Losing Ireland?

Mrs Roy Keane

Are we as a nation losing our irishness?

First all we lose our currency and have the euro. Our country is being invaded by all different nationalities and even English now isn't the most spoken language. Now the Irish Language is being made not compulsory in the Leaving Cerificate and for The Gardai.

I think we are and it the government's fault

El Stuntman

Mrs Roy Keane wrote:

Are we as a nation losing our irishness?

First all we lose our currency and have the euro. Our country is being invaded by all different nationalities and even English now isn't the most spoken language. Now the Irish Language is being made not compulsory in the Leaving Cerificate and for The Gardai.

I think we are and it the government's fault

LOL

what is this mysterious most spoken language?

mickith

maybe not. its about time they did this imo


tp://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/?jp=CWIDSNOJGBMH


The Government aims to create an English-Irish bilingual society over the next 20 years, it emerged today.

The Cabinet will launch its policy statement containing 13 key objectives on the Irish language next week.

Irish is due to become the 21st official working language of the European Union on January 1.

Translators are currently being trained to instantaneously translate Irish into English in the European Parliament.

When the Taoiseach visited the Parliament last month he and other MEPs spoke in Irish and it was immediately translated into English through headphones in the chamber.

The Cabinet will launch the Government’s policy statement in Farmleigh House on Tuesday, prior to the last Cabinet meeting of 2006.

A spokesperson said: “With a focus on the practical development of a bilingual society, the statement commits the Government to the development of a 20-year strategy based on 13 clear objectives.”

gandalf

Not really a Politics topic, moving it to Humanities.

mike65

even English now isn't the most spoken language

I love it! And thats the second example of citing english as a quality of Irishness this week!

Mike.

Orizio

Are we as a nation losing our irishness?

Possibly, lets see where you go with this.

First all we lose our currency and have the euro.

I would have thought our culture would rest on more then the design of our currency.

Our country is being invaded by all different nationalities

Yes and when these 'invaders' become Irish citizens there won't be a problem.

and even English now isn't the most spoken language.

No in fairness you have a point here, it would be a shame if we had to replace one foreign language with another...:(

Now the Irish Language is being made not compulsory in the Leaving Cerificate and for The Gardai.

Irish has been dead and buried in this country for decades.With an increasing amount of foreign nationals coming here,many of which will eventually wish to join the police,its cynical and short sighted to force a new language on them because they wish to do some good for their community.

Lou.m

A bi-lingual society at last! I think it is a wonderful idea. I would love to learn it properly but i guess everyone says that. I always thought though that the whole obligitary Irish idea had a nasty nationalist streak to it i think it was one of the reasons many young people did not learn it. It reaked of, tiocfaidh ar la, (I am probably not even spelling that correctly:o ) i feel it will develop a whole other attitude to Irish , the young will not view it as something stiffling. It may be the best thing for the Irish language yet!It would be wonderful if we could all be bi-lingual. Well at least those of us who might like to be, one of the problems i found with Irish that there was no one to speak to and no where. I know the is the gaeltacht but peole would hardly drive there just for a conversation. And cuman na gael was a bit well...conservative shall we say.

Dyr

Orizio wrote:

Yes and when these 'invaders' become Irish citizens there won't be a problem.

You mean the way that sorted the problem out in France, Belgium, Britain, The US, Australia? Oh wait... It didnt

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Mrs Roy Keane wrote:

Are we as a nation losing our irishness?

First all we lose our currency and have the euro. Our country is being invaded by all different nationalities and even English now isn't the most spoken language. Now the Irish Language is being made not compulsory in the Leaving Cerificate and for The Gardai.

I think we are and it the government's fault

Don't worry, we'll still have our **** public transport, begrudger attitude and rank xenophobia. With all that how can you possibly say we're losing our irishness??

Orizio

Bambi wrote:

You mean the way that sorted the problem out in France, Belgium, Britain, The US, Australia? Oh wait... It didnt

The US's wouldn't exist in its almighty form today if it wasn't for immigrants turned citizens becoming so successful, the same of which can be said in the US and Australia to a lessor extent.What of the Algerian communities in France?The Turks in Germany?

