CatherineM Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 My dad's father was from County Cavan, and my dad's mom was from County Longford. I have cousins there that I'd love to visit, but since I hate to fly, that might be difficult. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sojourner Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 My husband's family is Irish; his mom is 1st generation U.S. They participate in the downtown parade, and a couple of his nieces dance in the parade and at several other events throughout the day. One of my sisters-in-law does a "leprechaun hunt" with her kids. They start out at breakfast, with green milk, and the kids follow clues through the house to the "treasure." It is a cute tradition. My husband refuses to participate in this stuff, though. He says that even though he has Irish heritage he is American. The only time he'll "celebrate" his Irishness is when it comes to beer and potatoes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kafka Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 In honor of Saint Patrick's day, I just purchased two loaves of French bread. The Irish soda bread looked tempting, but hey, nothing beats French bread, and it was a better deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrossCuT Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 [size=1]Im going to an Irish Pub tonight with meh friends![/size] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theologian in Training Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 The DRE made us all Corn Beef, soaked in Guinness...man it was tender And, someone gave us Soda Bread, it was a feast in honor good ole St. Patrick! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Era Might Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 [quote name='Noel's angel' post='1809775' date='Mar 17 2009, 12:43 PM']I think that's the point he's getting at. '[i]We' Irish[/i]...there are so many people who say 'oh, my granny's aunt's cousin was Irish so that makes me Irish'. It really gets up our noses.[/quote] I think part of it is that "American" is a somewhat artificial identity. A person could have been born in Ireland, but they can still become "American" if they emigrate here and become a citizen. By contrast, if an American emigrates to Ireland and becomes an Irish citizen, would they then be considered "Irish" in the usual sense of the word? Probably not. The Irish emigrated to America in large numbers during the late 1800s, early 1900s, which is not very long ago. Whereas the average European can probably claim a national ancestry back one or two thousand years. The fourth of July is the holiday when Americans celebrate their "Americanness." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercy me Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 I am wearing my Irish Club of Nova Scotia shirt and planning on having some good old fashioned Irish Whiskey later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmotherofpirl Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 [quote name='Era Might' post='1809980' date='Mar 17 2009, 05:34 PM']I think part of it is that "American" is a somewhat artificial identity. A person could have been born in Ireland, but they can still become "American" if they emigrate here and become a citizen. By contrast, if an American emigrates to Ireland and becomes an Irish citizen, would they then be considered "Irish" in the usual sense of the word? Probably not. The Irish emigrated to America in large numbers during the late 1800s, early 1900s, which is not very long ago. Whereas the average European can probably claim a national ancestry back one or two thousand years. The fourth of July is the holiday when Americans celebrate their "Americanness."[/quote] Its like Rome - no matter what your nationality if you became a citizen you were Roman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldbug16 Posted March 17, 2009 Author Share Posted March 17, 2009 [quote name='Noel's angel' post='1809775' date='Mar 17 2009, 11:43 AM']I think that's the point he's getting at. '[i]We' Irish[/i]...there are so many people who say 'oh, my granny's aunt's cousin was Irish so that makes me Irish'. It really gets up our noses.[/quote] Oh, of course not! That's ridiculous, and that drives me insane too! [quote name='Theologian in Training' post='1809904' date='Mar 17 2009, 02:03 PM']The DRE made us all Corn Beef, soaked in Guinness...man it was tender And, someone gave us Soda Bread, it was a feast in honor good ole St. Patrick![/quote] YUM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmotherofpirl Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 [quote name='Noel's angel' post='1809775' date='Mar 17 2009, 01:43 PM']I think that's the point he's getting at. '[i]We' Irish[/i]...there are so many people who say 'oh, my granny's aunt's cousin was Irish so that makes me Irish'. It really gets up our noses.[/quote] On the other hand most people in the US are Heinz 57s : Im a Myers-Stewart-Foster-Stevenson-Gillespie- MacCulloch-Campbell and I forget the last one mix. Only 5 on that list emigrated from Ireland generations ago - however the family has always identified as Irish. Mostly I suspect because the women were the irish bits - and culture comes thru the mum in the home as you grow up. We do admit to having the Scots- Stevenson and the Myers- Pennsylvania Dutch, but not too often . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Era Might Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 American culture is in many ways defined by an intermingling of cultures. Look at our food, for example. What is "American" food? Whenever Americans go out to dinner, we go to Italian restaurants, Chinese restaurants, Mexican restaurants, etc. I suppose the closest thing to a uniquely "American" food is BBQ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmotherofpirl Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 [quote name='Era Might' post='1810149' date='Mar 17 2009, 08:34 PM']American culture is in many ways defined by an intermingling of cultures. Look at our food, for example. What is "American" food? Whenever Americans go out to dinner, we go to Italian restaurants, Chinese restaurants, Mexican restaurants, etc. I suppose the closest thing to a uniquely "American" food is BBQ.[/quote] Actually when I grew up it wasn't like that where I live. We rarely had food from other ethnicities. It was a real novelty about 50 years ago when our city had its first International Village of Food and Dance, and you got to try other cultural foods. Today people take it for granted, but it wasn't always so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Era Might Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 [quote name='cmotherofpirl' post='1810165' date='Mar 17 2009, 06:50 PM']Actually when I grew up it wasn't like that where I live. We rarely had food from other ethnicities. It was a real novelty about 50 years ago when our city had its first International Village of Food and Dance, and you got to try other cultural foods. Today people take it for granted, but it wasn't always so.[/quote] Interesting. To use another example, though, our basketball team is called the "Boston Celtics." I can't imagine a professional Irish sports team being named the "Dublin Americans." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arpy Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 I have no problem with Irish pride if the people being prideful are Irish, but it gets annoying when people without a drop of Irish blood (read: my mom) force it on us. :\ The only thing I did to celebrate it was listen to the Cranberries more than usual. I didn't even wear green. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1975 Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 [quote name='Era Might' post='1810213' date='Mar 17 2009, 06:52 PM']Interesting. To use another example, though, our basketball team is called the "Boston Celtics." I can't imagine a professional Irish sports team being named the "Dublin Americans." [/quote] Maybe not But your post made me think of Celtic FC in Scotland. I'm not sure if you've heard of them. They were actually founded in the 1880's by a Brother Walfrid, a Marist who saw it as a way to benefit the poor of Glasgow's East End... many of whom were of Irish Catholic origins. They fly the Irish tricolor at their home field, wear green & white uniforms, and celebrate their Irish heritage in song at their games. These days, more people are immigrating to Ireland than from there... Anyway, sorry for the lecture... hope your St Paddy's was a good one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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