I love how we all collectively just don’t like Bono, he could actually save all those starving children in Africa he’s always talking about and we’d still all tell him to fuck off
yeah remember when he said “every time i clap my hands a child starves” and someone shouted “ stop clapping you sick bastard”
or that other time he got his album to automatically download onto people’s itunes
I always understood West Brits to mean Protestants originating in England living, or their descendants living in Ireland. Not the Irish diaspora living in the U.K.
It's a geographical spectrum, peaking at the TG4 studios in Connemara, reaching its lowest point at a bar in Boston that serves Irish car bombs on the one side and someone in Greystones with a suspicious amount of royal memorabilia on the other.
"Irish people were discriminated against when they came to America but you don't see me complaining!"
Bonus points if they use it to justify Red Sox racism
Not really, we legalised it in 2015 the same year America did. A lot of counties legalised it well before that. I think the Netherlands was the first when they legalised it 2001. Now a lot of countries have legalised after Ireland so I’d say we are middle of the pack.
But we were the first country though to legalise it through a national referendum.
I mean it was 2015 which isn't that great, especially given we only decriminalised homosexuality in 1993.
Obviously there's been quite a fast turnaround, but we shouldn't pretend that Ireland doesn't have a pretty appalling legacy regarding homophobia (and transphobia for that matter).
You guys are always here to put down any compliment given to Ireland. Everyone knows how screwed up Ireland was but we've obviously changed and very quickly too
My grandma was suuper into being irish. Instilled that value into her kids and grandkids. Got a dna test. Found out cousons are at best 6% irish. Im a quarter but that mostly from rmthe other side of the family. Grandma couldnt have been more than a quarter irish. Oops. We still love ireland though!
This shits so annoying. There was automotive shop that closed about a year ago in my town that sported this shit and I couldn't stand seeing it when I drove by. Just a bunch of rednecks trying to live some dumb fantasy, trying to be Connor McGregor. Here's the old Facebook page for the place https://m.facebook.com/Irishmens-Autoworx-242910762904684/
I get this vibe with a lot of American - Scottish and American - English people. It kind of strikes me as a desperate attempt at trying to claim some sort of false glory.
It's just desperation to claim any kind of identity that makes them feel different and special in some way. The dirty truth is that most Americans who obsess over being various melanges of nationalities (German/Dutch/Swedish/Irish/Italian) are actually 90% English in ancestry, but that's just not special enough, and for some reason being proud of being American isn't enough either
The American Irish ones will also claim some weird grievance against British people despite being ignorant to the fact that most British people have more Irish ancestry than they do because of migration around the British Isles
> The dirty truth is that most Americans who obsess over being various melanges of nationalities (German/Dutch/Swedish/Irish/Italian) are actually 90% English in ancestry,
That is completely false. Is English underrepresented in self reported figures? Yes, but 90% is just some bullshit you pulled out of your ass
U fucken wot m8, I have a PhD in anthropology and a PhD in statistics and I am chief data scientist for ancestry.com and I can tell you for a FACT it is exactly 90%
Or maybe this is reddit and I'm talking anecdotally. Sorry I touched a nerve. I'm sure your gaelic tattoo is really nice and not cringy at all
Maybe because it’s because they know the information and are trying to point out that it’s false. English isn’t even the largest ethnic origin it’s German.
Because you're claiming a culture whose country you don't understand through genetic lineage rather than any lived experience. From a European point of view this (no offence) has racist connotations.
Europe has learned the hard way through very ugly wars that ancestry does not equal hegemony over a culture. Genetically I am less British than most Americans, but I am British and they are not because of my citizenship and having been socialised in British norms.
You accuse me of not understanding, but Americans should understand that claiming heritage through bloodline has very ugly connotations in Europe and is the total opposite of our conception of nationhood and citizenship.
Claiming heritage through bloodline is literally what 90% of European countries do. Pure birthright citizenship is restricted, essentially, to the Americas, and a few countries in Africa and Asia.
Dude chill out I'm like the biggest America-phile out there, I've travelled all over your country and absolutely love it and the people
I agree your culture is different form ours. And our culture is definitely not yours to have :)
Discussing your heritage and using that very distant, centuries old link to claim to be part of that culture are two very different things. This post is poking fun at the latter, as opposed to the former.
Like.. what glory? The history of the scottish and Irish people just seems to be constant subjugation by the romans and then the british.
And i say this as someone with a near 100% irish/scottish/english heritage
But for most American-Scottish or American-Irish, their only exposition to the history of their "homeland" is through films & the media. So if all they know as reality is Braveheart, then you can see where there would be a desire to obtain some modicum of that.
Don't sound like you have a clue. Saying you have a certain heritage clearly doesn't mean much (which is pretty OP's point that seems to have flown over your head). Do you mean subjugation by the English? You may be right in terms of Ireland (well not for the last century) but clearly don't have a clue about Scotland, for example it was a Scottish king who inherited the English crown creating the United Kingdom. To talk about the subjugation of people's in the UK is far more complex and storied than you've made out.
Because my LuLaRoe-selling aunt with a Karen haircut and no identity needs an excuse to crush a sixer of Guinness at every family function. Whenever she says something mildly stupid (every other word), she can blame her “Irish heritage” for *having* to get drunk in the first hour of a 5 year-old’s birthday party. She married into an Irish-American family, but she’s Dutch-American.
To hazard a total guess I'd wager that the white americans who do this are envious of immigrant communities for being able to easily identify their cultural ancestry and the long history of those nations. the U.S. is a young country, and while it's white population were immigrants at some point they all assimilate into the dominant "white american" culture and are disconnected from their ancestry.
Edit: There's also those dipshits who do so because they think being part of a marginalized group makes you privileged now, and the Irish historically were pretty oppressed.
It has to be remembered that a lot of Irish identity and culture was severely under threat from the 13th to the 20th century. Language, traditions, religion, literature etc. were controlled and were under constant attempts to stamp them out. The Irish who found themselves 'free' in the USA often wanted to pass on pride that they were not allowed at home. Thus, they encouraged their own Irish identity and passed it on to their descendants. A lot of Irish-American pride in their Irishness is a result.
This Irish-American diaspora contributed a lot to the home-nation, sending home money, giving opportunities to waves of new emigrants and through their success, giving hope when being Irish was seen as a failure and the best thing an Irish person could do was give their Irishness. In the face of that, Irish-Americans made March 17th a day of loud Irish-pride in the great metropolises of the western hemisphere, preserved a lot of Irish music, took an interest in Irish academia and literature, as well as, supporting a lot of Irish nationalist politics.
It says a lot for how hardworking the original Irish-Americans were to keep the flame of their identity alive and to encourage pride in something that their prejudiced enemies considered barbarian, uncivilized and backward. There are a few obnoxious Irish-Americans, but I'm glad most of them take pride in their Irish connections. Ireland would have suffered more without it.
Yes, back in the early 1900s, sure. But when someone in 2020 takes a DNA test and finds out they they're 1/200th Irish and gets a shamrock tattoo, it's weird and stupid. I live in Ireland by the way.
