Culchie

All you want to know about Culchie

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2008)

Look up culchie in
Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

The term "culchie" 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."

The term in Ireland is often a derogatory one used by those living in the capital (Dublin) for anyone who lives "outside of the pale" or "down the country"

In Hiberno-English, culchie is a term sometimes used to describe a person from rural Ireland. It usually has the pejorative sense of "country bumpkin", but is also reclaimed by some proud of their rural origin, and may be used by either side in banter between town and country people. Dublin GAA fans call supporters of any other of the county teams from Ireland as culchies, fans from counties in the north are called nordies. Dublin's fans are themselves called Jackeens in retort. In large cities such as Cork, 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.^[1] Generally the term is more humorous than abusive in rural areas, as opposed to the more offensive term "muck-savage".

1 Derivation
2 The term culchie in popular culture
3 Culchie Festival
4 References
5 External links

Derivation

A suggested origin of the word comes from an old Gaelic term "cúl a' 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 a' tí or culchie was applied to these country 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. However the latter does not explain why country people (as opposed to city people) are called "culchies".

Another possible derivation is from the Irish coillte meaning "the wood/forest", to describe people who lived in the woods. Yet another perceived derivation, however, comes from a shortening and alteration of Kiltimagh, a town in County Mayo. A further, simpler, explanation is that the word derives from the word agriCULTURE, highlighting the industrial/agricultural divide between rural and urban populations.

Culchies are seen as simple people who have a fairly direct manner, physical strength, limited social skills, and a rich accent.Also Culchies defeated the Black and Tans while they were in Ireland compared to the city folk who hid from the tans.^{[citation needed]}

The term culchie in popular culture

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, Killinascully, based on a theme of culchies in a village in rural Munster. The Christmas episode of Killinascully receives viewership figures that place it in the top 3 most viewed television programmes in Ireland, on an annual basis.

Culchie Festival

Now seen as the male version of The Rose of Tralee, the Culchie Festival started in 1989 in Clonbur, 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.^[2] The 2008 winner was Adrian McCabe from Ballyjamesduff, County Cavan.