Re: Hands up if you are 100% Irish

Posted by donegal419

Posted by Kara

Posted by donegal419

100% Irish. My parents are Irish born and raised, I was born here, so technically, I am 100% Irish-American, although i do hold dual citizenship with Ireland and I have and use my Irish passport.

I never understood most Americans' fascination with saying they're Irish. People in this country go around saying "I'm 100% Irish" and know nothing about the country, the culture, etc. etc. I can appreciate saying you have Irish heritage, but saying your 100% Irish and your family has been here for several generations, really, you're just American with Irish roots.

I understand what you're saying, but it's a matter of semantics here. Just because people don't word it the way you find most appropriate, what they are saying is "I'm American with Irish ancestry or roots." It's a part of our American vernacular to say "I'm Irish" or "I'm Italian" or something similar when we refer to our cultural backgrounds. We generally don't go around saying "I have Italian ancestry." We're more apt to say "I'm Italian" when speaking to other Americans. I don't see a problem with it.

The vast majority of Irish Americans *I* know don't go around saying their Irish all the time. They're all pretty proud to be American, and I don't fault them for wanting to be proud of being American or being proud of their Irish background. People in the USA ask me what my background is, I tell them I'm Irish. They already know I'm American, so clearly they are asking what my heritage is. When I travel to another country and people ask me what I am, I tell them I'm American.

Also, I might not have an Irish passport, but that doesn't mean I'm not of all Irish descent and it sure doesn't mean I don't have a connection to my family and relatives who still live in Ireland. (To be honest, I am eligible for an Irish passport, but don't feel any need to have one.) And if other people want to be proud of their background, but have less of a connection to Ireland than others, it just doesn't bother me.

I never said that people being proud of their background although it's less of a connection bothers me... as a matter of fact, I understand completely what you are saying. I think you're right, it is an American thing to say you're Irish or Italian or what have you.

I guess what annoys me more specificlly is is people that go on and on and on about hwo Irish they are and they really really don't know what the heck they're talking about. I had one person tell me they were 100% Irish and they were from the County Shannon---there is no such place. It's a river or an airport!

I guess I find it interesting that out of all the ethnic groups in the United States, it's always the people saying they're Irish... where are all the French-Americans or Polish-Americans, or whatver..... etc. I find that for some reason, people have this fascination with being Irish...... and I really don't understand it. Do you know what I mean? I mean no other group except Irish - Americans run around proclaiming stupid stereotypes about their culture they supposedly know so much about. The "Kiss Me, I'm Irish!" pins, drinking to oblivion on St. Patrick's Day and eating corn beef and cabbage.... they are all inaccurate and false stereotypes only reinforced by people with their "Irish" background... does that make sense? It just bothers me... if you're going to say you're Irish then please don't mock the culture and educate yourselves about the culture and its real traditions.

Re: Hands up if you are 100% Irish

Posted by Kara

I wasn't meaning to put words in your mouth. I was just giving my perspective that was prompted by your post.

I see something similar with other cultures in the US, though maybe not to the same extent. My husband tells everyone he's Italian -- and he's only 1/4! (long, long, long Italian last name, though!)

The corned beef and cabbage thing does really bother me, though! A lot.

Re: Hands up if you are 100% Irish

Posted by donegal419

Posted by Kara

I wasn't meaning to put words in your mouth. I was just giving my perspective that was prompted by your post.

I see something similar with other cultures in the US, though maybe not to the same extent. My husband tells everyone he's Italian -- and he's only 1/4! (long, long, long Italian last name, though!)

The corned beef and cabbage thing does really bother me, though! A lot.

I hear you... my mom and dad never had corn beef in their life until they came to this country.... they were like, "Oh, so this is what Irish people eat? Funny because we've never had it before---ever!"

i guess i jsut get annoyed overall with the stupid fake brouges, the "top of the mornin' to ya", etc. etc. i find it very offensive.

Posted by Shorty

I'm only irish by marriage!

McShorty.

Re: Hands up if you are 100% Irish

just american irish but 100% proud of it!

Re: Hands up if you are 100% Irish

Posted by Shorty

I'm only irish by marriage!

Message edited 3/17/2008 4:58:05 PM.

Re: Hands up if you are 100% Irish

100% born and raised!

Re: Hands up if you are 100% Irish

Posted by lilacwine


As much as I love Grey's Anatomy, I find the "Mc" usage extremely offensive. Like this:

Posted by Shorty

I'm only irish by marriage!

McShorty.

Seriously, how long would this lingo last if instead of adding "Mc" as a prefix, a typical prefix or suffix of another ethnicity were used?