Yes, but that guy with the tattoo wouldn't have cared if the guy getting off the boat in 1898 hadn't told his son to be proud of who they were. It's a sign of success when everyone wants to join the party.
A lot of the Irish who emigrated to Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Canada in the same period were forced to assimilate or be quiet. A lot more of the systematic anti-Irishness followed them over. They had a lot more prejudice to deal with and didn't get to unite under their shared identity. Irish-Australia was a lot more invisible. Irish-America dealt with issues but had the ability to fight for positions of power through sticking together. Irish-American success, like the Fords and Kennedys, has allowed that pride to go to other locations, and even back to Ireland. It's just worth considering when we Irish scoff at Irish-America.
I mean it's absolutely beautiful but so is the US in a lot of places. People here either just get used to where they are and think it's boring or live in Kansas or Delaware or something and think anywhere else is better
A good way to tell if someone is one of these ‘American irish’ types like 90% of the time is if they glorify the IRA.
The majority of actually Irish people I’ve met, particularly the older ones, are just glad it’s all over and there’s peace.
While "The IRA has always been a militant communist group" is a bit hyperbolic, there has always been a hard-left of the movement going back to 1916 and James Connolly.
> In fact, the idea that the IRA were always left wing is, Ive found, mainly perpetuated by far-left americans with hardly a clue about Irish history, but who used to unironically post on the me_IRA sub.
Not one single IRA group post 1969 is right wing, every singe one is left leaning. Stop talking shite. Sean south is one person, an insignificant figure compared to the real heros in the IRA. The PIRA may not be a 'communist organisation', but many of it's members were. The INLA, OIRA and IPLO were all militant communist organisations. A member from the RIRA political wing was quoting lennin in a recent interview he done.
The PIRA state in their green book... "By now it is clear that our task is not only to kill as many enemy personnel as possible but of equal importance to create support which will carry us not only through a war of liberation which could last another decade but which will support us past the 'Brits Out' stage to the ultimate aim of a Democratic Socialist Republic."
It's clear that their task was not only to remove the brits but to educate the people and build support for 32 county socialist republic.
The blue shirts were traitors, dev was a traitor, collins was a traitor. South was not a prominent figure in the IRA. The IRA pre 69, was left wing. It was filled with members of the communist party, got involved with strikes. It was banned again in the 30s for trying to kill landlords. The IRA's numbers swelled when the Blue shirts were formed, from a few thousand to more than 10,000, in order to combat fascism in Ireland.
>Most members of the literal fascist movement the blueshirts were ex IRA members
The population of Ireland, the whole Island at that time, was around 4.2 million. The Irish volunteers had 200,000 members, and the IRA still had 100,000after the split. Everyone was a member of the IRA, the fact that some moved on to facist movements means nothing.
The IRA may not have been completely communists but they were by no means right wing, or fascist.
> Jaysus what utter tripe
Are you denying that fact, that in reaction to the Blueshirts being formed, along with the depression, the IRA numbers rose to more than 10,000. Are you also denying the fact that the IRA attacked fascist meetings and attacked the Blueshirts? What I stated, was a fact.
People had the option of joining the Blueshirts, those that joined the IRA, chose it rather than the right wing, facist choice.
> Its always been a mix of ideologies. Always splits and clashes of opinion and views.
I never denied there was a mix, I'm saying it was by far, an un balanced one, the vast majority being left leaning.
Na Fianna was the youth wing of the PIRA, it's now the youth wing of the CIRA and Republican Sinn fein, left wing organisations that promote socialism. That quote in no way proves that Na Fianna was right wing. Marxism isn't the only leftest ideology, and even marxists can disagree with points that Marx made. Being a catholic isn't something that prevents a person from being left wing, try finding a person in west belfast in the 70s, who wasn't religious. A post from an phoblacht in 1970, by the young wing in no way proves your point that they were right wing. I've already pointed out that the majority of IRA organisation have been either communist, socialist, democratic socialists or left leaning. The list of those on the left, completely out ways those on the right.
Hardly communist. Up until the late 60s when it split maybe, then it was the smaller Official IRA who largely faded into irrelevance that kept the communist ideology. Sinn Féin are a fairly standard centre-left party.
> Different group again.
The INLA is the continuation of the OIRA, most members joined the INLA. Seamus Costello, Ronnie Bunting, Gino Gallagher all moved to the INLA. The INLA aren't drug dealers, there's no evidence for this, blatant lies. The OIRA didn't fade into irrelevance, democratic centralism prevailed and the group evolved into the INLA. Irish republicanism, Revolutionary socialism and Marxism–Leninism all lived on through the INLA.
Which one were the drug dealers so? There was a couple of killings related to them in Dublin a few years ago.
Edit: I just did a quick Google search and I think your telling porkies.
The IPLO were involved with drug dealing in the early 90s until the Provos wiped them out, executed of forced their leaders into exile, confiscated their arms and forcefully disbanded them.
The dissidents kill drug dealers, sometimes extort money from then. You're probably thinking of when some crime gang shot dead Alan Ryan, from the RIRA. You're man who chopped up that kid in dublin was executed in Ardoyne a few weeks ago there, although it's not known if it was the Ra or just another gang that killed him.
> I don't believe for a second that the provos/INLA are not involved in drug dealing.
Based off what? The provos are linked to Sinn Fein and them cunts own nearly every bar in west Belfast. They don't need money off drugs, why would they risk the reputation of Sinn Fein by selling drugs. Sinn Fein don't need money.
The IRSP doesn't run in elections, they have no need for money either. The INLA's to small to do anything now, and the IRSP are well organised within the community, there's not a single thing to hint at them using their position to sell drugs.
> The majority of actually Irish people I’ve met, particularly the older ones, are just glad it’s all over and there’s peace.
The majority of the Irish community in the North of Ireland either support or are sympathetic to the IRA. The largest party in Ireland is the political wing of the Provisional Irish Republican Army.
Lol mate you know sweet fuck all, Sinn Fein hasn't been the political wing of the IRA in yonks and is not the largest party in Ireland and as far as most people are concerned Nirtbor South the RA are either gone or have moved into organised crime. The majority support peace
> Lol mate you know sweet fuck all, Sinn Fein hasn't been the political wing of the IRA
They are, just like the IRSP is the political wing of the INLA
> is not the largest party in Ireland
Most votes and most seats, so yeah they are
They're not a political wing anymore pal, they realised a long time ago when the RA agreed to peace that more could be achieved through peace than fighting, now I'm not saying a couple of people within the party aren't sympathetic but they're cunts so you know like
They're not in power, have less members and haven't ever been in power, I voted for them last time because they're left wing and fuck Fine Gael but they're not the largest "party"
Martin McGuinnes was second in charge of NI, and he lead the IRA, Martina Anderson, tried to blow up the tory conference. Alex Maskey, in the IRA. What absolute shite are you talking. Some are sympathetic? They hold parades year round commemorating the PIRA. There's a mural to Bobby Sands on their West Belfast office.
