For the Irish out there...

I know there are a few...

I'm a graduate student, and I'm currently taking a Multicultural Counseling course. I'm writing a Personal Family Background paper. My heritage is Irish American, with a strong devotion to that heritage on my father's side. I know that among the older generations it was traditional for the mother to stay at home and care for the children and the house; she was responsible for their relgious education and training as well. Father's were quiet and reserved, working long hours and taking part in "social clubs," someimtes associated with the church, sometimes not. (Hence the existance of the Irish Matriarch).

My question is: how common is this behavior in modern Ireland? My family is a few generations removed, and though we have a strong interest in our heritage and love visiting Ireland, we are American Irish, so things are different.

I'd appreciate anything you can offer!

I have a lot of irish relatives and I think they'd smirk slightly if they read your post.   There is an unfortunate tendency for Irish Americans to regard the 'old country' as being stuck in the past.  My cousin went to work in the States as a nanny about 25 years ago and her hostess made a big point of showing her a kettle that switched itself off...... with the approach that 'being from backward old Ireland you've probably not seen one of these before'... LOL! 

Like anywhere else in Western Europe the more rural and remote the area the more likely the lifestyle is old-fashioned and traditional.  But in the urban areas I would describe Ireland as incredibly cosmopolitan and progressive.    40% of the Irish workforce is female, for example, and I don't think you can generalise fathers as 'quiet and reserved'.... I've certainly met many that aren't!  Owing to the economic boom of the last few years (sadly now reversed) there's a sizeable immigrant community in Ireland from Eastern Europe.  Creates some interesting cultural tensions for a country that's been exporting people for centuries. 

When you go to Ireland you'll find plenty of people willing to play the game and do the 'tik owd Mick' bit for the tourists.  It pays well....

I agree with what gi-jane said and I find it amusing that so many Americans seem to think that in Ireland we still live in the old ages. Really in Ireland its just the same as any other modern western country, just like the UK and just like the rest of Europe.

You do still get some people sticking with the traditional, man goes out to work and the woman stays at home but then again dont you get that in every country? Im quite sure a lot of American woman do this.

Alot of woman in Ireland do go out and work as well as their husband, my mother did, my sister is married with kids and she goes to go work.

No need to get snarky. My assumption was that modern Ireland was different, which is why I asked the question. The research supports the trend of certain aspects of 'old' Irish culture, however. It could be more prevalent among the offspring of the Irish who fled during the diaspora, thought. My time in large cities in Ireland wasn't any different than my time in large cities anywhere else, but I found the culture in the smaller villages to be more friendly and family-esque than small towns here in the States.

No-one's being 'snarky'. You asked 'how common is this behaviour in modern Ireland?' and we answered the question.   If you'd said 'I'm assuming this behaviour would not be common in modern Ireland'... then we'd have known you already had some assumptions.

Unless someone has been to small town America they would not be able to gauge whether small-town Ireland was more or less friendly or family-oriented.  That wasn't your question either and it's entirely your personal perspective.  Try to express yourself more clearly and then maybe you'll get the answers you require.