There are several languages being used by the Irish people namely Irish by 41% French by 20%, German by 7%, and English by 99% of the population. Although Irish is said to be the national language in the country, English has already been the most used language in the country for decades now. That being said, you could be sure that you won’t find it hard to go around Ireland by just knowing how to speak English.

Language Skills
Since everyone in Ireland speaks English, your only barrier to communication is the culture on how words are being used in the country. Several countries differ in the way they do conversational English and Ireland also possesses unique usage of the English language. For example, the words “please” and “thank you” are two very important polite words being used unlike other European countries like Denmark that don't have any translation to the word ‘please.’

To start you off, it is best to know how to greet your local counterpart. Like in many countries, a common greeting in Ireland is ‘Hello’ or ‘How are you?’ The initial greetings mentioned are usually followed by a phrase asking ‘What’s the craic?’ The ’craic’ would mean ‘news’ or ‘gossip.’ Should you wish to impress your local friend, you can also try greeting in Irish by saying ‘Did dhuit’ which means ‘hello,’ or you may want to say ‘Slán go fóill’ when saying ‘goodbye.’ You may visit this link to check how those Irish words are spoken or you may try to learn a few Irish phrases by getting lessons from Duolingo.

Body Language
You’ve learned how to greet your local counterpart, and you should know that it’s most commonly accompanied by a handshake. Among close friends and family, a greeting comes with a soft kiss on the cheeks with a brief and warm hug. You may notice that Irish people are actually friendly and accommodating, however, they tend to show restraint when it comes to public display of affections. Irish people are not comfortable touching the opposite sex in public, but a friendly tap on the back is acceptable. The locals also value their private space and would appreciate it if others would stay at arm’s length during a conversation. They also avoid unnecessary physical contact like pushing in public transportations or squeezing with someone in a queue.

Maintaining eye contact in a conversation is a reflection of one’s trust and engagement in a conversation. When talking to locals, a few hand gestures is okay, however excessive hand movements are found uncommon in a discussion. As a sign of active listening to your counterpart, you may nod your head slightly or respond verbally in a timely manner while the other is speaking, this also reflects utmost respect to your counterpart.

You may notice older Catholic Irish to do the sign of the cross when passing by churches or when confronted with a funeral procession. Show respect to them by avoiding untoward comments to religious gestures.

It may also be observed that locals use their heads through a nod or their chin when pointing to a direction of a subject being discussed. Irish people prefer this instead of using one’s fingers, and it would be impolite to make the said gesture a laughing matter.

Topics for Discussion
If you want to start a good conversation with your local counterpart, a topic about music can easily be put on the table for discussion. Although influenced by nearby western cultures, Irish music has maintained its unique elements in music. The traditional music in the country is mostly ballads and laments that may be sung unaccompanied, otherwise played with a variety of instruments. You may also mention popular bands that came from their country, which the locals are really proud of. Popular Irish boy bands include the once very famous Westlife and Boyzone, whose songs are still relevant to most people who lived in the 1990s up until today.

Another good topic for conversations is the rich literature of Ireland. You may start off by bringing up popular Irish-born writers in the likes of C.S. Lewis. The said writer is famous for writing books about Christian apologetics; he is a well-known novelist and celebrated author of the Chronicles of Narnia, which eventually became a film. Additionally, you can also mention Bram Stoker, the Irish writer of “Dracula” which made a hit and was also a basis for a 1992 film ‘Dracula.’

Other lighter topics you can choose from when discussing with an Irish can be stories about their family origin, or some historical places in their country they may suggest you visit. You can also establish meaningful rapport by telling stories about your family back home and your intention to establish a career in the country. Just be open and learn how to appreciate good banter, because Irish love humor. Do not be offended when a local tries to joke often, because it’s actually their way of bonding and creating rapport with their counterpart too.

If there’s anything you have to avoid discussing, it would be the subject matter of the Republic of Ireland that is sometimes mistaken as British. The locals do not like being referred to as British, however, locals in Northern Ireland also get offended at being called ‘Irish.’ In the same way, do not refer to their county as part of the United Kingdom and vice versa. When discussing with them, better avoid stereotypes that implies dankness of the locals even if you meant it as a joke. It is also advised that you avoid dominating a conversation, otherwise it would be taken as impolite.