family and comes as a tradition.
GAA brings the family together, and when their team wins, there is no better celebration.
9. You say weird phrases – culchie slang at its best
One of the signs you might actually be a culchie is when you use phrases like, “how’s she cuttin’?” or “now we’re suckin’ diesel”.
8. A check shirt is your go-to on a night out – you like to look dapper
Check shirt, brown boots, and jeans is a culchies way of dressing up for a night on the town.
So, if you notice yourself reaching for this outfit the next time you head out, you may just be a culchie.
7. You’ve been driving since you were a child – starting them young
Many culchies growing up in rural Ireland had the opportunity to drive cars or tractors from an early age.
This is down to the fact that there was so much space, work needed to be done, and not much harm could come from it, unlike in the city.
6. You can be seen sporting your GAA shirt abroad – the best jersey around
Yes, culchies may be big lovers of GAA, but they take it to another level when they travel abroad.
Many culchies will wear their beloved jerseys day in day out. You can spot an Irish culchie abroad a mile away!
5. Your closest neighbour is miles down the road – too close for comfort
Folks who live out in the sticks tend to live miles away from each other.
Generally, however, with their own surrounding farmland, they all still know each other fairly well.
4. The smell of manure is normal – the air is fresh in rural Ireland
Most city folks cringe at the smell of the farming countryside.
To a culchie, however, this smell is sweet. So, if you find yourself refreshed by the smell of manure, this is surely one of the signs you might actually be a culchie.
3. You spend most of your time in wellies – the only footwear you’ll need
We all know Ireland can be rainy and wet, but living in rural Ireland, there is no need for fancy shoes or runners when they’ll just get ruined.
Most days, you don your practical wellies for the day’s errands.
2. You lift a finger as you drive by – the culchie wave
One of the biggest signs that you might actually be a culchie is when you are driving, you greet people by lifting the index finger, as opposed to a full on wave.
You don’t even need to know the person in question; it’s just a common culchie hand gesture.
1. You give vague directions – as long as it gets you there
A typical culchie trait is giving someone directions to their destination by either describing the trees, the houses, or the condition of the road they will drive on.
It may go like this: “Go left at the big tree on the corner, then take a right when you see the small red thatched cottage, and when you come to a gravel road with potholes, you’re on the right one.”
So, have you determined if you are a culchie or not based on our ten signs you might actually be a culchie?
Well, if you are, it’s nothing to be ashamed of; just like city folk have their own traits, culchies most certainly do, too.
So, next time you find yourself doing or saying one of these ten things, you might actually realise you are a culchie, and you didn’t even know it.
