Do you see Ireland as European?

Stinicker

Ireland is located off the coast of the European continent alongside its neighbor the United Kingdom. We share a language with our neighbors and a long and fraught history but we share very little with the European continent. Our way of thinking is different and our beliefs.

Culturally we are very different wheras we have more in common with the people in the United States and Australia, New Zealand and white South Africans. Politically Ireland is predominantly right wing which is also more in common with the aforementioned countries.

Most native Irish are of European Caucasian ancestry and this is undeniable but is Ireland really European? We have so little in common with Germans; French and practically nothing in common with Eastern Europeans. This can be seen among immigrants in Ireland where the Irish get on grand with Americans, Brits etc. wheras other groups tend to be their own circles and rather clannish.

Yes we live near Europe but I consider myself closer to Boston Betty than Bruno from Belgium.

My name is URL

Yes we live near Europe but I consider myself closer to Boston Betty than Bruno from Belgium.

I don't know either of those people

Turtyturd

What about Borat from Kazakhstan?

hfallada

I think we are far more European than we like to admit. Before entering the EU we were very conservative. However now we are possible the most liberal english speaking country after Canada. Irish values are more similar to that of Europeans rather typical english speaking countries

snubbleste

Yes
to Amsterdam, Masstricht, Rome, Lisbon, Nice..

Grayson

hfallada wrote: »

I think we are far more European than we like to admit. Before entering the EU we were very conservative. However now we are possible the most liberal english speaking country after Canada. Irish values are more similar to that of Europeans rather typical english speaking countries

Except for the blasphemy laws, abortion laws and gay marriage laws.

But trolling aside, you're right. Ireland is actually a very tolerant society. Sure there's some scumbaggery, but by and large it's not bad.

Chucken

Stinicker wrote: »

Ireland is located off the coast of the European continent alongside its neighbor the United Kingdom. We share a language with our neighbors and a long and fraught history but we share very little with the European continent. Our way of thinking is different and our beliefs.

Culturally we are very different wheras we have more in common with the people in the United States and Australia, New Zealand and white South Africans. Politically Ireland is predominantly right wing which is also more in common with the aforementioned countries.

Most native Irish are of European Caucasian ancestry and this is undeniable but is Ireland really European? We have so little in common with Germans; French and practically nothing in common with Eastern Europeans. This can be seen among immigrants in Ireland where the Irish get on grand with Americans, Brits etc. wheras other groups tend to be their own circles and rather clannish.

Yes we live near Europe but I consider myself closer to Boston Betty than Bruno from Belgium.

Can you explain how you think we have anything in common with People from New Zealand and white South Africans?

If you take a little look at our history and the history of Eastern Europe, you'll find a lot in common. But of course us Irish will never admit that anyone else had it as bad as we did..

Speaking of clannish...where do all those hurley wielding boys end up when they head to Oz, USA etc? With their own "kind"!!.

I feel more affinity with Eastern Europeans than Americans.

The Backwards Man

Betty and Bruno are every bit as likely to have more in common with each other than either would with you.

As the world gets increasingly smaller, cultural differences have much less to do with geography.

pragmatic1

Not really. I think we have more in common with the rest of the anglosphere. And considering how this country has been treated in recent times by the EU, I'd like looser ties with Europe.

Cody Pomeray

hfallada wrote: »

I think we are far more European than we like to admit. Before entering the EU we were very conservative. However now we are possible the most liberal english speaking country after Canada.

We're probably the only English speaking country outside of Africa where it is illegal to have an abortion which safeguards the health of the mother.

And i'm not even sure about Africa.

