I have a distant cousin, several times removed, that was Irish. or would I just have Irish blood?
2007-01-21 08:14:44 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
No, having a cousin who is of Irish decent doesn't necessarily make you Irish. For example: I have a cousin whose father is from Central America, but I have no ancestors from Central America, therefore I am not of Central American decent. To be of Irish decent you must be directly descended from an Irish man or Woman. For example: If your Great-Great Grandmother was Irish, you have Irish blood and can say that you are Irish-American.
Lynnabugg is wrong when say that you must have a parent or grandparent to be considered Irish-American. Are African-Americans not African- Americans because there families came here over 200 years ago? And what Sorcha says is off too; you can have an Irish cousin but not be of Irish blood.
What's the hype anyway? Why do so many Americans (want to) call themselves Irish or Irish-American? The Irish are one of the world’s most victimized people ever! They are a sad lot indeed. They are always crying about something. It’s like wanting to be Jewish if you are not born Jewish.
2007-01-21 08:39:12 · answer #1 · answered by stupidity_of_pride 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Technically, Irish Americans are residents of the United States who acknowledge Irish ancestry and self-identify with the term. So if you are aware of the direct Irish ancestry and identify as such so be it. I wouldn't go off rumor though.
Research shows that there are 16 Presidents of the USA who have definite Irish ancestral origins. The extent of which varies from, for example, George W. Bush having a rather distant Irish ancestry, to the examples of Presidents Kennedy and Reagan, whose Irish origins are stronger and fall much closer in terms of date. It is of particular sociological and historical note that whereas only "8 out of 28 Presidents from the institution of the office in 1789 until 1921 possessed elements of Irish ancestry, since Kennedy took office in 1961 every President bar one, Gerald Ford, has had Irish blood".
2007-01-21 10:29:46 · answer #2 · answered by Nuttie Nettie 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That means you have Irish blood but you are not directly related/descended from an Irish Person.
2007-01-21 08:22:08 · answer #3 · answered by Sorcha 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it would make you an irish american if your parents or grandparents came to america straight from ireland. Otherwise you just have irish blood.
2007-01-21 08:20:32 · answer #4 · answered by lynnabugg 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You are 0% Irish :P sorry! I just get annoyed when people claim to be Irish cause their very very very distance relatives were Irish! Dont take it the wrong way please!! Just my opinion!
2013-12-21 12:55:42 · answer #5 · answered by Lauren 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How much booze do you drink? That'll be the final answer.
2007-01-21 08:53:17 · answer #6 · answered by c_macneal 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