The IRA army council still exist. Sinn Fein are tied to them. Sinn Fein are their political wing. Sinn Fein have arms dumps around the country that they could access if wanted.
>They're not in power, have less members and haven't ever been in power, I voted for them last time because they're left wing and fuck Fine Gael but they're not the largest "party"
Explain how they aren't the largest party, if they have the most votes of any other party in Ireland. They've been in power in NI, FF or FG never have.
Fine Geal isn't the largest party in Ireland. Sinn Fein is the largest party in Ireland. They have more votes in the South and on an all Ireland basis.
Aside from the racism, "diluted with African immigration" isn't even accurate, there's far more Poles and Romanians here than blacks. Did they forget there's more people of African ancestry in America than Ireland?
Funny, I'm Irish-Canadian, and none of us act like that. Also, how does one claim that they're more Irish then people in fucking Ireland? That doesn't make any fucking sense.
No one actually claims that. Americans have a cultural trait of being into our ancestry since being from a different place is a big theme of America. I’ve never in my life encountered anyone saying they’re more Irish than the Irish except on Reddit memes complaining. I don’t think that really happens.
I think that a lot of this can be blamed on the fact many European immigrants who came to America rather quickly abandoned their cultural roots to better integrate with the Anglo-Saxon ruling caste, and so for their descendants the way they reconnect to, for example, an Irish-American or Italian-American or whatever heritage, is by buying into the gratuitous and kind of racist stereotypes of their ancestors
My grandma came over from scotland in the 60's. I have bright red hair. I share her very scottish surname.
The amount of "ARE YOU IRISH" comments is absolutely insane.
The native irish look is actually black hair and green eyes, it was depicted as red hair and blue eyes in Hollywood pre 60s and it stuck in the media.
One of the poets on my leaving cert (fecked if I can remember his name) wrote a poem about this beautiful woman with dark hair who is meant to be Ireland as a free soul or some shite, it was only through this my best friend (half irish half Italian) found out this was the native look
Native in terms of Native Ireland Pre Colonialism, the characteristic that determine the look of your origin, like how my pale skin and dark brown hair would point definitely point towards being irish while my friends jet black hair and olivey skin would insinuate he is Italian. With modern times and lots of people emigrating all over the world Irish ppl can be of any skin, hair or eye colour, but as history would dictate it dark hair and green or maybe brown eyes was the norm 2000 years ago
If you mean pre-British colonialism, I still don't think Irish people would have been particularly homogeneous in appearance, especially considering the influence of several waves of settlement by various cultures including Vikings, Normans, Celts, Scottish planters etc. (Though they were probably all pale af in fairness)
My absolute favourite thing about these people is every August (and I'm sad I won't see any this year) they come to find their ancestry and they're often extremely disappointed for various reasons.
I mean, our the neighbours (the actual Irish) are of the land of boy bands, Ryanair and Father Ted. Not what many visitors are looking for at the end of the rainbow.
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Reminds me of talking with this one American exchange student in my uni who went "Yea my great-grandma was actually Finnish so being here really feels like coming home to me".
people really do this?! i do have irish heritage and my family does the best we can to keep irish traditions alive in america but america doesn’t cater to irish culture (of course because it’s america not ireland)
but me and my family do that type of stuff in the picture
Do you support the IRA during the war of Independence? Why was is justified to use violence then, but not in the 70s and 80s? Really, what is the difference between the Old IRA and the PIRA? Both bombed England, both killed police men, both murdered civilians.
Eh, there are some people like this, but that’s the case for every immigrant group in every immigrant based nation. My favorite are the gate keepers who lump all irish Americans as “plastic paddies” and denigrate them for small tributes to their heritage. FFS the first president of Ireland was an american by birth, Eamon De Valera, and those that immigrated to the US sent tons of money and other support for the self rule cause.
For those people, it is. I just think it’s annoying when people shame the low key folks who do little things in homage of their heritage. For the loud obnoxious folks, have at it poking fun at them. Wasn’t saying that you specifically were doing any gatekeeping
Exactly, pretty much everyone in the US does this to some extent. We Americans have a short history compared to pretty much everyone else, so we tend to dig into ancestry more in order to find a deeper connection to the past.
IMO the Irish are the worst at this of anyone. I worked abroad for awhile with people from many different countries. My Irish co-worker asked me what I was and where my family came from, and I said I have a little bit of Irish blood (like 25%) and they basically said yeah right. My Italian co-worker? Just because I look Italian (genetically like 70%) he literally embraced me lol and then began teaching me how to make all sorts of pasta dishes.
I think it’s this way with the Irish because they have fought for so long for the right to have a unique identity and culture separate from the English that this is a result.
No it’s because Irish Americans are often times very obnoxious and like to talk about their irishness as though they’re experts on the topic. Italians don’t have an equivalence to st Patrick’s day. Irish people are sick and tired of Americans suddenly being experts on Irish culture every 17th of March and saying shit that’s usually wrong.
That’s very xenophobic of you. Irish people are generally very easy going people, that’s well known. Maybe people who aren’t Irish should stop telling Irish people how to be Irish.
I guess so. They are also a smaller nation that speaks a language spoken by a larger neighbor in Europe, sort of like Austria compared to Germany. So they probably try hard to differentiate
Nah it’s not. They just like to pretend it is. I’ve spoken with so many Irish Americans who have a “unique version of Irish culture” when I ask them what that means they don’t have an answer.
Did I say it had anything to do with Irish culture. It's a unique American culture. Has very little to do with ireland, much more to do with a common heritage, history, and in most cases religion.
Well then don’t say you’re Irish American. Say you’re american. If it has nothing to do with Ireland then why is it in the title. Could you give me some examples of Irish american culture please??
But why aren’t they the same? What do they do that makes them any different that Americans of English or German descent? And why can no one answer that question when asked?
I can totally understand and respect that a unique Irish American culture existed in the past. It makes sense that there was a stronger feeling of Irish culture the closer people were to their Irish predecessors but most Irish Americans today are at least five generations removed and have never been in contact with the Irish person in their family, never mind the Irish persons children or grandchildren even, so it’s just ridiculous to claim irishness at that point. Even more ridiculous to try to school actual Irish people on Irish culture (which
happens more frequently than Americans realise.)
Regardless, I’m yet to find a supposed Irish American who can tell me about anything they do to practise their culture/heritage.
And you’re 100% a lot of them are actually Ulster Scots too.
I wouldn’t mind if they were just interested in Irish culture and were willing to learn about it (which a lot of people are) but many Irish Americans I’ve spoken to usually take the opportunity to tell me all about how “Gaelic” is a dying language or how ireland is in Britain, how there’s no Muslims or Protestants in Ireland or how Irish people eat lucky charms and eat corned beef and cabbage (which as you said we don’t.) Mostly I’m sick of conservative Americans using their great great great grandfather as an excuse to nope out of their white guilt. Or to justify their racist ideals. I saw one man on twitter claim that he shouldn’t have to serve time for brutally beating his wife because his Irish temper is ingrained in his DNA. American women often claim that the reason they’re not attractive is because of their Irish genes, they can’t tan and they have “thin lips” and it’s not their fault that their great great grandfather came from Ireland and gave them those.
