Visitors from the UK tend to arrive here in batches. It seems to depend on the price of airfares. For instance, when cheaper flights are offered from Cardiff in Wales, there are a lot more Welsh people in the hostel.
Recently, there have been lower cost tickets available from Dublin to Toronto and as a result, there are a lot of Irish visitors at the Canadiana right now.
It has been said (by non-Irish) .that the Irish don’t pay much attention to things they “can’t drink or punch”. Alright, that’s funny, I suppose; but, we all know it’s not true.
But it’s a lot of fun to watch how Irish people from different parts of the Emerald Isles interact with each other. There is a lot of playful badinage happening when our Irish visitors get together.
According to Steve (a.k.a. “Doughy”) a long time guest here at the hostel there is an invasion of “Westies” (from the west coast of Ireland) whom he also refers to a “Cultchies” (something to do with lack of culture, I think). Anyhow, to Steve those terms refer to anyone coming from west of Dublin.
They, in turn, call Steve a “Dub” (Dubliner) or a “Jackeen” (who knows why). And as far as lack of culture goes, Steve or Doughy as he is known shouldn’t talk! He’s a professional chef in a high-end, fine-dining establishment in Toronto’s Entertainment District. But his own diet leans heavily on super-sized MacDonald’s burgers and fries!
I’m pretty sure that there will be quite a lot more Irish visitors in the weeks to come as fares from Dublin and Shannon are still quite low. Be they “Westies”, “Cultchies”, Jackeens” or “Dubs” (terms that are not exactly pejoratives but also not exactly complimentary) they are a hell of a lot of fun!
..
l. to r. Mike from Belfast (the odd man out) with the “Westies” Liz, Eimear, Brigid and Kieran.
First off i cant belive this article started off including Ireland in the UK!! Thats just uncalled for!! I also cant belive i didnt get included in the photo!! I now want my own blog!!
Hi Conor,
Thanks for the comment. But NOWHERE does the entry include Ireland with the UK! It says; :”Recently…etc” meaning also or in addition to…etc.!
Nonetheless, if you want us to include your photo, send us one! to info@canadianalodging.com and we’ll put it up!
But I’ll have to change the title of the entry to: “Westies”, “Cultchies”, “Jackeens”, “Dubs” & “Would-be Pedants!”
Wouldn’t that be grand!