What kind of cultural shock will foreigners encounter when coming to Ireland?

The Irish love small talk, but that’s no shocker. But in random situations, like waiting for the bus, a random stranger ends up with a short conversation multiple times like "Welcome to an immigrant," which is pretty shocking, but nonetheless In a pleasant way.

Of course, language. Dublin was what I was looking forward to but the villages and farms of Cork, oh my. I have had this experience:

The Irish accent we often hear in movies is similar to the Northern accent. In fact, there is no such thing as an Irish accent. Accents vary greatly from place to place, just like the Australian accent.

This is by far the biggest obstacle that foreigners have to overcome in order to adapt to a new environment. Shopping for groceries is one thing, but interacting with people requires more understanding than shopping. I suppose the ultimate test of communication is measured by the number of pints shared in the local pub, with the emphasis being on the local.

Opening Door Etiquette: It’s so confusing, everyone opens the door for everyone else and lets everyone else go through first, which sometimes leads to some ridiculous situations. I asked them about the specific rules and they couldn't tell. It's easy, but that's not what happens in reality.

Driving: This is a topic in itself. The Irish are very patient drivers, don't honk at slow drivers, easily give up their own priorities and let others pass (I suspect this has something to do with door etiquette), etc. On the other hand, it was not their custom to communicate their intentions via a three-track roundabout. But once you get off the main road, prepare for claustrophobia and cockfighting. The narrow roads are surrounded by rocks, bushes and forest walls, with low visibility making you feel restricted, and drivers in large SUVs won't even slow down when approaching you.

Children’s Taboo: Talking about children is a taboo. I've seen other answers mention families, well, not exactly, I was explicitly warned about kids. Yes, we do talk about kids, but only one-on-one. Once again I was explicitly warned to change the subject when another man approached.

Children everywhere: Now that I mention children, I’m reminded of the wonder. Much of what has been built over the past few decades has been designed to keep children safe. The house is surrounded by a wall with only one entrance and exit, no traffic, only neighbors. Plenty of green surfaces for the kids to play on, which they did. I have lived in many large cities (with a population of more than 1 million) and have seen many more. If there's one thing that makes Dublin stand out, it's the kids.

Anti-Catholic sentiment: In a traditionally Catholic country, this is quite surprising. But since scandals at various Catholic organizations have come to light and the church has tried to sweep them under the rug, many have expressed their displeasure through snarky jokes. Not often, but I've heard some really bad jokes, usually about pastors and kids. While you won't hear this in casual bus stop chat, you'll need to pass a taste test at your local bar first.

Storytelling Culture: Education is one thing, but storytelling is part of Irish culture. In the summer, for example, you might see children lining up next to a gypsy carriage in the park. They all waited patiently to hear a "Gypsy" story. In the winter, it was the "elves" who told them stories. You can see all kinds of entertainment activities in parks around the world, but storytelling activities are less common.