Most independent measures of 'liberal' wouldn't really stand to us, compared to Oz, NZ, even the US....

problemchimp

Are we really very similar to white South Africans? Speak for yourself!
We generally have a more social community based way of living. I don't mean we are socialists, I just think we "keep an eye out for each other more than Betty from Boston.
I would consider myself more European than American or Australian or indeed South African.
(struggling to get my head around the South African comparrision)

MomijiHime

Well.. I've always thought of myself and Ireland as European

Augmerson

Closer ties to the UK and North America rather than Europe but like most European peoples and think its a great place altogether to visit.

shamrock55

Not in the slightest

Jhcx

I have mutual friends in Indonesia.

Strangely when speaking to my American friends I refer to everything in Ireland and Europe as European ie "us european's have a different way of life" on a personal level I don't think of myself as European. I consider myself as an islander considering I've lived on two Islands off the main continent.

crockholm

I suppose it is tough to see yourself as European sometimes, when throughout Europe over the past 1000 years there has been little or no focus on us. We rarely made headlines on the continent. As uncomfortable as it is,we hardly register on the minds of Europeans. I have been asked at least 4 times whether Ireland was in the EU here.

We would be better understood amongst the "Anglo" world.

charlemont

I'm European first Irish second.

orestes

Stinicker wrote: »

Ireland is located off the coast of the European continent alongside its neighbor the United Kingdom. We share a language with our neighbors and a long and fraught history but we share very little with the European continent. Our way of thinking is different and our beliefs.

Culturally we are very different wheras we have more in common with the people in the United States and Australia, New Zealand and white South Africans. Politically Ireland is predominantly right wing which is also more in common with the aforementioned countries.

Most native Irish are of European Caucasian ancestry and this is undeniable but is Ireland really European? We have so little in common with Germans; French and practically nothing in common with Eastern Europeans. This can be seen among immigrants in Ireland where the Irish get on grand with Americans, Brits etc. wheras other groups tend to be their own circles and rather clannish.

Yes we live near Europe but I consider myself closer to Boston Betty than Bruno from Belgium.

What a load of sh!te.

I'm gonna go ahead and guess that you haven't spent much time in mainland Europe. A month inter-railing after you finished the Leaving doesn't count.

Richard Hillman

I would say more Eastern Caribbean than Western Europe.

Dyr

hfallada wrote: »

However now we are possible the most liberal english speaking country after Canada. Irish values

aha ha ha ha

Irelands full of conformists and yes men, that makes us a little bit european

Stinicker

orestes wrote: »

What a load of sh!te.

I'm gonna go ahead and guess that you haven't spent much time in mainland Europe. A month inter-railing after you finished the Leaving doesn't count.

I have never been inter-railing but I have traveled across Europe on different occasions and have been to Germany, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland and Spain and spent quite a bit of time on the continent.

Grand Moff Tarkin

I always state I am a proud Corkman first and foremost.

Lenin Skynard

If you take language out of the equation, I don't think we're at all like South Africans or Australians. America is a different kettle of fish because every country now has a certain amount of American influence. We have similarities to the UK in the same way that they have similarities to the French and the French have similarities to the Belgians. It's bound to happen on a continent like this.

pabloh999

We've (most of us)probably more in common with UK/USA than mainland Europe.
Language
Food
Music
Movies
Social scene(pubs etc)

Son Of A Vidic

Stinicker wrote: »

Do you see Ireland as European?

Certainly not. But are we the gimp of europe? Absolutely.

Greentopia

Stinicker wrote: »

Our way of thinking is different and our beliefs.

What do you mean, 'our beliefs'? religion? culture?

Stinicker wrote: »

Culturally we are very different wheras we have more in common with the people in the United States and Australia, New Zealand and white South Africans. Politically Ireland is predominantly right wing...

Apart from US cultural hegemony and influence that effects most countries I don't see us as having much in common with them apart from large numbers of Irish people living there. Aus/New Zealand for the same reason and because we share a common language. Apart from that I don't see those countries as having any more in common with us than with European countries.

Ireland is a predominantly Centrist country, not Right Wing.

Stinicker wrote: »

This can be seen among immigrants in Ireland where the Irish get on grand with Americans, Brits etc. wheras other groups tend to be their own circles and rather clannish.

