With thousands of Irish Americans making the pilgrimage to Dublin this weekend for the Notre Dame game, and the upcoming, year-long "Homecoming" Ireland is hosting in 2013, it is clear the Irish Diaspora feel a sense of belonging to the country and a connection to their heritage.
But can the Irish public feel the same sense of connection to their long lost cousins and welcome them “home?”
An article in the Sunday Independent this weekend examined Irish American's love for Ireland and why the country itself should embrace the Diaspora.
The author of the piece, Elaine Byrne, writes of a conversation she had with John P Tynan, head of the TynanGroup, a "state-of-the-art healthcare" delivery service, while on a bus to the American Embassy last week after a meeting with the Notre Dame Ireland Advisory Council.
Byrne asks Tynan "Why are you here, John?" She writes:
"He explained how Martin Naughton of Glen Dimplex and Don Keough of Coca-Cola had transformed Notre Dame's relationship with Ireland. Since 1998, more than 2,000 students from this top-ranked American university have studied or interned here because of the Keough Naughton Institute for Irish Studies. As a member of the Ireland Council, he was proud to be a part of this, he said.
"'But why are you really here?' she asked him . John, she reported, went all quiet for a while.
"'It's not difficult to come home,' he smiled. He became very animated and talked enthusiastically about his family emigrating from Cork in the 1860s and used the word "heritage" over and over again.
Byrne reported that Notre Dame was John's way back to Ireland. Even though he was third-generation Irish-American, his deep sense of belonging was absolutely central to his identity. 'But what do Irish people think of us, the Diaspora?' he inquired."
Byrne believes Tynan's question is about the "sense of a changing Diaspora" -- saying that Ireland's relationship with the Diaspora has always been one-sided, with the Irish public's engagement "at a remove."
However, many Irish Americans experienced a different attitude from the Irish public with the recent the Notre Dame v Navy game. When the teams last played in Ireland in 1996, many felt they were just "visiting" the country. This time around, many felt they were "coming home."
Byrne says "That subtle difference has occurred because of the concerted efforts over the last year by the Irish business, academic and sporting community to make this weekend happen."
However, she says that there is "cautious pessimism" about the government's strategies to "incorporate the Diaspora into Irish life" citing the mixed reaction in Ireland of the Dept of Foreign Affairs initiative to issue "certificates of Irish heritage."
The Gathering, a "year-long celebration of all things Irish" will invite the 70 million people worldwide who claim Irish ancestry to "come home." She says some of those involved in the project are privately apprehensive that the Irish public will not embrace the venture to the same extent as the Diaspora. But she says "coming home matters.”
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Seanmor | Sep 13, 2012, 10:17 AM EDT
bobby: Your comment reminds me of the winter I worked in Sussex as a teenager. There was only one other Irishman among my co-workers, a Protestant from the North who always said he was Irish. For some reason the Englistmen at our work place always called me by my first name, but often addressed the Ulsterman as "Paddy", and he didn't seem to mind. I soon learned that the I and the Northern Protestant had much more in common with each other that either man had with his English coreligionists. And he and I always got along famously.
bobby | Sep 09, 2012, 10:26 PM EDT
@ seanmor, typo error, most people in England see the so called British in N.I as plastic Brits. They are all Irish in denial. When Scotland become Independent, N.I should do the same. We here in London are sick of paying to support them.
bobby | Sep 09, 2012, 10:09 PM EDT
Ohh Seanmor you have problems, are you a plastic Brit, part N.I part American. Are you lost with your identity? Irish people in Ireland do not see themselves as European first Irish second. What a load of crap from your trap. You are so wrong. They are Irish and even more so today.... Im english born from London, and i know how the irish people feel and not one has ever said they are european first. Plastic Brits normally say that. N.I people to me and most people in England we call plastic Brits. They are Irish from Ireland......I wish you well.
bobby | Sep 09, 2012, 09:35 PM EDT
I think the Ireland Americans want to see or expect is long gone, Ireland is a completely different place today than it was 20/30 years ago. They have so many people from all over the world living in the country especially Dublin. Everything has changed very quick. Ireland is still the beautiful country but the people and population have changed. You will hear so many languages in central Dublin, sometimes not much english.
