455 Comments

• Jerry Kelly | May 14, 2013, 02:20 PM EDT

  Is so-thuigthe é seo. Ní linne an tír sin Éire. Is Meiriceánaigh sinn. Ach b'fhéidir nach bhfuil a fhios ag mórán Éireannach cé hiad féin na laethanta seo. Gan Gaeilge, gan punt (agus Euro ina áit), gan a dteoranta féin, faoi dhlí Eorpach, ar thoil Ghearmánach, 'Eorpaigh' nó 'West Brits' gan bród iontu féin mar Éireannaigh. B'fhéidir nach bhfuil aithne ag Meiriceánaigh ar "An Éire Nua". Ach, b'fhéidir nár mhaith linn aithne a chur ar "An Éire Nua".

• sully1167 | May 09, 2013, 05:02 AM EDT

  No Barry, I was speaking of some Non-English speaking immigrants to the US. Please reread what I have written.

• Barry | May 08, 2013, 02:31 PM EDT

  @IrelandNorth: Speaking English is only a big achievement if it happens NOT to be your native tongue. The point I was making earlier was that Irish immigrants to English-speaking countries had a big advantage over other groups in being native speakers of English. And unlike many other immigrant groups, Irish people have never emigrated in large numbers to non-English speaking countries and so have no idea how hard it can be for someone to get by in a foreign language. But they'll be the first to criticise foreigners/immigrants for not being able to speak English. @sully1167: Are you implying that non-English speaking immigrants to Ireland and other European countries don't make an effort to learn the language. I don't agree with that - most foreigners I meet in Ireland speak English quite well. Most people from English-speaking countries on the other hand have no knowledge of any foreign languages. @Symrnian: Riots, looting and demands for Sharia law are quite rare and you shouldn't paint masses of people with the same brush. @Seanmor: Ireland was similar to a Third World country up until a few decades ago. When you say you never felt like "an Oriental, an African or any other Third World resident", it sounds like you think those people are inferior, which sort of backs up what I said earlier about the racist tendencies of Irish-Americans.

• Seanmor | May 07, 2013, 08:34 PM EDT

  Barry claims that up tom a few decades ago Ireland (the Southern Irish state?) was a Third World country.I was raised in that Ireland and a long as I can remember my mother was always collecting money for the African missions. At the age of 9 I collected subscriptions for the Far East magazine, which was produced by the Irish Columban Fathers. Never once did I feel like an Oriental, an African, or any other Third World resident. I was proud of my nationality then agus is mar sin atá mé fós.

• Smyrnian | May 07, 2013, 07:41 PM EDT

  Barry - I suppose by ' cosmopolitan' you mean the riots, lootings and demands for Sharia law in France, Holland and England? Great result for those people who have effectively lost their countries and culture to the Islamist plan.

• sully1167 | May 07, 2013, 04:44 PM EDT

  Barry: I do appreciate it, the Irish certainly had that advantage over other immigrant groups. Don't forget they also helped a lot of minority groups with their own achievements, in the US. The non-English speaking immigrants to America made the effort, and learned. They weren't pandered too like in today's politically correct environment.

• IrelandNorth | May 07, 2013, 02:57 PM EDT

  Barry! If speaking English is no great achievement, have you considered it's usefulness for others in reading your posts. If you were an employer in a primarily anglophone (English speaking) country, would you hire someone who is only fluent in Swahili, Urdu, Pali or Uzbek? Can't imagine you being in business for too long. Would speaking Vulcan be preferable? You##d be hired for Star Trek for sure.

• ginadolan | May 07, 2013, 01:29 PM EDT

  447 comments! Could you lot get a sense of humour about this article?

• Barry | May 07, 2013, 01:20 PM EDT

  @sully1167: Being white isn't an achievement! Neither is being black, or any colour in between. That's just a statement of fact. Being English-speaking isn't an achievement either if it happens to be your native tongue. I mentioned those two characteristics of the Irish in my earlier post as I believe they gave Irish immigrants in the UK, US, Canada and Australia a huge advantage over other groups in years gone by - an advantage that many Irish-Americans don't seem to appreciate.

• sully1167 | May 07, 2013, 09:31 AM EDT

  Barry: You are bigoted towards Irish-Americans. You are also a self hating white, For your comment about not being much of an achievement. Don't tell me you are not prejudice. "Cosmopolitan" more leftist language.

• STEVENSTAR | May 07, 2013, 08:15 AM EDT

  444 COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE .. WELL SOMEONE HAS A BEE IN THEIR BONNET HAHA !!! AS AN IRISHMAN I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THIS ARTICLE AND THE '' ARROGANCE'' OF THE AMERICAN COMMENTERS BELOW IS SAD.. CAN YOU IMAGINE IF I MADE COMMENTS LIKE THAT ABOUT AMERICANS AND PRETENDING TO KNOW MORE ABOUT AMERICA THEN THE NATIVES.. I DONT THINK IT WOULD GO DOWNN TOO WELL WITH AMERICAN CITIZENS JUST LIKE THE COMMENTS ON HERE DONT GO DOWN TOO WELL WITH IRISH CITIZENS

• Barry | May 07, 2013, 06:07 AM EDT

  @sully1167: You say "You take care of you own first". European countries have always done this anyway. Immigration to Europe only started when there were labour shortages here. I don't feel any guilt for "Third World nations" (what a disparaging way to refer the counties of origin of non-white people by the way!) Neither do I begrudge them of a chance at a better life. Anyway, up until a couple of decades ago, Ireland was more or less a Third World country but the UK, US, Australia and others still had no problem admitting us in droves. probably because we were white and could speak English - neither of which is an achievement I hasten to add. As for me being a bigot, I must say I'm a bit confused. Who am I bigoted towards? @WoundedKnee: Maybe I am a bit out of touch with many in Ireland on the immigration issue but that doesn't mean I'm wrong. In 1930s Germany, I bet those who weren't anti-Semitic were considered "out of touch". Same could be said perhaps of those opposed to slavery in 19th century America. @Smyrnian: I'm a quite well travelled all over Europe, including France. I love how cosmopolitan those places are, if that's what you;re referring to.

• IrelandNorth | May 07, 2013, 03:51 AM EDT

  dingle999! I regret your relapse to distinctly un-Great British tabloidism. You're bigger than that, my man. Revert to your previous intellectual content, for God (and Ulster's?) sake. If Nigel Farragh's United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) rebranded as the Great Britain Independence Party (GBIP), more Irish in Great Britain (GB) would support them. After all, 5 (of 6) m people on the Island of Ireland (IoI) support Great Britian's (GBs) independence from Northern[ised] Ireland (NI). Thats 5/6 ths or 83.3%!

• Renelda M. | May 06, 2013, 08:06 PM EDT

  The photo in this blame article says it all. Barry is being humorless--I mean-humorous.

• Smyrnian | May 06, 2013, 06:01 PM EDT

  Barry - been to Holland or France or the regional UK cities lately? I can tell you have not.

• dingle999 | May 06, 2013, 05:58 PM EDT

  @IrelandNorth/WoundedKnee Lol there is a Facebook page showing the Bobby Sands burger joint in Tehran ... Maybe your politics are closer to Tehran than Ireland

• WoundedKnee | May 06, 2013, 03:36 PM EDT

  Irish-Americans "can be a little bit out of touch with modern Ireland and mant of them do seem to have racist tendencies". More ignorant bigotry from Barry, who is becoming a bit of a pain in the neck with his constant prejudice. His invective is not worth analyzing logically--hate speech never is--but maybe he would give us statistics to backk uo the "racist" slur that he throws into every post? And will he tell us how HE claims to be in touch with modern Ireland, when his support for the colonization of Ireland by foreigners is very much a minority opinion among Irish people. The fact is that Barry is a bore, just another right-wing apologist for big business and capitalism, for globalization and against cultural diversity. BORING Barry!

• IrelandNorth | May 06, 2013, 02:29 PM EDT

  warrenpoint00! Consider more carefully the import of my terminology. One nation - two [artificial] states - four provinces - thirty-two counties. dingle999! Agreed. Potatoe blights and buffalo slaughter were the symptoms. Laissez-faire economics was the disease. Barry! An Irish e-migrant to America or elsewhere is an American im-migrant!

• IrelandNorth | May 06, 2013, 02:28 PM EDT

  warrenpoint00! Consider more carefully the import of my terminology. One nation - two [artificial] states - four provinces - thirty-two counties. dingle999! Agreed. Potatoe blights and buffalo slaughter were the symptoms. Laissez-faire economics was the disease. Barry! An Irish e-migrant to America or elsewhere is an American im-migrant!

• dingle999 | May 06, 2013, 12:56 PM EDT

  @IrelandNorth "BTW! Black '47 (first potatoe blight) was to Ireland" Study your Irish History dude.. hint Laissez Faire economics @PatsyGarretty 'Most' Irish Americans who come to Ireland do not have 'ignorant - misguided' views about my country but sadly there is a minority especially concerning the IRA (so call fight for freedom)and think the Wolf Tones is actually part of real Irish culture.. need a proper education

• sully1167 | May 06, 2013, 12:16 PM EDT

  Patsy: Irish like Barry can't look in the mirror, and see his own bigotry. He doesn't even realize it.

• sully1167 | May 06, 2013, 12:09 PM EDT

  Barry: That is up to their own countries,to provide a better standard of living for them. You take care of you own first. Obviously, there were too many Non-White BA employees to count. The UK is a separate nation, I am just saying that is what will happen in Dublin in years to come, if this liberal immigration policy continues. The Irish never colonized anyone there is no reason to feel all of this "guilt" for third world nations.

• PatsyGarretty | May 06, 2013, 11:39 AM EDT

  What a wonderful ambassador James Farrell is for beautiful Ireland!! He is right of course...I had NO IDEA that the Irish were this bitter, sour, ugly group of people!! That they are politically stupid - also a surprise. That they are hypocrites (they don't like jokes about themselves - "demeaning") but they LOVE making jokes about Americans....and they pretend to be something they are not in order to continue to soak the "Irish-Americans" who foolishly spend their tourist dollars on this cursed, bland, and unimaginative little place....all news to me. I've been to Ireland twice...and after reading this corroded thinking...that's probably enough.

• Barry | May 06, 2013, 11:23 AM EDT

  @sully1167: I'm sure the vast majority of Muslims have no interest in conquering America or anywhere else. I'm sure those who immigrate to Western countries just want a quiet life and a better standard of living than they have back home. So you saw only 4 white BA employees at Heathrow? You don't say how many non-Whites where there. And what's the problem anyway? If non-Whites weren't working they'd be accused of being welfare scroungers so it's hard for them to win, isn't it? Anyway, London is a global city so it's hardly surprising that it's population is multicultural. @WoundedKnee: I have no hatred for Irish-Americans but they can be a little bit out of touch with modern Ireland and mant of them do seem to have racist tendencies.

• sully1167 | May 06, 2013, 10:34 AM EDT

  WoundedKnee: You are right it is more like, ethno or cultural suicide. The Irish Government and business leaders are more to blame. People like Barry just want to keep the blinders on.

• Seanmor | May 06, 2013, 10:06 AM EDT

  It is quite understandable the Americans, including those of Irish parentage, are very different from Irish natives because former acquired superior DNA by virtue of their birth on U.S. soil. However, the are many U.S. residents who are 3 or 4 generations removed from Ireland and are culturally (and politically ) more Irish than most Dáil members who strongly support Partition and totally reject teanga na nGael.

