Were you ever discriminated against for being Irish?

MarkY91 · 25-08-2018 09:43AM #1

We all know about the "no Irish need apply" signs in USA back in the 1900s and Irish people being treated badly in England being labelled a terrorist and paddy etc. But how abojg in the present, have you ever been discriminated against for being Irish?

I can't really think of anything aside from a few jokes at my expense anywhere I've went in the world. The typical potato, alcoholic jokes sure but it's just banter. I find our drinking reputation quite amusing tbh.

I would be interested reading stories about this topic.

25-08-2018 09:56AM

I've never been discriminated against for being Irish. I've been discriminated against for being white plenty of times... (from living in Asia)

TBH I've had far more examples of people seeking to discriminate against me because they thought me to be American or British, but after explaining that I'm Irish, they'd welcome me with open hours and bend over backwards to apologise. (Australia is a good example of this)

Taytoland · 25-08-2018 10:02AM

Nah, anyway, going out to cut my planter class occupied garden grass.

Nitrogan · 25-08-2018 10:07AM

Yes, I remember 'no Irish' signs at BCM in Magaluf in the mid '90s and a generally hostile attitude to Irish people, maybe similar to what muslims get now. That was a dicey time being Irish among pissed up aggressive Brits.

backspin. · 25-08-2018 10:07AM

Taytoland wrote: »

Nah, anyway, going out to cut my planter class occupied garden grass.

You have to go back... To Scotland that is..

backspin. · 25-08-2018 10:11AM

Nothing serious, a New Zealander was a bit of a prick to me in Holland years ago because I was Irish and a Scottish woman a bit of a bitch in Scotland but both just drunken bitchiness on their part.

Pauliedragon · 25-08-2018 10:17AM

Deleted User wrote: »

I've never been discriminated against for being Irish. I've been discriminated against for being white plenty of times... (from living in Asia)

TBH I've had far more examples of people seeking to discriminate against me because they thought me to be American or British, but after explaining that I'm Irish, they'd welcome me with open hours and bend over backwards to apologise. (Australia is a good example of this)

I used to get a lot of Aussies think I was English when they heard my accent. I never quite got why they used to apologise so hard. I was never offended by it but apparantly a lot of Irish people fire up if they get mistaken for being English.

EdgeCase · 25-08-2018 10:18AM

I’ve had a bit of teasing in England a few times. Nothing serious but it gets pretty tiresome when someone keeps it up.

You also get the odd bit of stereotyping that assumes you’re some kind of right wing Catholic. I’ve had weird comments about “my catholic guilt complex” which, to be honest is a bit of an odd one as I’m a goddess type, from a long line of godless types and grew up in a very liberal household.

I’ve seen far, far worse melted out to people from the North of England in London though. Endless mocking of accents and so on.

The main one I find in England is they won’t discriminate against you when you want them to! I have had a few right wing, “totally not xenophobic” brexiteers coming out with “ah you’re one of us mate” “the Irish aren’t foreign” ... I was pointing out that “I fecking am!”

I’d say the worst I’ve had was in the US though but it wasn’t really “nasty” just being asked did to say the lucky charms slogan or why I wasn’t drunk.

whiskeyman · 25-08-2018 10:24AM

I couldn't apply to be POTUS.

irishguitarlad · 25-08-2018 10:24AM

When I lived in England yes. However in Spain as soon as you say you're Irish they absolutely love you, even more so if you dislike the Brits.

shakeitoff · 25-08-2018 10:25AM

Yeah in America, the whole 'everybody loves Ireland' stuff is nonsense. In California, loads haven't a clue about it and ones who do it means nothing to. Maybe on east coast it's different.

The_Kew_Tour · 25-08-2018 10:26AM

Not for being Irish but was called a few names for the Colour of my skin in India and Somalia.

But never bothered me one bit

zapitastas · 25-08-2018 10:28AM

MarkY91 wrote: »

We all know about the "no Irish need apply" signs in USA back in the 1900s and Irish people being treated badly in England being labelled a terrorist and paddy etc. But how abojg in the present, have you ever been discriminated against for being Irish?

I can't really think of anything aside from a few jokes at my expense anywhere I've went in the world. The typical potato, alcoholic jokes sure but it's just banter. I find our drinking reputation quite amusing tbh.

I would be interested reading stories about this topic.

As long as its only the bants OMG lol

EdgeCase · 25-08-2018 10:28AM

whiskeyman wrote: »

I couldn't apply to be POTUS.

The main qualification for that seems to be a reference from the Russian Mafia and the mob.

theteal · 25-08-2018 10:29AM

I've received a bit of anti-Dublin guff from some bog hoppers over here. The natives have been more than sound though.

Franz Von Peppercorn · 25-08-2018 10:32AM

shakeitoff wrote: »

Yeah in America, the whole 'everybody loves Ireland' stuff is nonsense. In California, loads haven't a clue about it and ones who do it means nothing to. Maybe on east coast it's different.

But what was the discrimination?

EdgeCase · 25-08-2018 10:34AM

Franz Von Peppercorn wrote: »

But what was the discrimination?

Sounds a lot more like failure to discriminate! The cheek of them!

