A question about the term "Irish"

Ahoythere

Does it refer to nationality, ethnicity, or both?

I was watching a few "Irish people react to..." videos on Youtube and one of them happened to show the reaction of a black man. A lot of people seemed to get angry over this, questioning why he was in the video (essentially saying that black people cannot be Irish).

Everyone who was against the black man being in the video thought that Irish is an ethnicity and that Irish people have distinct genetic features/Ireland had a limited gene pool which is the reason why Irish people are known for their ginger hair, etc. Whilst everyone who was for the black man thought that Irish is a nationality and that even if you aren't born there, you can still be Irish if you are raised in Ireland and hold citizenship.

I did a little digging around myself but I couldn't find a solid answer.

So which is it? Is it a nationality or an ethnicity?

the evasion_kid

""The Irish are the blacks of Europe. And Dubliners are the blacks of Ireland. And the Northside Dubliners are the blacks of Dublin. So say it once, say it loud: I'm black and I'm proud." - Jimmy rabbitte

One eyed Jack

Ahoythere wrote: »

So which is it? Is it a nationality or an ethnicity?

It can be used to refer to both - nationality is your country of origin, ethnicity is your heritage. Whoever was slagging the chap off had obviously never heard of Phil Lynott.

the evasion_kid wrote: »

""The Irish are the blacks of Europe. And Dubliners are the blacks of Ireland. And the Northside Dubliners are the blacks of Dublin. So say it once, say it loud: I'm black and I'm proud." - Jimmy rabbitte

Great film

KungPao

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nC7s17K2uMY

Irish Guitarist

I once read the comments on an article on Irish Central (a horrible website that Americans get their Irish news from). There was an American idiot saying that because his great great grandfather (or something) was Irish that he's more Irish than anyone who was actually born in Ireland who doesn't have red hair and freckles. He also referred to the 'black Irish' (which is seemingly any Irish person with dark hair). Judging by his comments he had never set foot in Ireland in his life. I'm guessing that's the type of moron that was commenting on this YouTube video.

lollsangel

Neither

Well my partner was born in the Philippines, but is now an irish citizen. On his passport he's irish but in his own mind he will always be filipino. So I reckon being irish can be both your nationality and your ethnicity,depending on circumstances

El_Duderino 09

Ahoythere wrote:

I was watching a few "Irish people react to..." videos on Youtube and one of them happened to show the reaction of a black man. A lot of people seemed to get angry over this, questioning why he was in the video (essentially saying that black people cannot be Irish).

I'd say irish is a nationality and for a very long tube it also correlated strongly with ethnicity. Thee just weren't that many non white irish people or non irish people living in Ireland. That has changed in recent years and I don't feel any loss. Someone who is born here and lives here is Irish.

Ethnicity

Nationality

Wibbs

First post, don't give your own opinion and throw up a poll? I smell a student or a "journalist" looking for free data.

Tombi!

Mod: OP, I apologize. I originally believed you to have signed up for research and I accidently forgot to reopen this thread when I learned you weren't doing that.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

Gatling

Funny in america it would probably considered something like Cultural appropriation with people claims to be irish based off just living here or feeling irish what ever that is

everdead.ie

Ethnicity

What was it Welsh Born Irishman Thomas Davies said, something like

Its not blood, but a willingness to be part of the Irish Nation that makes you Irish.

Fox_In_Socks

You have to be full of "ire".

entropi

Neither

To utilise Permabear's example, I've got some family in America who would be considered "Irish" to others there. To us, they are American, born and bred. It's both nationality and ethnicity, it all depends on how you view the situation.

MacauDragon

If you're on the books you're in the club.

Unless we want to test for Irishness in which case I would probably fail despite my whiteness and the mad Irish head on me.

Not a word of gaelige, can't be bothered with gaa, not ginger, only slight begrudgery.

Although i do have a deep sense of not deserving any better. So might pass.

mansize

Ethnicity

Simon Zebo, Paul mcGrath- great Irish sports stars

MadDog76

I know a person is Irish when they have an Irish accent .........

Rothko

Does nationality really matter that much?

MadDog76

Suas11 wrote: »

Does nationality really matter that much?

Have you ever been to an airport? It matters ........

Rhea Rose

If you were born in Ireland, you're Irish. That's pretty much how I've always seen it.

I don't think it matters that much either, though. I mean, look at Saoirse Ronan, she was born in the US and everytime someone calls her British we go mental over here (which I can understand) - but there's never a mention of her being American. She is American though, she was born there. And I guess she's Irish, since her parents are Irish and she was raised here. So, now I've confused myself.