Obviously because we speak the same language we can communicate well with Americans, British etc. How many Irish speak Polish, Latvian, or in fact any other language apart from English and maybe Irish?
And the Irish are very clannish when they move to other countries and tend to seek out the company of other Irish.
It's not something only people from other countries do!

Stinicker wrote: »

Yes we live near Europe but I consider myself closer to Boston Betty than Bruno from Belgium.

Ok, I don't. I'm Irish first, European second. There's a lot more I like and would like to see replicated here about the European way of doing things than the American-healthcare, education, public transport, social policies etc.

yara

I don't see Europe and being European!! :eek:

seven_eleven

Not really. I identify more with the UK than mainland Europe. We're similar in many ways to be honest.

orestes

Stinicker wrote: »

I have never been inter-railing but I have traveled across Europe on different occasions and have been to Germany, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland and Spain and spent quite a bit of time on the continent.

Yup, I've visited most of those places, including living in the Netherlands for a year, Belgium for a year, Germany for a few months, and Czech Republic for a year (moving back to Prague for the summer on Wednesday actually). I work in international tourism, so on top of living there I spend a lot of time meeting people from all over the place and have to get to know a bit about the history and people, and we have far more in common with Europe than with Americans or South Africans, particularly Eastern Europe when it comes to the history of countries. Unless you're basing common culture on Starbucks and the Simpsons your comparison is very naive.

Greentopia

Lenin Skynard wrote: »

If you take language out of the equation, I don't think we're at all like South Africans or Australians.

I agree. The South African example in particular boggles my mind.

Yamanoto

pabloh999 wrote: »

We've (most of us)probably more in common with UK/USA than mainland Europe.
Language
Food
Music
Movies
Social scene(pubs etc)

There's undoubtedly a marked cultural crossover with the US , but it's kinda superficial in many respects.

Despite myriad differences in language and tradition, I think our sensibilities and way of life are mirrored to a far greater degree by other European nations.

Killer Wench

When I read 'right-wing', I think of 'extremist'. America is not mostly right-wing, 40% of the population considers themselves conservative, 35% consider themselves moderate, and 20% considers themselves liberal. The largest group is conservative but it is still under 50% of the population. That is a significant population but not most Americans.

I wonder if this disconnect from the greater European continent is the reason y'all haven't won the Eurovision Song Contest in quite some time.

charlemont

Corvus Maximus wrote: »

Certainly not. But are we the gimp of europe? Absolutely.

That unfortunately would be true.:pac:

Zebra3

Never consider myself European.

In saying that I love travelling mainland Europe.

Celly Smunt

I wish we weren't an island.

IM0

augustus_gloop wrote: »

Ireland is not ( predominantly ) right wing , its incredibly centrist

Id say more centre-right, look at the social welfare system we have!

rolliepoley

At the rate things are going in this country, in a view years time we will be all speaking German.

losthorizon

Stinicker wrote: »

Ireland is located off the coast of the European continent alongside its neighbor the United Kingdom. We share a language with our neighbors and a long and fraught history but we share very little with the European continent. Our way of thinking is different and our beliefs.

Culturally we are very different wheras we have more in common with the people in the United States and Australia, New Zealand and white South Africans. Politically Ireland is predominantly right wing which is also more in common with the aforementioned countries.

Most native Irish are of European Caucasian ancestry and this is undeniable but is Ireland really European? We have so little in common with Germans; French and practically nothing in common with Eastern Europeans. This can be seen among immigrants in Ireland where the Irish get on grand with Americans, Brits etc. wheras other groups tend to be their own circles and rather clannish.

Yes we live near Europe but I consider myself closer to Boston Betty than Bruno from Belgium.

Fog in Channel - Europe cut off. A famous BBC weather report.