• WoundedKnee | May 06, 2013, 09:17 AM EDT

  barry: You place no value on Irish nationality, but many people do, and that includes most Irish people. You are obsessed with hatred of Irish-Americans, but there should be a health warning to the uninformed placed on every one of your posts, since you certainly don't speak for the Irish in Ireland in wanting Irish nationality and ethnicity to be subsumed by the colonization of the country by people from over 100 different lands. Every foreign migrant who arrives in Ireland makes the survival of Irishness more unlikely. Forecasts show that the Irish will be an ethnic minority in their ancient homeland by 2040, that's to say within the lifetime of most who read this. I do agree with you on one thing, however. This is not genocide. The correct word is ethnosuicide.

• sully1167 | May 06, 2013, 07:55 AM EDT

  Barry: Paranoia? perhaps. Words like xenophobia, and Islamaphobia are made up words from the liberal textbook. It's not a phobia if they are trying to conquer you. Have you been to Heathrow lately? I saw maybe 4 white British Airways employees. You are in denial about forced conversions Why are so many Arab Christians fleeing Middle Eastern Countries? They may not force all Non-Muslims to convert, but they will treat them like second class citizens and make them pay a tithe.

• Barry | May 06, 2013, 05:54 AM EDT

  @sully1167: Referring to demographic changes brought about by immigration as a "genocide" or a "holocaust" is a terrible abuse of language but one that is perpetraed by racists and those opposed to immigration all the time. Genocide to me means actual killing, as in murdering! What are you on about Ireland's neighbour to the east? You're claiming the native British have become "powerless to assert themselves"?? Come off it. Despite all the paranoia in the UK about immigration, according to the most recent UK census, 86% of Britain's population is still white (80% white British). I find your second post a little ridiculuous too. I'm sure most Muslims have no interest in forcibly converting non-Muslims to their religion. And again, while the Muslim population of Ireland has grown in recent years, it's still very small. In your post, I see signs of Islamophpbia, which I presume is all the rage in America since 9/11. Are Muslims the new Blacks over there?

• WoundedKnee | May 06, 2013, 04:24 AM EDT

  Warrenpint: You've sure been shown up as a liar and a fool! You clearly don't live in Britain or Ireland, since your ignorance of a basic political fact reveals it. Every newspaper, radio station and TV channel in Britain (and if you live in the north of Ireland you are surrounded by these media) was talking about the success of the United Kingdom Independence Party. But you had never heard of it! So you're not just the bigot and fool we have come to know here, you're a liar and a fraud! Just where do you live? Go on, tell us.

• sully1167 | May 05, 2013, 07:50 PM EDT

  Barry: The native Irish will be looked down upon, when they become a minority. They will certainly be looked down on by the Muslims if they don't convert.

• sully1167 | May 05, 2013, 06:44 PM EDT

  Wow, this thread is still going. Barry: The Irish may not be a minority in this present time, like I stated "Long Term" massive immigration. The American Indians were also "Breeded" out besides being killed in battles, and from diseases. A genocide or holocaust does not have to be physically violent. It can be done thorough massive economic immigration, where a certain group or groups outnumber the indigenous group. The native indigenous group then becomes so powerless to assert themselves. It takes more time than physical war, but it happens. Just look across the water at your neighbor to the east. The Irish emigrants that were not perfect, proves my point. Nobody is perfect. Everyone of every race and nationality is biased against some group. People who call other people racists, and bigots "THINK THAT THEY ARE PERFECT." You may harbor some biases of your own too. "Judge not, Ye be judged."

• Stiofain | May 05, 2013, 05:11 PM EDT

  After reading all this diatribe, some enlightening more a mish-mash if personal feelings and report of "facts." warrenpoint00 you made the most since. I'm a "yank" this article(that most seem not to have read or addressed) was right on. Many times American tourist have embarrassed them selves and their nation. It especially came to me when I lived in Paris, since many other places. They don't mean to be rude, they just don't know better. Americans have a very poor educational system.

• warrenpoint00 | May 05, 2013, 03:59 PM EDT

  You are right wounded legs, I do not live in the UK, I live in Ireland so I would know little about your british independence parties, or your UK independent parties.I do know that these parties, that espouse your racist beliefs, are right wing ,racist parties and I am not surprised by your glorification of them.If it be any consolation to those good Americans insulted by this piece by Farrell, we Irish also get a bad name, by foolish articles written by people like him.We Irish also are made look bad by those who think or insists that Ireland is a nation of two states,and refers to Ireland, in a IrelandNorth or IrelandSouth, or UK context.They are either a partitionist free stater or a british unionist.It is people like this that give the Irish people a bad name,and they should refrain from popping up their heads and ridiculing those people that hail from a successful nation, while they can only contribute to their respective failed statelets, with their racist diatribe.

• IrelandNorth | May 05, 2013, 03:15 PM EDT

  dingle999! My point was that "terrorism" (sic) is not the exclusive preserve of paramilitaries. States do it too ya know! Though it would be better if neither did. Barry! Yes, indigenous/planters/diapora first. Aus/Can/NZ/UK/US next. I doubt if c 50,000 transplantees in the 16th c to Barbados and Virginia, and countless transportees from 17th - 19th cs to Tasmania and Australia proper were small numbers contemporaneously. Though they probably were small if you weren't one of them, just like enforced emirants today. BTW! Black '47 (first potatoe blight) was to Ireland what massacre of buffalo by white Europeans was to native Americans. Connect the dots.

• Barry | May 05, 2013, 01:29 PM EDT

  @sully1167: I don't believe the Irish are going to become a minority in Ireland anytime soon. And even if they do, it won't be because they're being slaughtered, or are succumbing to diseases brought in, by the newcomers, which is what happened to the Native Americans. So there's a big difference. In your last statement, you seem to be making excuses for the prejudices of Irish people abroad. The Irish who emigrated to the US, UK and other countries certainely weren't perfect. I wonder what do other groups think of them? It's also very cheeky of Irish-Americans, for instance, to look down their noses on Blacks, for example, even though the latter group were in the country before them! That'd be like Polish, Chinese, Nigerian or Brazilian immigrants to Ireland thinking they're better than the native Irish. That wouldn't go down well here!

• sully1167 | May 05, 2013, 12:02 PM EDT

  Barry: it's not about superiority or supremacy. It's about survival, the more non-Irish that are let into Ireland, the less Irish it will become. Speaking of the United States, look at what happened to the Native Americans. Do you want the Native Irish to end up being a minority in their own country? Yes, my ancestors left Ireland for the US. because they did not want to starve. My last post was to you BTW, not to dingle999. That was my error. The US. was already settled land, the natives were already defeated. I agree it was wrong, that the land was stolen from them. It is obviously to late, not all Whites can return to Europe. That is what will happen to Ireland. That is the long term effects of multiculturalism. People from Ireland who immigrated to the USA, or the UK may not have been prejudiced when they lived in Ireland, but they changed their views after living among different cultures for a few years.

• WoundedKnee | May 05, 2013, 10:24 AM EDT

  Pster barry makes a nasty and dirty slur, but when asked to back it up he slinks away "I have no intention of mentioning other posters by name but they do exist". Why am I not surprised? Barry, you're a contemptible liar, a fraud and a bigot. You truly have offered nothing on this site except hate and prejudice. You have avoided every chance to establish a rational case for the colonization of Ireland. Instead, you throw out slurs and crazy claims. You're a nothing.

• WoundedKnee | May 05, 2013, 10:20 AM EDT

  A contact in Ireland has corrected me. I had misnamed the party which did very well in the British elections. Its correct name is UKIP--the United Kingdom Independence Party. But my error has unmasked the poster warrenpint as a fraud and a liar. Warrenpint, you actually repeated without question my erroneous phrase "british independent party". You even invented an acronym--BIP. The fact that you did not recognize my mistake and correct me on it shows that you are no more living in the United Kingdom than I am living in Teheran. Any fool living in the UK or indeed Ireland would have seen my error. It seems you only satisfy half that criterion. You are a fool, but you sure don't live where you claim to live.

• Barry | May 05, 2013, 07:07 AM EDT

  @IrelandNorth: You say "And Ireland will go exactly the same way that the US has gone before it." What does that mean exactly? Become more multicultural? Does this mean you think America should be a Whites-only or even, lol, an Irish-only country?? In addition, saying that most of the Irish diaspora were "transplanted/transported/deported or displaced" is utter nonsense. Apart from small numbers of convicts sent to Australia and indentured servants and the like sent to the Americas, the VAST majority of Irish emigrants were voluntary economic migrants, much like immigrants who have come to Ireland in recent years. @WoundedKnee: I have no intention of mentioning other posters by name but they do exist. I also have Irish-American relatives, who I've heard making negative remarks about non-Irish in the States and non-Irish in Ireland, making it clear that they genuinely think that Irish people - both at home and abroad - are better then everyone else.

• sully1167 | May 05, 2013, 04:35 AM EDT

  Thank You IrelandNorth.

• sully1167 | May 05, 2013, 04:15 AM EDT

  @IrelandNorth So your opinions about the Sept 11th hijackers ? All Terrorism in the modern context serves nothing but causes innocents to get killed etc.. Your deluded views/beliefs about Republican terrorism as something romantic.. and you are Pro Life as well ? Interesting - remember the Warrington bombing...?

• IrelandNorth | May 05, 2013, 04:05 AM EDT

  warrenpoint00! If the Irish (whoever they are theses da[ze])don't/never haave copied what the British do, why do you as an Irishman post in your cultural coloniseres language? According to you own logic, you mustn't be Irish? Or perhaps you're a Free-Stater? Or worse still, a west-Brit? The successes of the Great Britain Independence Party (GBIP) will undoubtedly reverberate on the Green Tories of the Emerald Isle. dingle999! One nan's terrorist is another man's liberator. Who decides?

• Smyrnian | May 04, 2013, 08:00 PM EDT

  No different to other ethnics outside of their home place. I see the same with Italians, Greeks and others. So what? ,

• dingle999 | May 04, 2013, 06:18 PM EDT

  @IrelandNorth "Irish nationalism is[n't] dead and gone, or with O'Leary in the grave. It's with Irish-America in The Staes.!" Good God... you are living in Alice in Wonderland.. Noriad was a facilitator for terrorism in my country...

• warrenpoint00 | May 04, 2013, 06:06 PM EDT

  I am not surprised that a white supremacist like wounded legs (and brain), is really pleased to see the british independent party get a huge vote.The bip is a very right wing conservative party with ties to the national front and of course we all know what their agenda toward anything that is not british, and to those who do not want to speak the british queens English.If old wounded had his way,he would want the imperialist failed empire to occupy every nation in the world again.Stay in Michigan and copy the Klansmen,s ways wounded, we Irish do not, or never have copied anything that the british have done, maybe your Irish free state friends do.Look where it got them.

• WoundedKnee | May 04, 2013, 03:30 PM EDT

  I was really pleased to see that in the English elections yesterday the British Independent Party received a huge vote. Their two central policies are something the Irish should adopt: No to Mass Immigration, No to the European Union! Come on Ireland-- You always copy what the Brits are doing, how about copying the British Independent Party?

• WoundedKnee | May 04, 2013, 03:24 PM EDT

  "And you can be sure ..." No, Barry, I CAN"T be sure. Maybe you'd point out particular posters that you have in mind? Until then, the only thing I AM sure about is that you're a bigot.

