Plastic Paddies, What's Your View??

SharpshooterTom · 20-04-2011 02:06PM #1

Is there such a thing, and if so what constitutes one? I was born in England and lived there till I was 14, then moved to Omagh where I have lived ever since.

I always read reports and threads about people getting annoyed with people Irish ancestry who mention it an awful lot. Do you have an opinion?

These conversations seem to be at the heart of irish sport a lot of the time. Some are ok with players with english accents playing, a lot think it ruins the consensus of the team.

I know Americans have worse reputation than any country for their naive/small minded outlook on Ireland in the first place. But we are nation of emigrants and many because of this recession are leaving yet again far aboard and will have children born in those countries and so the dilemma will continue again.

What's you view?? Does it annoy you??

Diabhal Beag · 20-04-2011 02:10PM

If they're proud to be associated with this country in whatever manner good for them. God knows we hate ourselves enough these days.

Plastic Paddy is also a term that Dave McWilliams would use so please refrain from using it.

seamus · 20-04-2011 02:10PM

I've heard the term, but I've never really understood what "Plastic Paddy" means.

If someone wants to call themselves Irish, what do I care?

Links234 · 20-04-2011 02:11PM

They're good, but not as durable as perspex paddies.

fontanalis · 20-04-2011 02:11PM

Gnobe wrote: »

Is there such a thing, and if so what constitutes one? I was born in England and lived there till I was 14, then moved to Omagh where I have lived ever since.

I always read reports and threads about people getting annoyed with people Irish ancestry who mention it an awful lot. Do you have an opinion?

These conversations seem to be at the heart of irish sport a lot of the time. Some are ok with players with english accents playing, a lot think it ruins the consensus of the team.

I know Americans have worse reputation than any country for their naive/small minded outlook on Ireland in the first place. But we are nation of emigrants and many because of this recession are leaving yet again far aboard and will have children born in those countries and so the dilemma will continue again.

What's you view?? Does it annoy you??

Well irish people have no problem clinging to someones scant irish ancestry to claim them as irish; I remember someone on a radio show trying to claim John Wayne as Irish. Embarassing stuff.
Another thing is people with irish ancestry tend to have the need to claim irishness through their original irish ancestors as when irish went abroad they tend to hang around with other irish people and wear it on their sleeves.
It's the kitsch irish nonsense that does my head in; the stereotypical leprachauns, terms like st patttys day, black irish etc some of which irish people also have no problem latching on to.

fontanalis · 20-04-2011 02:12PM

Links234 wrote: »

They're good, but not as durable as perspex paddies.

Or latex paddies.

thebigbiffo · 20-04-2011 02:14PM

sure most of europe is a little bit irish now.

as in they f'ucking own us.

Oh_Noes · 20-04-2011 02:16PM

I think it's usually fine when it's only one generation (two Irish parents) to identify yourself as Irish. When it is Americans who have a very vague connection to Ireland yet identify themselves as "Irish" kind of annoys me. The main reason for that is that if I moved to America or somewhere where there are a lot of these people, I wouldn't want the general public having preconceptions about my culture/identity based on someone with very little connection to Ireland.

Yahew · 20-04-2011 02:18PM

Those of you who are in Ireland, who are dating Irish girls ( or guys) and who are coming over to the UK, what would you bring your child up as.

1) English only?
2) English with some Irish interest.
3) Irish?

Pauleta · 20-04-2011 02:20PM

Dont mind them but the ones from Scotland, particularly Glasgow are the height of embarrassment.

kfallon · 20-04-2011 02:25PM

If you want to sail on the good ship 'Ireland' then welcome aboard!!!

Except Jermaine Pennant!

kfallon · 20-04-2011 02:25PM

Pauleta wrote: »

Dont mind them but the ones from Scotland, particularly Glasgow are the height of embarrassment.

Even Ray Houghton despite all he did for us?

Links234 · 20-04-2011 02:30PM

fontanalis wrote: »

Or latex paddies.

Get teflon paddies, they're non stick.

dpe · 20-04-2011 02:32PM

Yahew wrote: »

Those of you who are in Ireland, who are dating Irish girls ( or guys) and who are coming over to the UK, what would you bring your child up as.