Yet your idea of what Irish people are like and our culture is is way too simplistic and then to claim that all Europeans are just one big block of monolithic sameness is craziness in the extreme. Me thinks you have not traveled that much in Europe or wider afield. Some countries in Europe are to the left of us, some to the right, but most, no matter what their outlook take a much bigger interest in their politics than us Irish and get involved.


As for being clannish go to Spain its easy to track down an Irish person you won't find them in Extremadura or Ceuta more than likely but an Irish pub in the Costa del sol surrounded by loads of other Irish people on package holidays. God help them if they had to mix with locals.

I've been away many times for games and and the first thing people want to know is where is the Irish pub - so much for mixing!

Omackeral

Before you use the urinal, you're Irish.

After you use the urinal, you're Irish.

But WHILE you're using the urinal... European!

carlmango11

rolliepoley wrote: »

At the rate things are going in this country, in a view years time we will be all speaking German.

:rolleyes:

pragmatic1

pabloh999 wrote: »

We've (most of us)probably more in common with UK/USA than mainland Europe.
Language
Food
Music
Movies
Social scene(pubs etc)

Yep and you'll find most of this in Canada, the US, New Zealand and Australia too.

rolliepoley

carlmango11 wrote: »

:rolleyes:

What? have you got something in your eye?
It was a bit of banter, what AH is all about.

Lbeard

I think we have a lot more in common with our European neighbours (specifically Poland) than we do with America.

America is a New World country and is much more similar to other New World countries (Canada, Australia, New Zealand) which were settled by a particular breed of people (mostly Anglo Saxon, protestant, farmer types).

Having said that, we've influence America in some ways, so that there are some clear similarities in some ways (e.g. the sporting context, with our own indigenous football codes, plus our mutual enjoyment of golf).

BlimpGaz

Lbeard wrote: »

I think we have a lot more in common with our European neighbours (specifically Poland) than we do with America.

Definitely not in terms of female quality! (had to be said)

Amirani

Lbeard wrote: »

Having said that, we've influence America in some ways, so that there are some clear similarities in some ways (e.g. the sporting context, with our own indigenous football codes, plus our mutual enjoyment of golf).

I don't understand the footballing similarity? Do Europeans not enjoy golf also?

Lbeard

NiallSparky wrote: »

I don't understand the footballing similarity? Do Europeans not enjoy golf also?

The footballing similiarity is with regard to indigenous codes (i.e. Gaelic football, American football).

Also, golf is incredibly popular in Ireland and America. While it's growing in popularity in Europe, there's only a handful of countries where it would be considered a major sport (Ireland, UK, Spain, Sweden possibly).

BlimpGaz

Lbeard wrote: »

Also, golf is incredibly popular in Ireland and America. While it's growing in popularity in Europe, there's only a handful of countries where it would be considered a major sport (Ireland, UK, Spain, Sweden possibly).

Really though?? I heard 85% of golf balls purchased here get used as anal toys, rather than to play the INCREDIBLY boring and tedious sport.

Latchy

I was on a visit over to Dublin last week and driving along the motorway with my brother I always feel I could be in UK ,Holland or any other EU country so from that perspective it feels very much European but I would say that the neighbourly Germans ,Dutch and Belgians have more in common with each other just as the neighbourly Irish , English ,Welsh and Scottish do.

losthorizon

Latchy wrote: »

I was on a visit over to Dublin last week and driving along the motorway with my brother I always feel I could be in UK ,Holland or any other EU country so from that perspective it feels very much European but I would say that the neighbourly Germans ,Dutch and Belgians have more in common with each other just as the neighbourly Irish , English Welsh and Scottish do.

Bloody hell Belgians have very little in common with each other never mind with other nations.

Micky Dolenz

losthorizon wrote: »

Bloody hell Belgians have very little in common with each other never mind with other nations.

Belgium is like NI without the violence. With regard to their national identity.

biko

I'm only European as in not American, not Asian and so on.
I never identify myself with or feel particularly close to other European nations.