Culchie
Encyclopedia
In Irish-English culchie is a term sometimes used to describe a person from rural Ireland
. In Dublin, it is often used to describe someone from without the bounds of the 'M50' motorway. It usually has a pejorative
meaning, but is also reclaimed by some proud of their rural origin, and may be used by either side in craic between town and country people. However it is often derogatory, used by those living in Dublin for anyone who lives "outside of The Pale
" or "down the country". In large cities such as Cork
, Waterford
, Limerick
and Galway
, the term may be sometimes allocated to anybody who comes from outside an urban area. The same is true for Belfast
and the rest of Northern Ireland
, where the term is also popular. Generally the term is more humorous than abusive in rural areas, as opposed to the more offensive term "muck-savage".
, County Mayo
. Another possible derivation is from the Irish
coillte meaning "the wood/forest", to describe people who lived in the woods. A further, simpler, explanation is that the word derives from the word agriCULTURE, highlighting the industrial/agricultural divide between rural and urban populations.
Another potential derivation is an old Gaelic term "cúl an tí", meaning the back of the house. It was, and still is to a certain extent, common practice in rural areas to enter a neighbour's house through the back door, rather than the front (which is for more formal visits). Thus the term cúl an tí or culchie was applied to these people. Also, many city dwellers from Dublin tenements had to work as servants. The servants were not permitted to enter the house from the front but had to use the back door or servants entrance. It became common practice in Dublin to use the term in a derogatory manner. Over time as the numbers of servants dwindled away the term was still kept in everyday use to this very day.
fans call supporters of any other of the county team
s from Ireland as culchies; fans from counties in the north are called nordies. Dublin's fans are themselves called Jackeen
s in retort.
David McWilliams
coined the term Dulchies to describe Dubliners who decide to live in other counties of Leinster
. This subgroup of people often live in urban areas like Navan
, Kells
and Naas
. Characteristics include preference for outdoor activities, reduced status consciousness, a higher priority placed on quality time over money, and involvement in local organizations.
The comedian Pat Shortt
has made a successful living out of being a culchie comedian. He has his own television series, Killinaskully
, based on a theme of culchie in a village in rural Munster
. The Christmas episode of Killinaskully receives viewership figures that place it in the top 3 most viewed
television programmes in Ireland, on an annual basis.
Culch.ie is a popular Irish Pop Culture blog derived from the term.
, County Galway
. The Festival has taken place in many towns and villages throughout Ireland in its search to find "The Culchie" or the "Village Character" as he was known years ago. The true culchie has the ability to entertain at will, whether on stage or TV.
The festival is held in late October of each year after regional heats held throughout Ireland and other overseas Irish communities to select contestants. The final consists of various challenges such as tractor racing, nappy changing, sandwich making, potato picking, knitting and karaoke. The 2008 winner was Adrian McCabe from Ballyjamesduff, County Cavan.
The village of Ballyjamesduff
County Cavan
, will host the 2009 Culchie Festival 23–25 October.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. In Dublin, it is often used to describe someone from without the bounds of the 'M50' motorway. It usually has a pejorative
Pejorative
Pejoratives , including name slurs, are words or grammatical forms that connote negativity and express contempt or distaste. A term can be regarded as pejorative in some social groups but not in others, e.g., hacker is a term used for computer criminals as well as quick and clever computer experts...
meaning, but is also reclaimed by some proud of their rural origin, and may be used by either side in craic between town and country people. However it is often derogatory, used by those living in Dublin for anyone who lives "outside of The Pale
The Pale
The Pale or the English Pale , was the part of Ireland that was directly under the control of the English government in the late Middle Ages. It had reduced by the late 15th century to an area along the east coast stretching from Dalkey, south of Dublin, to the garrison town of Dundalk...
" or "down the country". In large cities such as Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
, Waterford
Waterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
, Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
and Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
, the term may be sometimes allocated to anybody who comes from outside an urban area. The same is true for Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
and the rest of Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, where the term is also popular. Generally the term is more humorous than abusive in rural areas, as opposed to the more offensive term "muck-savage".
Possible derivations
The term is defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as "One who lives in, or comes from, a rural area; a (simple) countryman (or woman), a provincial, a rustic", a word derived from the remote town of Coillte MachKiltimagh
' is a town in County Mayo, Ireland. It was referred to in the popular Irish song 'Horse it into ya Cynthia' by Conal Gallen.-Transport:The rail link is closed, but is pending re-opening as part of the Western Railway Corridor. Kiltimagh railway station opened on 1 October 1895 and finally closed...
, County Mayo
County Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
. Another possible derivation is from the Irish
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
coillte meaning "the wood/forest", to describe people who lived in the woods. A further, simpler, explanation is that the word derives from the word agriCULTURE, highlighting the industrial/agricultural divide between rural and urban populations.
