People with Irish surnames - but no evidence of Irishness

Pinch Flat · 29-04-2014 11:59AM #1

So we've a fella who works with us, his Christian name and surname are translated into Irish - it's a hard to pronounce surname with loads of fadas. A lot of our business with with US multi-nationals, so causes no end of hassle and confusion / lost emails etc.

Now, I've absolutely no issues with it and totally respect it. When I started in the job, I was curious and expected that he went go the whole hog on Irish thing i.e. support our native Gaelic games, speak a bit of the language or enjoy the odd trad music session. None of it - he hates GAA with a passion, supports an English football team (annoyingly, refers to the team in the 3rd person i.e. we're away to Chelsea this weekend, we're buying so and so, etc.) and hates the 'iddly diddly' music. Reads English only red top papers i.e. The Sun, Mirror etc. As fair as I'm concerned, he could live in Essex and blend in without batting an eye lid.

So, open to the floor. Keep it civil please!

Merkin · 29-04-2014 12:01PM

Pinch Flat wrote: »

(annoyingly, refers to the team in the 3rd person i.e. we're away to Chelsea this weekend, we're buying so and so, etc.)

I really don't like him because of this and I haven't even met him.

mandrake04 · 29-04-2014 12:01PM

If he was born in Ireland he is Irish.

woodoo · 29-04-2014 12:02PM

Pinch Flat wrote: »

So we've a fella who works with us, his Christian name and surname are translated into Irish - it's a hard to pronounce surname with loads of fadas. A lot of our business with with US multi-nationals, so causes no end of hassle and confusion / lost emails etc.

Now, I've absolutely no issues with it and totally respect it. When I started in the job, I was curious and expected that he went go the whole hog on Irish thing i.e. support our native Gaelic games, speak a bit of the language or enjoy the odd trad music session. None of it - he hates GAA with a passion, supports an English football team (annoyingly, refers to the team in the 3rd person i.e. we're away to Chelsea this weekend, we're buying so and so, etc.) and hates the 'iddly diddly' music. Reads English only red top papers i.e. The Sun, Mirror etc. As fair as I'm concerned, he could live in Essex and blend in without batting an eye lid.

So, open to the floor. Keep it civil please!

I hate those names pebble dashed with fadas.

Pinch Flat · 29-04-2014 12:03PM

mandrake04 wrote: »

If he was born in Ireland he is Irish.

Well fair enough, I'm assuming he is. It's not a debate about nationality, just about people who adopt and Irish sounding name but other than that don't bother. Can't see the point personally. If my surname is Connolly or Murphy, I'd see not benefit in adopting the Irish version, other than confusing other people.

SEPT 23 1989 · 29-04-2014 12:04PM

this practice seems to be rampant in RTE

Putin · 29-04-2014 12:05PM

Pinch Flat wrote: »

Reads English only red top papers i.e. The Sun, Mirror etc.

That's nothing to do with nationality and more to do with intelligence.

bumper234 · 29-04-2014 12:07PM

Pinch Flat wrote: »

So we've a fella who works with us, his Christian name and surname are translated into Irish - it's a hard to pronounce surname with loads of fadas. A lot of our business with with US multi-nationals, so causes no end of hassle and confusion / lost emails etc.

Now, I've absolutely no issues with it and totally respect it. When I started in the job, I was curious and expected that he went go the whole hog on Irish thing i.e. support our native Gaelic games, speak a bit of the language or enjoy the odd trad music session. None of it - he hates GAA with a passion, supports an English football team (annoyingly, refers to the team in the 3rd person i.e. we're away to Chelsea this weekend, we're buying so and so, etc.) and hates the 'iddly diddly' music. Reads English only red top papers i.e. The Sun, Mirror etc. As fair as I'm concerned, he could live in Essex and blend in without batting an eye lid.

So, open to the floor. Keep it civil please!

Have a lad working with me with one of those names, I don't even try to spell it any more and he is in my contacts as Dave whatshisface

Macy0161 · 29-04-2014 12:09PM

Pinch Flat wrote: »

support our native Gaelic games

I really thought we'd moved on from this nonsense. Would he be Irish enough, in your eyes, if he supported a League of Ireland team, and still hated the GAA?

Davarus Walrus · 29-04-2014 12:09PM

You get a lot of these Muirghius O'Cabáiste types these days. Usually served with a large bowl of new-found Nationalism.

jimgoose · 29-04-2014 12:11PM

After consulting with my good friends Cáca-millis Ó'Flathúlach and Cábóg Ní Meanteistimeireach we agreed that I should be known as Bónapart Ó'Chúnasa.

Pinch Flat · 29-04-2014 12:11PM

Macy0161 wrote: »

I really thought we'd moved on from this nonsense. Would he be Irish enough, in your eyes, if he supported a League of Ireland team, and still hated the GAA?

Well, OK fair point - perhaps a narrow definition of Irishness. Didn't mean to offend. Anyway, having discussed this with him before, he doesn't support our native Irish soccer League.

I Heart Internet · 29-04-2014 12:12PM

Pinch Flat wrote: »

(annoyingly, refers to the team in the 3rd person i.e. we're away to Chelsea this weekend, we're buying so and so, etc.)
So, open to the floor. Keep it civil please!

I don't think that's the "3rd person".

But, of course, it reminds me of:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN1WN0YMWZU

Merkin · 29-04-2014 12:13PM

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

this practice seems to be rampant in RTE

Don't you mean Raidió Teilifís Éireann??

mike65 · 29-04-2014 12:16PM

I thought this would be about Irish owned slaves!