Judging the worth of the many by the actions of the few is so irrational and ignorant your 'argument' and 'logic' barely deserve consideration.

section4

Orizio wrote:

The US's wouldn't exist in its almighty form today if it wasn't for immigrants turned citizens becoming so successful, the same of which can be said in the US and Australia to a lessor extent.What of the Algerian communities in France?The Turks in Germany?

Judging the worth of the many by the actions of the few is so irrational and ignorant your 'argument' and 'logic' barely deserve consideration.

yes america has turned out good???? and thr native america's have been treated very well by the immigrants.

same for oz.

germany would not survive with out hte turks, yes sure, thats why turkey is such a great country cos it is full of turks.

wot about the alegerians in france, algeria is agreat country cos it full of algerians, why are they gpoing to france.

Orizio

I really don't know whether to laugh or cry.:( :rolleyes:

rediguana

People should get over the 'Irish' thing. I'm Irish but so what. Take a person on his or her merits. What's 'nationality' anyway? What's its purpose?

Orizio

yes america has turned out good????

Worlds only superpower the last time I checked.

and thr native america's have been treated very well by the immigrants.

Yeah I can see all those pesky Poles declaring war on us right away...:rolleyes:

same for oz

Yep doing real well these days.

germany would not survive with out hte turks, yes sure, thats why turkey is such a great country cos it is full of turks.

wot about the alegerians in france, algeria is agreat country cos it full of algerians, why are they gpoing to france.

Turkey is a fine country, and Algeria is well on its way to recovery.Both Germany and France seem to be doing quite well these days.Of course historically N. Africa and Turkey had a habit of being cultural and economic power centres while people in Europe were barely literate but you'll know all about no doubt...:)

Bottle_of_Smoke

Mrs Roy Keane wrote:

Are we as a nation losing our irishness?

First all we lose our currency and have the euro. Our country is being invaded by all different nationalities and even English now isn't the most spoken language. Now the Irish Language is being made not compulsory in the Leaving Cerificate and for The Gardai.

I think we are and it the government's fault

Eh is this true?

Zillah

rediguana wrote:

People should get over the 'Irish' thing. I'm Irish but so what. Take a person on his or her merits. What's 'nationality' anyway? What's its purpose?

This is mostly my view on the matter. Culture is an illusion. Like stuff you like, like people you like, don't mourn the loss of something that never actually existed.

Hobbes

El Stuntman wrote:

LOL

what is this mysterious most spoken language?

Kial estas Esperanto kompreneble!

fly_agaric

Zillah wrote:

Culture is an illusion

You tell em eh...just like "religion" is a pipedream. Just like "race" is a mirage (maybe "sex - M/F" is too). You'll have the evils of humanity sorted out in no time at this rate. Go You!:)

Zillah

I actually can't tell if you're being sarcastic...

the_syco

We're losing what, exactly? Myself, I was taught Irish poems and Irish stories. Not how to speak the language like in French class, but a bas7ardized version of Irish (that was made around 1916 me thinks).

Dontico

i would agree we are starting to loose our irishness but i would bring more depressing matters.

our curancy doesnt matter. how long did we have it for? initially committing ourself to the eu started are economic boom. who brought us in?
sticking with to make a super euro federate state will benifit us more. i myself would be pushing for a unite european denfense force.

multiculturism is good for us. the bigger the population, the more companies want to come in for employment. also who are the main people coming in? the chinese. hard workers that dont come from a bland culture, very easy to blend in. there even chinese people picking up gaa. the polish also have a very simular culture and history to irelnad, more like ours than our surronding nations, excluding scotland.

as for irish. the best way to reform the language is making it more of atalking subject other than writting.

if i was going to complain about loosing our irishness i would bring up the subject of our country bending down to the americans allowing them transport prisoners to be illegally tortures, most of which are europeans. its been going on for about 15 years.

also the increasing popularity of socialism, jepordising our consitution and our nationalism if they get in. which would probably take ages. labour doesnt count as one.

