You know what really grinds my gears?

[ONeill]

Are ye going down til Dublin.

[chocoholic]

Yes and they say "Down to Donegal" and "Out to Tyrone" for some other examples. It has nothing to do with the size of the place. Your mate needs to get back to school.

I'll be sure to let him know. Wee Sean McManus will be gutted he got that wrong...

[brokencrossbar1]

I  go down to Belfast and up to Dublin, as do many people I know.  I would imagine it has more to do with colloquialisms than anything else.  May have originally derived from the the Irish language or maybe it has nothing to do with it.  It certainly isn't something that warrants a gear grinding session but it is symptomatic of the style of conya (another colloquialism there!) that flows from thon gobdaw's mouth!

[chocoholic]

Yes and they say "Down to Donegal" and "Out to Tyrone" for some other examples. It has nothing to do with the size of the place. Your mate needs to get back to school.

What's it got to do with then?

[ONeill]

I'd go down to Cork, Kerry, Dublin and Portugal. I go up to Portrush, Dungiven, Bushmills and Muff. Completely geographical.

[brokencrossbar1]

I'd go down to Cork, Kerry, Dublin and Portugal. I go up to Portrush, Dungiven, Bushmills and Muff. Completely geographical.

Are you sure?

[ONeill]

I'd go down to Cork, Kerry, Dublin and Portugal. I go up to Portrush, Dungiven, Bushmills and Muff. Completely geographical.

Are you sure?

Muff =
Latitude   55.06724030
Longitude   -7.26916720

Glenavy =
Latitude   54.59212000
Longitude   -6.21411000

[brokencrossbar1]

I'd go down to Cork, Kerry, Dublin and Portugal. I go up to Portrush, Dungiven, Bushmills and Muff. Completely geographical.

Are you sure?

Muff =
Latitude   55.06724030
Longitude   -7.26916720

Glenavy =
Latitude   54.59212000
Longitude   -6.21411000

Fair enough, geography was never my strong point, I always thought Muff was more southerly than that!

[5 Sams]

Everybody in Newry that I know goes UP to Dublin and Dundalk...might be someting to do with the big hill out of the town..then again you DOWN to Kerry, OVER to Galway, OUT to Hilltown.

[Hardy]

We always went up to Dublin, though it was South. I don't think it has anything to do with elevation, the compass or Irish. I think it's always up to the capital. In England they always go up to London from all directions. But then they also go up to Oxford and Cambridge and get sent down from them if they act the latchico.

If you think that's confusing, try dealing with directions west of the Shannon or in West Cork/Kerry. You'll be in Annascaul, heading West and you ask for directions to Ballyferriter.
"Go back to Dingle and turn right", you'll be told.
- "What? I thought I was heading towards Dingle. I know I haven't passed it already."
"No. It's a few miles on. Go back there and turn right".

This comes directly from Irish, where the same word, siar, means both backwards and westwards and it's very common, even in Limerick.

[5 Sams]

Even in Dingle anywhere over the bridge at Milltown is "back wesht".

[brokencrossbar1]

Everybody in Newry that I know goes UP to Dublin and Dundalk...might be someting to do with the big hill out of the town..then again you DOWN to Kerry, OVER to Galway, OUT to Hilltown.

Nearly right, OUT OF Hilltown, not to!

[Hardy]

In England they always go up to London from all directions.

Don't think that's true.

I'm fairly sure it is. Certainly among the upper classes. Google "going up to London".

[ONeill]

Do you go up to Crumlin or Antrim?

Antrim is more an "out to" place. Like Lisburn or Banbridge.

I go to the tanning salon in Crumlin.

[Hardy]

Just googling around and some are suggesting you go "up" to London because the railways called the line towards London the "up" line and the other the "down" line. But where did they get that in the first place?