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Why do Americans want to be Irish?

  • 24-06-2010 03:41PM
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,327 ✭✭✭


    So almost any American guy/girl I come across have a similar habit of saying "Hey, I'm 25/50/75% Irish!".. When they find out I'm Irish... They go on to say how their great grand uncles mothers sisters aunti's granddaughters brother was from Ireland

    This has literally happened me 8 out of 10 americans I speak to

    I know it happens to other people aswel, so what are your views?

    Do they just wish they could be as amazingly talented and intelligent as the Irish?


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Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,130 ✭✭✭✭Kiera


    Because we're awesome!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 37,214 ✭✭✭✭Dudess


    Two possible responses:

    - They want to be one of us because we're so brilliant - everyone's jealous of the Irish

    - I know - what's that about? Why would anyone want to be a member of our heap of sh1t race?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 645 ✭✭✭rockmongrel


    It really is because we're great.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,054 ✭✭✭SadieSue


    They want to cling to some kind of ancestry I suppose.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 972 ✭✭✭MultiUmm


    Or maybe Irish people just have big egos and an inflated sense of self importance.

    :p


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,031 ✭✭✭✭Degag


    I don't think that they necessarily want to be us, they think that they are us....

    "My great great great grandaddy was from County Mon-ag-han!"


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,278 ✭✭✭✭My name is URL


    Americans have very little heritage of their own.. I don't mean that in a bad way but they do their best to hold on to the little they have.. which is more than can be said about some Irish people


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,776 ✭✭✭smokingman


    I think the question should be "why do Irish want to be Americans....like, whateva etc etc <insert other yank lingo here> ..."


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 9,425 ✭✭✭FearDark


    Dudess wrote: »
    Why would anyone want to be a member of our heap of sh1t race?

    Ooh controversial!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,214 ✭✭✭wylo


    to be fair , its their heritage, their grandparents etc, if you were living here and your grandparents were Italian you'd be proud of it, and probably would have no problem telling Italians the same thing.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,239 ✭✭✭✭WindSock


    Sykk wrote: »
    So almost any American guy/girl I come across have a similar habit of saying "Hey, I'm 25/50/75% Irish!".. When they find out I'm Irish... They go on to say how their great grand uncles mothers sisters aunti's granddaughters brother was from Ireland

    This has literally happened me 8 out of 10 americans I speak to

    I know it happens to other people aswel, so what are your views?

    Do they just wish they could be as amazingly talented and intelligent as the Irish?

    There is a population of 300 million people all trying to scramble for a unique cultural identity. And as a conversational piece when talking to you. If I meet someone from Spain, I tend to say I have some Spanish ancestry.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 994 ✭✭✭Twin-go


    So they don't have to feel so guilty about being drunk (or American):D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,593 ✭✭✭Sea Sharp


    Because they think we're all mad bastards who love getting into bar-fights. Or maybe they see all the jewish and italians being proud of their heritage and they get jealous.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 468 ✭✭Diabhal_Glas


    Its ridiculous when Irish people get annoyed If Americans say they are Irish. They are of Irish descent and hey if they want to cling onto that let it be. I take it as a compliment that they would want to be recognised as Irish.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,150 ✭✭✭✭bnt


    It's not really about being Irish, it's about Roots, and if someone thinks she has Irish roots, she'll naturally come to Dublin. In North America, if you aren't a Native American, then you're an immigrant from somewhere.

    If you think Dublin has it bad, try Edinburgh in summer time, when it's overrun by either Luvvies from London or US tourists seeking their Scottish roots. There are 4 or 5 times as many Scottish Americans as there are people in Scotland. :cool:

    You are the type of what the age is searching for, and what it is afraid it has found. I am so glad that you have never done anything, never carved a statue, or painted a picture, or produced anything outside of yourself! Life has been your art. You have set yourself to music. Your days are your sonnets.

    ―Oscar Wilde predicting Social Media, in The Picture of Dorian Gray



  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,524 ✭✭✭owenc


    Because they are obsessed about heritage so will have done their family tree and because they are american will have nearly every nationality, sure if you tell them your english or something they'll say the same thing, try it out some day.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 22,559 ✭✭✭✭AnonoBoy


    A lot of Irish people want to be American too though judging by the accents I hear when I'm stalking women walking out in Donnybrook.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,524 ✭✭✭owenc


    bnt wrote: »
    It's not really about being Irish, it's about Roots, and if someone thinks she has Irish roots, she'll naturally come to Dublin. In North America, if you aren't a Native American, then you're an immigrant from somewhere.

    If you think Dublin has it bad, try Edinburgh in summer time, when it's overrun by either Luvvies from London or US tourists seeking their Scottish roots. There are Scottish Americans than there are people in Scotland. :cool:

    Yes my great great cousin in america calls himself scotch irish and is obsessed with scotland.:rolleyes: But at the same time supports celtic and converted to catholic!:eek: He even set up his own club... i'm embaressed.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,487 ✭✭✭aDeener


    Its ridiculous when Irish people get annoyed If Americans say they are Irish. They are of Irish descent and hey if they want to cling onto that let it be. I take it as a compliment that they would want to be recognised as Irish.

    +1


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,524 ✭✭✭owenc


    Its also an oppurtinity to get another nationality, you become close with that country aswell, i love heritage!!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,274 ✭✭✭_feedback_


    In fairness, I've met Americans with Irish roots that have more love and respect for our lovely little country than most of the people I know that live here. Mad really.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,595 ✭✭✭bonerm


    In fairness, I've met Americans with Irish roots that have more love and respect for our lovely little country than most of the people I know that live here. Mad really.

    Well they would do, they don't have to live here.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,987 ✭✭✭Auvers


    Dudess wrote: »
    I know - what's that about? Why would anyone want to be a member of our heap of sh1t race?

    heheh is the auld rag out


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 36,634 ✭✭✭✭Ruu_Old


    Most people that I have met love the history part of things and go to great lengths to discover where their ancestors lived which is grand. The ones that annoy me are those who think the IRA and other Republican factions have a place in the future of the island. :/


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,072 ✭✭✭PeterIanStaker


    Ireland and America have a great deal in common. We are both dominated by Civil War politics and religious loonies!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,072 ✭✭✭PeterIanStaker


    Dudess wrote: »

    - I know - what's that about? Why would anyone want to be a member of our heap of sh1t race?
    - Standard Irish media response.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,599 ✭✭✭BumbleB


    I'm American and Irish.I'm a dualer.

    I think you don't realise how many doors it opens for you , its great to be from a country that never pissed off any other nation.

    In NY where I grew up its good to be Irish as all the builders unions are controlled and staffed by Irish people and you are well looked after in terms of getting work etc if you are good .

    I'm going to Russia soon and theres no way i would have gone in with an american passport.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 81,217 ✭✭✭✭biko


    I think it's a take on the usual "rags to riches" story.
    Plus it's gives you licence to drink.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 37,214 ✭✭✭✭Dudess


    FearDark wrote: »
    Ooh controversial!
    Auvers wrote: »
    heheh is the auld rag out
    I was giving it as a sample of something that's yawnsomely trotted out by those with an inferiority complex over and over and over and over 'round these parts...


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  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,524 ✭✭✭owenc


    Ruu wrote: »
    Most people that I have met love the history part of things and go to great lengths to discover where their ancestors lived which is grand. The ones that annoy me are those who think the IRA and other Republican factions have a place in the future of the island. :/

    They all do..


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