I think I need to revise (or maybe "amend") the focus of this thread a bit:

What basic advice would you give to people from the U.S. who are planning to travel, or even move, to Ireland? Some possibilities for inclusion:

1) Differences in terminology
2) Differences in technology
3) Cultural differences

The premise being that one of the fun aspects of travel is the opportunity to experience life in a different way, through the lens of another culture.

Redwolf

I don't know if you've read this book before, but if you haven't, it might give you a few ideas -
Lonely Planet : Irish Language and Culture by Gerry Coughlan and Martin Hughes
ISBN 978 1 7410 4815 5 (2013 second revised edition)

If meant to be worn under a dress/skirt it is called "tights" regardless of thickness.
What you call dance ones we probably call those "leggings".

From what you describe as "jumper", that sounds like a "pinafore".

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It is recommended that you always wait for three to agree on a translation.
I speak Connemara Irish, and my input will often reflect that.
I will do an mp3 file on request for short translations.
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Thanks! I've just remembered, now that you mention it, something JK Rowling said about the American version of Harry Potter: The one change from British English to American English she allowed was changing "jumper" to "sweater" because she didn't want her American readers picturing Harry and Ron running around in pinafores!

Redwolf

Redwolf, here's a few different things that came to mind while I was reading this topic . . .

"Travellers" are a socio-ethnic group. When I read the thread title, I thought you were asking about members of the travelling community. In Ireland, people from other countries are called tourists or immigrants (depending on how long they plan to stay).

I know someone who asked for a "bag of chips" in a fast-food place in America. She was surprised when they gave her a pack of Doritos, then she remembered to say "french fries."

A lot of American terms would be understood in Ireland. We all know the words french fries, gasoline, cellphone etc. even if we don't use them ourselves.

Nobody in Ireland says restroom. It's called the toilet, the bog, the jacks or the loo. Sometimes we call it the bathroom even if there's no bath in it.

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Táim ag foghlaim fós. Fáilte roimh gach aon cheartúchán.

Thanks...those are all good ones!

Oh, I know that people will understand many, if not all, of the American terms...this is geared more for Americans who might not understand the Irish terms. I'll probably focus mainly on things that might take an American tourist by surprise (for example "what exactly did you cousin mean when he asked if you turned off the immersion?")

GRMA!

Redwolf

Here are some more books that you might not know of, but you could find useful -
Greenspeak : Ireland in her own Words by Paddy Sammon (Simon & Schuster)
Slanguage by Bernard Share (Gill & MacMillan)
and the Feckin' Collection of books by Collin Murphy and Donal O'Dea.
For Focal Sake (www.slang.ie/irish-slang-book.php)

And don't ask for a ride. It has an entirely different meaning in Ireland

Irish people, particularly Dublin, Kildare, Meath and especially Cavan curse a metric ton more than the typical American. This is the one thing that always catches tourists off guard, in my opinion.

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The dialect I use is Cork Irish.
Ar sgáth a chéile a mhairid na daoine, lag agus láidir, uasal is íseal

But don't let that stop you asking for one!

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