Irish American Heritage Month celebrated - top facts about the Irish Community in America

Yes, March is obviously the month for Irish America. One aspect of the Ireland - America connection that few seem to be aware of is the spread of Irishness by the U.S. military to the far corners of the earth. Probably this has never been done in a significant manner, but in early March, 1964, on my way back to Calif. from the U.S. naval base at Subic Bay, Philippines, I happened to spend a day at Clark Air Base, where I visited a huge shopping center. Inside a large window of a wowem's clothing store was an 'army' of mannequins dressed in green, as part of sea of greenery on display in connection with St. Patrick's Day.

snakehips,You have expressed my thoughts exactly. I think most Irish Americans are very proud of their parents and grandparents (not Granny's sister, but Granny, GrandDad, or Mom and Dad) who left everything they knew and loved for a long voyage and an unpredictable future. Remembering their sacrifices and bravery are what March means to me. Xenophobia" is exactly right.

Thank you snakehips for expressing my sentiments.

Dear ciaradexy, I am learning a great deal about Irish- born xenophobia today. I do know quite a few Irish people some of whose blood runs through my veins, I was, however, struck by the passive agressive anger of Ireland1970, who obviously has contempt for we Americans who have and inherent pride and love for our Irish Heritage. We can relish the Irish American moniker, but it doesn't diminish what we feel about the greatest priviledge on earth and that is our American citizenship.Maybe his Granny's Sister should come over and experience what our Irish ancestors accomplished so that he could have a "better life" in America.

Snakehips, if you actually knew any Irish people then you'd know we are quite a cheerful bunch who don't do wallowing. We may b1tch and moan but we get on with things.

Dear Ireland1970, Yes, we are American and proud of it. But unlike you;an angry "human being wanna be", we are proud of the people who came over and carved out a life so that we can appreciate our birthright as Americans. We laugh at the abysmal state of existence where you live, because you will never reach the pinnacle of greatness in your nation that we have achieved in ours,albeit our "Great Grannies Sister moved to America 100 years ago. So laugh and wallow in your Island of misery.

BE HAPPY TO BE AMERICAN FOR GODS SAKE... JUST BECAUSE YOUR GREAT GRANNIES SISTER MOVED TO AMERICA A 100 YEARS AGO... DOESNT MAKE YOU IRISH ... IM IRISH LIVE AND BELIEVE ME ALOT OF IRISH LAUGH AT IRISH AMERICAN WANNA BE'S ...IF YE'RE NOT TRYING TO BE IRISH ITS ITALIAN .... OVER HERE WE JSUT LAUGH AT YOU ......BE HAPPY AND PROUD TO BE AMERICAN CAUSE YOUR ARE NOT IRISH ...CHEERS

Like the generic term 'American', it's equally important to qualify the term 'British', i.e. English-British/Welsh-British/Scottish-British and/or Ulster/Northern-Irish-British. And why does the Union flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain (i.e. England/Wales/Scotland) & Northern Ireland retain the Saint Patrick's emblem (i.e. red diagonalised cross against white background) after partition, since northern protestant/unionist/loyalists identify with the St. George's cross (i.e. horizontalised red cross proper against white background).

The Friendly Sons Of St. Patrick didn't exist until 1771. Most (if not all) of it's original members were Protestant Irish, mostly of Scottish & English stock. The first New York parade was an impromptu march by Irish members of the British military. There was an even earilier St. Patrick's Day Parade held in Boston in 1737, organized by the Charitable Irish Society, which was an Ulster-Scots (Scots-Irish) organisation at the time.

Two parades in Yonkers,double your pleasure,double your fun.

35 million Americans claim Irish ancestry? The figure used to be 43 million Irish-Americans? What happened to those 8 million people from the past census, they all died?

How about 'can't we just along friends'?

My grandfather was a member of the Friendly Sons in NYC: its news to me that they were a Protestant organization.

34.7 million? That's just the one's who'll admit to it or pay attention to the Census Bureau. When they asked me if I was Hispanic, they phrased the question so broadly I had to say yes.

It would have been nice to mention that the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick was a Protestant organization. It might also have been nice to mention when the parade in NYC was transferred from the sponsorship of the Friendly Sons to the Clare Society and finally to the Ancient Order of Hibernians.