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Why does everyone want to be Irish?
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by generaldecay | July 26, 2009 at 11:05 am
619 views | 31 Recommendations | 15 comments
From Angela's Ashes to Who Do You Think You Are?, the Emerald Isle is still a reliable source of self-pity.
Nine times out of ten when I tell someone that I'm Irish (the born and bred there kind, with accent to prove it, by the way), they tell me about their Irish connection. This is normally in the shape of some distant relative they may or may not have which gives them some sort of authentic 'Irishness'. I've heard it so many times, particularly from non-Europeans, that I just nod and agree now. (No disrespect intended - I find it very funny.)
This piece explores (lightly, arguably) why everyone wants to be Irish.
Ireland is a kind of mental repository for melancholy, a place upon which we can all apply our fantasies, woes and laments. This is why John Ford’s films did so well - John Wayne is always an Irish-named character, lost in the wilderness, making his own destiny. Ditto for Marty McFly in Back To The Future, Leonardo DiCaprio’s character Jack Dawson in Titanic, Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood) from Dirty Harry, or Sam Malone (Ted Danson) from Cheers. They’re all slightly mental, in a particularly Irish kind of way, but they are the sort of guys that guys want to be. This is why everyone wants to find their Irish roots. It’s because it makes them appear attractive and yet vulnerable. Colin Farrell is the epitome of this these days. He looks about 12 and he always plays gangsters - but he has a childlike lonely side in every character he plays.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (15)
at 11:39 on July 26th, 2009
Interestingly, I find that here in Canada, many people want to be English and even wear clothes to try and make them appear more so - being English, it kind of bothers me because I know they're not. It's silly really... :)
at 12:29 on July 26th, 2009
Amy, thanks for the recommendation and comment. And, yes, when I worked in Canada for a spell, people were always disappointed that I was Irish and not English. In America, people are always delighted about the Irish.
at 18:36 on August 5th, 2009
Why would someone want to be English?
at 12:12 on July 26th, 2009
JEEZ! You got me! That's really a good question! Perhaps the Irish know how to have fun in spite of it all . . . .
at 12:31 on July 26th, 2009
Perhaps. That could well be part of the perception. (We are a very fun bunch, of course!)
Thanks for the recommendation and comment, Rory.
at 12:57 on July 26th, 2009
I found that with people when I am overseas a lot and I say I am Scottish, or like your saying they talk about the 'Irish' in them.
at 22:46 on July 26th, 2009
Yes, the 'Irish' in them indeed! It's bizarre!
Thanks for the recommendation and comment, mudricky. :)
at 13:27 on July 26th, 2009
I remember being pleased that I had some Northern Irish blood when doing my family history but so far I haven't found any Irish blood from Eire. I suppose I like the musical, Celtic/Artistic/Mysterious background. They often have an expressive way with music with lots of feeling.
I did go out with an Irish Guy from Dublin once. I had hoped he would be like a 'proper Irish man' but he hated music, and couldn't even play a single instrument. He was very stiff and snobby, you would have thought he went to an English Private School. He hated art too, but he had 'blarney' and was fun. But I was so disappointed that he wasn't musical. He even had an Welsh name instead of an Irish name, didn't study music but read law. That taught me not to generalise about Irish people!
at 22:45 on July 26th, 2009
You do have Irish blood - if you have northern Irish blood then you have Irish blood! :)
That's funny about your ex from Dublin - he does sound very atypically Irish!
Thanks for the recommendation and comment, Beaulieu.
at 18:58 on July 26th, 2009
This shows many people admire the Irish.
They would not claim to be something they dislike.
at 22:45 on July 26th, 2009
Indeed, 158. And that's no bad thing!
Thanks for the recommendation and comment.
at 06:26 on July 27th, 2009
Me Dad's Irish and has always taught me to be proud of my Irish roots, despite being born and bred in England myself. My friends even call me 'Irish', maybe because I've inherited a slight Irish twang. So despite being British (or half Irish as me Dad would say!) I still get people coming up to me and saying "Oh, my Grandad's from Ireland..." or, "I've got some Irish blood in me..." as if I'm somehow going to find some natural affinity with them. One thing I know for sure is, those Irish don't half get about!
at 08:25 on July 27th, 2009
3 of my grandparents were Irish, one of my parents was Irish, I'm English entitled to an Irish passport, or an Israeli passport because my other grandparent was Jewish! I'm living outside of the U.K. and married to a national of that country so again entitled to another passport. Because a big part of my family are American it wouldn't be too difficult to obtain that passport too.
I have visited Ireland about 30+ times, I love Cork and Kerry, although my family are from Ross Common and Waterford. I have ever considered myself to be Irish except when enjoying a pint of the black stuff!
But is our nationality from the place of our birth, or the culture of our family, or the placed were we lived, or the place we now live. For example, in America so many groups refer to being "something-American" like African-American when they were born in America and most have not even visited Africa.
at 08:49 on July 28th, 2009
We live out of Europe and traveled twice to Ireland. We fell in love with you the Irish people. Since our last travel to your country we keep visiting our local Irish pub. Always happiness and joy there ! Yes. We agree, everyone wants to be Irish.
at 14:40 on August 31st, 2009
We alse used to travel to Ireland. And we fall in love with the Irish people. Hosting there was lovely and warm. People were always happy and joyful there !
Since our holidays are near we decided to return to the local Irish pub which we visited in our last trip.
שנה טובה
Yes. I do agree, everyone wants to be an Irish !