CherieAmour

..I'm only going on Dublin here, but where I feel we are losing our Irishness is in the population by foreign companies (mainly british) of stores on our main streets. Why can't the government do something to preserve Irish businesses? Small retail outlets with at least some hint of originality are all but gone. Golden Discs is closing down all over the place, dominated by HMV, a uk retailer. Our streets are made up of English stores - Grafton Street: O2, Holland & Barrett, Marks & Spencers, HMV, Miss Selfridge, Swarovski and more. Henry Street & around: Topshop, Boots, HMV, Game, Oasis, Debenhams, O2, Swarovski, Lush, H&M etc.

You may as well be standing on the main street of Nottingham, Manchester or Oxford Street.

Some people might think this is a good thing, but I don't - the place has lost its character. What is Irish about our main thoroughfares in Dublin??????

Nothing!

Dontico

CherieAmour wrote:

..I'm only going on Dublin here, but where I feel we are losing our Irishness is in the population by foreign companies (mainly british) of stores on our main streets. Why can't the government do something to preserve Irish businesses? Small retail outlets with at least some hint of originality are all but gone. Golden Discs is closing down all over the place, dominated by HMV, a uk retailer. Our streets are made up of English stores - Grafton Street: O2, Holland & Barrett, Marks & Spencers, HMV, Miss Selfridge, Swarovski and more. Henry Street & around: Topshop, Boots, HMV, Game, Oasis, Debenhams, O2, Swarovski, Lush, H&M etc.

You may as well be standing on the main street of Nottingham, Manchester or Oxford Street.

Some people might think this is a good thing, but I don't - the place has lost its character. What is Irish about our main thoroughfares in Dublin??????

Nothing!

it would be bad for our economy to try support filing business over foriegn strong ones. what would be better is to try and promote new irish inovative businesses.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

fly_agaric wrote:

You tell em eh...just like "religion" is a pipedream. Just like "race" is a mirage (maybe "sex - M/F" is too). You'll have the evils of humanity sorted out in no time at this rate. Go You!:)

You really think the attachment of labels to an individual before birth helps define an individual's charactaristics...? You're black so you act black. You're catholic so you act catholic? Goes against freedom a bit.

CherieAmour wrote:

..I'm only going on Dublin here, but where I feel we are losing our Irishness is in the population by foreign companies (mainly british) of stores on our main streets. Why can't the government do something to preserve Irish businesses? Small retail outlets with at least some hint of originality are all but gone. Golden Discs is closing down all over the place, dominated by HMV, a uk retailer. Our streets are made up of English stores - Grafton Street: O2, Holland & Barrett, Marks & Spencers, HMV, Miss Selfridge, Swarovski and more. Henry Street & around: Topshop, Boots, HMV, Game, Oasis, Debenhams, O2, Swarovski, Lush, H&M etc.

You may as well be standing on the main street of Nottingham, Manchester or Oxford Street.

Some people might think this is a good thing, but I don't - the place has lost its character. What is Irish about our main thoroughfares in Dublin??????

Nothing!

This is true, but more of a corporate thing than cultural. When the Dundrum Shopping Centre opened, for example, the local bookshop in the old centre bit dust to be replaced by Easons. The record shop went and along came a Virgin Megastore. Loads of nice little local specialist shops went to be replaced by the sort of mega-crap you can get all over the city.

heggie

while thats sort of true, the record shop in dundrum must have closed around 1995! and easons is irish, the bookstore in dundrum before couldnt really be compared, it was tiny.

Tar.Aldarion

The faster we lose our 'irishness' the better.
Woo, yeah.


...

Hobbes

Culture is not a dream. It is quite real. However it is not a set line drawn in the sand.

Culture is always changing, otherwise you would act like your grandparents. We don't. I can remember when it was Irish culture not to have condoms in stores.

So you can't loose Irish culture, it only adapts.

