Vivienne Sayers O'Callaghan, a County Cork native, moved to Ridgewood, Queens, in 2023 and began sharing her insights on Irish culture and language on TikTok. Her content quickly gained traction, especially her lesson on the differences in social behavior between Ireland and New York. She aims to correct America's stereotypical view of Ireland, focusing on the vibrant, modern aspects of her homeland. With her engaging content, she has attracted 150,000 followers in just six months, showcasing a newfound appreciation for the Irish language and culture among American audiences.
O'Callaghan said, ‘In Ireland, you'll make eye contact with the person you're passing and you'll say hello or nod to them. When I moved to New York, I found it extremely difficult to just continue looking at the floor. I felt so rude.’
Vivienne explained, ‘This is not a narrative that I want to continue. I want to tell people about Ireland and the Irish people because we're one of the most progressive and wealthiest countries in Europe.’
She remarked, ‘All Americans were like, 'I'm from Ireland.' They were 10%, 50%, 90% Irish, and no one was aware of the Irish language.’
O'Callaghan highlighted, ‘I just found this niche…the Irish language and culture, which Americans didn’t know existed, caught on like wildfire online.’
Collection
[
|
...
]