bogsidebunny | Sep 08, 2012, 07:23 AM EDT
Ya know this relationship ain't quite what it's made out to be. After 20 years on this Emerald rock I've discovered something that's not evident to almost all short term American visitors. I'm not making it up because I've been told to my face (I've been here so long the locals think I'm a local): "I've been to Disney land in Orlando. The place and weather were nice, BUT all those Americans annoy me because they're too happy and outgoing. It really gets up my nose when, with a "lisa Simpson" glow, some American wishes that I HAVE A NICE DAY." I hide my anguish when looking at the Irish naysayers and mentally shake my head and think: "What a sad society that thinks being vibrant, happy and optomistic is an annoying trait".
Seanmor | Sep 07, 2012, 09:32 AM EDT
Mairin: One could write about 50 pages to properly respond to your long statement, but all I'll say is that you (and BrianO)are correct in telling Ireland-bound U.S. tourists "not to wear green), especially since the 'independent' Irish state joined the E.U. I'm reminded of March of the late '50s, when the then president of that state, Seán T. O'Kelly, visited the U.S. for the U.S. for the St. Patrick's Day celebrations. When O'Kelly met Dwight Eisenhower, the U.S President was sporing a green tie and commented on Kelly's tie of another color. In resonse O'Kelly said, "I wear green in my heart". Since the early '70s 'thoroughly modern' Irish residents who staunchly support Partition label as "sentimental fools" those of us in the U.S. who proudly celebrate our Irish heritage - especially if we wear green and/or speak Gaeilge.
Mairin67 | Sep 06, 2012, 04:56 PM EDT
Can I just say that this article takes a confusing subject and smears the lines just a little more. I have posted a lot on this site, especially since the Notre Dame game, trying to figure out what the Notre Dame-Ireland connection is. I don't understand the people who identify themselves as being Irish because they follow a college football team called "the Fighting Irish". Being an American, and living not too far from ND, I see the confusion between what is really Irish and what Americans choose to label as Irish. I see too many Americans trying to be Irish but really have no clue about the culture or the country. I know this is all be passed off as a great succes, hugely financial, but I ask you, if the ND fans are so Irish and are "coming home", why haven't they ever come before? The Irish (actual people in Ireland) have a right to defend and define their culture and their way of life and not have American football fans trying to define what it is to be Irish. I agree with BrianO's comments, I too tell people when they are going to Ireland to not wear green, especially any Notre Dame outfits because what we think is a nice gesture that defines being Irish, really means nothing to the people of Ireland (aka the Irish). All I ask, as I have on this site so so many times before is that if you claim to be Irish, Notre Dame fan or not, please be able to speak to your Irish heritage and not just play the part.
Seanmor | Sep 05, 2012, 05:20 PM EDT
W.K. Whether or not one agrees with 'eiri', the comment that mentions "play i nGaeilge" is worthy of notice, since an Ghaeilge is a languare that many, if not most, Partitionist politicians in the Dáil are largely indiffent to, if not totally against.
WoundedKnee | Sep 05, 2012, 03:16 PM EDT
"a play i nGaeilge". Don't be such a hypocrite, eiriamach, you've told us time and again that you hate the Irish language. Go spin your lies somewhere else.
Seanmor | Sep 05, 2012, 12:42 PM EDT
eiriamach: In addition to the places you mention, U.S tourists who are veterans vacationing in Ireland might also consider visiting one of the three American Legion posts in the Irish state: Fr. Duffy post, in Killarney, Commodore Barry post in Clarmorris, Mayo or John F.nnedy post in Dublin. I dn't know of any Legion post north of the artificial Border. Most Irish natives who are members of one of hese Legion posts save the U.S. taxpayers substantial amouns by not aviling thmselves of treatment at U.S. V.A. hospitals, even though thery ate entiled such health care. Irish immigrants who served in the U.S. military, usually without benefit of citizenship, made their own personl contribution t this grest nation Therefore they, not the Irish state, are deserving recognition for their honorable service to America.