• IrelandNorth | May 04, 2013, 02:33 PM EDT

  dingle999! They probably woundn't have contributed to Noraid if they hadn't been inspired by a justifiable sense of grievence. sully1167! Your concern for the old country is commendable. And Ireland will go exactly the same way that the US has gone before it. Barry! Most Irish diaspora were transplanted/transported/deported or displaced, unlike most immigrants into modern Ireland. And don't underestimate the power, influence and authority of Irish-America on Irish govt policy. What d'ya think the whole St Patrick's day networking exercise is all about. "Irish nationalism is[n't] dead and gone, or with O'Leary in the grave. It's with Irish-America in The Staes.!"

• sully1167 | May 04, 2013, 01:00 PM EDT

  dingle999: Yes, realistically Irish Americans cannot decide on immigration matters in Ireland. A lot more Irish could have returned during the "Celtic Tiger" period. Yes, I myself would take a lower wage job, if I was eligible for citizenship. I am not as arrogant as I may sound, I would rather be happy. Everyone is prejudice to a certain degree. Some Irish in Ireland may claim not to be racist towards Non-Irish/Non-White immigrants, but will be prejudiced against Americans, Brits, Gays, Travelers, etc. There are a lot of Irish in Ireland, I spoke with who were not very happy about immigration into Ireland. They may not be as vocal about it, but believe me they are out there. Non-Whites are also racist towards Whites, racisim works both ways. Living in The US. I have seen and experienced the negatives of multiculturalism, and political correctness.

• Barry | May 04, 2013, 11:29 AM EDT

  @sully1167: Everything changes (including a country's demographic make-up), and it isn't for Irish-Americans to decide on the issues of immigration into Ireland anyway. Also, it's important to note that, had so many Irish people not left Ireland in years gone by, there would have been no need for immigrants to fill the gaps in the labour market that appeared 10 or 12 years ago, as there would have been enough people here already. And if Americans and others of Irish descent feel so proud of Ireland, I don't see why more of them didn't come "back" to live here when the economy was booming a few years ago. If they had done so in large numbers, the need for immigrant (i.e. non-ethnic Irish)labour would not have been as great as it was. The question here, however, is would well-educated second and third generation Irish-Americans be prepared to work in the low-wage service jobs that many immigrants here came to do? I think perhaps not. @WoundedKnee: You don't need to remind me that many Irish people are anti-immigration - I hear it all the time. And while being opposed to immigration ("mass" immigration or otherwise) doesn't necessarily make someone racist, it's naive to think that the two can't overlap. In fact, they often do. And you can be sure that many of the Irish-Americans who make negative comments on IrishCentral in relation to immigrants in Ireland will also have negative attitudes towards non-Irish groups in America, especially Blacks.

• WoundedKnee | May 04, 2013, 10:35 AM EDT

  "Irish-Americans can have a problem with immigration into Ireland". Stop obsessing with Irish Americans, barry. It is the IRISH who have the problem with Mass Immigration (that's not the same as Immigration, by the way, you really should use language more carefully). All indications are that about 70% or more of the Irish are opposed to the settlement of their country by foreigners. That's hardly surprising--why would any normal person, of any nation, want his homeland to be taken over by foreigners? Can you cite us one example, barry, from any country, of a nation which wanted to be supplanted by foreigners? And speaking of your sloppy misuse of language, barry, please stop your inane use of the "racist" slur. You obviously don't know what a genuine racist is, and you demean the suffering of true victims of racism by stupidly misusing the term to mean "people who want a prudent immigration policy". Knock it off, it just makes you look dumb.

• WoundedKnee | May 04, 2013, 09:49 AM EDT

  dingle999: Because a lot of Irish Americans think Ireland should be for the Irish, and those of Irish descent. They see it as a holyland, a connection. Yes, I see your point that it seems hypocritical that our ancestors left Ireland for different lands. The lands they immigrated too were already conquered and developed "melting pots." We like to see Ireland as a monocultural nation, not a meting pot like the US. That is what makes Ireland, Ireland. People don't have a choice of where they are born.

• MurphMom | May 04, 2013, 09:46 AM EDT

  I'm just going to say the author is as ignorant of Americans of Irish descent as he portrays them to be of the Irish. Fool.

• Barry | May 04, 2013, 09:20 AM EDT

  @sully1167: I am indeed a native Irishman. I don;t consider myself left-wing or liberal (nor right-wing or conservative). But I do have a keen sense of fairness and justice, which is why I cannt understand how Irish-Americans can have a problem with immigration into Ireland when they (or their ancestors) immigrated in droves into America.

• sully1167 | May 04, 2013, 07:30 AM EDT

  dingle999: No I am not a Republican, or a Democrat. I can think for myself as an Independent. Being a member of either party, does not make one Irish. You call Irish Americans bigots just because they don't agree with Non-Irish immigration into Ireland. We may not live there, but we have a deep affinity for it. Just like Jews have an affinity for Israel, and French Canadians have an affinity for France. Why can't Irish Americans care and comment about Irish politics? Irish people comment about American Politics, and I have no issue with that.

• dingle999 | May 04, 2013, 04:47 AM EDT

  sully1167 "Are you a Native Irishman? Your language has Left/Liberal undertones, You prove my point" About what exactly ? that you are conservative / Republican voter etc - still does not make you Irish

• dingle999 | May 04, 2013, 04:20 AM EDT

  @IrelandNorth The article is about the so call 'Irish Americans'... They are usually conservative / Catholic and feel superior towards the Irish actually living in Ireland.. Some of them gave wads of money to the IRA in the 1970s etc and had no understanding about the consequences of their actions... Hey lets bless them .. they live in 'The promise land'

• IrelandNorth | May 04, 2013, 03:54 AM EDT

  Which Ireland are they not supposed to have a clue about, ie Ulster/Northern Ireland - Munster/southern Ireland proper - Leinster/eastern Ireland or Connacht/western Ireland? And who are the third person plural he refers to. Irish-Americans of American-Irish. And what about other Irish diaspora.

• dingle999 | May 04, 2013, 03:49 AM EDT

  @Freeman Hmm my Father was from Cork.. I am of small stature... so take your 'leprechaun' drivel and stuff it

• dingle999 | May 04, 2013, 03:25 AM EDT

  If Irish Americans believe anything this nutter says 'Pat Robertson explains why "simple" foreigners are more likely to experience miracles than "sophisticated" Americans Well I am Irish and I do not...

• Freeman | May 03, 2013, 10:37 PM EDT

  Mr Farrell may be related to STEVENSTAR, that little anti American leprechaun who likes to remind us al,l that he is from Co Cork Ireland,really, as if we care where the little looney is from.

• anglo-norman | May 03, 2013, 07:13 PM EDT

  Now the flip side, Irish people in Ireland are from other countries in essence, would you expect Irish people to know all about Scandanivia,Britain,other european countries?

• anglo-norman | May 03, 2013, 06:22 PM EDT

  The Irish in Ireland haven't a clue about Ireland as well...

• sully1167 | May 03, 2013, 05:40 PM EDT

  Seanmor: I was referring to James Farrell and Irish assumptions of all Irish-Americans, being Republican or Tea Party supporters.

• sully1167 | May 03, 2013, 05:28 PM EDT

  Barry: Are you a Native Irishman? Your language has Left/Liberal undertones, You prove my point.

• dingle999 | May 03, 2013, 04:56 PM EDT

  "The Irish are world-renown drunks." Hey that is not fair.. what about George W Bush..

• butlerreport | May 03, 2013, 03:24 PM EDT

  The reason Americans know so little is that they don't care. And as for 'We don’t want to hear any more Irish drinking jokes -- they are pathetic and demeaning to us for the most part.' Gimme a break. The Irish are world-renown drunks.

• IrelandNorth | May 03, 2013, 01:51 PM EDT

  Seanmór! Not all 'southern' (sic) Irish are partitionists. In fact not all southern Irish are actually southern proper. Some are even eastern (like me) and western Irish (ie Leinster and Connacht resp). Steady on the generalisations old chap! WoundedKnee! Hey, I'm on your side. But Newry and Blancharstown are not really comparable. One's a rural town, the other's a metropolitan suburb. I would paraphrase James Farrell's headline above by saying: "Most [young] Irish ... have no real clue about Ireland ..." ie they're the culturally illiterati.

• IrelandNorth | May 03, 2013, 01:51 PM EDT

  Seanmór! Not all 'southern' (sic) Irish are partitionists. In fact not all southern Irish are actually southern proper. Some are even eastern (like me) and western Irish (ie Leinster and Connacht resp). Steady on the generalisations old chap! WoundedKnee! Hey, I'm on your side. But Newry and Blancharstown are not really comparable. One's a rural town, the other's a metropolitan suburb. I would paraphrase James Farrell's headline above by saying: "Most [young] Irish ... have no real clue about Ireland ..." ie they're the culturally illiterati.

• Richard F. | May 03, 2013, 11:34 AM EDT

  " Nair the Twain shall meet " The writer knows as much about the stereotype " Irish Americans " as they ( ? ) about (stereotype)us . I work in Tourism and meet many Americans every year and don't see a lot of what he writes about.... If people outside Ireland are misinformed it is our media , writers, etc. who are bad communicators.....

• Seanmor | May 03, 2013, 10:31 AM EDT

  sully: You say that all Irish Americans "are not right wing" (May 3, 6:54). I don't know what exactly you mean by "right wing". Would you include me in that category? I served 4 years in the Marine Corps, received an HONORABLE and became a U.S. citizen. I still stand by the oath I took when I joined the marines and again when I became a citizen. That means I support the right of responsible, law-abiding citizens "to bear arms". I joined the American Legion in the mid-80s and am now Commander of the local post. My wife has for long been a D.A.R. member and is the current Regent of her chapter. As well as being staunchly pro-USDA, we are also pro-family and pro-life and we support legal immigration and oppose granting fast amnesty and easy citizenship to the 12 million who ILLEGALLY entered this great country.

• Barry | May 03, 2013, 09:26 AM EDT

  @sully1167: "Flooding" with immigrants in the 1990s? That's quite emotive, borderline racist language for a start. Are you Irish-American? Because if you are, your statement kind of proves my point.

• sully1167 | May 03, 2013, 09:25 AM EDT

  Thanks for the support falconflash!

• falconflash | May 03, 2013, 08:48 AM EDT

  dingle999... you are Irish, he is Irish-American....ever lived/worked in the usa? No, then it's YOU, not he, that doesn't get it. Irish-Americans can't lose their Irish so fast because over several generations most married other Irish-American-Catholics so you'll have to put up with our descendants that didn't breed with english, german, italian, greek etc....you're like the British of 1850's who thought emmigration would destroy the Irish. WRONG. We're still at it.

• RthrBHistCorr | May 03, 2013, 08:39 AM EDT

  Another pompus "I'd rather be a European than Irish" elitist who are puzzled that Irish American are still proud to be of Irish heritage. I suggest Mr Farrell look at the material that tourism Ireland puts out and their depiction of Ireland and some of the material regarding "the Gathering". Talk about people living in glass houses. Notice that "American Dollars" did not make the list, I guess that sort of Irish American Green is OK Mr Farrell

• falconflash | May 03, 2013, 08:29 AM EDT

  Religion is culture. You have abandoned your religion and your culture will soon be no more. All that's left is the bloodline, which will be merged with your moslem and african immigrant. Much harder to destroy the bloodline of 60 million vs 4 million. We are growing, you are on the endangered species list.

