Obviously, being Irish, I have grown up in Irish (also British to an extent) culture, so I thought it would be good to share those experiences.

I can only remember back to being 4 or so years old. At that time, I was in playgroup (I believe its called preschool in USA) and I remember vaguely going on a trip to the zoo. It was Belfast zoo, around 40 minutes from home. Anyway, that was my first school trip. As a child, and still now, school trips weren't much, but they were still so exciting. I vividly remember one time going on a school trip to Tesco for some odd reason. The main school trip place, and by far the best, was Tayto Park. It was the only good amusement park on the whole island, and everyone was obsessed with this one ride, the Chu Culainn. It was a big wooden rollercoaster, and the biggest thrill I had ever got in my younger years.

I also lived right next to one of the biggest roller skating rinks in NI. As a matter of fact, I'm staring right at it as I'm writing it. I remember when it opened. It was the same day as my oldest sister's 18th birthday, and we all had a party down there. Originally, it was like the cheapest place on earth. It was only £3.50, and I remember always going there with a few of my sisters and my cousins. Nowadays, it's like £20, which is absolutely insane. Also beside where I live is an old rallying / go-karting track, which belongs to my dad. He used to have a motorsport business which is long gone. I remember my sisters, one or two of my cousins and I going onto the car ramp and making it pivot over. Dangerous as hell? Yes. Fun? Yes. Now, it's all gone, and I only really use it to drive around in my MOT failed Volkswagen Polo, because my dad wants me to be a rally driver some day.

Generally, the food was almost like anywhere else. We ALWAYS had mince and potatoes, which I'm nearly sure every Irish family has had at least once. Stew was also something my granny always made when she used to babysit me after school. She's not actually my granny, but she has been babysitting all of my siblings for a lifetime, and we all call her granny. She also makes the BEST pancakes ever, and every time we go visit her, she always makes me get a packet of crisps from her cupboard. She had us proper spoiled. The best treats as a child were Tayto crisps. They are a symbol of both Ireland and Northern Ireland, and the best flavour is by far prawn cocktail or ready salted. We also had dip dabs, which were so unhealthy but also so good! I also spent half of my summer days queueing up for the ice cream van. There was always one near my great auntie's house, and she'd always give me £1 to go and get a 99.

Regarding cities or towns we went to, we were always in Newry, which is close to where my actual grandmother lives. In Newry, there is a shopping centre called The Quays, and another close by called Buttercrane. There was everything you could have ever possibly needed there! The two best places in Newry, however was Nugelato , an ice cream shop that was heaven on earth as a child, and Friar Tucks, a fast food restaurant which I have never seen outside of Newry. Ironically, they were both on a road called sugar island, for some odd reason.

With TV, there was a show called The Late Late show , which had a Christmas special around the last Friday in November called The Late Late Toy Show. Everyone would always be talking about it and getting so excited over it, and everyone always wanted to be on it. I had a really strict bed time as a child, so being allowed to stay up and watch this was an added bonus!

Regarding my parents, I would always be absolutely terrified when the wooden spoon came out! Any time me or my siblings misbehaved, we'd get smacked with it. Even if it was terrifying, it was a good way to be taught a lesson! My mum still jokingly brings it out sometimes for old times sake. My father would always 'need me for a few minutes' with some job which ended up taking the whole day. Even now, he still 'needs me for a few minutes' with the most random jobs ever.

The sports growing up were very limited. Everyone either played gaelic football or Hurling (or camogie if you were a girl), and in many cases, both of them. I have played both, but at different times. Everyone always pushed me towards Gaelic football, mainly because my brother was and still is amazing at it. I hated it, though, and it was obvious. I eventually quit it after like 6 years of playing. When I was around 12 or so, I tried Hurling for a year, which I didn't despise as much, and it was actually pretty fun, but I played for the school team, which was an absolute shit show. We only got to play one match, which we got our ass handed to us in, and it disbanded very quickly. Nowadays, I only do Rowing, which I actually quite enjoy (sometimes). It's the only sport which stuck to me, luckily.

With my siblings and extended family, I am both the youngest sibling and first cousin. I grew up with 4 sisters and a brother. Sadly, I'm the youngest by a lot. The closest in age to me would be my sister who's only 5 years older than me, so I was slightly more distant with my family. Now though, I'm way closer with them, but there's still the fact that I have some cousins who are married with children who are nearly the same age as me! I'm also ALWAYS in my brothers shadow, almost every conversation someone in the distant family has with me always ends up with "are you gonna be a footballer like your brother" or "I'm waiting for you to get an all Ireland medal like your brother" which I then have to awkwardly explain that I'm a rower, not a footballer, which creates an even bigger rabbit hole of "you must have strong arms" or "how did you manage to start that" and even "do you know such and such who also does rowing" (I don't).

I really am horrible at making conclusions, but to sum this up, that traditional Irish childhood that I had was amazing, and I wouldn't want to grow up anywhere else. I had everything I ever needed!