How Irish do you have to be to BE Irish?
 

ok, so my other half and I have had this 'discussion' many times before and I was wondering what everyone elses thoughts were on this subject.

His bloodline has Welsh, Scottish, Irish, English and Irish.


The closest of all is Scottish- his great grandmother came from scottland on the boat. From what we know, she came to Canada to leave everything behind and no traditions were carried on.

My feelings are that your nationality is the country you were born in and nothing else. Especially if you no longer follow any traditions from that culture- For example.
Italians will be Italians in Canada forever as they've hung on to what MAKES them italian- only in a different country.

My kids will be Canadian first and foremost. They can say that they have a welsh parent but most importantly they are CANADIAN. If on the other hand they learn to speak welsh and take an interest in the Welsh culture.

My father is English, I was born in Wales, I grew up in Wales and I AM Welsh.

I just dont get how people who have family members who are waaaay down the blood line can call themselves 'something' other than the nationality they were born in. Especially if they don't follow any of that countries traditions and worse still, haven't even left Canada to visit this homeland.

This whole discussion came after watching UFC tonight. when fighters would come out to irish music. ( yes I know, I might not know their family background- he could run an irish bar, drink guiness and play the fiddle all night long) But what bothers me is people who are the furthest away from being 'irish' or 'scottish' or which every country but they always feel the need to ride on this fact, because they think it's cool.

How is Canada ever going to get an identity if poeople always try to be something else?

Rant over! lol

Re: How Irish do you have to be to BE Irish?
 

Most countries do not give nationality based on birthplace.

Presumably you mean some Italians. There would most likely be others who are Canadians first and foremost.

Re: How Irish do you have to be to BE Irish?
 

Yes you are right but you get the concept of what im trying to say.

Re: How Irish do you have to be to BE Irish?
 

We have the same issues in the US. I don't see anything wrong with identifying with the countries your ancestors came from. As a native-born American I can tell you that for many people there's a longing to be part of centuries-old traditions, and that many groups have experienced discrimination for being descendants, no matter how far removed, of certain immigrants (African, Mexican, Irish, and on the list goes).

Re: How Irish do you have to be to BE Irish?
 

Why do you think Canada and Canadians should have an identity?

I am from Canada and imo I think that the lack of identity is one of Canada's strengths.

I have two friends, both the adult children of parents who were born in Canada. One friend identifies herself as Canadian the other as Japanese or Japanese-Canadian. They are both from families whose origins are in Japan.

People can choose to be what they want to be and it's no big deal (at least to Canadians... it's yous foreigners who seem to have a problem with it. ;))

Re: How Irish do you have to be to BE Irish?
 

I get the concept mapledragon...
Did you hear about the comic impersonator Alastair McGowan, who has always believed his ancestors were Scots, and has now found out that he's part Indian and part Irish? His response, I believe was "just call me Seamus Singh".

As for me I'm as hybrid as every other individual on this planet... on the way down the centuries from that African "Eve" whose genetic code nearly all of us share, some of the more recent ancestors were allegedly Spanish, Scots and Welsh.

However I was born and raised in Wales so considered myself Welsh until in my teens, during a civics-style exercise in grammar school in which we had to form political parties and stage a mock general election, I suggested being Plaid Cymru and was told I wasn't Welsh enough because my father (descended from Spanish and Scots) was BORN IN ENGLAND (shock horror).

It made me question nationality and ethnicity even then... decided I'd be a citizen of the world and treat every other citizen as a potential brother/sister and so far that's worked out okay for me.

Re: How Irish do you have to be to BE Irish?
 

mmmm, heritage etc/national identity.

It's a tricky one that I know what you mean.

But I am with Newshoney's outlook.

I have never actually lived somewhere I fit in culturally, as even when I went back to Ireland I was still too English in as far as I had an English accent by then and was rather different from the other girls in the wee town in the rural North West.

My kids are half Irish, quarter English and quarter Polish, but will hopefully be Candian Citizens. So there's an interesting mix.

All I want them to be is happy and respectful of other people's heritage and cultures and knowledgible of their own. When they are old enough they can choose to label themselves - hopefully they won't have to but they probably will as it's all part of growing up and discovering who you are. As for me, I am and always will be Irish, as I realise it's that culure I identify with most. Especially as, even after living in the UK for 25 years, having an Engish husband and a permanent residency I was refused an English passport when I enquired!

The nice thing about being Irish is also that wherever I have lived/travelled in the world, everybody loves the Irish. Not sure if the same can be said of the English though unfortunately, but I am not really qualified to say and I don't mean that in a horrible way.:beer::beer:

Off to polish my shamrock now!

Mrs M x

Re: How Irish do you have to be to BE Irish?
 

It's funny coming from Northern Ireland were some people put so much emphasis on being British I've found that as soon as they leave they refer to themselves as Irish.

Re: How Irish do you have to be to BE Irish?
 

Can of worms here.

Firstly I don't think Canadian means anything, everyone's nominally Canadian but who they really are is hyphenated ahead of that. That, like nothing much ever happening, is both the strength and weakness of the country.

Next, lots of people consider their parents having had them born in Canada is a poor show, for example my children who were born here consider themselves Swiss but born abroad. You can't count on your children accepting the nationality you have thrust upon them.

Thirdly, North Americans have weird ideas about nationality, especially Irish nationality. My OH thinks of me as being Irish and is always wanting to be dragging me into places where I'll get hurt. This is because, as an American, she thinks everyone with an Irish grandparent is Irish whereas the people collecting for the cause can hear a London accent when it's declining them.

Re: How Irish do you have to be to BE Irish?
 

You know not everybody is going to get that DBD but I have to now wipe coffe up off my desk :rofl:

Mrs M;)

Re: How Irish do you have to be to BE Irish?
 

I come from the Free State, but still the North West.:p

Mrs Miggins x

Re: How Irish do you have to be to BE Irish?
 

That reminds me, I used to work in an Irish Bar in downtown Toronto, one day there was a crowd of American tourists in. This woman heard my accent and asked were I was from when I said Northern Ireland she grabbed my hand and took great delight in telling me "my brother is a great supporter of your cause". I was lost for words.

Re: How Irish do you have to be to BE Irish?
 

Talk about nutters eh?

Mrs M x

Re: How Irish do you have to be to BE Irish?
 

You should have barred her:(

Re: How Irish do you have to be to BE Irish?
 

Hubby's Dublin born and bred - his brother just this minute gone back to Chicago where he now lives - hubby's accent is starting to merge with Canadianisms - bro's accent is broader Irish than I've ever heard it. Must be US influence ;)