What are some differences in temperment and national character between the Welsh, the Scots, and the Irish?

Question

How do these people as a whole differ from one another? How are they simmilar? Of course, people are individuals, but they also subscribe to a value system, and individuals will seek common ground with their neighbours for a lot of different reasons. However, because of these mutual beliefs national cultures evolve, and thus a national character. On the downside to this, stereotypes will often develop from people who are outside this group. Nevertheless, national characters do exist. Therefore tell me what you think of as the Welsh national character, aswell as the Scots and the Irish. We English have one too, so if any of you who are not English have an opinion about the majority of us in this part of the isle who are descendents of Angles, Saxons and Jutes, feel free to share your thoughts on my tribe then too.

Answer 1

The majority of Scots, the Lowland Scots, are actually very much mixed-blood decendants with lots of English in them. These are the guys who hate the English most. If you don't believe this, go and live there for a while.

The Welsh, although occupied and subdued by the English for much longer than the Scots or Irish, somehow have managed to keep their language much better. In the northwest of Wales, in Gwynedd, most people still speak some Welsh and about 25% have it as a first language.

The Irish, at least those in the Republic, although in armed conflict with the British until the 20th century, seem to have resolved their antagonisms with the English more completely than the Scots and Welsh. Probably because of their full independence they don't feel beholden to us any more.

In my view the Irish have held on to their culture's separate mentality more than the Scots or Welsh, if not their language. They have a lyrical mentality, using relatively more right brain hemispere (if I may sound so pretentious). I mean they love nothing more than the "craic", that is, singing, playing instruments, poetry and conversing, all with the lubrication of alcohol of course. The way they speak English is rooted in Gaelic even when they don't speak it. For example, an Irishman once said to me, "If they don't like you the way you are, they ain't gonna like you any other way." This is playfulness with words that other English speakers don't have.

The Scots have more of an issue with the remnants, and they are only remnants, and often not authentic at that, of their culture. When they drink they tend to be over loud, boisterous and angry. But there is a brilliant Celtic/Rock/Folk/Dance/Techno band called The Peat Bog Faeries, from Skye, who aren't bogged down in the mire of self-pity and anger and celebrate Scottishness in a wonderfully creative way.

The Welsh are very different in the north, south, middle and southwest. They share a great respect for education, but I'm generalising of course. All three nations have better academic standards than the English, but the Irish are not as dour about it as the other two.

Matty M = You don't allow e-mail so I will have to respond to you here.

The question was not about history or politics but about national temperament and characteristics.
I know Scottish history and am not denying it or justifying the English. The point is, the Irish Catholics have suffered even more than you and for a much longer time, yet they seem to be more forgiving, even those in the north who, like you, do not have their own state to this day.
Scotland has been ripped off not by the English but by the London establishment, just like the industrial regions of England and South Wales. The north and midlands of England have no equivalent to the Scottish or Welsh Development Agencies and places like Tyneside, Merseyside, South Yorkshire, the Potteries, the Black Country and Bradford have suffered higher unemployment than Scotland.
Most of the present Government is Scottish and Tony Blair has Scottish roots and was educated in Scotland. The British establishment is partly Scottish and has been since James VI (I).
Sorry, maybe self-pity was the wrong word. Self-righteousness and bitterness is better.
I agree with you that Scotland has the right to full independence, and you can vote for that if you want and get it. At present, Scots MPs can vote on English issues but English MPs have no say in Scottish matters.

What's the difference between an IRA terrorist and a proud Scot?
- You can reason with an IRA terrorist!

And it's Brian, not Brain, and I am in Laos on my way back to China.

Answer 2

Love the Welsh, Scots and Irish

Answer 3

I think you have no idea BraininChina on what you are talking about. In your 2nd to last paragraph you claim The Scots to be "loud, boisterous and angry" when we drink and basically we have no merit to it. First of all Scotland is country split in two between Catholics and Protestant. While the protestant Scots wave the British flag, sing God save the queen, and basically kiss the a.r.s.e of the English. The Catholic Scots have put up with hundreds of years of murder, robbery,and every crime you can think off. They degraded us as ppl trying to steal our identity by forbidding our customs, like playing the bagpipes, and breaking up clans, destroying our royal family i.e. Queen Mary, raping our women, killing our children. Even to this day we are still persecuted by the English Goverment. We as Scots (true Scots) want our country back thats rightfully ours so we can put it back to the way it was. All industry, whether ship building or oil has all been robbed by the English and spent south of the Border. This is so much that the Scots unemployment rate is getting higher and higher every year The Royal families wealth has been in a big part to the plundering of our country. There is so much more I can go on about, so before you open your mouth again why dont you do exactly as you name says and go to China and get your brain back. Self pity, you arrogant S.O.B.

Answer 4

Ohh i think on the whole the Welsh , Scottish and Irish and not too keen on the English ;)

Answer 5

they are in fact very similar ,all have Celtic roots ,and all have a Galic original language,and theit music has also a lot of similarities

the ones that are different are the Brittish who came from the conquering French from Normandy,and the English laguage has Latin roots