Greetings

• Shake hands with new or casual acquaintances when meeting and departing. Don't go overboard — the Irish are not physically demonstrative.

• If an Irish businessperson addresses you by your last name, do the same. They generally switch to first names quickly in social situations.

• Be prompt, but give your Irish counterpart the leeway to be late.
• Avoid appointments in July or August (vacations), and around holidays.

• Many Irish are ambivalent about wealth. Excessive financial displays are frowned upon, except to charities.
• A favorite Irish pastime is to find out as much as possible about strangers while revealing little about oneself.
• Discussions tend to be lengthy. Short answers are interpreted as brusque.
• There is no shame for the Irish in missing a delivery date.

• Most Irish look forward to chatting with friends and strangers alike over a pint of Guiness or a cup of tea. Be ready to buy a round.
• Business lunches are more common than dinners.