Spring Onion · 29-04-2014 12:17PM

It's a fad, it will pass.

LoonyLovegood · 29-04-2014 12:18PM

I've never understood the whole "I'm so Irish look at all the fadas!" My name is my name is my name. I had battles with my Irish teacher because I refused to "translate" it for my oral. You don't tell Juan that his name is John in England and his name is Seán here. So fcuk off with the more Irish than thou bollocks.

Although, my first name is an Irish name, complete with fada. Still, I didn't choose it. And I don't turn my last name into Ní Whatsernamecrap

shruikan2553 · 29-04-2014 12:18PM

I know someone who does that. What confuses me is why someone with a simple name like Frank Door would change to Frank O'Dooghobhghofgh Faughghghghghgh*. I'm trying to figure out if you need first aid, never mind how to spell your name.

*Not actual translation but similar idea to what I've seen before, short English last name turning into a man choking or RTE person speaking Irish.

Mal-Adjusted · 29-04-2014 12:18PM

OP, what business is it of yours what his name is? it hardly needs a stewards inquiry.

mandrake04 · 29-04-2014 12:19PM

Pinch Flat wrote: »

Well fair enough, I'm assuming he is. It's not a debate about nationality, just about people who adopt and Irish sounding name but other than that don't bother. Can't see the point personally. If my surname is Connolly or Murphy, I'd see not benefit in adopting the Irish version, other than confusing other people.

Maybe that was the name his parents give him, if his original name was Ook Maglook and he changed it to Ciarán Ó Caitnigh fair enough but most of take the name our parents give us and is on the birth certificate.

Alf. A. Male · 29-04-2014 12:19PM

Pinch Flat wrote: »

Well, OK fair point - perhaps a narrow definition of Irishness. Didn't mean to offend. Anyway, having discussed this with him before, he doesn't support our native Irish soccer League.

Ah yes, good old, eh, native Irish soccer.... It's not as good as native Irish basketball, native Irish karate or any of the other sports that are clearly native, but there you go.

pablomakaveli · 29-04-2014 12:21PM

He has every right to use the Irish version name as does everyone else in Ireland. Doesn't matter that he doesn't conform to a stereotype of what a person with an Irish name should be like.

Pinch Flat · 29-04-2014 12:24PM

Mal-Adjusted wrote: »

OP, what business is it of yours what his name is? it hardly needs a stewards inquiry.

last time I checked this was an internet forum at which topics could feely be discussed as long as the abide to certain rules. Have the forum rules changed since I posted last?

Olive8585 · 29-04-2014 12:26PM

What the hell business is it of yours, OP? Perhaps that's the name his parents gave him, and even if it isn't, so what? Not liking GAA and supporting an English football team means you're not 'Irish' now? Perhaps it just means that your colleague isn't a narrow-minded, prejudiced bigot? I fail to see what having an Irish name has to do with GAA or football. You sound like an irritating busybody.

o1s1n · 29-04-2014 12:26PM

The Irish self loathing around these parts really does get tiresome.

If you've worked in a multinational corporation and have an Irish name you've probably heard some fairly humorous pronunciations when dealing with those from other countries.

Likewise, I haven't exactly gotten it right 100% of the time when talking to some of my colleagues from Finland, Denmark and many other countries with fairly crazy looking names.

I'm sure if you asked them to use a more 'understandable' version of their name they'd laugh in your face or stare back in disbelief.

VinLieger · 29-04-2014 12:27PM

Im of the opinion that you technically cannot translate a name from one language to another.

A name is something removed from language so it is not possible to translate it. You can change it to whatever the **** you want but saying you translated your name is horsesh1t.

I Heart Internet · 29-04-2014 12:28PM

o1s1n wrote: »

I'm sure if you asked them to use a more 'understandable' version of their name they'd laugh in your face or stare back in disbelief.

Chinese people and other east asian people do this all the time (they have "English names"). Don't know if it's a good thing, but makes life easier for most non-chinese speakers.

Mal-Adjusted · 29-04-2014 12:30PM

Pinch Flat wrote: »

last time I checked this was an internet forum at which topics could feely be discussed as long as the abide to certain rules. Have the forum rules changed since I posted last?

you never answered my question. why does it bother you so much that a person has an Irish name without being all diddly-i about it? We all know people with Irish names, lots of whom wouldn't fall into a silly stereotype.

iDave · 29-04-2014 12:31PM

So what the OP is saying is he is Irish but acts English but the thread title is a very roundabout way of saying it.

When I clicked in I thought it was about someone born abroad called O'Brien (or some other generic Irish surname)

Arthur Beesley · 29-04-2014 12:32PM

OP, can you clarify what the problem is again please?

At least we know he doesn't support Chelsea. Given that Chelsea are unlikely to be playing Chelsea.

o1s1n · 29-04-2014 12:33PM

I Heart Internet wrote: »

Chinese people and other east asian people do this all the time (they have "English names"). Don't know if it's a good thing, but makes life easier for most non-chinese speakers.

Yeah I've come across this a lot. I find it very odd. Not sure if it's patronizing 'oh they'll never be able to pronounce my name, silly westerner' or if the opposite and they're just so accommodating that they're willing to change their name to make our life easier.

Either way, I'm not a fan of it and would rather call folks by their actual name.

People with Irish surnames - but no evidence of Irishness

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