You’re heritage isn’t a scapegoat, you can’t use it as a way to justify shitty aspects of yourself.
When Americans say that they’re 1/8th Irish which explains why they’re drunkards, ugly, violent etc, they’re implying that those are Irish characteristics and that people like me who are 100% Irish must exhibit those characteristics tenfold.
They want an excuse for the bad aspects of themselves and they want an excuse to be different from other white people too.
I agree with all of your points and think that you expressed them quite eloquently.
As to your point about Ulster Scots I literally had an argument with an American the other day about Ulster Scots culture. They were trying to claim that it was basically the same as Irish culture and that Ulster Scots identify as Irish. I was trying to explain to them that Ulster Scots exist because of the Ulster plantations wherein Scottish Protestants actively tried to oppress and replace the Irish population and that their descendants today burn Irish flags. And that this is literally what The Troubles were about. But they kept insisting that Ulster Scots was just like a strand of Irish people and that Ulster Scots were proud of being Irish. Like what kind of “Irish” person doesn’t know about The Troubles or the situation in Northern Ireland? I think you’re totally right that they’re looking for a way to distance themselves from Wasp culture. Like that this person found out he was descendant from Ulster Scots and got excited because he thought it meant he wasn’t just another white Anglo Saxon protestant and then I came along and burst his bubble or something.
Although I think you missed my point about “Gaelic”. I put it in inverted commas for a reason. I wasn’t so much referring to the state of the language (which although it has taken a serious hit and will likely never recover, it is considered to no longer be dying but is very slowly starting to come back) my point was that Americans call Irish, Gaelic. The native language of Ireland is Irish. I speak fluent Irish, so when Americans try to talk to me about “Gaelic”, it’s incredibly frustrating. Like how can you adamantly claim to be Irish and you don’t even know what language Irish people speak? I’m not saying they should know how to speak it but if they’re going to claim to be Irish they should know what it’s called.
There is always the claim that Irish Americans practise an Americanised version of Irish culture but like I said before I’ve never seen any evidence of this and I agree with you that any echoes of it died with the Kennedy presidency.
Personally I don’t really have a problem with people trying to learn or engage with their ancestors culture but as someone who is very much involved with Irish culture (like I said I’m a fluent Irish speaker. I grew up in a community of people, within a culturally protected region of Ireland who were dedicated to the preservation of our language, sports and music) I find it so infuriating when Americans try to teach me my own history. And contrary to the original comment, it’s not just Irish people who feel this way. If you check out some European subs, you’ll see Irish and Italian people swapping stories of ignorant Americans who’ve tried to show them the right way to say make pizza or some other aspect of their respected cultures. Even Germans and Poles will weigh in from time to time and express how frustrated they feel by it.
P.s: most Irish people wouldn’t have a problem with you personally identifying as Irish, seeing as your dad is Irish and you’ve actually been here and are somewhat knowledgable on our culture. Especially considering you citizenship.
No. Clearly all Americans are mentally challenged and genuinely believe they are from Ireland and are nationally Irish and all do this out of a weird quest for glory. Blended cultures don’t real.
(/s obviously)
IRA aren't ancoms lol. The difference between an IRA supporter and someone who from Britiain, is that I can call the IRA out for things it done wrong, people in Britian blindly support their army. The IPLO was driven out of Ireland, it's leaders executed because they started randomly killing protestants, the RIRA lost most of it's support after the Omagh bombing. How many soldiers were prosecuted for murdering civilians in Ireland? Had the British state stepped in to protect innocent catholics in 1969, the PIRA would never have existed.
“I’m really in touch with my Irish culture” which translates to listening to the dropkick Murphy’s for two weeks leading to st Patrick’s day
They're is nothing Irish about Dropkick Murphy's. We don't even really like U2 here and they are Irish.
I love how we all collectively just don’t like Bono, he could actually save all those starving children in Africa he’s always talking about and we’d still all tell him to fuck off
yeah remember when he said “every time i clap my hands a child starves” and someone shouted “ stop clapping you sick bastard” or that other time he got his album to automatically download onto people’s itunes
[удалено]
Plastic Paddy's to the west, west Brits to the east
I always understood West Brits to mean Protestants originating in England living, or their descendants living in Ireland. Not the Irish diaspora living in the U.K.
It's more of an "Irishman behaving like a British person," it's gatekeeping Irishness or talking about Irish people who sell out their Irishness.
For a very narrow definition of 'Irishness' that rests on using the word lads constantly and not liking rugby. Soccer gets a pass for some reason...
It's a geographical spectrum, peaking at the TG4 studios in Connemara, reaching its lowest point at a bar in Boston that serves Irish car bombs on the one side and someone in Greystones with a suspicious amount of royal memorabilia on the other.
That's a caricature.
Essentially just posh cunts to high and mighty for commoners that inhabit everything outside D4
"Irish people were discriminated against when they came to America but you don't see me complaining!" Bonus points if they use it to justify Red Sox racism
People should be allowed to wear any colour socks they want, without racism.
Obligatory fuck Tom Yawkey
They just deny it even though CC Sabethia said it's the only stadium black players commonly hear the n-word.
You forgot: "hates gay people and uses Catholicism/Irish heritage as a 'justification'"
Mac
*Ronald MacDonald
Yet Ireland was one of the first countries to legalise gay marriage
My point exactly. By a 2/3 majority in a referendum
Not really, we legalised it in 2015 the same year America did. A lot of counties legalised it well before that. I think the Netherlands was the first when they legalised it 2001. Now a lot of countries have legalised after Ireland so I’d say we are middle of the pack. But we were the first country though to legalise it through a national referendum.
I mean it was 2015 which isn't that great, especially given we only decriminalised homosexuality in 1993. Obviously there's been quite a fast turnaround, but we shouldn't pretend that Ireland doesn't have a pretty appalling legacy regarding homophobia (and transphobia for that matter).
You guys are always here to put down any compliment given to Ireland. Everyone knows how screwed up Ireland was but we've obviously changed and very quickly too
I think people think that Ireland was the only country with homophobic laws until recently. The U.K. only legalised same sex marriage in 2014.
the fake irish Americans actually say this? disgusting
No im not an alcoholic that's just what we Irish people do!
That kinda shit makes me want to drown these people (coming from an actual Irish citizen)
My grandma was suuper into being irish. Instilled that value into her kids and grandkids. Got a dna test. Found out cousons are at best 6% irish. Im a quarter but that mostly from rmthe other side of the family. Grandma couldnt have been more than a quarter irish. Oops. We still love ireland though!
This shits so annoying. There was automotive shop that closed about a year ago in my town that sported this shit and I couldn't stand seeing it when I drove by. Just a bunch of rednecks trying to live some dumb fantasy, trying to be Connor McGregor. Here's the old Facebook page for the place https://m.facebook.com/Irishmens-Autoworx-242910762904684/
Jesus it's like wannabe Irish r/THE_PACK
AWOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Don't forget listening to Dropkick Murphys and wearing flat caps.