• sully1167 | May 03, 2013, 06:54 AM EDT

  Barry: I am in know way out of touch with the world outside of America. Cultures from all over the world come to the USA. I have experienced "diversity" and "multiculturalism." Prior to Ireland joining the EU, a good percentage of Irish never interacted with different cultures and races. I am speaking of Irish who never travelled outside of Europe. Ireland was a mostly homogenous country until the flooding began in the 1990's. I spoke to a lot of Irish in Ireland who were not very fond of the immigrants in Ireland. One bar man told me "When tourists come to Ireland, they want to see Irish People." "If they want to see Africans, or Pakistani's they would go to those countries." Not all Irish people share your views, and not all Irish Americans are right wing. There are quite a lot who are ultra liberal.

• sully1167 | May 03, 2013, 04:58 AM EDT

  Your country is not your blood dingle999. If you and certain Irish in Ireland want to label me a plastic paddy,or Yank fine. I am not offended in anyway.

• Barry | May 03, 2013, 04:50 AM EDT

  When I was younger I used to think very highly about my Irish-American relatives. But as I got older, I came to realise how stupid and ignorant many Irish-Americans are, e.g. in terms of their racism towards non-Irish (and in particular non-Whites), their ignorance about the world outside America and how out of touch they are with modern Ireland. Obviously they're not all like that but unfortunately many are.

• dingle999 | May 03, 2013, 04:22 AM EDT

  @WoundedKnee The North of Ireland suffered from Mass Immigration 400 years ago.. Do you know anything about emigration during the Troubles ? Hmm I guess not..

• dingle999 | May 03, 2013, 04:18 AM EDT

  Dingle: I said nothing about the artificial border, = "far more Irish that most people south of the artificial border..." Hmm dude you did... Hmm keep calling me a dope better than a Paddy or a leprechaun I guess.. I knew people who died during the Troubles.. again it is obvious you have not visited /socialised with Loyalists/Republicans.. (I hate armchair Yankee Republicans) It was guys like you/Peter King all gung ho PRO terrorism in Ireland yet all gungo against terrorism when it relates to the USA.. Of course the events in Ireland did not effect you...

• WoundedKnee | May 03, 2013, 04:02 AM EDT

  Dingle: I said nothing about the artificial border, I cited the phrase used by someone else. You might want to sharpen those sloppy reading skills of yours. As to having been to Belfast, what kind of a fool are you? How could I talk about Belfast having a more Irish feel if I had never been there? You're a dope. But I bet you, like 80% of the people in the South, have never crossed that border. You should, in many places it's real nice, the way the South of Ireland used to be, before the Disaster of Mass Immigration set in.

• WoundedKnee | May 03, 2013, 03:57 AM EDT

  IrelandNorth: That's wrong. There is an obvious difference beetween the two places. I walk down O'Connell Street in Dublin and most people around me are foreign migrants. I walk down Royal Avenue in Befast and most people are from that the North of Ireland. I go to a shopping mall in Newry County Down and 90% and more of the people are locals. I go to a shopping center in Dublin, especially the West Side, and 70% of the people are foreigners. The North of Ireland suffered from Mass Immigration 400 years ago, but it has been spared the worst on this occasion.

• Seanmor | May 03, 2013, 03:51 AM EDT

  Number 5 in the article states" "We [people of the Irish state] generally don't like [American] Republicans". There is certainly one Republican whose 'national sovereignty' policy is very UNPOPULAR with most people in the Irish state, and his name was Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln firmly believed that his nation's national majority took precedence over a majority in any geographical or political subdivision of that nation. But Lincoln-type democracy has long been rejected by the Southern Irish Partitionists.

• IrelandNorth | May 03, 2013, 03:28 AM EDT

  WooundedKnee! You're not comparing like with like. Inward migration to Ulster/NI is only less because it's the smaller jurisdiction on the island. The politicos in Belfast are pursuing the exact same neo-liberal agenda as the mandarins in Dublin. Architecturally, Belfast is a Victorian city, whereas Dublin is Georgian. BTW Niall! Congradulations on 371 posts. Very effective yank cranking!

• JRGidaho | May 03, 2013, 01:24 AM EDT

  I am an American with ancestry in Scotland, Ireland, England, and probably a few other places. I do not consider myself to be Irish-American any more than I consider myself to be English-American. We like to visit Ireland every couple years for the pubs, music, antiquities, and the warm friendly nature of the Irish people. We have never felt anything other than welcomed when we visit. However, we do not visit the cities, but head for the rural areas. We live in one of the most sparsely populated areas of the US. I have nothing in common with the people in New York, Boston, or Chicago (the three places in America Irish people are most likely to have visited based on conversations I have had with many Irish travelers), but much in common with farmers and tradesmen in the more remote villages. The impression I get from rural residents in Mayo or Kerry is they feel they have little in common with the people living in Dublin or Cork. We don't try to be anything more than what we are, but most Irish people in the rural areas will ask me about a family connection. It is never in a demeaning way. This is the first time I have visited this website and I am shocked to hear the bitchin and bellyaching on both sides of the Atlantic regarding what is 'Irish' and what is 'American'. I have not encountered any of those sentiments when visiting in Ireland.

• Strongbow | May 02, 2013, 11:02 PM EDT

  Most Irish people have no clue about their native country. They only know the country as was shaped by the RC Church in conjunction with nationalist and xenophobic politicians after the War of Independence. This new construct drowned out the many other voices in Ireland at the time and paved the way for many of the divisions still tearing at society.

• dingle999 | May 02, 2013, 08:26 PM EDT

  "Wrong again, I am 100% Irish ancestry. " and your ancestors came to the USA during the Famine period? Wow..then again looking at the Sopranos and the Italians.. .. I remember a good episode of the Sopranos which was located in Italy... the 'dudes' were Americans not Italians Sully you are American.. and I am Irish.. Kind of simple

• sully1167 | May 02, 2013, 08:08 PM EDT

  dingle999: Wrong again, I am 100% Irish ancestry. Yes, my great-grandparents did emigrate from Ireland during the famine years. My family grew up in an Irish-American neighborhood, and never intermarried with any other ethnicity. Not everyone in the United States, has mixed European ancestry. A lot of Italian-Americans and Greek-Americans don't marry people from other ethnicities.

• Seanmor | May 02, 2013, 07:56 PM EDT

  WoundedK: (04:48 pm) I knew many who were a generation or two removed from Ireland that were actively involved in The Bronx Gaelic League in the '80s and '90s. They were far more culturally Irish than most recent arrivals from Ireland at that time. The Gaelic League was always a non-sectarian, non-Partitionist organization and for many years its Bronx branch held their classes, céilís and meetings at the Presbyterian Church hall in Woodlawn, having been denied the use of the nearby R.C. Church classrooms.

• dingle999 | May 02, 2013, 06:47 PM EDT

  @Ben Gardiner well read the comments by WoundedKnee /sully1167 .. print them - good use ? Toilet paper

• Ben Gardiner | May 02, 2013, 06:44 PM EDT

  I wish I had received the print version of this article as I would love to line a bird cage with it.

• dingle999 | May 02, 2013, 06:41 PM EDT

  @WoundedKnee When getting all gung ho about the Irish border.. please remember the bombings in Boston..

• dingle999 | May 02, 2013, 06:38 PM EDT

  @sully1167 "Culturally I am American, my ancestry is Irish" Incorrect your ancestry is European... Your ancestors came from the Famine period ? It is highly likely you have Italian / European blood in you.. Thus your connection to Ireland is tenuous at best

• dingle999 | May 02, 2013, 06:28 PM EDT

  WoundedKnee | May 02, 2013, 04:48 PM EDT "far more Irish that most people south of the artificial border..." And I guess the border between USA and Mexico is artificial as well.. @WoundedKnee "I find Belfast a more irish city" - Have you ever been there? in the Loyalist and the Republican areas..? Answer the question please

• dingle999 | May 02, 2013, 06:24 PM EDT

  WoundedKnee | May 02, 2013, 04:37 PM EDT Dingle--you sound like a real dope when you over-use the (American) word "dude" Well you are an American ... enough said

• WoundedKnee | May 02, 2013, 04:48 PM EDT

  "far more Irish that most people south of the artificial border..." That's quite right. I find Belfast a more irish city than Dublin, and Newry or Enniskillen more Irish than say Athlone or Dingle. One factor is that Mass Immigration into the North is much less (half, maybe) the rate it is in the South. The way Mass Immigration is continuing in the South, it will be a great irony of history that the most Irish part of Ireland will be the British part.

• WoundedKnee | May 02, 2013, 04:37 PM EDT

  Dingle--you sound like a real dope when you over-use the (American) word "dude".

• sully1167 | May 02, 2013, 04:34 PM EDT

  Wrong about me being paranoid dingle999. Either you are deluded, or or you just don't care. That is sad. No, I have never given money to republican causes. As far as me being American, you are right. Culturally I am American, my ancestry is Irish. Being an American is just citizenship unless you are an Apache, or Lakota Sioux. Yes, you are truly more Irish than me.

• IrelandNorth | May 02, 2013, 02:23 PM EDT

  THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND/OR IRISH ISLES HAVE NEVER BEEN SO GOOD. IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE BOUNDARY THAT WAS NEVER COMMISSIONED IS ERODED FOR GOOD. A PROVINCIALLY IRELAND, IN A CONFEDERATION WITH A FEDERATED GREAT BRITAIN, IN A PARTNERSHIP OF EQUALS IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF NATIONS WILL BE A POWERFUL ANTITDOTE TO THE TOWERING BABEL THAT IS THEIR RESPECTIVE MAINLAND. WITH THE UNITED STATES, UNITED KINGDOM AND UNITED IRELAND, WHO CAN BEAT US?

• dingle999 | May 02, 2013, 11:43 AM EDT

  @sully1167 'your country being colonized by Muslims ' 100 % Paranoia Lie You are an American.. not Irish American I am Irish .. nothing else You are probably one of the 'dudes' that gave money to Republican causes that helped kill Irish people - ironic and sad

• sully1167 | May 02, 2013, 10:45 AM EDT

  STEVENSTAR: I guess the gloves are off, you are using caps. Speaking of chilling out, I was asked what have I done for Ireland. What more could I do? I can only visit and spend money. I am not an Irish Citizen. I can't get automatic citizenship because, I don't have a grandparent who was born there. Even if I could, I have commitments in the US. that I cannot abandon. All I said in my first statement was that there are Irish Americans,who are more passionate about Ireland than some native born Irish people. I am sorry if the truth offends. If anything James Farrell the author, looks down on Irish Americans. Obviously Irish people get to travel more outside their country, because it is much smaller than the US. What is your point?

• sully1167 | May 02, 2013, 08:51 AM EDT

  dingle999: That is good that you stayed in Ireland, you should. Your country needs you... I don't think I am superior to anybody. Where did I say that Irish Americans were superior to Irish born people? I love Ireland and Irish people. You attacked me first, you are the one with an attitude. Selfish,self loathing, naive Leftists like you who just accept your country being colonized by Muslims and other Third Worlders. You will be accepting of them, but dislike Irish Americans who are proud of their heritage. I don't need to visit Mexico, I already live in the United States of Mexico.