Dev 17

What is being Irish anyway? Drinking Guinness and shooting leprechauns? The old Ireland was one where the church had huge influence of matters that didn't involve them, people were poor and the country was going nowhere. Now people are focused, wealthy and the workforce ais educated/skilled we are part of the EU and which puts us on the world stage. Irish Rugby, Golf, Horseracing and many other sports are overachieving for the size of our country. Never mind a couple of foreign shops on our streets. We have Ryanair and Aer Lingus becoming one of the biggest low fare airline companies in Europe and many other companies taking up more than their fair share of the market pie. We haven't lost our gift of the gab or our sense of humor that no other country can replicate. This is a streamlined Ireland. Far from a utopia but far from the 1800s Famine.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

heggie wrote:

while thats sort of true, the record shop in dundrum must have closed around 1995! and easons is irish, the bookstore in dundrum before couldnt really be compared, it was tiny.

There was a record store there in 2003. Top floor, above quinnsworth, far right hand side.

IT's not so much the size of the shops, it was the fact that they sold something different. Easons sell stuff I can already get quiet easilly in Dublin.

simu

Dontico wrote:

it would be bad for our economy to try support filing business over foriegn strong ones. what would be better is to try and promote new irish inovative businesses.

The problem is that when it's foreign it's nearly always British and all their wares are pretty samey - where are the French, Spanish & Italian clothing companies?

But that said, there's far more to a country's culture than where people shop!

Orizio

Hobbes wrote:

Culture is not a dream. It is quite real. However it is not a set line drawn in the sand.

Culture is always changing, otherwise you would act like your grandparents. We don't. I can remember when it was Irish culture not to have condoms in stores.

So you can't loose Irish culture, it only adapts.

Basically.

I believe strongly that we have to give Irish enteprise and cultural institutions(GAA for example)a heads up.Nobody should want to wake up one day in Dublin or Cork and realise they are living in a carbon copy and inferior version of London or New York.

jhegarty

El Stuntman wrote:

LOL

what is this mysterious most spoken language?

Klingon ?

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

jhegarty wrote:

Klingon ?

Polski

Orizio

Regarding Irish Language. I recently went to a class with a friend who's emmigrated here. There were more foreign people in the class learning the language than Irish people... The Irish language won't die. There's still enough interest both by some Irish people, and some foreigners to keep it going.

Orizio wrote:

Basically.

I believe strongly that we have to give Irish enteprise and cultural institutions(GAA for example)a heads up.Nobody should want to wake up one day in Dublin or Cork and realise they are living in a carbon copy and inferior version of London or New York.

But each city has its own sense of "difference". London and New York both have a different "feel" to them. Moscow, & Berlin are vastly different. And yet, as with all cities they conform to certain skylines. But I can't think of any two cities as being the same...

I think people aren't really sure what the Irish culture actually is. I certainly don't. I can look at other nationalities and find something about that is soo.. French, German, Italian etc. Not really with Irish people unless you count drinking. I dont really see that as a high sign of a nations culture.

I'm looking around my room, and wondering to myself what i have here that is "irish". My cigs are English, my wine is spanish, my grass dutch, My books tell of other countries, etc. The Four Star Pizza box just reinforces it. We are a nation that has taken more of other nations lives than we had of our own. Its actually understandable considering how long Britain ruled here.

I can't actually see why we've lost anything, in living our lives his way. We can still stand together as a nation should that need arise. We can still have pride in our country, in its actions now. (And cringe at other times). I dont think our culture is going to be what Hollywood or Consumerism tells it should be. Its just going to have to grow into something else. Because the time for Ireland to sit at the edge of Europe and be ignored, is long past. Thank God.

Zombrex

Mrs Roy Keane wrote:

Are we as a nation losing our irishness?

Define "our irishness"

silverharp

As someone who lived abroad for several years, I know I was a little narked when I came back and seeing everyone supporting English Socar clubs , discussing Eastenders and seeing all UK chain stores in Dublin, however to be honest it was the same before I left so no point getting upset over it. I am not specifically into Irish culture but for me being Irish is enjoying the wonderful landscape we have, going sailing in Dublin bay, going for a cycle up the Wicklow mountains of a sunday or enjoying holidays in the south/west of Ireland. We do lack some of the regional variations that one would observe in France or Italy but as we never had them in recent history so again no point getting upset.

am not specifically into Irish culture but for me being Irish is enjoying the wonderful landscape we have, going sailing in Dublin bay, going for a cycle up the Wicklow mountains of a sunday or enjoying holidays in the south/west of Ireland.

