Earlier today, it was announced that we are officially brilliant, which is true, obviously. Real numbers back this up now, and no one can prove any differently.

A new survey has named our humble island as the best country in the world, and while we're flattered and all that, we knew it to be true ages ago, which is why we've been telling everyone how great we are for decades.

However, while they decided the official list on things like international peace and security or prosperity and equality, we have a few further suggestions for the things that are great about Ireland that will push us even further ahead.

The potato/Tayto

We’ll get the stereotype out of the way first by admitting that yes, we do really like the humble spud. Without it, where would we get our beloved Tayto crisps, which we used to invent the crisp sandwich? We definitely invented the crisp sandwich also.

Pic via Livedoor.blog.jp

Everyone knows everyone

They say it’s a small world, and when you’re in Ireland, that becomes particularly evident because everyone knows everyone. This is why your mother told you that if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. Sure you never know who’s listening, it could be yer man. Ah y’know yer man, what’s-his-name...

Complaining

You’ve never met a nation of complainers like the Irish. No matter what the topic, we can definitely find something to give out about and make sure that it’s known that we’re not happy. Basically, there’s always something wrong, except when we’re in a restaurant or getting a haircut. "Yeah it’s grand, thanks…"

The weather

Speaking of complaining, we really do love to talk about the weather, good or bad. If it's raining then we're miserable, if it's hot then it's too warm and we're still miserable, we're just sunburned at the same time. If it's just alright weather, then we talk about how it will probably rain again soon. However, there is one type of weather that we love more than any other and gets universal approval from all. It is a rare combination of sun and wind which occurs only in back gardens around the country, and it is known as "good drying weather". You can't beat it.

Cups of tea

If we’re not the number one tea drinkers on the planet, we’re pretty darn close, and there is no situation we can’t solve with a lovely cuppa. Maybe a biscuit too. Slapping on or throwing on (nobody simply turns on) the kettle is the answer to all problems or questions, except for "how much milk do you want?". Once we can scientifically quantify "just a drop" then we’ve solved everything, the Nobel Prize is in the bag.

Pic via Wikipedia

Slagging

Much of the communication in Ireland is done through the medium of slagging, which is a sign that we like you. You can be anything from a gobsh**e to an eejit, all of them are terms of endearment. Sure we're only messing anyway.

Punching above our weight

Whether on the sporting field or in international surveys about what the best country in the world is, Ireland manages to punch above its weight. We’ve produced Joyce and Yeats, Berkeley and Walton, O’Driscoll and the Keanes… you name the field and we’ve produced someone who made an impact on the world stage. We’re handy at fighting too, with athletes like Katie Taylor and Conor McGregor, so that helps us with the punching.

Pic via WENN

The GAA

Not many other countries in the world have their own sports that they can claim are so huge and so well participated in as Gaelic games. They’ve also got a tremendous history and one of the best stadiums in the world in Croke Park, which is why we can host so many Garth Brooks gigs.

Pic via WENN

Irish parents

They’re a rare breed, as we say, but sure where would we be without the Irish mammy or our aul fellas. They only ever speak to us in the form of questions ("what’s wrong with you?", "where are you off to?", "would you ever stop?"), but we wouldn’t swap them for the world.

There are a whole heap of other things that we're great at that we just haven't had time to list here today, but drop us your suggestions on the Twitter machine and the Facebook yoke. Ah go on...