You picked some terrific examples, Maxwell. Did you notice that the exterior paints, especially those applied to doors, also seemed thicker than US-manufactured paints? There's a term for the way a paint finally levels out, and the Irish paint application always struck me as thicker and ultimately smoother (i.e., no brush marks). [Note: I did not spend my entire time in Ireland watching paint dry - it simply was, as the above photos of color combinations emphasize, quite striking.]

This reminds me of the East Coast of Canada,where I'm from-there's something about living next to the sea in a climate that is usually wet and grey that makes people yearn for color-so sometimes anything goes!!and the brighter the better to stave off those long grey days!!I remember as a child going to small outport villages in Newfoundland where houses were pink, yello, lime green, turquoise-like jewels set in a silver grey setting....

i took this photo at the local amusment park - it's the platform for one of the rides. i really like tht colors and this post reminded me of it.

sorry here's the link if you want to check it out. the photo that is.

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=644065393&size=s

I live in a climate that's usually wet and grey (Seattle) and sadly we're still waiting to discover color. We're too natural; everyone wants their digs to look like a seed was planted and the building grew up out of dirt and compost.

I love that photo dphilly. I downloaded it. Can I print and frame it?

I agree that the use of these bright, frosty colors is absolutely related to the local climate, and more specifically, to the quality of light in a wet, grey, and often cold environment.

I'd theorize that these choices represent not so much a yearning for bright colors or any inherent senses of whimsy as they do the practical observation that duller color choices simply will not work--the light on an overcast day would kill subtler colors flat.

I'm sitting out in suburban Dublin right now and all I can see is Magnolia and under another gray sky it looks truly depressing. I hate what is in reality the favorite color of Irish people (my sister in law has it in every room of her home) its just boring and dull.

In trying for a return to the tradition of brighter color's when we opened our meal prep center here I choose a yellow and green (see link below) the builders thought I was crazy but the customers seem to be enjoying it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sbbsbb/863359611/

I agree with the Seattle writer- I'm in Vancouver where it rains 8 months out of the year, and everythink is painted brown, grey or white( which shows mildew really well!!!)They did a heritage restoration recently of some Victorian houses in the West end and everything is brown,Navy and Dark Burgandy-very depressing (and safe) colors-Why are people afraid of color!!!

Yep, the tyranny of Magnolia is alive and well in England too! And those net curtains! [shudder]

Dphilly, thank you for posting your photograph, too: the colors and textures are a delight.