Are these not just things that you do (hobbies)? Would you not do these things in another country presented with similiar landscapes/opportunities?

I'm afraid that I can't really see them as being specifically Irish (cultural) or something limited to Ireland.

PoleStar

I have seen many opinions on what tragedies have befallen our nation as we lose our Irishness, and by Irishness I mean what is being spouted by previous posters, examples including-
-the loss of the Irish language
-losing our own traders to be replaced by British and multinational companie
-loss of the punt
-the "invasion" of foregin nationals

All of the above are total nonsense and have nothing to do with what it means to be Irish.

Go to anywhere in the world and meet and Irish person that has lived there, you will know them straight away, its like meeting an old friend, its not the clothes they were, the shops they shop in, the food they eat, the language they speak, but the personality that is Irish.

I shop in Boots, I only have the barest knowledge of the Irish Language that I can still remember from my leaving certificate, I dont really support the Irish team, and have no problems spending Euro! However I know I laugh at Irish jokes that no-one else gets, I find the British a bit stuck up, Germans are to serious etc. And indeed I am sure they have such opinions about me! There is something inherent in each of us that reflects our nationality and it has nothing to do with our currency, language etc and will always remain with us. Countries change over time, the Ireland of today is different from the Ireland of 50 years ago, never mind 500 years ago! We are still Irish!

311

our lovely irish weather is what makes us so hardy

astrofool

Ikky Poo2 wrote:

There was a record store there in 2003. Top floor, above quinnsworth, far right hand side.

IT's not so much the size of the shops, it was the fact that they sold something different. Easons sell stuff I can already get quiet easilly in Dublin.

I think the likes of the Internet and eBay have taken over the specialist shop area, makes it alot more convenient, as if you didn't know these places exist, you were stuck, now, a quick search will get you anything you want. What is sad is the amount of Irish online stores compared with other countries.

You also have to remember the anti competition laws that were in place to try and keep some of the Irish stores afloat, and ended up stifling the economy, and meant high prices for all.

CherieAmour

PoleStar wrote:

I have seen many opinions on what tragedies have befallen our nation as we lose our Irishness, and by Irishness I mean what is being spouted by previous posters, examples including-
-the loss of the Irish language
-losing our own traders to be replaced by British and multinational companie
-loss of the punt
-the "invasion" of foregin nationals

All of the above are total nonsense and have nothing to do with what it means to be Irish.

Go to anywhere in the world and meet and Irish person that has lived there, you will know them straight away, its like meeting an old friend, its not the clothes they were, the shops they shop in, the food they eat, the language they speak, but the personality that is Irish.

I shop in Boots, I only have the barest knowledge of the Irish Language that I can still remember from my leaving certificate, I dont really support the Irish team, and have no problems spending Euro! However I know I laugh at Irish jokes that no-one else gets, I find the British a bit stuck up, Germans are to serious etc. And indeed I am sure they have such opinions about me! There is something inherent in each of us that reflects our nationality and it has nothing to do with our currency, language etc and will always remain with us. Countries change over time, the Ireland of today is different from the Ireland of 50 years ago, never mind 500 years ago! We are still Irish!

I think you're being a bit harsh with regard to what is being spouted by posters on here and calling it total nonsense
If people feel it then it exists. The OP said Irishness which could mean, like you say, what it means to be Irish, but it could also mean the way we do business, how our landscape and population have changed, the loss of our national currency and use of language all building up over time - it could mean anything.

I agree that you can spot an Irish person a mile off on holidays and that we are a warm, jovial, friendly race. We get a royal welcome in other countries which can be judged well, for example, when someone who thinks you're english realises you are Irish and you see the complete change in their demeanour towards you. This being so, I feel that there is a selfishness and self-serving attitude in Irish people these days that did not exist in the past - people that will kill you to get on the bus, beat you up at 3am outside a club and charge you 6 quid a pint after midnight.....If you define Irishness as our general attitude, then we have lost some of this too.:(

Hobbes

CherieAmour wrote:

I feel we are losing our Irishness is in the population by foreign companies (mainly british) of stores on our main streets.

If thats the case we lost it many many years ago.

A lot of *Irish* companies are owned by forigen corporations.

