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    You are at:Home » News » Culture » Top 10 Irish cultural traditions, customs, and their origins
    Culture History

    Top 10 Irish cultural traditions, customs, and their origins

    Conor WickhamBy Conor WickhamJanuary 7, 2021No Comments5 Mins Read
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    Irish culture is one that is rich, diverse, vibrant, and interesting. Ireland has many cultural traditions and customs with fascinating origins.

    Irish culture is famous around the world and widely celebrated. From Irish dancing and traditional music to Ireland’s influence on Halloween and other religious festivals, its impact has travelled far and wide.

    Irish culture contains a wide variety of traditions and customs that can be even dated back to Roman times.

    This article will shine a light on Irish culture by listing ten Irish cultural traditions, customs, and their origins.

    10. Sport – a national pastime

    Sport is a national pastime.
    Credit: commons.wikimedia.org

    Sport plays a massive role in most Irish people’s lives, and nowhere else can this be more clearly seen than at a GAA match as GAA is one of the top Irish culture touchstones.

    From every village and town who support their own clubs to getting behind their respective county, there is much pride and bragging rights that come from being successful in GAA. 

    Gaelic games have been played throughout history in Ireland with their first account being recorded over 3,000 years ago! 

    9. The pilgrimage of Croagh Patrick – an important religious tradition

    Croagh Patrick pilgrimage is one of the most important Irish cultural traditions.
    Credit: Tourism Ireland

    Making the pilgrimage up Croagh Patrick mountain once a year is seen as another important Irish tradition. Every year thousands of people make the challenging climb to the peak of Croagh Patrick (some even barefoot), which honours Ireland’s patron saint, Saint Patrick.

    In ancient Irish history, druids used to make this pilgrimage to mark the pagan festival of Lughnasadh, and it still remains an essential part of Irish culture to this day!

    8. Celtic pagan festivals – where Irish culture originates from

    Celtic pagan festivals is where Irish culture originates from.
    Credit: commons.wikimedia.org

    Much, if not all, of Irish culture is largely derived from ancient Celtic pagan festivals and practices.

    Pagans dictated important dates of the year through four events: the festival of Imbolc to mark the beginning of Spring, Bealtaine to mark the beginning of Summer, and Lughnasadh and Samhain to mark the beginning of Autumn and Winter respectively.

    These pagan festivals are still celebrated by many today and have become Irish traditions.    

    7. Literature and the arts – a talented nation

    Literature and the arts is one of the main Irish cultural traditions.
    Credit: pixabay.com / @WikiImages

    Irish culture is heavily enriched by its relationship with literature and the arts, and it naturally has produced many great artists. From musicians and poets to playwrights and authors, Irish people have truly made their mark on the world through their artistic talents.

    Some of the most famous artists to emerge onto the world stage include W.B. Yeats, Bernard Shaw, Samuel Beckett, James Joyce, and Oscar Wilde. Ireland continues to place an important emphasis on literature and the arts.

    6. Potatoes – the staple of any good Irish diet

    Potatoes are a staple of any Irish diet.
    Credit: commons.wikimedia.org

    Despite not coming to Ireland until the 17th-century, potatoes remain a staple of the Irish diet. As such, they have become the unofficial and often underrated mascot of the Irish food scene.

    Potatoes remain a fan favourite for most Irish people to have on their plates at dinner time.

    5. Mythology – fantastic folklore

    Mythology is one of the most prominent Irish cultural traditions.
    Credit: geograph.ie / @Rossographer

    Ireland can boast a wealth of mythology and folklore, which has helped to shape Irish culture.

    Ancient Irish folklore still remains today and is a celebrated aspect of many Irish traditions and customs.

    4. Irish dancing – famous across the world

    Irish dancing is famous across the world.
    Credit: commons.wikimedia.org

    Riverdance is widely known as one of the best Irish traditions known worldwide. It became extremely popular in the 1990s thanks to its introduction to the world during the 1994 Eurovision song contest.

    3. Trad music – the sound of Irish culture

    Traditional music is one of the main Irish cultural traditions.
    Credit: commons.wikimedia.org

    Traditional Irish music is famous across the world, and its sound instantly invokes warm memories of the Emerald Isle.

    Any pub in Ireland (or in any Irish pub abroad), you will be sure to hear the dulcet tones of Irish instruments such as bouzoukis, uilleann pipes, tin whistle, the Bodhrán, and many more. For sure one of the best traditions in Ireland.

    2. Pub culture – an essential aspect of Irish culture

    Irish pub culture is very important.
    Credit: Tourism Ireland

    Pub culture is one of the most defining things about Ireland and Irish customs, and whether it’s a rural pub or one in a big city, you will be sure to find a lively bar with an even livelier crowd and great drink and music.

    1. Saint Patrick’s Day – an annual and worldwide celebration

    St Patrick's Day tops our list of Irish cultural traditions.
    Credit: Failte Ireland

    In first place on our list of ten Irish cultural traditions, customs, and their origins is one of the most important parts of Irish culture: Saint Patrick’s Day.

    It is Ireland’s annual holiday and a day dedicated to Irish culture that is celebrated across the world where everyone feels a little Irish.

    That concludes our article on ten Irish cultural traditions, customs, and their origins. Are there any other aspects of culture of Ireland that you think deserved to make our list?

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    Conor Wickham

    Conor Wickham is a keen travel writer from County Wexford, Ireland. He has been a regular writer for Ireland Before You Die, The World Bucket List and Meanwhile in Ireland since 2019. Conor has a keen interest in discovering everything Ireland has to offer. From sleeping in tree houses in the Ox Mountains to staying in shepherd huts in Donegal, Conor has experienced it. With qualifications in Marketing & Advertising with Online Media as well as Print Journalism, Conor has worked as a Website Content Writer/SEO Specialist in the past for many websites. Conor has had two short stories published in the widely acclaimed Wexford Bohemian Literary Journal. Conor’s favourite types of articles to write are ones which involve history, scenic locations and the news. When not exploring Ireland and finding out its secrets, Conor can usually be found working on his own supernatural novel series.

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