eiriamach | Sep 04, 2012, 08:26 PM EDT
@TayandCake, what moves me? Many things, like a traditional session when the people sing in the pub, a walk along O'Connell St. when the statues are lit and no crowds milling around, tea and cake in Bewley's, a good performance at the Abbey Theatre or, better, a play i nGaeilge in the West, trudging through ankle-deep mud to find a grave of one of my ancestors, the wild cascading waterfalls down the hills of Donegal in the spring, paths covered with flowers floating down on the wind, the ruins of monasteries in the Midlands....this can become a very long list, and American football is not on it. What moves you?
BrianO | Sep 04, 2012, 12:28 PM EDT
There are differences in culture, which both countries need to understand. We Americans are a country made up of immigrants, we love our connections to lands that our fore bearers left for various reasons and found a new life in America. The songs, stories, food, stayed with these immigrants and as the generations change the Diaspora become less Irish and more American(or other country). But the connection to the home country exists, and we are sometimes so excited to see the land of our fathers and connect that we turn people off. I tell people that are traveling abroad to know a little about the common customs, dos and don'ts, and to realize that when ever you are a visitor to a foreign country to expect some people to be put off a bit.
TayandCake | Sep 04, 2012, 12:11 PM EDT
Hey EIRIAMACH, what moves you?
TayandCake | Sep 04, 2012, 12:09 PM EDT
The Diaspora love Ireland more than the Irish, maybe they should stay
Seanmor | Sep 04, 2012, 11:55 AM EDT
ancarver: By "the Irish in Ireland", do you mean all Irish natives in the whole of Ireland or merely those in the part of the country over which the Dáil has jurisdiction? I'd like very much to the amnswer to this question because I'm a London-born U.S. citizen whose cultural heritage applies to the whole Irish nation and all ts parts (an náiniún uile agus gach roinn di). Besides, tá cúpla focal Gaeilge agam, as has my wife, a New England Methodist who has family connections in the North of Irweland. Is there room for us in the "Ireland" of which you speak?
ancavker | Sep 04, 2012, 10:15 AM EDT
Gavin: A very nice comment all around. The Irish in Ireland can learn from the Irish-Americans, (and the plastic paddies in Britain too!!), and we can learn from the Irish in Ireland. The affection and connection with Ireland is very real for those of us who come from there, but may not live there.
Gavin | Sep 04, 2012, 09:55 AM EDT
AngryPaddy: Im guessing by your comment your the resident Troll, but if im wrong please reply with a comment of some though and substance and prove me wrong. PS I was working on the wend hence my inability to get around and socialise a little. Looking forward to hearing from you ;-)
eiriamach | Sep 04, 2012, 08:47 AM EDT
John Tynan's view is certainly not representative of Irish-descended Americans, at least not of women! I have several relatives of past generations who graduated Notre Dame, but that university wins little respect at present in Irish America. Notre Dame, particularly its football team, is not a rallying point for us, except maybe for the misty-eyes men who remember Ronald Reagan in his Hollywood days telling the boys to "win one for the gipper." American schmaltz, not Irish! Visit Ireland for a football game? Are you folks out of yer ever-lovin' minds?
Seanmor | Sep 04, 2012, 08:02 AM EDT
The "Ireland" mentioned in the title of the above article is apparenly the Souhern Irish state, many of whose citizens now consider thmselves European first and Irish second -if al all. High ranking Partitionist politicians no doubt welcome the dollars U.S. tourints spent in the Irish state, but they care little or nothing about those of us whose Irishness applies to the whole nation, especially nuair a labhraimid an Ghaeilge, teanga nach bhfuil meas mo mhada ag na poiliteoiri uirthi.