[/QUOTE]

Bottle_of_Smoke

PoleStar wrote:

I have seen many opinions on what tragedies have befallen our nation as we lose our Irishness, and by Irishness I mean what is being spouted by previous posters, examples including-
-the loss of the Irish language
-losing our own traders to be replaced by British and multinational companie
-loss of the punt
-the "invasion" of foregin nationals

All of the above are total nonsense and have nothing to do with what it means to be Irish.

Go to anywhere in the world and meet and Irish person that has lived there, you will know them straight away, its like meeting an old friend, its not the clothes they were, the shops they shop in, the food they eat, the language they speak, but the personality that is Irish.

I shop in Boots, I only have the barest knowledge of the Irish Language that I can still remember from my leaving certificate, I dont really support the Irish team, and have no problems spending Euro! However I know I laugh at Irish jokes that no-one else gets, I find the British a bit stuck up, Germans are to serious etc. And indeed I am sure they have such opinions about me! There is something inherent in each of us that reflects our nationality and it has nothing to do with our currency, language etc and will always remain with us. Countries change over time, the Ireland of today is different from the Ireland of 50 years ago, never mind 500 years ago! We are still Irish!

well said

CherieAmour

CherieAmour wrote:

I agree that you can spot an Irish person a mile off on holidays and that we are a warm, jovial, friendly race. We get a royal welcome in other countries which can be judged well, for example, when someone who thinks you're english realises you are Irish and you see the complete change in their demeanour towards you. This being so, I feel that there is a selfishness and self-serving attitude in Irish people these days that did not exist in the past - people that will kill you to get on the bus, beat you up at 3am outside a club and charge you 6 quid a pint after midnight.....If you define Irishness as our general attitude, then we have lost some of this too.:(

Spot on.

delos

CherieAmour wrote:

This being so, I feel that there is a selfishness and self-serving attitude in Irish people these days that did not exist in the past - people that will kill you to get on the bus, beat you up at 3am outside a club and charge you 6 quid a pint after midnight.....If you define Irishness as our general attitude, then we have lost some of this too.:(

I've lived here for over 16 years and I know what you mean. However, it not just Ireland that has changed in this way. I notice it when I visit Scotland (and England too for that matter). There is a cynicism and hardness that has become more prevalent along with a greed that seems have replaced the idea of a social conscience. I suppose you could argue that this is a realisation of individual potential and a breaking of a society that held many people back if you want to. I think that we live in a society that is much more driven by low taxes, consumerism and advertising than we used to - and I don't think that's just down to the Celtic Tiger as all of Europe seems to be going this way. It's not just 'Irishness' that is disappearing, all of Europe seems to be changing. I just hope that its not a case of (what Ben Elton once described New Labour's Britain as) a victory of style over substance.

Gurgle

Does anyone remember chanting 'Ooh-Ah-Paul McGrath' 15 years ago?
Is he Irish?

One of the best to ever run onto a pitch in a green shirt, but if he was on the team now, there would be tens of thousands of 'True Irish' screaming about how our Irishness is being drowned by the scourge of multiculturalism.

Are we really missing the 'Irishness' of the past - the farmer who cuts turf, brings it home on the donkey, drinks whiskey by the gallon while playing the fiddle then goes home to beat his 16th time pregnant wife until she cooks some spuds for him?

Or is it the tinkers - the travelling storytellers and general handimen, oh no wait, they're all alcoholic criminals now and we hate them too.

Maybe its the catholic church that defines old Ireland and makes us better than all those damn foreigners. Er, no, the church is a paedophilia club and also on the shit list.

Is it the comely maiden dancing at the crossroads with a bottle of WKD in one hand a pack of John Player blue in the other, and an E under her tounge?

Sorry, remind me, what are we losing?
And how can we encourage more immigrants and get rid of it faster?

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Gurgle wrote:

Er, no, the church is a paedophilia club and also on the shit list.

Bit strong. We are the society who allowed it to happen. And judging by the amount of tabloids that get read and believed we're not past allowing someone else to do out thinking for us again and letting something similar happen. Now THAT'S Irish.