• STEVENSTAR | May 02, 2013, 08:48 AM EDT

  @@@sully1167 | May 02, 2013, 02:02 AM EDT dingleberry999: What I say may sound arrogant, but I am up front about my beliefs. I don't sugar coat anything. I have visited Ireland and spent a lot of money there. I have donated to Irish causes. What are you doing? >>>>>>>>>>>>>AND YOUR POINT IS ? SO WHAT IF YOU VISITED IRELAND..IM IRISH AND HAVE TRAVELLED THE WORLD.. MOST IRISH TRAVEL ALOT MORE OUTSIDE THEIR OWN COUNTRY THEN MOST AMERICANS TRAVEL OUTSIDE AMERICA SO FOR YOU TO TRAVEL OUTSIDE AMERICA IT SEEMS YOU ARE MAKING A BIG ISSUE OUT OF IT haha !!! MOST EUROPEANS TRAVEL ALOT MORE THEN AMERICANS SO YOU;LL ONLY SHOWING YOUR SMALL MINDEDNESS WHEN U SAY YOU HAVE COME TO IRELAND AND SPENT MONEY.. SO WHAT haha MANY MILLIONS OF OTHER NATIONALITIES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD ALSO COME HERE.. MATTER AMERICA IS NOT IRELAND BIGGEST TOUSIST MARKET EITHER!! SO ID CHILL OUT IF I WAS U!

• STEVENSTAR | May 02, 2013, 08:44 AM EDT

  YA THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH OF IRELAND EXCEPT THE UK MANAGE THE NORTH AND THE IRISH GOVERMENT GOVERN THE SOUTH.. I HAVE TO SAY AS AN IRISHMAN LIVING IN CORK IM JUST GLAD THAT THEY HAVE ALL STOPPED BOMBING AND MURDERING EACH OTHER UP THERE AND THEY LIVE IN PEACE NOW.. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE NORTH BEEN PART OF THE UK,, MATTER OF FACT IT SAVES BILLIONS IN TAXES ETC .. MOST PEOPLE IN THE SOUTH COULDNT CARE LESS ABOUT THE NORTH OF IRELAND ...AND IT RAINS MORE UP THERE... IVE NEVER BEEN TO NORTHERN IRELAND IN MY LIFE NOR DO I PLAN TO.. THATS JUST HOW IT GOES .. :) ITS MY OPINION THE CORK/ KERRY/ CLARE AND GALWAY ARE THE NICEST PARTS OF IRELAND AND THE MOST SCENIC !

• dingle999 | May 02, 2013, 06:57 AM EDT

  @ sully1167 Please do not say Republican causes... Hey I have visited the USA and spent a lot of money there.(so what?) I am Irish.. my parents were Irish.. I live here.. (could have emigrated back in the 1990s but did not) If so call Irish Americans like you have a superior complex over 'native Irish' then dude we do not want you.. Try visiting Mexico in the future

• sully1167 | May 02, 2013, 02:02 AM EDT

  dingleberry999: What I say may sound arrogant, but I am up front about my beliefs. I don't sugar coat anything. I have visited Ireland and spent a lot of money there. I have donated to Irish causes. What are you doing?

• Seanmor | May 02, 2013, 01:50 AM EDT

  999: I don't know what you mean by "Ireland" or "Erin" in your 2 posts. Do you mean the whole Irish nation (which is my homeland) or merely the part of Ireland that is misgoverned by the by the strongly pro-immigrants, anti- diaspora, Partitionists in the Dáil?

• dingle999 | May 02, 2013, 12:38 AM EDT

  "I figure if that's how they feel about Americans, wouldn't they be better off in their own sophisticated paradise of Erin?" Erin ? Are you talking about soup ? "sophisticated paradise" - Indeed we do not have the Tea Party here in Ireland

• dingle999 | May 02, 2013, 12:35 AM EDT

  " sully1167 There are Irish Americans who love, and care more about Ireland than some of the self hating left wingers who are born there Hmm Sully what have you ever actually done for Ireland ? Probably had a couple of Pints of Guinness.. Pure arrogant comment

• Mairin | May 01, 2013, 10:05 PM EDT

  I found this to be a very hurtful article, but really, it does not surprise me. Obviously, the sweet natured Mr. Farrell knows absolutely nothing about being raised by Irish parents in the United States. No, it wasn't his family that was forced to leave Ireland for economic reasons. It wasn't him that was forced to grow up in a foreign nation, only to return and be called a Yank and told you know nothing about what it is to be Irish. Well, I say, you know nothing about what it means to be Irish. Because for most of the real Irish in the world, their "fact" is that they were cast out of their homeland, and then scorned by the people who benefited from the money sent back to them when they themselves did not have the guts to leave, and turn around a spit in the face of their own people, their own blood. It's the best of the Irish that left, not the ones left. I miss the land itself, not the people. There never was a worse bunch of begrudgers ever in history.

• Seanmor | May 01, 2013, 03:02 PM EDT

  Those who insist that there are enormous differences between the North of Ireland and the rest of that country are, for the most part, very mistaken. Two of my uncles married women from County Down, both of whom were far more Irish that most people south of the artificial border. As a teenager in Sussex my best pal was a Fermanagh man of the 'other persuasion' and we both strongly supported the Irish rugby team (representing the whole country) when it played England. A few years ago I read in "The Belfast Telegraph" that 96% of name places in the North are of Irish origin, including Armagh, which in regarded as the primal city of all Christian denominationsin Ireland. But hard core Free States maintain the Northerners and Southerners are as different from each other as Eskimos and Zulus.

• IrelandNorth | May 01, 2013, 02:49 PM EDT

  Guys! Many bloggs on Irish Central IC are just like your average shot of genuine Mexican tequila. They need to be taken with a large pinch of salt. And most have a live worm in them too. So bottoms up - down the hatch! Glug! Glug! Aaagh! Burp! Sláinte! Hic!

• Smyrnian | May 01, 2013, 02:31 PM EDT

  Pismopal - Well said!

• mccrawf | May 01, 2013, 02:12 PM EDT

  James Farrell, It's hard to believe you have any American friends. It amazes me that you can lump a whole country of people together (and such a large country at that). I work for an Irish tourism company and I can tell you most of what you have written here is a no crock of gold , rather a crock of sh**.

• puffin | May 01, 2013, 01:13 PM EDT

  bunkerhill cheerio and thanks for the laugh!

• Frosty38 | May 01, 2013, 07:57 AM EDT

  Ireland North. You need to read about what CAPPING means. and Stevenatar learn the same.

• IrelandNorth | May 01, 2013, 03:51 AM EDT

  ULSTER-SCOT IRISHMEN FROM WEST TYRONE IN ULSTER/NORTHERN IRELAND SHOULDN'T PRETEND TO BE CORKONIANS FROM MUNSTER/SOUTHERN IRELAND PROPER. WHEN THEY LIVE AND WORK AS AN ACCOUNTANT IN CO ESSEX, SOUTHERN ENGLAND. THERE'S AN EASTERN IRELAND/LEINSTER AND WESTERN IRELAND/CONNACHT TOO, YA KNOW! IN FACT, AN EXECUTIVE MANAGES ULSTER/NI. BUT RAGGED-TROUSERED PHILANTHROPIST ENGLISH TAXPAYERS FUND IT.

• pismopal | Apr 30, 2013, 10:37 PM EDT

  You complain about Americans stereotyping Ireland and the Irish and then proceed to stereotype America and Americans. I am American of Irish decent, not Irish, and I see no resemblance to either Americans or Irish in your article...sorry..nice try.

• Scouse Tony | Apr 30, 2013, 10:14 PM EDT

  It's nice to see IC supports recycling, go back a few pages and the comments are dated Feb 2012.

• STEVENSTAR | Apr 30, 2013, 09:06 PM EDT

  YA THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH OF IRELAND EXCEPT THE UK MANAGE THE NORTH AND THE IRISH GOVERMENT GOVERN THE SOUTH.. I HAVE TO SAY AS AN IRISHMAN LIVING IN CORK IM JUST GLAD THAT THEY HAVE ALL STOPPED BOMBING AND MURDERING EACH OTHER UP THERE AND THEY LIVE IN PEACE NOW.. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE NORTH BEEN PART OF THE UK,, MATTER OF FACT IT SAVES BILLIONS IN TAXES ETC .. MOST PEOPLE IN THE SOUTH COULDNT CARE LESS ABOUT THE NORTH OF IRELAND ...AND IT RAINS MORE UP THERE... IVE NEVER BEEN TO NORTHERN IRELAND IN MY LIFE NOR DO I PLAN TO.. THATS JUST HOW IT GOES .. :) ITS MY OPINION THE CORK/ KERRY/ CLARE AND GALWAY ARE THE NICEST PARTS OF IRELAND AND THE MOST SCENIC !

• IrelandNorth | Apr 30, 2013, 01:47 PM EDT

  bunkerhill! Recognise a wind-up/piss-take/ball-hop/crank-yank when you read one. Irritating - yes! But designed to generate max posts - and win advertising revenue. Nyx! Most people don't know the difference bewteen Ireland and the northern part thereof because there largely isn't any.

• Eireannach | Apr 30, 2013, 11:25 AM EDT

  I'm not going to spoon feed you WoundedKnee - do the homework. You make some good points re immigration, but by God you're such an arrogant, 'know-it-all' of the worst order!

• RichardP | Apr 30, 2013, 09:38 AM EDT

  Well said Seanmor

• Seanmor | Apr 30, 2013, 04:35 AM EDT

  NIX: Saying that the North of Ireland in not in Ireland is like saying that the North of Sardinia is not in Sardinia. Prior to 1920, monarchs and governments in London had ruled Ireland a a single political entity for 7½ centuries. Those who immigrated from the North of Ireland prior to the fall of 1920 came from a country called Ireland, and neither their DNA or that of their descendants was in any altered by the establishment of an artificial partition within the Irish nation.

• Nyx | Apr 30, 2013, 04:10 AM EDT

  #4.... depends on where you are. Northern Ireland (which yes, i know isn't politically part of Ireland) is still very split. But i'm sure that's common knowledge. #6 THANK YOU! I'm from the states and I can't tell you how many people here, upon meeting my husband, have to tell him stories of how their ancestors from xxxx years ago were from some part of Ireland. That doesn't make you Irish! It just means you have some Irish ancestry. Big difference. Another thing... most people here don't seem to know the difference between Ireland and Northern Ireland. Annoying.

• STEVENSTAR | Apr 29, 2013, 07:43 PM EDT

  :-) HAHAHA

• Pittsburghkid | Apr 29, 2013, 06:49 PM EDT

  The strong left Ireland, while the weak stayed behind. Kennedy was the son of an Irish gangster. Joe Kennedy want to become President, but his ties to Hitler done him in. George Herbert Walker Bush's grandfather Herbert Walker was a very rich Irish Catholic. Who earned his money honestly.

• antoman | Apr 29, 2013, 06:42 PM EDT

  @Bunkerhill- I hope you don't really mean what you/ye said and stop posting. I enjoy reading your posts. I find your remarks on this site thoughtful, intelligent and always worth reading. I also consider you/ye my ally here.

• roxbjane | Apr 29, 2013, 05:53 PM EDT

  Super fun! A. We didn't dress like that when we visited for two full weeks in 08, and are in much better shape than the folks pictured. B. We spent a whole lot of tourist dollars and supported the Irish economy gladly. C. Currently planning our next vacation...a return to Ireland is under keen consideration, so we hope we don't offend D. My time in 1990s Chicago provided me with some interesting anecdotes about the "Irish" Irish...maybe I should publish them!!

• bunkerhill | Apr 29, 2013, 05:38 PM EDT

  This is our last post as we have grown tired of the jealous Irish who have down through the centuries demeaned the Irish more successful than themselves. My Irish born father hated these detractors whom he said would deride anyone who had achieved more through industriousness. He said they were terminably lazy and jealous. We are not masochists and find this type of posting troubling. There have always been "Stage Irish" who made their living denigrating the Irish for big money and indeed the big money was there. Frank McCort and his brother Malachi were onto the game and profitted big time. I have to say the stage Irish have gotten very boring. No one will ever know the extent of the damage they have done to their fellow Irish in Ireland along with all the damage they did to their fellow emigrants, for great acclaim and money from the powers that ruled in Brittania. It seems to us that there are some Irish who can deliberately wreak more damage for profit on their country and sympathizers so let them have their way and say. Good luck to them as in our case they have succeeded. You won't be hearing from us any more.

