Socialising in Ireland: A journey through change 

Socialising in Ireland has changed in many ways over the years. From lively pub nights, coffee walks in the park, to quiet evenings at home, it’s clear that the way we connect with each other is not what it used to be.  

The Traditional Pub Culture 

In Ireland, the pub has always been the heart and soul of social life and a very stereotypical culture of Ireland. The welcoming heat of a roaring fire and the welcoming and familiar faces of the locals is somewhere a huge part of Irish socialising and culture.

But, as the years rolled on, things started to change. The rise of the social media has began to change our ways. People still enjoy going to pubs but not near as often as years ago.

This pulling away from the pub culture may be largely due to the impact COVID had on the closer of pubs and people had to find a new way to socialise.

The Digital Influence on Socialising 

Social media plays a huge part in the way we socialise with each other from the simplicity of sending a text to picking up the phone and FaceTiming someone on the other side of the world.

“I find that the digital world makes us all seem a little closer whether we are in the same city or 10,000 miles away,” said Nicole Kieran who has many friends living in other countries. 

Rise of Virtual Gatherings Due to Covid-19 

People say that social media and technology are something for young people, but we can all benefit from the use of apps such as Zoom as a way to interact and see one another with actually being in someone’s physical presence.

The pandemic shook up our lives in many ways but it mainly has a huge impact on the way we socialise with each other. Video calls, virtual pub quizzes, and online game nights became very much the norm in 2020 and has rolled on into more recent time due to the convenience it allows. Imagine sharing a drink over Zoom while your friends are thousands of miles away. Although it is not the same as seeing people face to face- it allows us to connect.

But still there’s something special about being in the same room. The feeling that you can reach out and touch someone or share a simple hug on arrival or departure is a feeling that can’t be translated through a screen.

The rise of coffee meet-ups and walks through the park has become a huge way of socialising during and after the pandemic. 

“I never drank coffee before covid, but when it became the only way I could see my friends and family, I decided to take the plunge and become a coffee drinker,” said Ashling Marron when asked about socialisation during the pandemic. 

Changing Spaces for Social Activities 

With more people working from home post pandemic, this has also affected the way we socialise. Coffee shops have become hubs for casual meet-ups but also a place to work and study for remote workers and students alike.

“I enjoy getting out of the house even on my lunch break to meet a friend, as it gets me away from the house which is also my office,” Natasha McCabe, a remote worker, said when asked about how she balances working and living in the same environment. 

People are looking for new ways to get out and meet people and this can come in many forms such as exercise classes, running clubs.

Our Changing Ways

As the years move on, we find new ways of connecting with each other whether that be in person or online.

As we found out due to the pandemic, we are very adaptable to change every though we may not always want to admit it and it’s safe to say it has be a positive one.

We all need some form of socialisation in our life, whether virtual or in person, and hopefully there is a way to connect out there suitable for everyone.