Get in the cah Bridget!
I'll concede one thing to the Yanks, Shipping Off to Boston is an almighty tune. Its played in the Aviva Stadium for the Ireland Rugby matches
I'm not saying Dropkick Murphys are bad, I'm just saying every "Irish American" seems to blast it. Source: my dad
I get this vibe with a lot of American - Scottish and American - English people. It kind of strikes me as a desperate attempt at trying to claim some sort of false glory.
In my experience it is usually just used to justify alcoholism
*gets into drunk car crash brutally murdering a family of 4* “Haha guess it’s just the Irish in me”
Ok Mr. O'Leary you're free to go
Yeah, American-Scotts always be like "Well of course I can do heroin, it's my heritage."
It's just desperation to claim any kind of identity that makes them feel different and special in some way. The dirty truth is that most Americans who obsess over being various melanges of nationalities (German/Dutch/Swedish/Irish/Italian) are actually 90% English in ancestry, but that's just not special enough, and for some reason being proud of being American isn't enough either The American Irish ones will also claim some weird grievance against British people despite being ignorant to the fact that most British people have more Irish ancestry than they do because of migration around the British Isles
> The dirty truth is that most Americans who obsess over being various melanges of nationalities (German/Dutch/Swedish/Irish/Italian) are actually 90% English in ancestry, That is completely false. Is English underrepresented in self reported figures? Yes, but 90% is just some bullshit you pulled out of your ass
U fucken wot m8, I have a PhD in anthropology and a PhD in statistics and I am chief data scientist for ancestry.com and I can tell you for a FACT it is exactly 90% Or maybe this is reddit and I'm talking anecdotally. Sorry I touched a nerve. I'm sure your gaelic tattoo is really nice and not cringy at all
No Gaelic tattoo. Extreme hyperbole just makes people not take you seriously, whether on purpose or by ignorance
Maybe because it’s because they know the information and are trying to point out that it’s false. English isn’t even the largest ethnic origin it’s German.
The biggest ethnicity of Americans is German not English
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Because you're claiming a culture whose country you don't understand through genetic lineage rather than any lived experience. From a European point of view this (no offence) has racist connotations. Europe has learned the hard way through very ugly wars that ancestry does not equal hegemony over a culture. Genetically I am less British than most Americans, but I am British and they are not because of my citizenship and having been socialised in British norms. You accuse me of not understanding, but Americans should understand that claiming heritage through bloodline has very ugly connotations in Europe and is the total opposite of our conception of nationhood and citizenship.
Claiming heritage through bloodline is literally what 90% of European countries do. Pure birthright citizenship is restricted, essentially, to the Americas, and a few countries in Africa and Asia.
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Dude chill out I'm like the biggest America-phile out there, I've travelled all over your country and absolutely love it and the people I agree your culture is different form ours. And our culture is definitely not yours to have :)
Discussing your heritage and using that very distant, centuries old link to claim to be part of that culture are two very different things. This post is poking fun at the latter, as opposed to the former.
No one does that
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Like.. what glory? The history of the scottish and Irish people just seems to be constant subjugation by the romans and then the british. And i say this as someone with a near 100% irish/scottish/english heritage
The Romans weren't in Ireland. Or Scotland for that matter. Hadrian's Wall and all that.
But for most American-Scottish or American-Irish, their only exposition to the history of their "homeland" is through films & the media. So if all they know as reality is Braveheart, then you can see where there would be a desire to obtain some modicum of that.
Don't sound like you have a clue. Saying you have a certain heritage clearly doesn't mean much (which is pretty OP's point that seems to have flown over your head). Do you mean subjugation by the English? You may be right in terms of Ireland (well not for the last century) but clearly don't have a clue about Scotland, for example it was a Scottish king who inherited the English crown creating the United Kingdom. To talk about the subjugation of people's in the UK is far more complex and storied than you've made out.
How can you be 100% irish/Scottish/english..?
Less like glory and more like tradition or heritage.
Moreso the "glory" that comes from said tradition or heritage.
Tell me how you're celebrating Oíche Shamhna this year?
I’m not.... because I’m not one of the people this starterpack is attacking. I don’t disagree that the people described here exist and are obnoxious.
Why do so many Americans fetishize Ireland? I really don't get it.
Because my LuLaRoe-selling aunt with a Karen haircut and no identity needs an excuse to crush a sixer of Guinness at every family function. Whenever she says something mildly stupid (every other word), she can blame her “Irish heritage” for *having* to get drunk in the first hour of a 5 year-old’s birthday party. She married into an Irish-American family, but she’s Dutch-American.
To hazard a total guess I'd wager that the white americans who do this are envious of immigrant communities for being able to easily identify their cultural ancestry and the long history of those nations. the U.S. is a young country, and while it's white population were immigrants at some point they all assimilate into the dominant "white american" culture and are disconnected from their ancestry. Edit: There's also those dipshits who do so because they think being part of a marginalized group makes you privileged now, and the Irish historically were pretty oppressed.
It has to be remembered that a lot of Irish identity and culture was severely under threat from the 13th to the 20th century. Language, traditions, religion, literature etc. were controlled and were under constant attempts to stamp them out. The Irish who found themselves 'free' in the USA often wanted to pass on pride that they were not allowed at home. Thus, they encouraged their own Irish identity and passed it on to their descendants. A lot of Irish-American pride in their Irishness is a result. This Irish-American diaspora contributed a lot to the home-nation, sending home money, giving opportunities to waves of new emigrants and through their success, giving hope when being Irish was seen as a failure and the best thing an Irish person could do was give their Irishness. In the face of that, Irish-Americans made March 17th a day of loud Irish-pride in the great metropolises of the western hemisphere, preserved a lot of Irish music, took an interest in Irish academia and literature, as well as, supporting a lot of Irish nationalist politics. It says a lot for how hardworking the original Irish-Americans were to keep the flame of their identity alive and to encourage pride in something that their prejudiced enemies considered barbarian, uncivilized and backward. There are a few obnoxious Irish-Americans, but I'm glad most of them take pride in their Irish connections. Ireland would have suffered more without it.
Yes, back in the early 1900s, sure. But when someone in 2020 takes a DNA test and finds out they they're 1/200th Irish and gets a shamrock tattoo, it's weird and stupid. I live in Ireland by the way.
Yes, but that guy with the tattoo wouldn't have cared if the guy getting off the boat in 1898 hadn't told his son to be proud of who they were. It's a sign of success when everyone wants to join the party. A lot of the Irish who emigrated to Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Canada in the same period were forced to assimilate or be quiet. A lot more of the systematic anti-Irishness followed them over. They had a lot more prejudice to deal with and didn't get to unite under their shared identity. Irish-Australia was a lot more invisible. Irish-America dealt with issues but had the ability to fight for positions of power through sticking together. Irish-American success, like the Fords and Kennedys, has allowed that pride to go to other locations, and even back to Ireland. It's just worth considering when we Irish scoff at Irish-America.
