Could Ireland become the 51st state?

@LwaoiseNíMhaol This isn't the mid 1800's, the Irish aren't looked upon as unlearned foreigners who just want our jobs anymore. @downinthebasement You can call Irish americans "plastic paddies" all you want, that isn't going to diminish the love the average American has for the Irish, try having a conversation about the US civil war. You won't be able to get one paragraph in without at least one reference to the Irish brigade. This may seem patronizing, but the Irish today would have to do a hell of a lot to change the mind of the average American. Long story short, the only people I know of who might have an issue with the subject of this story would most likely be politicians, specifically republicans.

Only if America wants us. I don't think they do.

It's offensive to speak of Ireland becoming a possession of the U.S. - think of the many Irish people who gave their lives for their country to have its independence. BUT! The idea of Ireland (and the U.K. for that matter) joining with the U.S. and Canada as an economic/trade bloc is very promising. We have the bonds of language, ancestry & history, while each country would retain their own currency and independent sovereignty. The U.K. and U.S. tend to be on the same page financially anyway (we pursue the same methods and suffer the same boom/bust cycles); but as Sparklet mentions the foreign policy differences could be a large obstacle.

No Way !!!!!!!!!

I dont think so gargast. Having been to all three countries, Ireland and the UK are very similar in their interests, their way of life etc. I found the US totally different tbh. The UK and Ireland both have heavy Celtic influences which the US doesn't have, esp. so in Wales and Scotland, less so in England, but there are some. We share similar sporting and musical interests with the UK, and politically I think we are set apart from both UK and USA - most people I know do not like US foreign policy especially.

I thought it was a part of the USA. The nation and its people have certainly had a massive impact on US history, society, politics and culture. Ireland is probably closer to the US than to any other nation including the UK.

lostgold...are you referring to what plastic paddy does in his spare time?

Big fish swallow little fish

CLoghry1938 -Are you stuck in the last millenia? Did you miss every development since 1998? Woundedknee - the answer is that our puppett governm,ent acting in the interests of the US and other large economies did all that they were asked, in the process f**king our own country. They are lining up outside your embassies because of your countries failed neo-liberal economic policies and the idiocy of the Bretton woods institutions.

Hawaii East?

All of this posting over something that has about as much chance of happening as my being elected President of the U.S. Ireland should maintain their cultural identity and continue to be a sovereign country. The U.S., with its 50 states, has enough to handle without adding any country to the mix. Ireland as a 51st state? - not going to happen.

@bmulletmayo..As i said ye don't know anything about Ireland and what ye say is compleat rubbish.If you want stats look it up. I,ll start with mullethead first.Here are the true facts,Ireland is a very competitive country to live in,it is a small country with a small population and vulnerable to fluctuations in the world economy.Most Irishmen don't want to leave Ireland when a recession hits,so those with the most intelligence,resources,and contacts get the Jobs,while those who don't either stay and wait for an opening or go elsewhere.The real fact of the matter is the weakest are the ones to move to the states,not the other way around and it has always been that way.Contact's are already set up in the states and it is also English speaking and it's been a traditional place to go too.As for intelligence I presume you mean IQ.For a first world country the GENERAL American population is at the bottom of the heap.You see Mullethead it is not the most intelligent that are forced to leave their own country,but it's the dregs as you like to put it go to the states,I'll get to answer Big Foot of Woundedknee's crap after.

Jayzus leave them alone...haven't they got enough problems without saddling them with this awful bloody mess we've made of things here in America (sic)?

Sirpeter is living in some Irish version of DisneyLand. He boasts of the high "quality of life" in Ireland!!! If the quality of life is so high how come there are lines outside the Australian and Canadian embassies in Dublin, people trying to get visas to emigrate to those countries? They can't get out fast enough! In the case of the US, most Irish can't get in here legally, but that doesn't stop them trying to sneak in as illegal aliens. And as for "Irish culture", will sirpeter tell us three things that constitute Irish culture? English soap operas? Manchester United? Irish culture is at such a low ebb that even on the country's national day, St Patrick's Day, you see more African culture on display in Dublin than Irish.

I'd rather have Pakistan- at least they're smart,hard working and not as greedy and slightly less anti-american. Yes, we Yanks make mistakes but we fix em ourselves. Good luck to the Irish tho'- you'll be living back in your thatch roofed, dirt floor cottages inside of ten years. All the intelligent, decent Irish came to the States decades ago, please keep the dregs.