Ireland

The Pub, Work, and Sports

The Irish pub remains an important, if somewhat clichéd, hub for Irish social life. However, the reduced blood-alcohol limit for driving (from 0.08 to 0.05) will have a significant social impact, most notably in rural areas. More than one in four Irish people have experienced negative social consequences from another person's consumption of alcohol.

The Irish government instituted the first ban on smoking in the workplace in the world, which had notable social effects. Pub workers no longer have to breathe secondhand smoke. It also led to the now widespread phenomenon of “smirting,” or flirting while smoking outside a pub or workplace.

As regards work–life balance, one-third of mothers and half of fathers in Ireland feel that the amount of time they spend with their family is adversely impacted by work. The number of unemployed people has risen in recent years, and as of October 2010, the unemployment [Page 447]rate in Ireland was 13.6 percent. One effect of the recession is that, after a decade of net immigration, Irish people are emigrating in significant numbers once again. This has had a significant impact on many social networks, most notably families and sports clubs. However, one of the positive outcomes is that the number of registered volunteers more than doubled in 2009. Many of these volunteers are young people.

The most popular sports in Ireland are hurling and Gaelic football. The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) is the cultural organization for these sports. The local and county clubs are socially significant entities, especially in rural areas. One of the most visited Websites in Ireland is a GAA blog. Rugby and soccer are also very popular. Many sporting events are watched live in licensed premises.

Politics, Arts and Language, and Religion

To borrow U.S. politician Tip O'Neill's aphorism, all politics in Ireland is local. The electoral system in the republic is Proportional Representation by a Single Transferable Vote (PRSTV). The net result is that national politicians pander to local concerns. The concept of clientelism is regarded as a useful way to think about the social networks of Irish politics. Personal bonds, rather than broader national issues, often determine the choices made by voters. Politicians also commonly pander to elite interests. The effects of the global recession were multiplied in Ireland by, for instance, a general lack of regulation and significant tax breaks for property speculators. Bank losses were then socialized, which caused further damage, including a return to emigration for many Irish people.

Ireland, sometimes called the “land of saints and scholars,” has a rich history of artistic achievement. This is especially true in the areas of writing, music, and film. One-third of the Irish population actively participate in artistic activities such as music, singing, dancing, writing, video, and photography. However, researchers have also found that such involvement in the arts is very strongly influenced by social and economic factors. Those with lower levels of educational attainment or lower incomes are far less likely to be involved in the spectrum of artistic activities. English is the main language in Ireland. There are a number of areas where Irish, internationally known as Gaelic, is the first language. Irish-speaking schools are increasingly popular in both rural and urban areas.

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