Another potential derivation is an old Gaelic term "cúl an tí", meaning the back of the house. It was, and still is to a certain extent, common practice in rural areas to enter a neighbour's house through the back door, rather than the front (which is for more formal visits). Thus the term cúl an tí or culchie was applied to these people. Also, many city dwellers from Dublin tenements had to work as servants. The servants were not permitted to enter the house from the front but had to use the back door or servants entrance. It became common practice in Dublin to use the term in a derogatory manner. Over time as the numbers of servants dwindled away the term was still kept in everyday use to this very day.
Popular culture
Dublin GAADublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
fans call supporters of any other of the county team
GAA county
A Gaelic Athletic Association county is a geographic region within the Gaelic Athletic Association , controlled by a county board and originally based on the counties of Ireland as they were in 1884. While the counties of Ireland have changed since the foundation of that date, the GAA counties have...
s from Ireland as culchies; fans from counties in the north are called nordies. Dublin's fans are themselves called Jackeen
Jackeen
Jackeen is a mildly pejorative term for someone from Dublin, Ireland. The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as "A contemptuous designation for a self-assertive worthless fellow," citing the earliest documented use from the year 1840....
s in retort.
David McWilliams
David McWilliams
David McWilliams is an Irish journalist and economist. McWilliams has worked with as an economist with Central Bank of Ireland and as a banker with UBS bank and the Banque Nationale de Paris...
coined the term Dulchies to describe Dubliners who decide to live in other counties of Leinster
Leinster
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
. This subgroup of people often live in urban areas like Navan
Navan
-People:Navan was the childhood home of Pierce Brosnan, who appeared in the television series Remington Steele and was the fifth film actor to play James Bond. TV personality Hector Ó hEochagáin, and comedians Dylan Moran and Tommy Tiernan also hail from Navan....
, Kells
Kells, County Meath
Kells is a town in County Meath, Ireland. The town lies off the M3 motorway, from Navan and from Dublin. In recent years Kells has grown greatly with many Dublin commuters moving to the town....
and Naas
Naas
Naas is the county town of County Kildare in Ireland. With a population of just over twenty thousand, it is also the largest town in the county. Naas is a major commuter suburb, with many people residing there and working in Dublin...
. Characteristics include preference for outdoor activities, reduced status consciousness, a higher priority placed on quality time over money, and involvement in local organizations.
The comedian Pat Shortt
Pat Shortt
Pat Shortt is an actor, comedian and entertainer. In 2007, he starred in the film Garage, directed by Lenny Abrahamson for which he won the Best Actor award at the 2008 IFTAs...
has made a successful living out of being a culchie comedian. He has his own television series, Killinaskully
Killinaskully
Killinaskully was an Irish television comedy which details the bizarre goings-on in a fictitious Irish village called Killinaskully located in the hills of Ireland. It was actually filmed on location in the villages of Killoscully and Ballinahinch in County Tipperary, the title being a fusion of...
, based on a theme of culchie in a village in rural Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
. The Christmas episode of Killinaskully receives viewership figures that place it in the top 3 most viewed
television programmes in Ireland, on an annual basis.
Culch.ie is a popular Irish Pop Culture blog derived from the term.
Culchie Festival
The Culchie Festival started in 1989 in ClonburClonbur
An Fhairche is a Gaeltacht village in County Galway, Ireland.The village of Clonbur sits between Lough Corrib and Lough Mask. Two kilometres to the west rises Mount Gable where, according to legend, the hordes of Firbolg gathered on the hilltop before their clash with the Tuatha Dé Danann at the...
, County Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
. The Festival has taken place in many towns and villages throughout Ireland in its search to find "The Culchie" or the "Village Character" as he was known years ago. The true culchie has the ability to entertain at will, whether on stage or TV.
The festival is held in late October of each year after regional heats held throughout Ireland and other overseas Irish communities to select contestants. The final consists of various challenges such as tractor racing, nappy changing, sandwich making, potato picking, knitting and karaoke. The 2008 winner was Adrian McCabe from Ballyjamesduff, County Cavan.
The village of Ballyjamesduff
Ballyjamesduff
Ballyjamesduff is a medium-sized town with a population of 2,240 in County Cavan in Ireland, located on the R194 regional road. Formerly a market town and winner of the 1966 and 1967 Irish Tidy Towns Competition, Ballyjamesduff is now one of the fastest growing towns in the region due to its...
County Cavan
County Cavan
County Cavan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Cavan. Cavan County Council is the local authority for the county...
, will host the 2009 Culchie Festival 23–25 October.