1) English only?
2) English with some Irish interest.
3) Irish?

I'm in the opposite situation; I'm English, living in Ireland with an Irish partner. My daughter was born here. She's Irish. Obviously I'll expect her to be more open minded about the UK than certain people, but bottom line is she's Irish.

I note Dara O'Briain has a section in his act called "I will love my English child..." saying exactly the same thing. All this "I'm Irish because my great-great-granddad used to live in a hole in the ground in a field outside Cork" is a load of old bollocks.

20-04-2011 02:33PM

Don't like it in general.. American. Sometimes it's great though, I've met people from South America with Irish blood who just state it as a matter of fact and are proud of it. Usually an interesting story.

gurramok · 20-04-2011 02:33PM

Pauleta wrote: »

Dont mind them but the ones from Scotland, particularly Glasgow are the height of embarrassment.

Somebody has a problem with the entire population of Scots that are of Irish descent, way to go for generalisations!

SharpshooterTom · 20-04-2011 02:37PM

dpe wrote: »

All this "I'm Irish because my great-great-granddad used to live in a hole in the ground in a field outside Cork" is a load of old bollocks.

But we're not talking about those types. We're talking about people who have significant amount of irish ancestry.

I was born in England to two irish parents, and lived there until I was 14 when my parents decided to move back to (Northern) Ireland. This gets a bit more difficult for somebody like me.

RichieC · 20-04-2011 02:40PM

They can do as they please as long as they don't wear emerald green trousers in my house.

stovelid · 20-04-2011 02:49PM

Moved here at 11 from England where I was born (to Irish parents) and have lived here for 29 years. If I was forced to declare myself as anything, it would without a doubt certainly be Irish but I'm not concerned about it to the extent of caring what people think about me or craw-thumping.

I do find it a little strange when people who have lived in a country all their lives project themselves toward another country, especially when they are not even first-generation. For example, an Amercian who has lived their whole life in the States calling themselves Irish but each to their own.

prinz · 20-04-2011 02:57PM

No problem with people born to an Irish parent, or parents but raised abroad describing themselves as Irish. Or people with foreign parents born and raised here.

The only thing that annoys me is Americans describing themselves as Irish when they haven't a notion. I remember one bint trying to convince me she was 100% Irish, despite not being able to trace any Irish ancestry whatsoever. Apparently it was a great- great- great- grandparent or some such nonsense. Call yourself of Irish or part-Irish descent, but you're not "Irish" Irish.

Canis Lupus · 20-04-2011 03:04PM

Born in UK, Irish mother, English father, moved to Ireland as a toddler. I have only a handful of vague memories of the UK.

So, grew up in Ireland, some time in Dublin but the majority down in Kerry. I consider myself Irish, my outlook/cultural identity etc. It's kind of annoying though as I'll never 'technically' BE Irish and whilst I currently live in the UK I don't associate with them as a nation at all. My mates call me an Englishman who's just good at accents

chickenbutt · 20-04-2011 03:09PM

I know I do have some Irish heritage somewhere (I'm American) but to be honest, I have no idea who/what/where/when. It's not that I don't care but I just have no idea about it. Therefore I don't sit there and say, oh I'm Irish-American how cool am I? It's just annoying when people say they're Irish when they have no clue about the history and culture, etc.

I also find it annoying whenever I meet someone new (Irish) who ask me if I have Irish heritage. When I say yes but I don't really know/care, they always say the same thing and it's along the lines of 'oh good, you're not one of those Americans.' Like they were setting me up to make fun of me if I were to list my Irish family... Don't ask if you don't care.

SharpshooterTom · 20-04-2011 03:20PM

prinz wrote: »

Call yourself of Irish or part-Irish descent, but you're not "Irish" Irish.

But what is "Irish" Irish? I was born a rural village in oxfordshire which I left when I was 1 (never been back there since), moved to, London, left there when I was 6, Moved Ipswich, left there when I was 14, moved to Omagh and have lived there ever since. When people say what's your hometown its so difficult.

