Happy St. George's Day.

Excellent post. Spot on.

Your wee attack on me for daring to bring northern Irish culture into the English/Irish culture discussion is a bit strange.

you seem to have this rosy pure view of ‘Irish’ culture - or ‘craic’ as you say. Your use of ‘the craic’ just emphasis how recent and imported much Irish culture is - an that’s healthy in my view. If us British hadn’t have lived among you, you wouldn’t have many aspects of your culture eg ‘the craic’, set dancing, Guinness, etc, etc.

specifically you should thank those nasty Black Nordies for ‘the craic’, and I would suggest much of the humour https://www.dictionary.com/e/word-of-the-day/craic-2018-03-17/?ssp=1&darkschemeovr=0&setlang=en-GB&safesearch=moderate

Exactly.

Thats the difference between Unionists in the north living in their tiny, religion inflated bubble and someone from the Republic.

Religious/Political division isnt the goto divider for people from the Republic.

If they are born in Ireland, they are irish. enough said. Arthur was Irish.

But hardline unionists always seek to divide not by nationality or birth, but by political affinity to the crown/protestant belief.

As if we were still living in the 1700s.

Of course, thats the reason the Dinosaurs Under Protection (DUP) party hold back Northern Ireland from becoming a progressive, forward thinking country, capable of developing a strong private sector economy & leveraging their unique "one foot in and one foot out" of the EU opportunity.

The younger generations in NI will slowly erode the religious bias, but in the meantime, it is the Republic that benefits from NI's cyclical ability to cut its own nose off (stunt its economy) to spite its face (so it can exclaim how British it is - even though most Brits couldnt give two hoots about NI and indeed many dont even know its not part of the Republic of Ireland)

Not meant to be a dig at Downcow here or any other NI posters & apologies if any offence is caused.

Just a general observation.

Had to smile at this one.

Years ago I took an Irish relative to visit Stonehenge, Silbury Hill, West Kennet Long Barrow and the Avebury stone circle. Afterwards my relative turned to me and asked, "Have you nothing round here but old stones?"

Where? I dont recall any parades or bank holidays for Poppy Day?

I’m not sure you are correct. He was born and lived in The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland which was a  sovereign state. My hunch is he was British. He certainly wanted to be British so I can’t imagine why he would not be in the same way I am.

you might need to revisit you history there.

Nope.

He was born and lived in Ireland and the brewery was first in Kildare and then Dublin.

Guinness will always be known as an Irish drink. The world over.

Ask any englishman.

Maybe not in some quarters of NI, i grant you.

But i dont think many outside of NI care too much about that.

I don't mind if he was a brit (UK presumably since Britain is the other island). But he might have identified as a Brit. That's his choice.

But what's the story with trying to yell other people they're wrong for enjoying their culture? That seems to be a big part of it in NI. Enjoyment of someone's own culture is focused on either annoying the other side or telling them why their culture isn't really valid.

Would you find it as interesting if nobody opposed your culture or you couldn't have a pop at Irish culture aspart of celebratory own?

I was simply reacting to the attitude of many on here who were saying that British culture was inferior simply because it was not based on the things some Irish folk wish to regard as culture. They were then also claiming the likes of ‘the craic’ as somehow Irish when in fact it was brought over from the mainland by Presbyterians.

Not inherently superior. Shur culture is just culture. It's about how you use use it. But irish culture is certainly practiced more thoroughly, regularly, casually and inclusively.

I don't mind where the craic comes from. It's ours now. Wouldn't you agree?