International Headteacher
Menu
Facts and Statistics
Location: Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain Capital: Dublin Climate: temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time Population: 10,348,276 (July 2004 est.) Ethnic Make-up: Irish 87.4%, other white 7.5%, Asian 1.3%, black 1.1%, mixed 1.1%, unspecified 1.6% (2006 census) Religions: Roman Catholic 87.4%, Church of Ireland 2.9%, other Christian 1.9%, other 2.1%, unspecified 1.5%, none 4.2% (2006 census) Government: republic, parliamentary democracy |
Language in Ireland
Irish (Gaelic or Irish Gaelic) is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish. Irish is now spoken natively by a small minority of the Irish population – mostly in Gaeltacht areas – but also plays an important symbolic role in the life of the Irish state. It enjoys constitutional status as the national and first official language of the Republic of Ireland and it is an official language of the European Union. Irish Society and Culture The Catholic Church Most people in the country are Roman Catholic. Until the early 1990s the church had a very strong voice in society as well as politics. Their role however has diminished. There is now something of a generational divide with people over 50 still being quite observant and conservative in their views. Religion still very much has a say in society’s view of family, marriage, and abortion. The Family The extended family is still very much the dominant social structure although urbanisation is having an impact. Even when family members do move to the cities you will often find their ties to “home” are still very strong. Humour The Irish have a reputation for their wit and humour – which they call having a ‘crack’. As well as quick tongued with jokes they also make eloquent and witty speakers. They pride themselves on being able to find humour and it is often self-deprecating or ironic. It is common for the Irish to trade insults and tease one another (called “slagging”) with people to whom they are close. If you are teased, it is important to take it well and not see it as personal. They have a rich history in storytelling which was used to pass information down through the generations (poems and songs also served the same purpose). Etiquette and Customs in Ireland Meeting Etiquette
Gift Giving Etiquette
Visiting a Home
Business Etiquette and Protocol in Ireland Meeting and Greeting
Communication Style The Irish have turned speaking into an art form. Their tendency to be lyrical and poetic has resulted in a verbal eloquence. They use stories and anecdotes to relay information and value a well-crafted message. How you speak says a lot about you in Ireland. The Irish appreciate modesty and can be suspicious of people who are loud and tend to brag. They dislike a superiority complex of any sort. So, for example, when discussing your professional achievements it is best to casually insert the information in short snippets during several conversations rather than embarking on a long self-centred outline of your successes. Communication styles vary from direct to indirect depending upon who is being spoken to. There is an overall cultural tendency for people to view politeness as more important than telling the absolute truth. This means that you may not easily receive a negative response. When you are being spoken to, listen closely. A great deal may be implied, beyond what is actually being said. For example, if someone becomes silent before agreeing, they have probably said “no”. They may also give a non-committal response. This may be due to the fact that the Gaelic language does not have words for “yes” or “no”. There is a tendency to use understatement or indirect communication rather than say something that might be contentious. Generally speaking they do not like confrontation and prefer to avoid conflict, which they attempt to avoid by being humorous and showing good manners. Business Meetings Company or organisational cultures differ widely in Ireland. As a result you may find meetings vary in their approach and substance. In one setting the purpose of a meeting is to relay information on decisions that have already been made, whereas in another it may be the time to get feedback and input. Following on from this, meetings may be structured or unstructured. In most cases they will be relaxed. It is customary to have a period of small talk before the actual meeting which is when a rapport is built to take forward into the meeting. Meetings may occur in several venues, not merely the office. It is quite common to conduct a business meeting in a restaurant or pub. This allows all participants to be on equal footing. Expect a great deal of discussion at meetings. Everyone is expected to participate and they do, often at great length. The Irish like to engage in verbal banter and pride themselves on being able to view a problem from every angle. Being a Manager in Ireland Successful cross cultural management should take into account the fact that the business set up in Ireland is a bit less formal and ritualized than it is in many European countries. In general, the Irish work hard but they also take time to enjoy life and expect others to do the same. There are radical differences between entrepreneurial and high tech companies and those that favor the old traditions. One might expect these two perspectives to be in constant conflict; however, the Irish seem able to balance them. The Role of a Manager Cross cultural communiciation will be more effective when working in Ireland when you remember that the most productive managers in Ireland recognize and value the specialized knowledge that employees at all levels bring. Employees expect to be consulted on decisions that affect them and the greater good of the organization. Newcomers to the Irish management style should carefully study the corporate culture of specific companies because they may vary from being hierarchical to rather egalitarian. Consequently, employees will range from feeling empowered to speak out in the management process, to those who believe it is most important to simply execute the instructions by their leadership. Employees expect to be praised and complimented for work done well, although they prefer praise be given in private. The Irish are wary of praise that is not deserved, so be certain that your comments are genuine and specific to the individual performance. Approach to Change Ireland’s intercultural adaptability and readiness for change is developing all the time. Ireland is seen to have a medium tolerance for change and risk. It is important for innovations to have a track record or history noting the benefits if they are to be accepted and implemented. The fear of exposure, and the potential of embarrassment that may accompany failure, brings about aversion to risk and the need to thoroughly examine the potential negative implications. While in risk-tolerant environments, failure is perceived as a learning process that encourages confidence in future ventures, failure in Ireland causes a long-term loss of confidence by the individual as well as by others. Because of this attitude, intercultural sensitivity is going to be required, especially when conducting group meetings and discussing contributions made my participating individuals. Approach to Time and Priorities Ireland is a moderate time culture meaning they may, at times, be slightly more relaxed about deadlines. Nevertheless, the expectations of intercultural and global expansion have caused the Irish to adopt relatively strict standards of adhering to schedules. When working with people from Ireland, it’s advisable to reinforce the importance of the agreed-upon deadlines and how that may affect the rest of the organization. Successful intercultural management will depend on the individual’s ability to meet deadlines. Decision Making The Irish have a rather democratic approach to hierarchy and do not see marked differences between managers and their subordinates. While in some large companies, senior level managers are the key decision-makers, employees' opinions are still sought and considered before a final determination is made. Boss or Team Player In Ireland, groups collaborate well together as teams. Members are generally chosen to participate based on tangible skills or the knowledge base they bring, and are equally welcome to contribute to any discussion that may arise. They are encouraged to generate new ideas that may further the direction of the plan or spawn a new track entirely. In successful, dynamic teams, all members are valued for their actual and potential contribution, and all are treated with equal respect. Communication and Negotiation Styles The Irish do not like to say "no" so to avoid cross cultural miscommunication, make sure you understand what has or has not been agreed. They prefer to offer noncommittal responses such as "maybe". The Irish focus on short-term results and benefits when reaching decisions. Avoid confrontational behavior or high-pressure tactics, which can be counterproductive. Never make exaggerated claims about your products or delivery dates. The Irish are more impressed by results than promises. The Irish prefer to do business with people they feel comfortable with, so be prepared to engage in some casual relationship building, such as dinner or drinks at a local pub. Ireland - Information and Resources * Currency - the currency of Ireland is the Euro. Use the free currency converter to compare to dollars, GBP, etc. * Weather - visit Yahoo!'s up to date Weather for Ireland. * News - check out all the latest Google news on Ireland. * Dialling Code - the international dialling code for Ireland is +353. * Time - Ireland is the same as GMT. |
information provided by www.kwintessential.co.uk