EamonnDublin | Sep 04, 2012, 05:16 AM EDT
Hi "AngryPaddy" - Thanks you for your kind words about the Irish. You really showed your class and manners there. In case you haven't heard of it, there's a group you should join as they may (or may not) be able to help you. It's called "Shitewriters Anonymous". Éamonn, Dublin, Ireland.
angrypaddy | Sep 04, 2012, 12:34 AM EDT
Gavin:The reason you didn't get around to meet any supporters is you could not afford to,as for this imaginary love affair between Notre Dame supporters & Ireland is hogwash,most of the students could not give a hoot about Ireland and yes we do see you as a nation of drunken backward idiots run by a bunch of crooks
Gavin | Sep 03, 2012, 07:54 PM EDT
I for one was really happy to see everyone over for the game, didn't have much time to get around and meet many of supporters but did wander through temple bar and could see a lot of smiles and there was a pretty nice vibe in the air, can't knock that! From my perspective there is a something of a problem in Ireland that we haven't fully embraced returning members of the diaspora in the past, I think one of the reasons for this was that the Irish perception of what Americans perceived the Irish to be. When I was growing up(im 30 odd now) my view of americans was formed solely and unfortunately only through Irish and the odd bit of American TV, most of which painted us as a bunch of drunken backwards idiots, and Americans as cheesy, violent spendthrifts, at least that was the content I came to see! Kind of made me think we were a bit of a joke to America,thus I would never of been fully comfortable in a conversation with an american traveling here, also to be fair the picture that was painted of Americans was not to complementary. I was fortunate enough to have the chance to travel for many years in my twenties and thankfully met many Americans along the way, all of which enlightened in regard to the American perspective and American culture, a couple of those were Irish Americans who taught me a thing or two about how they view their heritage and how they view the Irish, Changed my view completly!! I guess what im trying to say is the more person to person contact I had with Americans the more I came to like and respect them. sorry for the long post but I felt its something that is pretty relevant to many Irish of my age and is regulary overlooked Peace
Seanmor | Sep 03, 2012, 03:52 PM EDT
Apparently many Irish supporters of Notre Dame on both sides of the Alantic have forgotten tate the graet Catholic University that takes its name from OUR LADY covered up statues of the Blessed Mother and other religious icons lest they offend the non-believing guest from the Whoite House on whom they bestowed an honorary degree.
Murph46 | Sep 03, 2012, 01:45 PM EDT
firehawk are you sure you are not American-profiteering off what your country has seen fit to proclaim a homecoming? I'm coming over between the ND.Navy game and 2013 but don't feel the need for the services you profiled!
racallahan | Sep 03, 2012, 10:51 AM EDT
This issue is such a double edged sword. Many Irish-Americans, like myself, are dismayed that Ireland is becoming too "Euro-Trashed" because of its concessions to the EU. HOWEVER, is it fair to the Irish to try to live up to a "romantic" version of "The Olde Sod" that hasn't existed in generations?
firehawk | Sep 03, 2012, 10:50 AM EDT
well will the great Irish Diaspora in America please put its money where its mouth is and support a small Irish company that is promoting the centenary commemorations of the 1916 Easter Rising by issuing gold, silver and bronze coins/medallions in its honour. That's 1916uprising.ie doing the very best in stringent times. So come on Irish Diaspora help this firm out. I'll repeat it, that firm is: 1916uprising.ie
Springfield9 | Sep 03, 2012, 09:50 AM EDT
If the government of Ireland had the sense of a church mouse, they would immediately realize that having a loyal base of 80,000,000 people provides some leverage. For years Sinn Fein has capitaized on the Unity dreams of the Diaspora. It's real power, it's there - use it. As for the nail biting over that silly certificate - it won't even get you a discount on petrol!
WoundedKnee | Sep 03, 2012, 08:45 AM EDT
Ironic that this woman Burne professes to be so concerned about "home". It's just a week or two ago that I saw her being attacked in an Irish newspaper for an article she wrote. Byrne had criticized the fact that many (certainly not all) street signs in Dublin are bilingual, English/Irish. (Usually the Irish language version is spelled wrong). Byrne maintained that the fact that the signs were in English and Irish made it hard for American tourists to follow them. What an utter fool.