RSS
Roots


comment on article 6 Comments
print this article Print
email this articleE-mail

Heard of a Jewish American Princess? Now introducing the Irish American Princess

By
SEAN O'DRISCOLL
,
Irish Voice

Published Saturday, November 7, 2009, 8:12 AM
Updated Saturday, November 7, 2009, 8:30 AM

Vote now - Buzz this up!


Heard of a Jewish American Princess? Now introducing the Irish American Princess | IrishCentral




Read more: Mary Ellen Sweeney, Culture and Lifestyle, Irish Ancestry, Charlie Bennett, Dublin, BellaOnline.com, Knights of Columbus, County Donegal, Ireland, IrishCentral.com
Meet the Irish American Princess!
Meet the Irish American Princess!

Meet the Irish American Princess. She’s Catholic, she’s wealthy, she’s popular – and she’s way out of your league.

Perhaps you’ve heard of her sisters, the Jewish American Princess, the Cuban American Princess and the Italian American Princess.

Well just like these types of culturally-specific royalty, the IAP is a product of immigration striving. The grandparents and parents work hard so that the next generation can be hoisted up to the next level of the immigrant story.

These days, the IAP, also known as a HAPPIE, or Hibernian American Princess, is known to travel in groups, has her own career but is looking out for Mr. Perfect Irish Catholic with whom to move out to the dream house in the suburbs and start making baby Shannons, Taras, Colleens and Erins.

While HAPPIES can be first, second, third or even fourth generation Irish, they all have two common ingredients: they are raised to belong in the Irish Catholic American society and be proud of the country they came from.

Proof that HAPPIES are a legitimate group? They’re the demographic for products such as Claddagh-style rings.

Charlie Bennett, the owner or the Seaware jewelry corporation in Pennsylvania, reports excellent sales for the $1,000+ Irish American Princess ring, which he christened himself.

"I guess it's a reaction to the Jewish American Princess but the market is out there. I sell a lot across the U.S., as well as in the U.K. and Ireland,” he told IrishCentral’s sister publication the Irish Voice.

The healthy sales figures are an indication that the Irish American Princess is alive and well, and interested in rediscovering her roots.

"There was a time when Irishness wasn't talked about if you wanted to get ahead. Grandparents and parents didn't talk about it. Now you can get ahead and show pride in your Irish roots – there's a generation change there," Bennett said.

An example of a self-described Irish American Princess is author Mary Ellen Sweeney, the Irish Culture Editor for the women’s Web site BellaOnline. Sweeney frequently admits in her column that she is an Irish American Princess, but likes the term HAPPIE even more.

She comes from first generation stock who were eager their daughter rise to a higher station. Her father, from Donegal, was a sandhog supervisor.

1 2 Next page >

Vote now - Buzz this story up!


Heard of a Jewish American Princess? Now introducing the Irish American Princess | IrishCentral


print this article Print
email this articleE-mail


Most recent of 6 Comments - See all comments

Report abuse
Posted by BKayDrake on November 13,2009 | 10:13AM
Unfortunately, I am past the age of "princess" but I would have been there in an Irish minute thirty years ago! More power to the ladies.
Report abuse
Posted by mandokeith on November 9,2009 | 06:53PM
You go girl! Celebrate your heritage, you faith and your culture. It's about time! irishathens needs to suck more lemons.........
Report abuse
Posted by shenanigans on November 9,2009 | 01:36PM
What about us beautiful Irish Canadian Princesses? Don't we count too? I'm first generation Irish Catholic and one of five myself but I don't see any Irish Canadian Catholic lads??? Where are they????? They're certainly not in church!
Report abuse
Posted by jenbaus on November 9,2009 | 09:00AM
Yes, that would be me, raised in an Irish American Catholic family, went to college had my great career, married to an Irish American Catholic guy. We are raising five wonderful Irish American Catholic children. I think that I should be raised in statis, Irish American Queen!
Report abuse
Posted by rosks304 on November 9,2009 | 08:40AM
Cute
Report abuse
Posted by irishathens on November 9,2009 | 08:08AM
People who feel the need for these glorified titles are indeed poor in mind. I thought as nations (both Ireland and USA) we had abolished monarchy...yet here we are "hankering" after it....so sad






remember me on this computer
forget your password?     
IrishCentral.com is also home to Irish Voice and Irish America magazine