Literally ever movie I see there is this *beep* , "we got to get off this island" idea of Irish people towards Ireland.
Every time I see it I think I wish I was there. It's always quiet, spacious and beautiful but somehow now one wants to be there.
Is it just what it's like because you live there and are bored with it or does Ireland have a depressing feel to it?
I don't know about modern Ireland, but Ireland in the 80s was a place of poverty and depression, so I could totally understand people wanting to get off the island.
There is another reason to fill your heart with hatred.
Ireland is a beautiful country with some of the friendliest people I've ever met. Some Irish kids today may want to "get off this island", but the majority want to stay.
shareWell, yeah, but that's TODAY's Ireland. The film takes place in 1985, a time of poverty for many people.
There is another reason to fill your heart with hatred.
I remember an old rancher near Vail, Colorado who was asked about selling his land to developers and new comers. Remembering those winters and blizzards that killed his cattle he said "You can't eat scenery."
I don't know everything. Neither does anyone else
That line was also used in my favorite film, Local Hero set in Scotland. It contained similar themes of the locals living in a scenic but economically challenged seaport.
shareIf you can turn it into tourism, you kind of can.
Tomorrow's just your future yesterday!
To those people who say "it was set in the 80s when there was poverty and depression". I grew up in the 80s. It was before the Celtic Tiger, but that doesn't mean most people were poor or depressed. Leaving was an option, but it wasn't a necessity. We were less materialistic, had more free time, we were fitter, and more sociable. I travelled all around Ireland in the 80s by hitch-hiking.
There were about 30 cinemas in Dublin. There was always something to do. You only have to look at footage of Dublin from the 80s to see how lively it was. Yes, it's sad that some people left, but the rest of us got on with making the most of it.
We were less materialistic,
had more free time,
we were fitter,
and more sociable
I did the Leaving Cert in 83, when unemployment was at an all-time high. I was on and off the dole for years. I think I was aware of the realities of the time :)
shareIreland's not so bad, in fact it's one of the wealthiest countries in the world by GDP. I've lived here all my life (43 years) and yes, the eighties were tough. But things have changed and there's net immigration and Dublin is a cosmopolitan European city.
It's not perfect, but then again where is?
I've lived in Ireland my whole life.
You're right, the ideology of Irish people IS often to leave Ireland. Apart from the Celtic Tiger years of economic growth from the late 90s to 2008, a large percentage of the young population were always leaving Ireland in search of jobs because Ireland was ridiculously poor. It wasn't until we joined the EU in the 70s really that we became a bit wealthier. Also we didn't even rule ourselves until the 20s, so we did start off a bit wobbly.
Apart from the economy, there was constant conflict in Ireland during the 20th century, and before that we were under the control of Britain. The country was pretty much run by the Catholic Church until recently, meaning we were forced to be extremely old-fashioned and conservative, so obviously most liberal youths were keen to leave. So, in a lot of modern literature and film there is that idea that Ireland is a really bleak place.
Nonetheless, it still is a really lovely place and no Irish person would ever say they hate Ireland, just that it's perhaps not an ideal place to be as a young person.