Compare and contrast - Ireland and the United States and Irish and Irish-Americans

I'm American and I thought this a very good article. Bottom line, Americans don't always make the best international travellers. Some travel with the notion that they are better than everyone else, some travel without knowing much about the culture that they have chosen to visit. A lot of Irish Americans fall into the latter. They think they know because of what they see in the US, but usually what they know is just the stereotypes or the Hollywood version of being Irish. But here is the thing, there are Irish Americans who try so hard to identify with being Irish that they get it all wrong and it comes across as disrepectful or just plain stupid. The Irish are fiercly protective of their culture and identity and to have every Tom, Dick and Harry claiming to be Irish is insulting to them. Heck, I'm insulted because I see these people every single day. I don't think any other country experiences so many outsiders wanting a piece of their culture, so I guess it could be taken as a compliment in a way - but that is up to them. I always tell people that to be "Irish" (American) is to go there and learn about Ireland. Learn where your family came from. Learn how Irish society works. Embrace the differences instead of complain about them. After all, Ireland has been around a lot longer than us. Everything is the way it is for a reason and just because you don't understand it based on the American experience does not make it wrong. Go there again and again and again. Maybe then you will sound better than the folks who talk non stop about being Irish because they wear green on St. PAtrick's Day, or have red hair and freckles, or who have an Irish surname (but no clue as to where their family hails), or who made the once in a lifetime trip "home" and still complain about it like it was a third world country....

These are silly articles.Each country tailors it's needs to suit themselves.In my opinion the only way to compare countries is how that country looks after the weakest members of their own country.Both the USA and Ireland have around 10% living below the poverty line for all different reasons.How that 10% is looked after is the only way of comparing.If the USA needed a higher level of education for it's citizens it would lower the cost to €2,000 for university as well.But it imports people with academic degrees because the USA has the jobs for them.Ireland is over 140 times smaller in size then the USA with limited openings for academic degrees.So Ireland gives them the tools to entice them to go on a permanent holiday.The balance in any country has to be kept right.

Also when we come it is to visit family/friends, sight see and hit the traditional music venues. We just want to have fun and a good time. It is mostly the Irish who bring up politics etc.

Also when we go to Ireland, we are there to visit family/friends, sight see and listen to the music. Most of us are not coming to talk about politics or brag about how great we are. We just ant to have fun and a good time.

Some of the Irish in Ireland have a real chip o their shoulder, and it is not recent. It goes back to the 1980's. Irish people should know many Americans including Irish-Americans are not happy with U.S. foreign policy. Guess what? There is nothing we can do about it.

@Trealach ... you're a horses behind. Immigration is not a "problem"; in fact it is precisely what made America great.

On a recent visit to Ireland, an angry Irishman, alluding to why my Irish ancestors left Ireland, said to me, "what happened, no spuds?". I replied, "plenty of spuds, its just that my grandparents were obviously a lot smarter than your grandparents".

Good article. As much as I like Ireland, it is the "home" of my ancestors - mine is America. You should've mentioned state colleges & universities which can be much less expensive. @Trealach - America is so lucky not to have you as a citizen and my condolences to the good people of Ireland. I usually just blow off your ususal anti-American rants and read the posts from the Irish who are intelligent, reasonable, and objective and who are more concerned about improving things in Ireland than wasting time insulting America. Other than you, I have nothing negative to say about Ireland or the Irish. @inseattle - good point.

My grandparents were from Ireland. I am American. I think it's important to embrace the differences in our countries and respect one another.

The Irish are the smartest people in the world, just ask them.

1ST Thank You for a very good article. Unfortunatly the country of my bith has done much in my name to make me unhappy. America is more devided now than it has been since the cival war. I am a Celt (Irish) 1st a Floridian 2nd and that attitude bothers my fellow Americans as much as it bothers me that they are willing to deny our citizens services to keep their taxes low. I just don't think we care about each other enough anymore? The American Dream maybe no more. I do wish the people of Ireland and the EU remember it is the government of the US making the poor decisions not the American people, Irish or otherwise.

@Pittsburghkid - Americans have EVERY reason to hang their head in SHAME, but are to arrogant to admit to their profound failings. America was initially established and built with the Criminals of Europe and Ireland - we got RID of the "WEAK". America is the most dangerous place for a pregnant woman - where they have Murdered 60 MILLION babies within 40 years. It is such a weak country, that they sold themselves out to Communist China. It's a 'country' where NOTHING worthwhile is PRODUCED but where EVERYTHING is IMPORTED, from CHINA. There are 49.5 MILLION living below the Poverty line. There are MORE Muslims in the US than in any other non-Muslim countries in the world. The US has an immigration problem, which despite making the ludicrous, and arrogant claim to have the 'greatest' military, CAN'T defend it's OWN Borders. Yep, you have a LOT to be ashamed of - time to wake up and smell the Rot!!

In order not to bring shame on Yanks, we rented a Citreon to drive to Dublin, learned to raise an eyebrow when challenged and smirk. PLoor Frenchies got all the blame for any of my faux pas!

"Irish-Americans" should be careful not to identify themselves as such; and unless they were born in Ireland, they should not consider Ireland "home." Actually, about the only plus I see in this essay is less expensive college tuition. Of course, he probably should have compared US state-supported institutions, rather than private colleges. given a choice of Hawaii or Ireland for a vacation, I'd choose Hawaii.

Wonderfully explained. Recently, Secrets of the Stones done by RTE-Cork and shown on PBS in NYC had a two part series on the history of the Tombs of the Neolithic Ages -Newgrange, Hill of Tara, and I kept thinking how exciting for a country to be able to keep its past so available to be seen in the now. And, of course, it was because of the financial straits that Ireland suffered through, there wasn't the need to destroy to build. And the contrast in the costs for Health Insurance protection and higher education is really a very important strength for Ireland. Good for you.