Why are people(ESPECIALLY AMERICANS) obsessed with Irish heritage?!?

Question

they go on about being 8th generation irish and are fascinated by the famine...why?!?

Answer 1

I'd hardly call a one time a year celebration of St. Patrick's Day an obsession.

A side note: Unlike alot of countries, ours was built on imigrants. We are a melting pot of people from many, many cultures.

Answer 2

Irish is an untainted heritage (at least in the way we learn it).

If you have German heritage, there are two world wars to regret. If your ancestors come from the south, well, I won't get into that. Britain is who we kicked out. Mexico was the former colonial power of Texas.

Other countries don't have a great deal of American decendents. Also, for those who really dislike the English (who we fought our first two wars against) the Irish heritage is a way to keep fighting when we haven't had a real excuse for a long time.

But mostly, it's just fun. Leprechauns, pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, wearing green, poetry and theatre, and jokes about Murphy.

But the famine was no where near as long ago as things like 1066 and the old testament and 1492 and the reconquista and Chinese paper... I think the Irish are more in the present than other nostalgists.

Answer 3

I'm interested in my Irish heritage because both my grandfathers were first generation Americans born in this country. I'm interested in why they came here. I know that my Quigley family were coal miners and came here for better pay and a better way of life. My Hayes side were fishermen. My grandfather Hayes was Irish through and through. He loved to sing When Irish Eyes are calling and Cried and Drank all through "Oh Danny Boy". The Irish people to me are a strong people. They've been through so much and have managed to stay survivors. You don't always know where you are going unless you know where you have been. I've always wanted to go to Ireland and see were my Family originated from, and I would like to know more about my Irish heritage as well.
Most Americans believe their families came here during the great famine and really have no clue or idea what it was about and what was going on in Ireland at this time.
My family did not come to America until the turn of the century.
People in America want to know where they are from. Because we are all Americans but we like to know where are families came here from.
I do not know much about being Irish because I am an American First but I would love to know as much as I can. Because you lose touch with that when you come to a new place and you are no longer surrounded by familiar things. It's very sad.

Answer 4

I've found not just Americans but Australians too. The reason, in my opinion, is that America and Australia only has a short history. When people trace back there ancestry in Britain they can trace back many generations of English/Irish/Scottish/Welsh. Americans and Australians invariably trace back to some kind of British heritage.

Abroad Irish, Scottish and Welsh have very strong ex-pat communities where their heritage and culture are probably celebrated more than they would if they stayed at home. This isn't as apparent with the English. I would think the Americans etc see this staunch patriotism and want to be a part of that if they've traced back their tree.

On a funny side I met a woman in Oz who went on about being 1/8 Scottish to me. She was telling me how she had saved up cash and was coming to Scotland to try and find her ancestors. When I asked her the family name she told me, O'Neill!! I didn't have the heart to tell her it was Ireland she wanted and not Scotland :-)

Answer 5

Speaking as an American of Irish descent, and yes I know this is going to sound corny, I am drawn to the natural beauty of Ireland and to its "magic". I discovered Irish folk and fairy tales when I was a kid, and never could get enough.
So, for me, I'm obsessed with Ireland in general, not just my heritage. I have always wanted to find out about my Irish heritage, but it is because that's what I have the least information on. The German and French family histories I have, but not the Irish histories before my great great grandparents (the ones who immigrated here). So the puzzle is a draw.

Answer 6

Irish is an untainted history (a minimum of interior the final way we be experienced it). in case you have German history, there are 2 international wars to be apologetic approximately. if your ancestors come from the south, good, i wouldn't get into that. Britain is who we kicked out. Mexico was the previous colonial vigor of Texas. different international places does no longer have a staggering deal of yankee decendents. additionally, for people who quite dislike the English (who we fought our first 2 wars in opposition to) the Irish history is a technique to hold scuffling with as quickly as we've not had an exceedingly excuse for some years. yet a marvelous type of the time, it incredibly is only exciting. Leprechauns, pot of gold on the end of the rainbow, wearing green, poetry and theatre, and jokes approximately Murphy. however the famine was no wherein close as long interior the previous as concerns like 1066 and the historic testomony and 1492 and the reconquista and chinese language paper... i think the Irish are better interior the advantages than different nostalgists.

Answer 7

I think there may be a resurgence of fascination with having an Irish heritage because we here in the U.S. have for so long been told to assimilate into the great melting pot of being an American. Now so many cultures here defy that and you find yourself surrounded by people enjoying their heritage, surrounding you with it, demanding you partake of it too! I know myself, I want a culture of my own, a heritage, and something apart from what used to be "baseball, apple pie and chevrolet" that has become now "rampant consumerism as sport, hi calorie fast food, and an inability to walk anywhere!"

I'm half Irish and half English, that I know of. My father's English family has a double-volume set of family history since arriving in the colonies in the early 17th century and a couple of curmudgeon Lords back in Britain who share our funny name. My mother's Irish roots are largely unknown and hard to trace but the mystery is almost more tantalizing there.

It's fun to romanticize one's history, though I'm a pragmatist. We're heading to Ireland in May and I, living in the SW US in a high desert, will be fascinated with the Emerald Isle for a myriad of reasons!

Answer 8

My guess is because the Irish were treated poorly when they first arrived in the US. The first generation or two of Irish-Americans had to work hard jobs and were looked down upon. So now that they are accepted their is a lot of pride in their Irish heritage in the US.

Answer 9

I think we Scots have a similar problem with the American ancestry obsession. It seems that some time in the middle of the 18th century the whole of the Scottish aristocracy emigrated to America, or so it would seem, considering the number of Americans I have met , descended from this king or that duke. You are not Scottish/Irish , you are Americans. That's what says on your passports. Deal with it.

Answer 10

Because if the Irish did not move during the Famine, most of the population of America would not exist! Or so I am told. lol

Answer 11

A large percentage of immigrants that came to America were Irish, the same applies to Highlanders from Scotland.