On another note: Is the OP coming back?

silverharp

Deleted User wrote:

Are these not just things that you do (hobbies)? Would you not do these things in another country presented with similiar landscapes/opportunities?

I'm afraid that I can't really see them as being specifically Irish (cultural) or something limited to Ireland.

fair point, I guess what I was expressing badly is that geographical location is one input into what makes us Irish in the way that Swedes are the way they are are because of climate and landscape etc.

Eire 4Ever

I'm proud to be Irish but i think the government needs to limit the amount of foreign people entering this country since nowadays they seems to be more different nationalities here than Irish. Where i live at present Polish is the most frequent used language and alot of foreigners are responsible for some of the crimes in Ireland

Eire 4Ever

Eire 4Ever wrote:

I'm proud to be Irish

Why? What is it about being Irish that makes you proud? Our occupation by Britain? Our Independence and subsequent building of the state? Or is it more recent actions? Our sporting achievements? Like the standard of our economy, or the level of living in Ireland?

I often hear Irish people talking about how proud they are in Ireland.... And yet I'm at a loss as to what they actually mean. And they are also, once you ask them to explain. Being proud is just something many people say, without actually thinking what they're actually proud of.

I can point out what I find admirable, but I don't really find all that much to be proud of, in being Irish. That actually means anything. Or rather that is anything to do with Modern Ireland....

but i think the government needs to limit the amount of foreign people entering this country since nowadays they seems to be more different nationalities here than Irish.

We've a relatively small population in a country capable of holding alot more. Of course, we're going to seem a bit outnumbered compared to immigrants, tourists, and business travellers which are just about everywhere. And if anything I would say its their presence that is generating any degree of pride by Irish people in being Irish. (Not that anyone has yet described what being Irish actually is, or how it feels different to other nations).

And I'm totally opposed to blanket limitations on immigrants. I believe in filtering them to limit those entering the country without an ability to speak english, but other than that they are driving out own successes. Both economically, and as a people, we're finally developing due to this influx of foreign matter. Personally I think Irish people were getting a bit stuck up their own asses, and need a reminder that they were part of Europe.

Lastly, Irish is one nationality. If one Welsh, and one English person was to arrive in ireland, we'd be outnumbered in nationalities. hehe. I know what you mean though.

Where i live at present Polish is the most frequent used language

Where I live English is the most spoken language. Totally Irish, that. Although.... if I go into my living room, Polish will be spoken the most. Although they will speak English for my benefit and for the other irish tenant. Ahh, yes, I'm renting out to an Irish girl and a Polish guy. And I have alot less problems with the Polish guy than I do with the Irish girl. He also looks after the place, whereas the Irish girl is worse than me.

The funny thing I find about the complaints about language, is the state of our own accents. I went out to West Cork the other day (I live near cork city) and I could barely understand the local people of one small village. I've had easier times with germans and my leaving cert german (going back 11 years), and them being drunk.

and alot of foreigners are responsible for some of the crimes in Ireland

I think you're being very narrow minded here. Foreigners will indeed be responsible for crimes in Ireland. Just as Irish people will be responsible for crimes in other countries (and Ireland itself). Foreigners are people like anyone you already know, and there will be good & bad elements. Saying that though, I only had one bad encounter with a foreigner (Polish) in the last three years, as opposed to a dozen incidents with irish people. You seem to make out that irish people are wonderful, and the foreigners are taking advantage of us. If anything we're the ones taking advantage of them and their depths of hospitality. Something (that hospitality) I've found to be quite rare in Irish people within the last few years.

PoleStar

Eire 4Ever wrote:

...nowadays they seems to be more different nationalities here than Irish.

Aside from being completely untrue, the influx of foreign nationals will not change our Irish identity. Look at the numbers of non-nationals in the UK, and they're still quite "British" over there!

Eire 4Ever wrote:

and alot of foreigners are responsible for some of the crimes in Ireland

Hmm is it just me or is this statement a bit arseways "a lot responsible for some?"
Again unfounded statements like this are pointless and just fuel racism. The majority of crimes committed in this country are by our very own! While I do accept that there are foreignors committing crimes, lets not forget that the majority are still Irish!!