A New Irish Show About Culchies Sent Twitter Into A Frenzy Last Night
Ireland is a mad aul place for many reasons: Ulster is split between two countries, Dublin is one of the smallest counties but hosts the largest population in the country and asking someone whether or not they have road frontage is a genuine question.
As Irish media doesn't tend to move far away from the Pale it made perfect sense for RTÉ to commission a show that delved right into the heart of Irish country life and expose what's like to be a modern-day 'culchie'. That's why Alison Spittle, an actress, and comedian from Westmeath, shows us what it means to be a part of The Culchie Club.
Beginning the documentary with her family and mother in Ballymore, Alison talks about feeling displaced from her culchieness by being born in the UK. Suffering the fate of many a person that relocates at a young age, Alison would confirm her Irish status to naysayers to only be told she was a Brit and vice versa.
Alison's nomadic predicament, or, as she calls it, "feeling like a blow in", gives the viewers the premise of the documentary. During her travels to find out what it means to be a culchie, she meets comedian Shane Clifford in Kerry, jives with one of the twins from Gogglebox and attends Mayo's first Pride. A sometimes intimate look at what it's like growing up in the country, particularly when Alison and a young drag queen stand in front of protestors during Mayo Pride.
Fair play to the young man on @AlisonSpittle 's Culchie Club taking part in the first ever Mayo gay pride festival. A very brave & inspirational lad. It can't be easy for him. Oh yeah, and those religious protestors can go get fucked! #culchieclub
— Denis McDermott (@DisforDenis) April 9, 2018
In traditional rural fashion, Alison asks for directions without the help of Google Maps and lots of people could relate:
People giving directions in rural Ireland. There's nothing better! Feck off with your sat nav! The local old fella outside the the pub will get ya there. #CulchieClub pic.twitter.com/gq0dxiRt1A
— Fintan Marron (@FintanMusic) April 9, 2018
Loving @AlisonSpittle’s #CulchieClub ?? I always pull in and ask for directions off people walking on the road..my sisters hate it ? but google maps doesn’t know it all!
I wake up to this view every morning. Give me country life any day! pic.twitter.com/wX6aqC07S5— Evie Sammon (@EvieSammon) April 9, 2018
Full of surprises, a standout and refreshing moment from the show is Alison discussing farming with a group of young women, a role traditionally associated with men.
"There's a new Sheriff in town!" @AlisonSpittle's #CulchieClub tomorrow night at 9.30pm pic.twitter.com/iYBc2Lysf7
— RTÉ2 (@RTE2) April 8, 2018
Sadly some folks didn't enjoy RTÉ's delve into the culchie world:
Not funny, annoying if anything, and to think I'm paying a hefty licence fee for this drivel. #CulchieClub
— Martin Saul (@britincork) April 9, 2018
Fucking hell, is this the shite I pay a TV licence. #CulchieClub
— Richard Carroll (@cyberlocks) April 9, 2018
And others loved it, even if they didn't understand what it meant to be a culchie:
Culchies tuck in their t-shirts. #culchieclub pic.twitter.com/qDnePbiR6g
— Some Dad (@_SomeDad) April 9, 2018
Seems to be a lot of people focusing on the tv licence fee here, not really sure if that's relevant to the documentary. Anyhoo, I havent paid mine, and I'm really enjoying @AlisonSpittle #culchieclub
— Dara Brady (@darabrady8) April 9, 2018
.@kevinmcgahern : “My friend Noel bought a car when he was 12.” Countryside living in one sentence ? #culchieclub
— Denise Harding (@DeniseHRocks) April 9, 2018
Not one for dramatic statements (!) but #CulchieClub may be the best thing I've ever seen on RTE. EVER. And loving the cameo from @retroflame (my low key obsession)
— Kdogeydoge (@kirstyithink) April 9, 2018
#Culchieclub Trying to immerse herself in culchie culture. Brill. If you say 'lurry' instead of lorry, you're a culchie!!! ?
— Gilly (@BlueSkiesG1) April 9, 2018
Eating cabbage and spuds with milk while watching #CulchieClub Never forget your roots pic.twitter.com/FCc5TcNrFe
— Some Dad (@_SomeDad) April 9, 2018
I love them....but the culchies are a different breed altogether #jivingcontest #culchieclub
— Rachel Dowdall (@DoLLyRach) April 9, 2018
If you haven't had a chance to check out Culchie Club click here to watch the full episode on the RTÉ player.