Why do Irish folk have a problem with Irish-American's claiming their heritage?

Question

I am of Irish decent and I DO claim that heritage. Why is it a bothersome thing to you folk?

Answer 1

i never knew it was a problem,where my family are from,they welcome everyone,and are happy to help people with tracing thier irish roots.

Answer 2

Okay. We know that you don't "hate" Americans, although a little love does go a long way. Also, considering my comment on your previous thread, I'll take back the whole "you're painting Irish people to look bad". I didn't agree with what you said, but whatever. Regarding us Americans holding on to our ethnicity, I guess that's something that we can't adequately explain to others. For better or for worse, America is indeed a "different" country than others. An country built largely on immigrants. As some would and have said, it's considered the "Great Experiment" while the jury is still out on how it will turn out, hopefully for the better. Why and how we Americans identify with our heritage from other countries, may be something that others simply won't ever really understand. Doesn't mean that either of us are right, just means that we are different. I guess as you talk about growing up in Ireland, and experiencing that as being "Irish" I could talk about growing up in the U.S., being "American". We can agree to disagree here. I won't ever be able to fully explain to you our want to be known by part of our immigrant status as an American. It's harmless and with pride I assure you. So we're at a crossroads. Have a good one!

Answer 3

I have never heard that before. My Mother is from Ireland/Dad is from Scotland and I was born in the United States. Most of my family is there, and I have never felt like I couldn't claim my Irish or Scottish Heritage. The Irish are the most loving and welcoming people on this earth. I cannot wait to visit both countries and learn more about where my parents were born and raised. I am proud to call myself Scotch/Irish and my families that live there are happy to embrace me.

Answer 4

I think the Irish don't consider people like me (see ' * ') Irish because I don't follow Irish customs or know much about Irish customs. I think mainly non-Irish savvy Americans with a little Irish in them want to be Irish because in my opinion American heritage is a little boring. Most Americans when asked what they are say "English, Irish and German" (or whatever place their ancestors are from) instead of saying "American" because America doesn't really have one relative culture but many mixed. Such as: Black culture, Rock music cultures and they're heritage's culture.

Example: My Aunt (who I dislike) calls herself Irish one day and plays Celt music, the next shes saying shes Italian and recites Sopranos quotes.


* Mixed decent for example I am two sources of Irish, Welsh, English, German and Italian for all I know anyway

Answer 5

It's just a trendy PC leftie thing among a certain unrepresentative group

Ireland, like most small countries, is actually a complex country..
Most true Irish Nationalists see those of Irish decent around the world as being part of an extended family.
In england being of Irish decent was decried by the anti-Irish elements there as being a 'plastic paddy'. so many there play down their origins.
Th sad thing is the self-same trendy PC leftie crowd (who are actually the heirs to the royalist/unionist/castle catholic part of Irish society who hated Collins, Pearse, DeValera, etc ) also use the same pejorative for them.
They are the anti-Irish Irish !

But one's roots are one's roots no matter what anybody says.

Answer 6

If it's maybe two generations or three back I have no problem with them claiming it, welcome, happy to have you.

However, I spent two weeks working in the local tourist office in summer and had Americans coming in for info, who usually ended up telling me how they were Irish. One lady had Irish grandparents who actually turned out to be related to me which was cool. But, and I think this is what annoys most Irish people, Americans who have a great-great-great-great-great relative from the time of the Famine who come to Ireland, because it's their heritage. I have French great grandparents, but I don't turn up in the Paris tourist office going I'm Irish-French.

It's one thing to be proud of your heritage, another thing to get carried away being 1/24th Irish.

Answer 7

I am irish and living in Ireland I have no problem with you. my Grandfathers family moved to the usa when the famine was in Ireland my grandad was born in conneticut but he came home married and resettled in Ireland.

Answer 8

I've no problem with Irish-Americans at all, mate. In fact, would like to thank you for your generousity to us - we could not have accomplished what we have without it, believe me.

Answer 9

I only have a problem when someone who was not born here and has never been here calls themselves Irish. They are not Irish. They are American, but have Irish ancestry. If one of my great-grandparents came from Germany, say, I wouldn't call myself German.

Answer 10

Irish hate anything foreign, LMAO maybe thats what you also got in common with them.