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WE HAVE HAD a lovely suggestion for today’s fun poll from a reader.
He writes that as it’s been the season of visitors and reunions, he had fallen to thinking about “the Irish tradition of ‘waving people off’ at the door”.
“You know the one where everyone stands at the door still waving until visitors have driven around the corner out of sight but still beeping the car horn.”
We do indeed. What do you do when visitors are leaving?
(If none of the above, please do tell in the comments what you do with departing visitors.)
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When my grandparents were still with us, they would always stand at the front door waiting for us to do a u-turn and wave us off as we drove away every time we visited – no matter what the weather. I found it funny as a kid, but as an adult thinking back it is one of the fond memories I have of them.
My parent don’t do the same when I visit them! As soon as I’m out the door, it’s closed behind me!
@meatyslaps: Ok,By.
I used to be a ‘bye, see you soon!’ and out the door kinda person. Until I got married and had a child. Now, we say goodbye in the house, followed by the first round of toddler kisses and hugs. Then, just as we’re about to get into the car, inevitably, someone will introduce a new topic of conversation that we hadn’t addressed during the previous six hours. This will take some time while everyone shares their opinion. Then it’s into the car, followed by round two of toddler kisses and hugs (through the window or car door). Hubby and I do the goodbyes, hugs and thanks yous (again), then get into the car, ready to start our journey. Down the drive, the obligatory two beeps of the horn as we pass the house while everyone stands outside waving. We’re on our way now.
I wouldn’t have it any other way :-)
I wonder what research leads to the conclusion that this is just an “Irish thing”?
@Steve Lennon: true, my older relatives are the same way. Another thing they do, when they drop me off at my house sometimes, they wait until I’m in and door closed before driving off. And we’re not Irish.
@Steve Lennon: lived and worked in 11 other countries and have not seen it there. So may be more practiced here
@Declan Hegarty: lol so annoying customs are more widespread than i though?
Ya, and for some time after that, it can be quite hard to stop
@Stephen: I take charge when I leave. I tell them to go in so they don’t get cold. Eco friendly too!
@Gillian Weir Scully: I bless my self and mumble under my breath, good riddance, and take you’re time coming back.
@Patabake Kennedy: *your
@Jas: Beg my pardon.
@Gillian Weir Scully: you’re so independent
I’m worse at airports, I’ll stand there waving until you definitely can’t come back. I like to think that’s what it really is, just an Irish way of making sure they’re actually gone
@Dave O Keeffe: so long as you don’t stand there until they actually come back
I smile, wave, close the door and then knock back a double Jameson on the rocks in the sitting room.
I wave till they are out of sight.
When my daughter and her mates are heading out I like to wave and yell, I HOPE YIZZER WEARING WARM VESTS/CLEAN UNDERWEAR!
This is far worse
Goodbye, goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye
And another thing… when did we start this auld sh#@e of hugging and air kissing cheeks saying hello/goodbye? It’s far from the continent we were reared. It boils me blood
The one that annoys me is idiots saying ‘bye’ 6-7 times at the end of a phone call.What’s that about? Bye.Once.Hang up.
@Kieran Conroy: Its called texting Kieran welcome to 2018
@Kieran Conroy: I am that idiot. But it fills the void between your ear and pressing the end button and hopefully the person the other end realises you finished talking to them.
@Kieran Conroy: lol, Now I think that’s an Irish thing because never have I heard or met anyone until my friend whom he’s only been living in Ireland 13 years, when i say bye on the phone, he’ll say ba ba ba bye God knows for how long. Does anyone know why?
@Kieran Conroy: drives me simple also
Stand at the door? No, you have to walk at least a mile along the road before you stop waving.
I like to give a heartwarming rendition of Goodbye by the Spice Girls.
My father waved so much I’m sure he had repetitive strain injury. While he was doing that he was raising and lowering his hat as if to confirm his intention to leave and continue to do so. For a man not much given to multi tasking/chewing gum and walking, how he synchronised both hand movements was a source of amazement to me. And if dealing with younger persons, he also cooed, “Day Day!” He said this day or night, something else I failed to comprehend.
Wave until out of sight or get permission to go in. ” I’ll gowan in ok”? Person leaving says of course get in out of the cold rain or whatever.
Not an Irish thing, more of a human thing.
Here’s one for ya why do we Irish always say Bye bye bye 5/6 times before hanging up the phone ?
@Greg Doyle: something to do with analogue ‘phones possibly. In a pay-phone, the pips are going and you can’t put your hand on another 10p. Nor a 2p. That bad…
I’m worse at airports, I’ll stand there waving until you definitely can’t come back. I like to think that’s what it really is, just an Irish way of making sure they’re actually gone
@Dave O Keeffe: You can possibly this as often as you like, it ain’t gonna get any funnier
@Dolph Styles: amazingly I managed to post it twice in the same minute. No idea how I managed it.
Depends. If I’m standing at the door and me nipples are like two rubber bullets, its fook yiz!
My brother had a girlfriend and when she came to visit and was leaving and we were all doing goodbyes she announced that she was going to sit in the car as she hadn’t signed up to kissing the entire family, just him Lol
Goodbye and f….off!
Stupid and annoying
I do it for people who head to there cars at night
The beeping horns is the limit !!
have your say