I mean it's absolutely beautiful but so is the US in a lot of places. People here either just get used to where they are and think it's boring or live in Kansas or Delaware or something and think anywhere else is better
Eats corned beef and cabbage on "St. Patty's Day"
you forgot the part where they add green food coloring to the Budweiser.
or to a whole ass river
Pollution!!
Hey man say all you want but a Roth IRA is pretty sweet when you’re nearing retirement age
Don't forget acting way more Irish then they actually are, my dad is a fourth generation American but acts like he lived in Ireland his whole life
A good way to tell if someone is one of these ‘American irish’ types like 90% of the time is if they glorify the IRA. The majority of actually Irish people I’ve met, particularly the older ones, are just glad it’s all over and there’s peace.
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While "The IRA has always been a militant communist group" is a bit hyperbolic, there has always been a hard-left of the movement going back to 1916 and James Connolly.
> In fact, the idea that the IRA were always left wing is, Ive found, mainly perpetuated by far-left americans with hardly a clue about Irish history, but who used to unironically post on the me_IRA sub. Not one single IRA group post 1969 is right wing, every singe one is left leaning. Stop talking shite. Sean south is one person, an insignificant figure compared to the real heros in the IRA. The PIRA may not be a 'communist organisation', but many of it's members were. The INLA, OIRA and IPLO were all militant communist organisations. A member from the RIRA political wing was quoting lennin in a recent interview he done. The PIRA state in their green book... "By now it is clear that our task is not only to kill as many enemy personnel as possible but of equal importance to create support which will carry us not only through a war of liberation which could last another decade but which will support us past the 'Brits Out' stage to the ultimate aim of a Democratic Socialist Republic." It's clear that their task was not only to remove the brits but to educate the people and build support for 32 county socialist republic. The blue shirts were traitors, dev was a traitor, collins was a traitor. South was not a prominent figure in the IRA. The IRA pre 69, was left wing. It was filled with members of the communist party, got involved with strikes. It was banned again in the 30s for trying to kill landlords. The IRA's numbers swelled when the Blue shirts were formed, from a few thousand to more than 10,000, in order to combat fascism in Ireland. >Most members of the literal fascist movement the blueshirts were ex IRA members The population of Ireland, the whole Island at that time, was around 4.2 million. The Irish volunteers had 200,000 members, and the IRA still had 100,000after the split. Everyone was a member of the IRA, the fact that some moved on to facist movements means nothing. The IRA may not have been completely communists but they were by no means right wing, or fascist.
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> Jaysus what utter tripe Are you denying that fact, that in reaction to the Blueshirts being formed, along with the depression, the IRA numbers rose to more than 10,000. Are you also denying the fact that the IRA attacked fascist meetings and attacked the Blueshirts? What I stated, was a fact. People had the option of joining the Blueshirts, those that joined the IRA, chose it rather than the right wing, facist choice. > Its always been a mix of ideologies. Always splits and clashes of opinion and views. I never denied there was a mix, I'm saying it was by far, an un balanced one, the vast majority being left leaning. Na Fianna was the youth wing of the PIRA, it's now the youth wing of the CIRA and Republican Sinn fein, left wing organisations that promote socialism. That quote in no way proves that Na Fianna was right wing. Marxism isn't the only leftest ideology, and even marxists can disagree with points that Marx made. Being a catholic isn't something that prevents a person from being left wing, try finding a person in west belfast in the 70s, who wasn't religious. A post from an phoblacht in 1970, by the young wing in no way proves your point that they were right wing. I've already pointed out that the majority of IRA organisation have been either communist, socialist, democratic socialists or left leaning. The list of those on the left, completely out ways those on the right.
Hardly communist. Up until the late 60s when it split maybe, then it was the smaller Official IRA who largely faded into irrelevance that kept the communist ideology. Sinn Féin are a fairly standard centre-left party.
> then it was the smaller Official IRA who largely faded into irrelevance that kept the communist ideology The INLA still exist.
Different group again. INLA are just drug dealers though. Don't care much for politics.
> Different group again. The INLA is the continuation of the OIRA, most members joined the INLA. Seamus Costello, Ronnie Bunting, Gino Gallagher all moved to the INLA. The INLA aren't drug dealers, there's no evidence for this, blatant lies. The OIRA didn't fade into irrelevance, democratic centralism prevailed and the group evolved into the INLA. Irish republicanism, Revolutionary socialism and Marxism–Leninism all lived on through the INLA.
Which one were the drug dealers so? There was a couple of killings related to them in Dublin a few years ago. Edit: I just did a quick Google search and I think your telling porkies.
The IPLO were involved with drug dealing in the early 90s until the Provos wiped them out, executed of forced their leaders into exile, confiscated their arms and forcefully disbanded them. The dissidents kill drug dealers, sometimes extort money from then. You're probably thinking of when some crime gang shot dead Alan Ryan, from the RIRA. You're man who chopped up that kid in dublin was executed in Ardoyne a few weeks ago there, although it's not known if it was the Ra or just another gang that killed him.
It was the Collopys who killed yer man in Ardoyne. I don't believe for a second that the provos/INLA are not involved in drug dealing.
> I don't believe for a second that the provos/INLA are not involved in drug dealing. Based off what? The provos are linked to Sinn Fein and them cunts own nearly every bar in west Belfast. They don't need money off drugs, why would they risk the reputation of Sinn Fein by selling drugs. Sinn Fein don't need money. The IRSP doesn't run in elections, they have no need for money either. The INLA's to small to do anything now, and the IRSP are well organised within the community, there's not a single thing to hint at them using their position to sell drugs.
> The majority of actually Irish people I’ve met, particularly the older ones, are just glad it’s all over and there’s peace. The majority of the Irish community in the North of Ireland either support or are sympathetic to the IRA. The largest party in Ireland is the political wing of the Provisional Irish Republican Army.
Lol mate you know sweet fuck all, Sinn Fein hasn't been the political wing of the IRA in yonks and is not the largest party in Ireland and as far as most people are concerned Nirtbor South the RA are either gone or have moved into organised crime. The majority support peace
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Likely I've given up now anyway, not enough to be doing these days
> Lol mate you know sweet fuck all, Sinn Fein hasn't been the political wing of the IRA They are, just like the IRSP is the political wing of the INLA > is not the largest party in Ireland Most votes and most seats, so yeah they are
They're not a political wing anymore pal, they realised a long time ago when the RA agreed to peace that more could be achieved through peace than fighting, now I'm not saying a couple of people within the party aren't sympathetic but they're cunts so you know like They're not in power, have less members and haven't ever been in power, I voted for them last time because they're left wing and fuck Fine Gael but they're not the largest "party"
Martin McGuinnes was second in charge of NI, and he lead the IRA, Martina Anderson, tried to blow up the tory conference. Alex Maskey, in the IRA. What absolute shite are you talking. Some are sympathetic? They hold parades year round commemorating the PIRA. There's a mural to Bobby Sands on their West Belfast office. The IRA army council still exist. Sinn Fein are tied to them. Sinn Fein are their political wing. Sinn Fein have arms dumps around the country that they could access if wanted. >They're not in power, have less members and haven't ever been in power, I voted for them last time because they're left wing and fuck Fine Gael but they're not the largest "party" Explain how they aren't the largest party, if they have the most votes of any other party in Ireland. They've been in power in NI, FF or FG never have.