My ex lived in the US and had a few friends who considered themselves 'part-Irish' due to their ancestry; that **** used to bug me a bit but only because they were so annoying about it. 'I'm 1/3 Irish', etc. Like, you have an Idaho accent, you were born in Idaho, your parents were born in Idaho, and you've never set foot in Ireland. I don't see how your Grandaddy's Grandaddy's long lost cousin being Irish has any bearing on your nationality.

indioblack

Ahoythere wrote: »

Does it refer to nationality, ethnicity, or both?

I was watching a few "Irish people react to..." videos on Youtube and one of them happened to show the reaction of a black man. A lot of people seemed to get angry over this, questioning why he was in the video (essentially saying that black people cannot be Irish).

Everyone who was against the black man being in the video thought that Irish is an ethnicity and that Irish people have distinct genetic features/Ireland had a limited gene pool which is the reason why Irish people are known for their ginger hair, etc. Whilst everyone who was for the black man thought that Irish is a nationality and that even if you aren't born there, you can still be Irish if you are raised in Ireland and hold citizenship.

I did a little digging around myself but I couldn't find a solid answer.

So which is it? Is it a nationality or an ethnicity?

You're Irish if you come into the parlour.

Fratton Fred

Rhea Rose wrote: »

I don't think it matters that much either, though. I mean, look at Saoirse Ronan, she was born in the US and everytime someone calls her British we go mental over here (which I can understand) - but there's never a mention of her being American. She is American though, she was born there. And I guess she's Irish, since her parents are Irish

Even though her dad was born in Manchester?

The world is too small and too integrated for the term "irish" to have an exact definition.

If someone thinks they're Irish and calls themselves Irish, then I guess they are Irish.

Rhea Rose

Fratton Fred wrote: »

Even though her dad was born in Manchester?

The world is too small and too integrated for the term "irish" to have an exact definition.

If someone thinks they're Irish and calls themselves Irish, then I guess they are Irish.

Was he? Well, that makes me even more confused!:pac:

biko

Neither

As you made poll public OP I checked but found you didn't vote yet.

Why is that? Why did you not vote?

Why did you make poll public?

Is Chinese a nationality or ethnicity, or both?

Will this survey be in the Sunday Indo this weekend?

Ahoythere

biko wrote: »

Why is that? Why did you not vote?

Why would I vote? I'm looking for OTHER people's answers, not my own.

biko wrote: »

Why did you make poll public?

As you can clearly see from my join date I'm new to the forum, meaning I don't know how some things work yet. I assumed that making a poll public means that other people can see the results of the poll. I don't see how there's any harm in letting other curious people see the results.

biko wrote: »

Is Chinese a nationality or ethnicity, or both?

I think Chinese is both. But I don't think Irish is an ethnicity.

biko wrote: »

Will this survey be in the Sunday Indo this weekend?

No..? :S

I'm not sure why you're being rude and interrogating me, but I've already been "cleared", hence why this thread is open again... I said it to Wibbs and I'll say it again. The negative response to the black guy angered me a lot. I only wanted some clarification on what Irish is before I made my own comment on the video, not because I'm some student or journalist.

Rabo Karabekian

For me, I don't think ethnicity really comes in to it, surely? How do we differ from British people, ethnically speaking? I'm asking that genuinely, maybe there are ethnic differences.

Where I work, there are a fair few customers who most people would assume are from somewhere in Africa, but as soon as they open their mouths, they're pure Dublin, born and bred (and sometimes have the names to prove it). I really don't think you could say they weren't Irish when they have the accent, the cultural references, and the knowledge. As for the 'being born here', is someone who was born here and left after a few months, with no links to the place, more Irish than these people?

I think it depends on what you're asking though. Culturally Irish? Or technically Irish?

Rattser

Neither

Being born in Ireland doesn't automatically mean your nationality is Irish btw. I would say that being Irish is both an ethnicity and a nationality.

The Irish people (Irish: Muintir na hÉireann or Na hÉireannaigh) are a nationand ethnic group native to the island of Ireland, who share a common Irish ancestry, identity and culture. 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_people

Sounds about right.

Lavinia

Ethnicity

Does having an Irish passport e.g. citizenship comes into account e.g. makes you "Irish"?

BTW I really liked this:

everdead.ie wrote: »

What was it Welsh Born Irishman Thomas Davies said, something like

Its not blood, but a willingness to be part of the Irish Nation that makes you Irish.

LordSutch

Ethnicity

Can people be ethnically English? ethnically Scottish? ethnically Welsh, ethnically Swedish?

Can one be ethnically German?

Rattser

Neither

Lavinia wrote: »

Does having an Irish passport e.g. citizenship comes into account e.g. makes you "Irish"?

BTW I really liked this:

Davis, not Davies, was referring to the "Anglos and Danes." Being of ascendancy stock himself, he would say that.