I was out in Dublin just before last Christmas, at a gig, just after it, we were waiting for a taxi and an Irish female begger asked our group for money, a random woman we met said of course you can love and gave her money (very nice woman i thought from her reaction to the beggar), then my friend did as well, I think I actually did then because you would kind of feel like a prick if you don't and the people you are with gave her money.
Peer pressure.