Why does everyone think Irish people are redheads?

Question

In a study done in dublin in the 1950's only 2.3percent of 10,000 irish people surveyed had red hair.The majority was black,blonde and brown hair.

Answer 1

I have never thought of Irish as being redheads. If anything I tend to think of them having very dark hair with beautiful pale complexions.

Answer 2

OK so did they also do one for the rest of the British Isles They may well have found thattha was double everyone else.

The Irish Scots and Welsh also have a reputation of being quick tempered with the Irish and Scots harbouring long resentments. Righly or wrongly the English are supposed to anger quite slowly. Probably all a load of rubbish but as someone told me recently perceptions are reality

Answer 3

It does seem strange, I can't think of any red headed Irish people I've ever met. I used to think most Scottish people had red hair, don't know why, but lived up there for 2 years and again there were hardly any I can remember.

Answer 4

Because while individals actually having red hair may not be the majority.... a good majority of people that possess the genetic trait for red-hair (even though they may not have red hair themselves in which case the trait is recessive) can trace their ancestry to ireland and the surrounding areas.

Answer 5

Irish have one of the highest proportions of redheads, if not the highest, but as you correctly point out, they are a minority even in Ireland, where dark hair is prevalent.

It is the unusual that stands out in memory. One might not notice 100 polite Freinch or American tourists, but the 101st, who is rude, loud and obnxious, stands out disproportionally in memory.

Same with red-haired Irish, or lots of other steotypes. Not just people, either - my mom was always convinced that she almost always hit a red light at this one particular intersection, but only because the times she made it never stood out in memory.

Answer 6

Maybe Irish people were predominantly red heads before, and so it's created a stereotype based on Irish people....and stereotypes are hard to shake off. :D

Answer 7

Its because of the celts i think,they had ginger hair didnt they?? Im irish and i have brown hair,none of my family has red hair!!

Answer 8

look at films for a start... say 60's etc..

I'm surprised people don't think my parents have a leprechaun in the garden shed.

it's stereo types.. much like the highly amusing one about all Irish blokes being too fond of boozing.. my father is near tea-total.

Answer 9

My ancestry is Irish,and NONE of my large extended family has truly red hair.It is just a misconception.

Answer 10

Some people stereotype and generalise about these things. It's wrong I tell ye and I should know as I'm ....IRiSh