• joanxis | Apr 29, 2013, 04:28 PM EDT

  You know, when I read this article, my first thought was - "Boy, I bet there will be a lot of people complaining about this." Couldn't believe there were 22 pages. My second thought was, "I bet the author wrote some of his comments intentionally to rile everyone up - happy to see the outrage." Yup. I think I was right.

• WoundedKnee | Apr 29, 2013, 04:05 PM EDT

  Eireannach: What you said is stupid nonsense. How about citing some examples? You used the plural form (Irish-Americans), so how about you give TWO examples of Americans who have expressed your inane opinions. Or else admit that you're just a dope.

• sully1167 | Apr 29, 2013, 02:44 PM EDT

  Seanmor: That is unfortunately,some of the mindset of some Europeans. I don't think of Europe as a single country.

• IrelandNorth | Apr 29, 2013, 02:19 PM EDT

  IrishMassachusetts! You're spot on. I can see Niall of the Nine [Sausages] and Team IC rolling around the office floor kicking their feet in the air in hysterical laughter. A cage rattling exercise for sure. If he's not winding up the inflatable Yanks, he winding up the Platic Paddies. If he's not yanking our cranks, he's cranking our yanks. But hey, saves a fortune on therapy.

• IrelandNorth | Apr 29, 2013, 02:18 PM EDT

  IrishMassachusetts! You're spot on. I can see Niall of the Nine [Sausages] and Team IC rolling around the office floor kicking their feet in the air in hysterical laughter. A cage rattling exercise for sure. If he's not winding up the inflatable Yanks, he winding up the Platic Paddies. If he's not yanking our cranks, he's cranking our yanks. But hey, saves a fortune on therapy.

• IrelandNorth | Apr 29, 2013, 02:17 PM EDT

  IrishMassachusetts! You're spot on. I can see Niall of the Nine [Sausages] and Team IC rolling around the office floor kicking their feet in the air in hysterical laughter. A cage rattling exercise for sure. If he's not winding up the inflatable Yanks, he winding up the Platic Paddies. If he's not yanking our cranks, he's cranking our yanks. But hey, saves a fortune on therapy.

• seamus60 | Apr 29, 2013, 11:15 AM EDT

  Funny how Irish Americans are displayed as being very Irish wise, when looking something off them and not so wise when the feeling of possable gain diminish`s.

• Seanmor | Apr 29, 2013, 11:08 AM EDT

  sully: Your statement remids of a unit that participated in the St.Patrick's Day parade in a large Munster town about 10 years ago. This group off paraded withn a large banner on which was wriiten MNÁ NA hEORPA (Women of Europe). Apparent these women thought that as "Europeans" they were far superior to being merely Irish.

• sully1167 | Apr 29, 2013, 08:46 AM EDT

  There are Irish Americans who love, and care more about Ireland than some of the self hating left wingers who are born there.

• Eireannach | Apr 29, 2013, 07:54 AM EDT

  There seems to be a sense among many 'Irish'-Americans, that because genuine Irish people don't live on Guinness and potatoes, stoicly enduring their poverty in their dilapitated old 'thatched cottage' that they have lost contact with their 'Irishness'. I thing many of these dreamers have lost contact with their brain cells...

• Seanmor | Apr 28, 2013, 06:28 PM EDT

  Wounded: Your comment below (Apr. 27, 03:27) is right in one sence and wrong in another. You are TOTALLY correct in saying that the thousands of foreigners, including many Arabs, Indians and Africans, are granted Irish citizebnship every year do not have a single irish gene or a strant of Irish DNA. On the other hand, people who were born to Irish parents overseas are TRULY Irish whether we like it or not. Rugadh i Sasana mé ach fíorÉireannach is ea mise i gcónaí, cé go bhfuilim i mo chónaí ó 1958.

• antoman | Apr 28, 2013, 06:09 PM EDT

  I'm looking at the two in the picture and hoping airlines are not using data from the 70's. What with obesity rife in America people are twice the size of people in the 70's. Thus if you board a flight to Ireland with 250 people aboard. There is in effect 500 people aboard and you may find yourself wet and doing the back stroke the last few miles to Ireland.

• Scrivner | Apr 28, 2013, 05:43 PM EDT

  Mr Farrell perpetuates the stereotype of the depressed Irishman. Have to agree with IrishMass that this was meant to stir up controversy.

• CaoimhinWPB | Apr 28, 2013, 05:20 PM EDT

  I actually found it pretty funny. I am very proud of my Irish heritage and would never think myself Irish and don't really care what Mr. Farrell says in #6. The article was meant to be absurd.

• IrishMassachusetts | Apr 28, 2013, 02:53 PM EDT

  This is another wind-up story from Irish Central to get readers all riled up....the exact same story by James Farrell ran in February 2012 and garnered similar response. My advice to American readers is to ignore it, because the author is getting a great laugh about the Americans who care enough to respond, and so are the trolls who jump on to continue the ridicule. To me the only question of interest: if IrishCentral is claiming to be an authentic voice for the Irish Diaspora and for Ireland, why publish this tripe?

• molliepmac | Apr 28, 2013, 12:59 PM EDT

  James Farrell is an example of the modern Irish - no real clue about Ireland. Steeped in British and American culture. High streets dominated by British shops - all that lovely money going to the UK. Wind Farms to supply England ( the English dont want any more to destroy their landscape and tourist industy). Bertie helping the Chinese and Swiss buy Irish forests - and so on.

• IrelandNorth | Apr 28, 2013, 04:57 AM EDT

  Oye! Oye! Read all about it! James Farrell claims to speak for whole Irish nation. Gasp! Shock! Horror! First person plural abused due to journalistic narcissism. As I already warned STEVENSTAR, (and ciaradexy/audrybolton/leahkinsella (RIP)), habeus sources, or shut-uppa yer face! One should always speak for oneself. Keep your commentary in the first person singlular, Shame-us!

• hancock | Apr 28, 2013, 01:03 AM EDT

  American are lucky we have a successful country like Ireland to learn from. Thank God.

• jmccarten | Apr 27, 2013, 08:46 PM EDT

  James, where did you get that picture of me? I visited Ireland two years ago and went online to learn all about modern Ireland. I am an historian and had a great time discovering the historic sites. I made sure I dressed appropriately. However, I do have an Aran sweater but it is dark blue because I know what you mean about Americans looking like the Clancy boys.

• anglo-norman | Apr 27, 2013, 08:45 PM EDT

  Irish-Americans-RESPECT.

• anglo-norman | Apr 27, 2013, 08:42 PM EDT

  Irish-Americans are proud of their Irish heritage unlike the Irish in Ireland who embrace british culture. FACT.

• anglo-norman | Apr 27, 2013, 07:43 PM EDT

  A lot of what he says is right, like it or not. Some American tourists are frequently patronising. Or loud. Or both. And what does celebrating Marg. Thatcher's death have to do with the current relationship with the UK? Sure, they celebrated it in the UK too. The 'ordinary' people of the UK and Ireland get along just fine because we have more in common than with other nations.

• Commonsence | Apr 27, 2013, 07:28 PM EDT

  This is an Irish writer now living in Dublin, previously he lived in a cave! I to am an American whose ancestors came from Ireland. I salute them by respecting their heritage. Unfortunately or fortunately Mr. Farrell does not represent Ireland in any way except in speaking his opinion. I am a frequent traveler to Ireland as my business engages me so, I have met a lot of Farrell types, many of whom are here in America. They belittle those of us who visit Ireland on holiday as wannabees, can't understand why we buy Irish made goods and why we sometimes appear to be more Irish than they. The Farrell types are not patriotic Irish, the more often tear down Ireland over a cup of whatever, while they reach out for the next benefit. Believe me it is not the Farrells we honor with our pride in having an Irish connection, it is all the hard working, talented, friendly and warm hearted real Irish we meet when there and welcome here when they arrive.

• michaelidaho | Apr 27, 2013, 06:16 PM EDT

  First, I have not met any Irish Americans (any Americans for that matter) that believe this nonsense or act in the manner described. Second, we really do not care if many of you are afflicted with Obamaphilia in Ireland. Third, there are quite a few Irish in the Irish Republic that have great disdain for England and of course in Northern Ireland that attitude predominates amongst the Catholic population. In short, this article can be summed up just like the movie title, "Dumb and Dumberer."

• solomon | Apr 27, 2013, 05:21 PM EDT

  A native-born Irish priest told me: "The Best and the Smartest left Ireland'. This article certifies that priest's statement. Ignorance & jealousy rule the day over there.

• joan1954 | Apr 27, 2013, 05:12 PM EDT

  I am a proud Texan and Farrell could be no more wrong than if he were the man in the moon. 19th century Irish and Irish-Americans whose families were one generation removed from Ireland from primarily Tennessee and Kentucky (which makes them Scots Irish I would think) settled and developed this state into what it is for good or ill. 12 Irish-born died at the Alamo and 26 of Irish descent died there as well. Mr. Farrell, the first George Bush was from Connecticut and came to develop the Texas oil fields. Cowboy, I think not. My own family came to Texas from Tennessee to develop agriculture in this state after what the American Unionists (not to be confused with the Irish term) that is Yankees to us did during Reconstruction from 1865-1870. Those resident in the U.S. think of the term carpetbagger from American History and you will understand what I am talking about. We are proud of our Irish traditions that have been passed on but as part of that diaspora my city of San Antonio is rarely included in anything that the Irish government plans in Texas. Ah well, that doesn't change our perspective.

• koleary | Apr 27, 2013, 04:35 PM EDT

  Very interesting article especially since so many immigrants to the U.S. consider themselves American even though they were not born and raised in the U.S. This includes the Irish immigrants, also. Remember, it was the Irish who came to the U.S. who kept alive the traditional Irish music. It is also Irish-Americans who wonder why the Irish have allowed their beautiful language to die. How sad this article was and how demeaning to the Irish-Americans it is. I first visited Ireland in 1980 and spent 6 weeks. I have returned every few years and have seen a changed Ireland...for the worse!!. Your crime is way up and the drug problems are awful. Maybe we Irish Americans thought about the country as a safe, beautiful place and were a bit naive but it was good!! I'm sorry your country is now so wonderful that you can no longer pick up hitchhikers, can't go into certain neighborhoods in Dublin and you are warned constantly in the bus/train terminals about your belongings. Did not exist like this in 1980. K.

• WoundedKnee | Apr 27, 2013, 03:40 PM EDT

  "If you are not born here then by our definition you are not Irish." This from a country with one of the laxest immigration regimes in the world, where every week thousands of foreign migrants are given citizenship in Moony-style Mass Naturalization Ceremonies!

• WoundedKnee | Apr 27, 2013, 03:37 PM EDT

  One of the reasons I don't have any sympathy for illegal Irish aliens in the US is that I have often come across attitudes such as Farrell's among them. I figure if that's how they feel about Americans, wouldn't they be better off in their own sophisticated paradise of Erin?

