Character assassination: The favourite pastime of Irish women

Irish women love nothing more than talking about each other

What do you get if you cross the life and soul of the party with an insecure people-pleaser? An Irish woman, of course! We are a mass of contradictions. For the most part, we are genuinely uncomfortable receiving compliments. On the other hand, the mere hint of a slight or insult turns an Irish woman into a snarling she-devil. We never complain in restaurants and avoid confrontation at all costs. Yet our favourite pastime is complete character assassination.

There are a number of explanations for this phenomenon. Firstly, it is a well-known fact that Irish people love to laugh and, by that rationale, they love people who make them laugh. We will forgive many things, but having no sense of humour is considered a cardinal sin. Adulterers, thieves, bankers, lying scumbags, crooked politicians – it doesn’t matter how serious the offence is – they can expect nothing less than immediate absolution as long as they are brilliant craic.