The world is home to several cultures, traditions, and languages. The world comprises 195 countries, all having different languages, cuisines, and lifestyles.
Key Takeaways
- Irish and Scottish are distinct cultural groups originating from Ireland and Scotland, each with history, traditions, and languages.
- Irish traditional music features instruments like the tin whistle, fiddle, and bodhrán, while Scottish traditional music includes the bagpipes, fiddle, and accordion.
- Irish and Scottish Gaelic languages belong to the Celtic language family, but they have evolved separately and are not mutually intelligible.
Irish vs Scottish
Irish is a term used to describe Ireland’s people, history, traditions, and heritage, as well as the Irish language and its cultural significance. Scottish refers to anything or anyone associated with Scotland. This includes the Scottish people, their culture, traditions, language, and history.

Irish people speak English and Irish (Gaeilge), which are also the official languages of the Republic of Ireland. The National currency is the Euro.
Scottish people speak Scottish Gaelic and English as their major languages. The National currency of Scotland is the Pound sterling.
Comparison Table
Parameters of Comparison | Irish | Scottish |
---|---|---|
Region | Irish are residents of Ireland. | Scottish are residents of Scotland. |
Geography | Ireland is located in Northwestern Europe on an Island. | Scotland is located in the Northern third of Great Britain. |
Language | The official language of Ireland is Irish Gaeilge. | The official language of Scotland is Scottish Gaelic. |
Cuisines | The cuisine here is developed upon the vegetation and plenty of seafood. | The cuisine found here is typical European cuisine. |
Currency | The Currency of Ireland is the Euro. | The currency of Scotland is the Pound sterling. |
Dance form | The major dances are Ceili dance, Irish stepdance, and Festival Irish dance. | The major dances are Highland dancing and Scottish country dance. |
Festivals | The Irish people celebrate festivals like Dublin Horse Festival, Kilkenny Arts Festival and others. | The most famous festival in Scotland is Hogmanay. |
What is Irish?
Irish is defined as the basis of everything in the country of Ireland. The language, people, the cultural practices of Ireland are all termed Irish.
Ireland has vast green and majestic mountains and is known to be one of the most attractive places on Earth. Most of the people of Ireland belong to the religion of Roman Catholicism.
The Economy of Ireland is flourishing and is majorly directed toward services in life sciences, technology, and agriculture.
Tourism in Ireland is one of the most contributing sectors to the Irish Economy, as almost 90 lakh people visit Ireland every year.

What is Scottish?
Scottish is defined as the basis of everything in the country of Scotland. ‘Scottish’ is used to refer to the inhabitants of Scotland, the language, and also the cultural practices of the Scottish people.
The lowlands of Scotland are majorly made up of Farms and Forests, while the mountains constitute a major portion of the Highlands.
Scotland is also a member of the G7, the G8, and the G20. Scotland is one of the industrial giants in Europe, having a GDP of $205 focussed on the service sector.
One of the interesting facts about Scotland is that it is the place from where the bagpipe, a well-known musical instrument, originated.

Main Differences Between Irish and Scottish
- Ireland is well known and famous all around the world for its beer and stews, while Scotland is famous for its haggis and Angus beef.
- Ireland is completely surrounded by the Celtic Sea, Irish Sea, and The Atlantic Sea, while Scotland shares its borders with England and is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean.