Re: Hands up if you are 100% Irish

I am!

Re: Hands up if you are 100% Irish

Hell yeah I'm 100%






















So is my daughter, Ireland

Re: Hands up if you are 100% Irish

"guess i jsut get annoyed overall with the stupid fake brouges, the "top of the mornin' to ya", etc. etc. i find it very offensive."

So do I. I have a lot of pride and respect for my roots. The drinking stereotype hurts the most. There's much more to being Irish than lifting a glass.

Re: Hands up if you are 100% Irish

I am 100% Irish Ancestry but 4th generation American!

I just read some of the replies above and must say that just because I wasn't born in Ireland doesn't make my any less Irish. I am proud of my American-Irish heritage. I am proud that my ancestors helped build (literally) the great city I live in! The history of the Irish is rich and complex. The Irish immigrants were not well recieved when they arrived in America. In fact, they were considered the the lowest of the Europeans. But, through it all, they have contributed much to the history of America (many soldiers who died in the Civil War were Irish)

So, I feel Irish born or of Irish Ancestry, what a wonderful honor, God Bless! And may there be in our life time, a UNIFIED Ireland!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Message edited 3/17/2008 10:01:08 PM.

Re: Hands up if you are 100% Irish

I do have Irish ancestry, but I'm certianly not 100%. I'm an American mutt and proud of it

But I did want to throw in my two cents about how people love to say they are Irish. Honestly, I think it is one of the greatest forms of flattery for the Irish! Not so much people not taking the time to look into the roots of things becuase I can see how that can be offensive, but just the fact that so many people LOVE the Irish!! You just don't see that fascination with many other countries. One of the top places on my list to visit is Ireland becuase it just looks so amazingly beautiful and I have heard the people are so welcoming. Sure there are people who proclaim they are Irish becuase it's the "cool" thing to do, but I just wanted to say that I don't think the Irish fascination is a totally negative thing. Maybe doing away with the corned beef would be a start to opening eyes about what we are doing wrong over here, but my guess is us American's have taken a liking to that boiled beef in March

Re: Hands up if you are 100% Irish

I'm Irish on my dad's side.

Can I ask why the 100$ irish get offended at the corned beef and cabbage thing? Not looking to start anything, honestly. I am just curious as to why this is offensive to some.

Re: Hands up if you are 100% Irish

100% Irish, 100% Co. Donegal... Frosses, Glenties, Donegal Town. All one county... UP Donegal!!!!

First Generation, my mom was "off the boat"

I have a very real attachment, appreciation and knowledge of my family's history. Up until she died recently, my grandmother's SIL still lived in the same cottage my paternal grandmother was born in. No street address, it's so rural the farm is named.

I've spent several summers there growing up.

I don't eat green bagels, drink green beer, wear funny hats or the rest.

Never had corned beef and cabbage until my Jewish MIL made it for me. My family never recognized it as an Irish dish.

Re: Hands up if you are 100% Irish

Re: Hands up if you are 100% Irish

Message edited 3/17/2008 9:57:12 PM.

Re: Hands up if you are 100% Irish

Posted by Tah-wee-ZAH

Posted by saraH

Can I ask why the 100$ irish get offended at the corned beef and cabbage thing? Not looking to start anything, honestly. I am just curious as to why this is offensive to some.

It was never eated in Ireland.

It was a dish created in the states and marketed (for lasck of a better term) as Irish.

Ireland was a colony of G.B. The absentee landlords took most of the good parts of the animals to be eaten in their manor houses or to be shipped back to England.

The Irish were left with the "rest" of the animal ... Many REAL Irish dishes are like many ethnic peasant dishes... made with sausage, like Blood Puddin'... you don't want to know what they use.

Those that lived near rivers or the coast , often ate fish.

But mostly where my family was from... very, very poor, rocky land it truly was potatoes, potatoes, potatoes... breakfast, lunch and dinner... if you were lucky. My grandmother always told me she NEVER got to the table late because there was often not enough food to go around

I always remember her saying, "We come from Co. Donegal, where they eat the potatoes, SKINS and ALL"

Re: Hands up if you are 100% Irish

Posted by MrsRivera

I am 100% Irish--or as you call it, "American with Irish ancestry". I am one of those people that is EXTREMELY proud to be associated with the Irish culture, rich as it is. My great-grandparents were born there, so I'm pretty far down the line (I guess that would make me 4th generation).