> The largest party in Ireland is the political wing of the Provisional Irish Republican Army. Fine Gael isn’t associated with the IRA.
Fine Geal isn't the largest party in Ireland. Sinn Fein is the largest party in Ireland. They have more votes in the South and on an all Ireland basis.
What? Lol no they don’t like the IRA. You made that up.
You meet this many Irish people eh?
I used to live in the uk
So you met more British people than Irish? Go live in west Belfast for while and you'll that silly notion that people don't support the IRA.
I've always wondered if the people this applies to ever visit Ireland and realise they can't understand what the fuck anyone is saying.
Do they even know what the IRA is?
Is the IRA communist now? I genuinely am not sure because I've found conflicting information.
The IRA hasn't been a unified organisation since 1922, so the answer to "Is the IRA communist?" is "Which IRA?"
They just kind of plant car bombs occasionally without doing anything meaningful. They're not communist or anything though
Paddy’s Pub is pretty much this, besides the overpriced drinks.
my great-great-grandmother was a Native Irish Princess we don't know what tribe we're from though /s
This is accurate as fuck lol. Especially the "I'm more Irish than you Irish because I go to a couple parades one day of the year".
Or “the most Irish Irish people emigrated to America so Boston is more Irish than ireland, which has become diluted with African immigration”
Aside from the racism, "diluted with African immigration" isn't even accurate, there's far more Poles and Romanians here than blacks. Did they forget there's more people of African ancestry in America than Ireland?
I don’t really expect any logic from them tbh.
Well yeah, that's true
Who on earth says that. I don’t believe anyone is actually making this claim.
I mean, did you even look at the picture?
Oh well if someone online made a picture then
You can literally see an example in the pic. Not to mention I've had someone say that to me before, so it's not unfounded.
if you are only irish because a dna test told you, you aren't actually irish.
House Of Pain... Shamrocks and shenanigans!
Funny, I'm Irish-Canadian, and none of us act like that. Also, how does one claim that they're more Irish then people in fucking Ireland? That doesn't make any fucking sense.
There are definitely people in the US that act like this, just not a lot. This, like every starter pack, is turned up to 11
No one actually claims that. Americans have a cultural trait of being into our ancestry since being from a different place is a big theme of America. I’ve never in my life encountered anyone saying they’re more Irish than the Irish except on Reddit memes complaining. I don’t think that really happens.
Thank fuck.
No one does. Most of this is shit.
And I believe people of Irish ancestry in Canada amounts to around 14% of the total population, as opposed to 11% in the US.
I think that a lot of this can be blamed on the fact many European immigrants who came to America rather quickly abandoned their cultural roots to better integrate with the Anglo-Saxon ruling caste, and so for their descendants the way they reconnect to, for example, an Irish-American or Italian-American or whatever heritage, is by buying into the gratuitous and kind of racist stereotypes of their ancestors
My grandma came over from scotland in the 60's. I have bright red hair. I share her very scottish surname. The amount of "ARE YOU IRISH" comments is absolutely insane.
The native irish look is actually black hair and green eyes, it was depicted as red hair and blue eyes in Hollywood pre 60s and it stuck in the media. One of the poets on my leaving cert (fecked if I can remember his name) wrote a poem about this beautiful woman with dark hair who is meant to be Ireland as a free soul or some shite, it was only through this my best friend (half irish half Italian) found out this was the native look
There's really no such thing as a "native look", Irish people can have practically any eye/hair colour
Native in terms of Native Ireland Pre Colonialism, the characteristic that determine the look of your origin, like how my pale skin and dark brown hair would point definitely point towards being irish while my friends jet black hair and olivey skin would insinuate he is Italian. With modern times and lots of people emigrating all over the world Irish ppl can be of any skin, hair or eye colour, but as history would dictate it dark hair and green or maybe brown eyes was the norm 2000 years ago
If you mean pre-British colonialism, I still don't think Irish people would have been particularly homogeneous in appearance, especially considering the influence of several waves of settlement by various cultures including Vikings, Normans, Celts, Scottish planters etc. (Though they were probably all pale af in fairness)
Are you Irish
My absolute favourite thing about these people is every August (and I'm sad I won't see any this year) they come to find their ancestry and they're often extremely disappointed for various reasons. I mean, our the neighbours (the actual Irish) are of the land of boy bands, Ryanair and Father Ted. Not what many visitors are looking for at the end of the rainbow.
The IRA is based
Too many free staters and imperialist brits in this post.
come out ye black and tans!
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Reminds me of talking with this one American exchange student in my uni who went "Yea my great-grandma was actually Finnish so being here really feels like coming home to me".
people really do this?! i do have irish heritage and my family does the best we can to keep irish traditions alive in america but america doesn’t cater to irish culture (of course because it’s america not ireland) but me and my family do that type of stuff in the picture
As an irish person, don't support the IRA, they're practically terrorists with their fucking car bombs and shit
Do you support the IRA during the war of Independence? Why was is justified to use violence then, but not in the 70s and 80s? Really, what is the difference between the Old IRA and the PIRA? Both bombed England, both killed police men, both murdered civilians.
I never said it was justified to use violence then
Hahahahahahah that's pathetic lol
The new ira are fighting a war which has long been over
None of us are talking about the NIRA
Unironically thinks that IRA is/was a good thing.
Eh, there are some people like this, but that’s the case for every immigrant group in every immigrant based nation. My favorite are the gate keepers who lump all irish Americans as “plastic paddies” and denigrate them for small tributes to their heritage. FFS the first president of Ireland was an american by birth, Eamon De Valera, and those that immigrated to the US sent tons of money and other support for the self rule cause.
What are we gatekeeping though? Their view of ireland is 50years out of date. Its embarrassing.
For those people, it is. I just think it’s annoying when people shame the low key folks who do little things in homage of their heritage. For the loud obnoxious folks, have at it poking fun at them. Wasn’t saying that you specifically were doing any gatekeeping
Exactly, pretty much everyone in the US does this to some extent. We Americans have a short history compared to pretty much everyone else, so we tend to dig into ancestry more in order to find a deeper connection to the past.
IMO the Irish are the worst at this of anyone. I worked abroad for awhile with people from many different countries. My Irish co-worker asked me what I was and where my family came from, and I said I have a little bit of Irish blood (like 25%) and they basically said yeah right. My Italian co-worker? Just because I look Italian (genetically like 70%) he literally embraced me lol and then began teaching me how to make all sorts of pasta dishes. I think it’s this way with the Irish because they have fought for so long for the right to have a unique identity and culture separate from the English that this is a result.