• WoundedKnee | Apr 27, 2013, 03:35 PM EDT

  Most of the inanities written by the fool Farrell have been dealt with by others. I would just refer to the picture of fat people above. Anyone who visits Ireland regularly would know that the Irish are now just as fat as are Americans. The only difference is that in Ireland you don't see the truly morbidly obese, the folks who need to get an electric cart to go around Wal-mart. Maybe there are few such cases, or maybe that's because these folks stay home in ireland. But as regards your regular obese, 200 lb women for example, you see just as many in Ireland as you see here. More, in fact, among young women, perhaps because of the booze consumption. Irish men have not quite caught up in the fatness department, but they're closing fast. And as for the children... What I always notice as I approach the gate for Dublin at JFK or Newark is that you begin to see numerous pudgy children, porcine of visage and slovenly of dress, many of them with their noses stuck in a pizza or bag of french fries. The Irish don't perceive these things; as in so many other matters, they have little self-awareness. They're blind to what's going on in front of them. Maybe they need to get their snouts out of the beer glass.

• nyrover742 | Apr 27, 2013, 03:28 PM EDT

  "cowboys like George Bush"? Really? I hated Bush, but fyi the Bush family are not "cowboys", they're an old money southern family, there's miles of difference. And explain to me why all my Irish cousins love country music if, as a nation, you claim to have a distaste for "cowboys"?

• kaydog1 | Apr 27, 2013, 03:04 PM EDT

  Ah, BEGORRAH!!!!LOVE the mocking photo of the two fat people, presumably meant to be just dumb ol' wealthy American tourists, come to spend their money among the people who consider us Americans to be "uneducated", "gullible", "pickled brained", "un-nuanced", "cowboy-like", "not-Irish", and fit to be "subject for jokes." And may I commend the author on his brilliant timing, publishing his rant JUST as we are considering the immigration fate of yet more AUTHENTIC Irish like Mr Farrell - who are trying their BEST to leave the "Emerald Isle" where Mr Farrell lives like a King in his "modern urbanized society," and to come live as us dumb ol' Americans. The funny commonality about the lands of the ancestors of today's Americans, Canadians, Australians, etc, is that those with the most gumption tended to LEAVE them, in order to make a better life for themselves. So BEGORRAH to YOU, sir!

• IrelandNorth | Apr 27, 2013, 02:04 PM EDT

  On what basis does Mr Farrel use the term 'we'?

• Schlomo | Apr 27, 2013, 01:15 PM EDT

  "We generally don’t like American Republicans. We are much more comfortable with Barack Obama and Bill Clinton and their nuanced international world view..." That's cause the Irish are Uber-Socialists like their Democrat American stooges. Government provides from cradle to grave. And they're bullies about it to boot!

• AengusOg | Apr 27, 2013, 12:33 PM EDT

  A while ago, Archbishop Diamuid Martin was quoted in IC as saying that he did not understand the Irish-American affinity for Ireland. This lack of understanding may well exist in other emigre countries as well. The US is unique in the way it has been populated. Elia Kazan's "America, America" is a wonderful film, although a bit long., Don't be offended by a Yank who is simply trying to relate to what he perceives as his heritage by making inappropriate remarks or using a pseudo brogue. He is your guest if not your family. In addition, he has money to spend that will help to keep the young at home.

• chuck | Apr 27, 2013, 12:19 PM EDT

  Too proud? You prefer we be rude and arrogant.We don't use your idiom correctly? What do you know of our idiom?You don't hate the Brits? If the celebrations of Thatcher's death are your idea of love, God help us. You don't like Republicans? Who cares? We don't intervene in your politics, show us the same respect.We are not Irish? Maybe that is why we call ourselves American! I, for one, do not hyphenate my Americanism. I am proud to be an American, and no other country will ever come before American.You laugh at us? Why don't you take it to the next level,and deny us entry? Why not ban our capitalist Republican corporations from investing in Ireland. Only being of Irish ancestry I can't speak for the Irish, but here in the USA,we don't insult our guests. Now I have dropped in on cousins in Sligo, completely unannounced and was treated with the same hospitality as I was taught to give, were the situation reversed. Listen to the words of Danny Boy, then connect it to your history and you may understand why those driven from your land passed it down as a sentimental song. Yeah, we are just Americans, naive enough to believe that our genuine affection for the Irish people is understood.But that is the danger of assuming. You make an ass out of u and me.

• Celtlaw | Apr 27, 2013, 11:59 AM EDT

  My ancestors came to Ireland 9,000 years ago. They built Newgrange and Knowth. They fought with Brian at Clontarf and with the O'Neill's against the Tudors. They were displaced by the settlers and suffered under the Penal Laws. They starved to death during the Famine, and later fought in the War of Independence. So, where does this gobshite get off telling me that I'm not Irish simply because we emigrated to America?

• navilenn65 | Apr 27, 2013, 11:55 AM EDT

  There are those of us born in the Free State and resident in the U.S.A. who still consider ourselves Irish (and, hopefully, will soon have a limited right to vote). Much as Barack Obama, as the BBC presenter noted, is not African-American, but both African AND American so too are we Irish AND, by our upbringing, American, but definitely not Irish-American A distinction not readily apparent to most

• Celtlaw | Apr 27, 2013, 11:55 AM EDT

  My ancestors came to Ireland 9,000 years ago. They built Newgrange and Knowth. They fought with Brian at Clontarf and with the O'Neill's against the Tudors. They were disposed by the settlers and suffered under the Penal Laws. They starved to death during the Famine, and later fought in the War of Independence. So, where does this gobshite get off telling me that I'm not Irish simply because we emigrated to America?

• chuck | Apr 27, 2013, 11:47 AM EDT

  A

• 71regiment | Apr 27, 2013, 11:43 AM EDT

  I first visited Ireland 44 years ago and several times since. It has come a long way since then and so has the USA. Ireland has become a very modern country and also very metropoliatan. It has become very different from what most Americans think of it and that was bound to happen. Like the old saying" you can't judge a book by its cover" so too when talking about Irish and Irish-Americans & or Americans. All should make a trip to each others countries to better understand each other.

• slainte9 | Apr 27, 2013, 11:17 AM EDT

  I don't know why someone living in Dublin (Farrell) would think he's Irish. It's a Viking city, that's was British for most of its existence, and now is generic European. Farrell probably doesn't even speak Gaeilge: is fearr Gaeilge bhriste ná Béarla cliste.

• bunkerhill | Apr 27, 2013, 11:14 AM EDT

  Wow I hope we don't run into this guy on our upcoming trip. We are like Seanmor, one first generation Irish Catholic and one early American Protestant. We love the spirit of independence displayed back through the centuries by Irish natives similiar to our early colonists. We love their friendliness,, sense of fun and sense of beauty as displayed in their homes and gardens. Possibly we are like the Israelis. We also were shocked to find we often know more about their history than many of them do. One relative referred to Newgrange as a pile of rocks in the middle of the country. And did you know there is now much thought that "Murphy" meaning "Sea Warrior" is not an Irish name at all. The Murphys are found in bunches around Ireland and Scotland and have no founding father. There are a lot of them in Munster - remember those Danes? Look up Dr. Tyrone Bowes on the internet. We feel very sorry for English or British commoners and we know what they went through as written by their many authors, Ken Follett being one. By the way when the Irish come here we treat them with courtesy and don't make fun of them. Maybe this author had a bad night.

• Seanmor | Apr 27, 2013, 10:07 AM EDT

  crny95: In most cases what you say in thankfully true, as I learned during the many years I was active in the Bronx Gaelic League, whose President Mary Holt Moore, was far more supportive of Irish culture that most Dáil T.D.s. However, there are a few note worthy exceptions, including a cousin of mine -daughter of immigrant parents- who always insists that is TRULY American and often implies that is is intellectually superionr to Irish natives, whom she perceives as dunces, dopes, donkeys.

• CitizenWhy | Apr 27, 2013, 09:58 AM EDT

  Sociologists divide the irish (or people of any other diaspora) into three groups: Irish - born and raised in Ireland; American Irish: children born in America of parents born and raised in Ireland; and American descended fromIrish ancestors. As an American Irish I do feel different from Irish Americans but i'm not bothered by them. The have their own culture that just happens to have some myths about Ireland, and many of them support the same Republican economics that produced the hunger years in Ireland and the mass evictions. But many others are quite aware of the real Ireland, and have great empathy for other ethnic groups. But even the ones with he myths are entitled to them as part of their culture. ... When in Ireland I've always stayed with relatives, some of whom have Afro-Iriosh family members and cousins in Britain and France. I am very aware of the differences I observe between my Irish cousins and my American cousins of Irish descent. But tehre are also differences in immigrant generations. My parents fought or were active in the Irish War of Independence, and that and its aftermath shaped them and their descendants. But to recent generations, thank God, the whole War of Independence/Civil War split is forgotten. ... P.S. One of the relatives did live in a thatched cottage. She was retired, lives alone, and she was modestly rich and so could afford it because a thatched cottage is now a luxury. Lovely, comfortable place with all the modern amenities.

• KSERRAHN | Apr 27, 2013, 09:45 AM EDT

  Okay so you say you don't hate the Brit's. Correct me if I'm wrong but maybe you should tell that to to Derrymen cause seems like there's a whole lot of fighting still going on up there to get the British out and make Ireland one strong country. 32 not 26.

• crny925 | Apr 27, 2013, 09:42 AM EDT

  This article is another one for the trash! Firstly it goes both ways, Most Irish know nothing about Americans yet make assumptions (i.e. the stupidity, fat jokes, etc.). As for not being Irish unless you're born there; how close-minded. If your parents are born there, you're just as Irish as anyone on the island. As for the Queen, there were protesters all over the place, so get real and write a real article if you ever plan on moving up!

• JCMolloy | Apr 27, 2013, 09:12 AM EDT

  I find articles like this somewhat offensive, as an Irish-American. The culture and socio-ecnomic conditions that existed in Ireland in the 1800's while Ireland was dominated and crushed by under the thunb of British rule drove my ancestors from their homes in Ireland, forcibly. Our culture as Irish-Americans and memories of Ireland are rooted in this reality. While modern Irish may not have any reason to continue to look askance at the Brits, maybe because your ancestors were allowed to survive under that unjust domination and repression, our were not, and you have no right to criticize our ancestral memories of the "old sod."

• Seanmor | Apr 26, 2013, 06:30 PM EDT

  #3 and #10: Quite a few of us in my age group (60s & 70s) never touched a drop of booze, in my case not even during my 4 years in the Marine Corps, and now not asan officer in the American Legion. #2: Nor do we ever say "May the roadf rise to meet you". #5: Not all of us at this side of the pond are madly in love with the current crop ofDemocrats, especially those Dems who support the killing of the unborn same-sex unions, full amnest for the 12 million who ILLEGALLY entered the U.S. In my case, I share the views of my wife, a New England Methodist and A D.A.R. member, who feels very much at home in Ireland, NORTH and South. Some of us NEVER hated the British but we stronly disagreed with the Bloody killins, the 9 killings in Ballymurphy in early August,1971 and the 5 killings in West Belfast in July, 1972, all at the hands of the Crown forces.

• jmccarten | Mar 12, 2013, 06:33 PM EDT

  James you are right, I have Irish citizenship through my Grandparents and plan to live part time in Ireland. So even though I am 60 I have taken two college courses on the history of Ireland so I know something about Ireland.Went to Dublin and it is a very nice city with a lot of character in it's architecture so just don't build any more modern buildings downtown.