Aoifey! · 20-04-2011 03:25PM

The only one that annoys me is if they have a great great grandfather who was Irish so they claim to be Irish. If their parents are Irish fair enough, or if they grew up in Ireland, or lived here for a significant amount of their life.

brummytom · 20-04-2011 03:27PM

prinz wrote: »

No problem with people born to an Irish parent, or parents but raised abroad describing themselves as Irish. Or people with foreign parents born and raised here.

The only thing that annoys me is Americans describing themselves as Irish when they haven't a notion. I remember one bint trying to convince me she was 100% Irish, despite not being able to trace any Irish ancestry whatsoever. Apparently it was a great- great- great- grandparent or some such nonsense. Call yourself of Irish or part-Irish descent, but you're not "Irish" Irish.

I've been accused of being a plastic paddy. I'm wearing the Ireland football top at the moment actually!

I don't think I am one though. Like you said, I'd only ever say 'I've from Irish descent' or something like that. Although I feel a strong affinity to Ireland, and some 'Irish culture' plays a big part in my life, I would never describe myself as Irish. It just sounds pathetic.

I'm still proud of where I came from, of what my family lived through, and I'd probably consider myself more Irish than English, but I'd only ever describe myself (begrudgingly) as the latter. I know my place :pac:

Vertakill · 20-04-2011 03:27PM

Gnobe wrote: »

But what is "Irish" Irish? I was born a rural village in oxfordshire which I left when I was 1 (never been back there since), moved to, London, left there when I was 6, Moved Ipswich, left there when I was 14, moved to Omagh and have lived there ever since. When people say what's your hometown its so difficult.

I listed "Only people born and/or bred in Ireland are irish" as my answer but, in your case (which isn't really covered in the poll), I think you're entitled to call yourself English or Irish.

I just don't like the way some people say they're Irish based on their grandparents or even further down their family tree, despite the fact they, themselves, have not set foot in Ireland or have only been here on holiday.

If you were born else where and if you've lived a large portion of your life here and actually want to call yourself Irish, I think that's great and I'm all for it.

dvpower · 20-04-2011 03:29PM

Yahew wrote: »

Those of you who are in Ireland, who are dating Irish girls ( or guys) and who are coming over to the UK, what would you bring your child up as.

1) English only?
2) English with some Irish interest.
3) Irish?

4) Welsh?
5) Scottish?

Canis Lupus · 20-04-2011 03:30PM

Gnobe wrote: »

But what is "Irish" Irish? I was born a rural village in oxfordshire which I left when I was 1 (never been back there since), moved to, London, left there when I was 6, Moved Ipswich, left there when I was 14, moved to Omagh and have lived there ever since. When people say what's your hometown its so difficult.

That's a tough one alright, I'd probably argue your hometown is Ipswich or that you're at least English as you spent your formative years there. It's a very grey topic though.

dvpower · 20-04-2011 03:30PM

prinz wrote: »

The only thing that annoys me is Americans describing themselves as Irish when they haven't a notion. I remember one bint trying to convince me she was 100% Irish, despite not being able to trace any Irish ancestry whatsoever. Apparently it was a great- great- great- grandparent or some such nonsense. Call yourself of Irish or part-Irish descent, but you're not "Irish" Irish.

Take that, Obama!

prinz · 20-04-2011 03:33PM

Gnobe wrote: »

But what is "Irish" Irish? I was born a rural village in oxfordshire which I left when I was 1 (never been back there since), moved to, London, left there when I was 6, Moved Ipswich, left there when I was 14, moved to Omagh and have lived there ever since. When people say what's your hometown its so difficult.

Do you have to have a hometown? You qualify as "Irish" Irish. :pac: I don't mind anyone with a serious connection to the country describing themselves as Irish (actual Irish ancestors/lived a long period of their lives here etc) if that's what they identify with.

People with no tanglible connection to the country whatsoever calling themselves Irish is another matter.

prinz · 20-04-2011 03:37PM

dvpower wrote: »

Take that, Obama!

There's only one thing worse than someone claiming Irish ancestry, that's an Irish person trying to force it onto them, no matter how far back in the family tree you have to go.

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