LeBash · 25-08-2018 10:36AM

Plenty of times when they think I'm British but when I explain I'm Irish they always invite to tarmac their driveway

Nitrogan · 25-08-2018 10:37AM

Even now hearing "Football's Coming Home" puts me on edge from experiences of being in the bar where you are the targeted minority, scared some prick is going to point out your accent.

25-08-2018 10:41AM

I was racially abused one time, was told Irish people are unevolved with ugly unrefined faces like monkeys

Squatter · 25-08-2018 10:52AM

riffmongous wrote: »

I was racially abused one time, was told Irish people are unevolved with ugly unrefined faces like monkeys

But that wan't racial abuse; merely an anthropological observation.

mikemac2 · 25-08-2018 10:55AM

Not discriminated but when working in England the Brits are fond of “that a bit Irish”

Accounts wrong? Folder missing from the cabinet? Brand new coffee machine in the canteen banjaxed?

“That’s a bit Irish” they say

Wasn’t aimed at me but wtf?

EdgeCase · 25-08-2018 10:55AM

Not to mention that making such a statement can result in one's own face suddenly losing its refinement.

EdgeCase · 25-08-2018 10:57AM

mikemac2 wrote: »

Not discriminated but when working in England the Brits are fond of “that a bit Irish”

Accounts wrong? Folder missing from the cabinet? Brand new coffee machine in the canteen banjaxed?

“That’s a bit Irish” they say

Wasn’t aimed at me but wtf?

One of my Dublin relatives used to say that!! I pulled her up on it EVERY time! Unbelievable bit of self-abuse.

Ray Palmer · 25-08-2018 11:11AM

I used to have to fly to England for work regularly and you could randomly be stopped for when entering England to sign a sheet saying you weren't a terrorist. I was asked to sign the thing every week for 3 months by the same airport police guy and eventually complained as it wasn't random.

That was in the 90s. Couldn't go into the business lounge in the airport until 30 minutes before the flight as I was Irish and going on an Irish flight. The would let a work colleague go in as he was English even though it was the same flight.

Called "Paddy" and "Mick" aggressively and called variation of stupid for being Irish in London.

English guy mispronounced my name intentionally all the time. He was a very senior manager in a client's business. Was racist through and through but the company just ignored it.

Heard clients calling me a thick Paddy and going on about how I was late and couldn't possibly know how to fix heir problems being so young. The plane arrived late due to a fire in the English airport I was landing in and I fixed their problem in 10 minutes. Was delighted to hand the a £5k bill and leave in less an hour. Most of the time spent telling them how they caused the problem by changing the configurations and showing them who precisely did it. The particular guy who said I couldn't possibly fix the issue had done it.

So I would say yes I have been discriminated against for being Irish

Reati · 25-08-2018 11:12AM

Discrimination no, Stereotyped all the time though. Drink is the joke normally, which falls flat on me as I don't drink! Mainly by Americans and Brits.

Wanderer2010 · 25-08-2018 11:17AM

In America and particularly from airport staff, a lot of them seem to think Irish people are a funny race, as in backhanded little digs at us for drinking too much or our "funny" accents. Thing is, its said in a kind of subtle way like "Oh you are from Ireland, that's cute, honey this guy is from Ireland where the dancers and leprechauns are from". Its nothing but ignorance on their behalf, having been fed cliched and outdated portrayals of Irish people in American tv shows and news etc.
I don't think they are deliberately trying to be discriminatory but it still comes across as such when you hear it.

Hector Bellend · 25-08-2018 11:54AM

EdgeCase wrote: »

The main qualification for that seems to be a reference from the Russian Mafia and the mob.

JFK paved the way for that one.

Collie D · 25-08-2018 11:57AM

Stereotypes and minor digs a few times. Sectarian abuse which was quite venomous. Two or three times in one day for wearing a top that in hindsight looked like a Celtic jersey.

But for the most part I find being Irish is well received and far outweighs the idiots and the ignorant.

shakeitoff · 25-08-2018 12:39PM

Wanderer2010 wrote: »

In America and particularly from airport staff, a lot of them seem to think Irish people are a funny race, as in backhanded little digs at us for drinking too much or our "funny" accents. Thing is, its said in a kind of subtle way like "Oh you are from Ireland, that's cute, honey this guy is from Ireland where the dancers and leprechauns are from". Its nothing but ignorance on their behalf, having been fed cliched and outdated portrayals of Irish people in American tv shows and news etc.
I don't think they are deliberately trying to be discriminatory but it still comes across as such when you hear it.

Yeah in America that is definitely my experience. I was in Canada and I was serving a table and they all start making fun of my accent(South Dublin btw) and doing that stereotypical Irish accent. That was the only time I've ever felt uncomfortable. They think they can get away with it because they can trace one great grandparent back to Ireland, especially in the case of Canadians they all have some Irish lineage.

In Canada though, the Irish aren't really viewed as foreigners. I was told by so many people that they see us as being just like them. In the USA, Irish people are Europeans but in Canada they don't see it like that.

WoollyRedHat · 25-08-2018 12:43PM

Was discriminated for being Irish by a badger once..

Were you ever discriminated against for being Irish?

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