I completely respect the fact that you are indeed from Ireland, but I take offense to some of the things you said. For example, I just had many family members and friends over for corned beef and cabbage. I understand that the Irish in Ireland do not eat this. However, Irish immigrants as far back as the 1800s were eating this when they came to the "New World". It was one of the cheapest cuts of meat available, and when boiled with cabbage, could sustain quite a large family. I make it not because it's what they would eat in Ireland, but because I would be willing to bet that my great-grandfather once or twice enjoyed this meal after a long day working on building the Brooklyn Bridge (we have documentation that he was a worker).

In any event, this is longer than I wanted it to be, but I just wanted to say this: Please don't be so quick to criticize others for having pride in their heritage.

My family originated from County Laois.

Re: Hands up if you are 100% Irish

Message edited 3/18/2008 5:40:16 AM.

Re: Hands up if you are 100% Irish

I didnt realise this thread would start some debates as I was just curious to see who on here was 100% Irish and by that I mean having been born to 2 Irish parents and born in Ireland.

I really dont think if you were born in the US and were raised here that you can consider yourself 100% Irish and I am not saying that to be mean its just the way it is.

I am 100% irish, born in Ireland to both parents who go back generations in Ireland.

My husband is english but has Irish and scottish heritage so he considers himself to have an irish background but in no ways does he consider himself Irish.

My DD was born in the US so I consider her to be american with irish, english and scottish heritage.

I cannot understand why americans arent just happy to be americans and why they would call themselves 100% Irish when they were born and raised here.

Re: Hands up if you are 100% Irish

I'm something like 1/4 Irish, but I have Irish features.

I was adopted, my adopted family is NOT Irish, so I don't know very much about the culture, but I would like to.

I grew up basically as italian.

Re: Hands up if you are 100% Irish

Posted by Kara

I understand what you're saying, but it's a matter of semantics here. Just because people don't word it the way you find most appropriate, what they are saying is "I'm American with Irish ancestry or roots." It's a part of our American vernacular to say "I'm Irish" or "I'm Italian" or something similar when we refer to our cultural backgrounds. We generally don't go around saying "I have Italian ancestry." We're more apt to say "I'm Italian" when speaking to other Americans. I don't see a problem with it.

The vast majority of Irish Americans *I* know don't go around saying their Irish all the time. They're all pretty proud to be American, and I don't fault them for wanting to be proud of being American or being proud of their Irish background. People in the USA ask me what my background is, I tell them I'm Irish. They already know I'm American, so clearly they are asking what my heritage is. When I travel to another country and people ask me what I am, I tell them I'm American.

Also, I might not have an Irish passport, but that doesn't mean I'm not of all Irish descent and it sure doesn't mean I don't have a connection to my family and relatives who still live in Ireland. (To be honest, I am eligible for an Irish passport, but don't feel any need to have one.) And if other people want to be proud of their background, but have less of a connection to Ireland than others, it just doesn't bother me.

Re: Hands up if you are 100% Irish

Posted by MrsRivera

Posted by donegal419

I find that for some reason, people have this fascination with being Irish...... and I really don't understand it. Do you know what I mean? I mean no other group except Irish - Americans run around proclaiming stupid stereotypes about their culture they supposedly know so much about. The "Kiss Me, I'm Irish!" pins, drinking to oblivion on St. Patrick's Day and eating corn beef and cabbage.... they are all inaccurate and false stereotypes only reinforced by people with their "Irish" background... does that make sense? It just bothers me... if you're going to say you're Irish then please don't mock the culture and educate yourselves about the culture and its real traditions.

I am 100% Irish--or as you call it, "American with Irish ancestry". I am one of those people that is EXTREMELY proud to be associated with the Irish culture, rich as it is. My great-grandparents were born there, so I'm pretty far down the line (I guess that would make me 4th generation).

I completely respect the fact that you are indeed from Ireland, but I take offense to some of the things you said. For example, I just had many family members and friends over for corned beef and cabbage. I understand that the Irish in Ireland do not eat this. However, Irish immigrants as far back as the 1800s were eating this when they came to the "New World". It was one of the cheapest cuts of meat available, and when boiled with cabbage, could sustain quite a large family. I make it not because it's what they would eat in Ireland, but because I would be willing to bet that my great-grandfather once or twice enjoyed this meal after a long day working on building the Brooklyn Bridge (we have documentation that he was a worker).

In any event, this is longer than I wanted it to be, but I just wanted to say this: Please don't be so quick to criticize others for having pride in their heritage.

My family originated from County Laois.

Re: Hands up if you are 100% Irish

I'm 75% Irish/Scottish

I sunburn reeeeeaaaal easy

Re: Hands up if you are 100% Irish