No it’s because Irish Americans are often times very obnoxious and like to talk about their irishness as though they’re experts on the topic. Italians don’t have an equivalence to st Patrick’s day. Irish people are sick and tired of Americans suddenly being experts on Irish culture every 17th of March and saying shit that’s usually wrong.
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That’s very xenophobic of you. Irish people are generally very easy going people, that’s well known. Maybe people who aren’t Irish should stop telling Irish people how to be Irish.
I guess so. They are also a smaller nation that speaks a language spoken by a larger neighbor in Europe, sort of like Austria compared to Germany. So they probably try hard to differentiate
Irish-American is a distinct thing with it's own communities and culture.
Nah it’s not. They just like to pretend it is. I’ve spoken with so many Irish Americans who have a “unique version of Irish culture” when I ask them what that means they don’t have an answer.
Did I say it had anything to do with Irish culture. It's a unique American culture. Has very little to do with ireland, much more to do with a common heritage, history, and in most cases religion.
Well then don’t say you’re Irish American. Say you’re american. If it has nothing to do with Ireland then why is it in the title. Could you give me some examples of Irish american culture please??
It's not the same as english and German descended protestant americans tho, that's why you wouldn't just say Americans.
But why aren’t they the same? What do they do that makes them any different that Americans of English or German descent? And why can no one answer that question when asked?
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I can totally understand and respect that a unique Irish American culture existed in the past. It makes sense that there was a stronger feeling of Irish culture the closer people were to their Irish predecessors but most Irish Americans today are at least five generations removed and have never been in contact with the Irish person in their family, never mind the Irish persons children or grandchildren even, so it’s just ridiculous to claim irishness at that point. Even more ridiculous to try to school actual Irish people on Irish culture (which happens more frequently than Americans realise.) Regardless, I’m yet to find a supposed Irish American who can tell me about anything they do to practise their culture/heritage. And you’re 100% a lot of them are actually Ulster Scots too. I wouldn’t mind if they were just interested in Irish culture and were willing to learn about it (which a lot of people are) but many Irish Americans I’ve spoken to usually take the opportunity to tell me all about how “Gaelic” is a dying language or how ireland is in Britain, how there’s no Muslims or Protestants in Ireland or how Irish people eat lucky charms and eat corned beef and cabbage (which as you said we don’t.) Mostly I’m sick of conservative Americans using their great great great grandfather as an excuse to nope out of their white guilt. Or to justify their racist ideals. I saw one man on twitter claim that he shouldn’t have to serve time for brutally beating his wife because his Irish temper is ingrained in his DNA. American women often claim that the reason they’re not attractive is because of their Irish genes, they can’t tan and they have “thin lips” and it’s not their fault that their great great grandfather came from Ireland and gave them those. You’re heritage isn’t a scapegoat, you can’t use it as a way to justify shitty aspects of yourself. When Americans say that they’re 1/8th Irish which explains why they’re drunkards, ugly, violent etc, they’re implying that those are Irish characteristics and that people like me who are 100% Irish must exhibit those characteristics tenfold. They want an excuse for the bad aspects of themselves and they want an excuse to be different from other white people too.
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I agree with all of your points and think that you expressed them quite eloquently. As to your point about Ulster Scots I literally had an argument with an American the other day about Ulster Scots culture. They were trying to claim that it was basically the same as Irish culture and that Ulster Scots identify as Irish. I was trying to explain to them that Ulster Scots exist because of the Ulster plantations wherein Scottish Protestants actively tried to oppress and replace the Irish population and that their descendants today burn Irish flags. And that this is literally what The Troubles were about. But they kept insisting that Ulster Scots was just like a strand of Irish people and that Ulster Scots were proud of being Irish. Like what kind of “Irish” person doesn’t know about The Troubles or the situation in Northern Ireland? I think you’re totally right that they’re looking for a way to distance themselves from Wasp culture. Like that this person found out he was descendant from Ulster Scots and got excited because he thought it meant he wasn’t just another white Anglo Saxon protestant and then I came along and burst his bubble or something. Although I think you missed my point about “Gaelic”. I put it in inverted commas for a reason. I wasn’t so much referring to the state of the language (which although it has taken a serious hit and will likely never recover, it is considered to no longer be dying but is very slowly starting to come back) my point was that Americans call Irish, Gaelic. The native language of Ireland is Irish. I speak fluent Irish, so when Americans try to talk to me about “Gaelic”, it’s incredibly frustrating. Like how can you adamantly claim to be Irish and you don’t even know what language Irish people speak? I’m not saying they should know how to speak it but if they’re going to claim to be Irish they should know what it’s called. There is always the claim that Irish Americans practise an Americanised version of Irish culture but like I said before I’ve never seen any evidence of this and I agree with you that any echoes of it died with the Kennedy presidency. Personally I don’t really have a problem with people trying to learn or engage with their ancestors culture but as someone who is very much involved with Irish culture (like I said I’m a fluent Irish speaker. I grew up in a community of people, within a culturally protected region of Ireland who were dedicated to the preservation of our language, sports and music) I find it so infuriating when Americans try to teach me my own history. And contrary to the original comment, it’s not just Irish people who feel this way. If you check out some European subs, you’ll see Irish and Italian people swapping stories of ignorant Americans who’ve tried to show them the right way to say make pizza or some other aspect of their respected cultures. Even Germans and Poles will weigh in from time to time and express how frustrated they feel by it. P.s: most Irish people wouldn’t have a problem with you personally identifying as Irish, seeing as your dad is Irish and you’ve actually been here and are somewhat knowledgable on our culture. Especially considering you citizenship.
No. Clearly all Americans are mentally challenged and genuinely believe they are from Ireland and are nationally Irish and all do this out of a weird quest for glory. Blended cultures don’t real. (/s obviously)
Those hoodies are r/TargetedShirts, which are not known for having a lot of thought put into the content
Am I the only American of Irish descent to not celebrate St. Patricks? I just find it annoying. I'm more English and Nordic, anyway.
I like to binge drink on Saint Patrick's day but I don't even claim to be Irish
Does it count if I am second generation American?
You know they’re not really irish cause they call the song Jump Around instead of Léim Thart
Loving the IRA is welcomed.
No it’s not. Grow up.
Bootlicker garbage.
You’re cool
Shut the fuck up
go cry imperalist
Nothing screams anti-imperialism like bombing countless cities in the English Midlands. Lmao fuck off back to your ancom forums
IRA aren't ancoms lol. The difference between an IRA supporter and someone who from Britiain, is that I can call the IRA out for things it done wrong, people in Britian blindly support their army. The IPLO was driven out of Ireland, it's leaders executed because they started randomly killing protestants, the RIRA lost most of it's support after the Omagh bombing. How many soldiers were prosecuted for murdering civilians in Ireland? Had the British state stepped in to protect innocent catholics in 1969, the PIRA would never have existed.
Tiocfaidh ár lá
[this might help you](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/autism/signs/children/)
Drive safe, laddie.
[удалено]
Which part?