• ciaradexy | May 30, 2012, 11:02 AM EDT

  Chick, the Queens visit was very popular. There were a handful of celtic tracksuit wearing protestors. Probably the same who protested against ''foreign'' games being played at croker. Lwaoise, your posts are excellent. You will find some racists on this site and the sad thing is, is that they are American and not irish at all but their gripe is with migrants in ireland. They dont get that the children of migrants raised in our country are also irish. The kids that my nephew goes to school with are irish regardless of whether or not their parents are Nigerian or Polish and i welcome them here. Barry, your point is also brilliant especially your last point. George IS American and yet all he does is complain about immigrants to Ireland who come here for the same reason his family left Ireland for the US but he has yet to see his hypocrisy.

• chicksooze | May 29, 2012, 03:12 PM EDT

  No. 4 --- Seriously? Thats a load of BS. The Queens visit was not popular, there were MANY MANY places that did not want her and let it be known.

• LwaoiseNíMhaol | May 29, 2012, 10:42 AM EDT

  And yes this article is rude though and deliberatly insulting...i think irish americans would have every right to be offended and stop coming here

• LwaoiseNíMhaol | May 29, 2012, 10:28 AM EDT

  @Irishnorth actually the funny thing is if Irish - Americans have ancestors who left Ireland before the 1930's they were actually British not Irish...as Ireland was under British rule...and the republic of Ireland that i am from as an independant country only came into being then..before it was under British rule ...Irish Americans who claim to be more Irish than us ..erm well the rest of the world disagrees...you can be cousins or part of the Irish tribe..but you cant spea for us on issues etc we have our own way..respect that and we will respect you..its the lackof respect that irks us

• LwaoiseNíMhaol | May 29, 2012, 10:05 AM EDT

  'GeorgeDillon Joycean: Most Irish people don't know their 'history'. In fact, given the breakneck speed of the foreign settlement of Ireland, we'll soon have to refer to the inhabitants of that island as 'Irish'.' I assure you we a very aware of it thank you. We do refer to the children of immigrants here as Irish....infact just Irish ..with no hyphen....they live with us go to school with us and put their lot in with us ....Ireland is their country and they want to contribute and look after it ..they see us as their people....No offense ...i respect Irish Americans....but that iswhy you are not Irish in the same way...you don't have homes here you don't consider us your people or Ireland your country. How can someone be 100% Irish if you are a hyphonated Irish person ? And it seems some people just come on this site to make ethnic lur against Americans or Irish or Irish-Americans....LAY OFF....I have nothing against Americans or Irish Americans.. the culture is just different in Ireland..and thats fine

• LwaoiseNíMhaol | May 29, 2012, 08:13 AM EDT

  I am Irish-/Dublin born and a member of the younger generation in Ireland. I think Irish culture and Irish American culture are very very different. And thats fine there is nothing wrong with that. Irish American is an American tribe. Be proud of that. Irish is a socialist country we believe in free Univerities and universal healthcare. Which is different to the American political culture. There is nothing to fear from difference. I don't claim to understand Irish Americans at all or their political leanings or culture. I don't know if it is that dissimilar from the rest of American culture. It does not matter, a person is a person. However i resent the fact that many seem to think you can learn about Irish culture from a book. If you want to know about me ask me. Irish people come in all varieties. Catholic heathen athiest protestant pagan conservative liberal socialist communist ...but all Irish and these do not divide a sense of unity as they seem to in America. We are Irish because of the way we speak the way we feel. They way we think which is different from the way Americans think. Maybe Irish Americans are different again. By the way there are Irish Autralians, Spannish-Irish , German Irish , Irish Canadians ,London Irish etc..so if you want to celebrate an Irish heritage you have to be willing to accept them too. They often make ' the pilgrimage'to Ireland and many Anglo-London Irish have resettled here. Gay straight black conservative or liberal ....all are part of Irish life here..I guess Irish Americans gay/straight/black /liberal/conservative are a part of the tribe too..if they want ..I think there is a move though to be just American in American now and thats cool too:-)

• Barry | Mar 11, 2012, 12:56 PM EDT

  In response to George's comment about immigrants in Ireland: "Now you're borrowing money abroad in order to pay social benefits for them, give them free health care and schooling for their children." This idea that immigrants in Ireland are all sponging off the state is one that has to stop. Most immigrants here work hard, often at low-paid jobs that Irish people didn't want to do during the boom years of the Celtic Tiger. Immigrants only get free healthcare (or the "Medical Card" as it's known here) if their income is below a certain limit - the same applies to Irish people themselves. And as for schooling: what would you have: a situation where immigrant children are denied an education? Nobody is given anything for free simply because they're foreign but this is something that people both in Ireland and the UK say over and over again just to put immigrants down. Foreigners come to Ireland for the same reasons Irish went abroad: work and a better life in general. Don't know where George lives but if he's an Irish-American, he really shouldn't be so hypocritical to have a go at people coming to Ireland for the same reasons he or his family went to the States.

• eileen murphy | Mar 06, 2012, 06:57 PM EST

  Hey Jimmy, Do you know the Murphy's from Kerry??? I found the relatives still alive and well in Kerry.My grandfather never spoke of his brothers or cousins because it was TOO PAINFUL.They never wanted to leave Ireland and would have preferred to stay for ever but to get work they came to America. There were a few stories passed on but very few. So sad to loose your whole family to live and eat. I love doing geneology of my Irish ancestors.I have no other genes in me but Irish.I have not been mixed by any other race.So I do consider myself Irish -American and have my Irish passport. I will be coming to do more geneology of my Grandmother in Cork.I guess it is so ingrained in me because of the happiness it brought my parents to speak of their own parents and the love of Ireland I saw in their eyes. Just about 3 weeks before my mother died she was talking in her sleep and I overheard her say "I am Irish." I am not sure who she was speaking with in her dreams but it made me laugh.By the way we did not know she was going to die in 3 weeks. I think it may have been role call for Heaven!!!!!!!!!

• IrishSpring444 | Mar 06, 2012, 03:39 PM EST

  James Farrell should get out more. His understanding of Americans of Irish ancestry is limited to the plastic paddys he's rubbed elbows with, and while I agree there is a segment of Americans of Irish ancestry who don't really get it, at least they're trying, and probably are doing more to prop up tourism to Eire than anyone else. But alas, the heart of Ireland thankfully is much larger than those who call themselves writers and offer poorly researched and inartfully written criticisms, such as Farrell's piece. The Ancient Order of Hibernians, Irish American Magazine, and countless Irish Geneaology and Historical Societies in this country have done a great deal to foster genuine understanding of Irish history and culture. If all the Irish in Ireland displayed Farrell's attitude, Eire would have died a slow death long ago without the tourism that sustained it, but we Americans of Irish ancestry have a special friendship with the Irish people. And it is the warmth of the Irish people that draws us back to the distant homeland of our ancestors ... satisfying the deep need of all peoples to find their place in space and time ... Imagine it. Some of us may have ancestors who even knew Farrell's, I suppose. Keep the comments coming, and aim for his heart. I know it's a small target, but strike a bulls-eye for humanity, and drop his ilk.

• TheBetterCoug | Mar 06, 2012, 11:15 AM EST

  We Americans are a mixed bag, for sure. One of our problems is discovering just where our ancestors came from. It can be a chore. Our society is similar to that I'm reading about in Ireland. The current generation has little concern or interest of "where the bus came from." They only want to step on board and journey forward. For many American, their soul longs for a connection to their home(s) of origin. Those of us who discover our Irish connection may remember family stories of the hardship that brought their forebearers to America. Others, like myself, never met their Irish grandfather or other Irish relative. I wanted to find the turf where my grandfather came from and I did. I'll never forget the experience, nor shall my children. I am proud of my Irish "connection," even if the current generation there has disdain for the genes that flow in my blood and the pride I have for being of Irish descent.

• mandokeith | Feb 27, 2012, 09:40 AM EST

  Ok James, Certainly there are ignorant people in America regarding Ireland( as many are about other cultures); but there are also people of Irish descent who LOVE Ireland, and make a concerted effort to learn and know of Irish culture. Many of which are actually republicans, conservatives, those who do not believe in giving away the whole farm just to keep the squirrels cozy. We are PROUD of our Irish connection and desire to become more deeply connected to that culture. It is about more than tourism, it is about a people who may not have been born in Ireland but feel and connection and love the beautiful land of their fore bearers.You seem to resent and even ridicule those who feel this way. I would think an Irish loving, history respecting, culturally interested American would be a better fit on your shores than a member of the extended EU who only thinks of Ireland as a new place to make empty out the bin. I came during the Celtic Tiger and I will come during the recession. I wear green, I study Gaelic, call me a plastic paddy if you want; but I am interested in the culture, history and endurance of Ireland, not the dilution and dissolution. Ignorance? Yes there is much, some comes from the US and some comes from the influx of EU cultures (not that you would criticize them). But we all choose our friends, to whatever end; and those friends will ultimately define who we are.

• Gaelphoncán | Feb 25, 2012, 02:02 AM EST

  Maybe its a generational thing, I dont know but its a common view [Ciara, I have come to the conclusion it's definitely a generational thing. The sad irony is that the younger generations of IBABs are the most Americanised generations that Ireland has ever produced and they are the most insistent in rejecting the Irish identity of the children of the diaspora (particularly Irish-Americans)]. Its an honour, in my opinion to be Irish and that honour is not simply given because someone has an Irish passport or an Irish granny [What do you mean by 'honour'? My parents encountered anti-Irish prejudice growing up in America and I've friends who grew up in England who are the children of IBABs and who were constantly beaten up and hassled for being Irish (and yet they're slagged off or condescended to for being 'English' when they come to Ireland). Would you deny them the honour of being Irish?]. You say you lived here for 20 years. You are very different to an American who has an Irish relative and who just visits once a year or in a lifetime [True, yet the irony is that the longer I live in Ireland the more I understand how Irish my Irish-American relations in America are. I've got relations in America who have never set foot in Ireland and yet have very typically Irish personalities and mannerisms. Dozens of generations of family culture (and genes) aren't simply erased by one or two generations of living in another place]. There are people on this site who insult, belittle and patronise irish people simply becuase we dont adhere to their picture postcard catholic racist view that they hold [True, and I don't like that but there are also people on this site who insult, belittle, and patronise Irish-Americans. IBABs have bee patronising me since I first arrived in Ireland and they still do. I'm well used to it but not yet totally indifferent to it].

• Gaelphoncán | Feb 25, 2012, 12:29 AM EST

  Id love to hear Irish spoken more but it isnt and it will never be a majority language here. [I'd also love to hear it spoken more and I contribute to that desire by actually speaking it daily myself. It may never be a majority language in Ireland but I do what I can to keep it alive and to increase the percentage of people who speak it in Ireland.] It has been associated with poverty for many here for centuries [true, but ironically it's middle-class people who want to send their kids to Gaelscoileanna now. It's a funny aul' world] and it was beaten out of people [true] and then bet into them by Christian Brothers [ironically, as an Irish-American, I haven't got this emotional baggage concerning Irish and freely chose to learn 'teanga mo shinsear' on my own steam] so unfortunately thats the way it is [yes, but I choose to challenge this resigned acceptance]. More people here will be learning foreign languages over the next few years as thats where the jobs lie [Ciara, I can speak 6 languages and applied for hundreds of jobs in multi-nationals and hotels in Ireland in the 2 years preceding my 'emigration' (due to financial pressures). My knowledge of languages has been no help to me whatsoever. I think that my age probably works against me but that's a subject for another thread]. Being Irish is not simply having an Irish passport, its about more than that [I would say 'being Irish is not simply about geography, it's about more than that']. Comedian Des Bishop made an observation a few years ago ''JFK visited Galway for 25 minutes and he was called Irish American, Des Bishop lives in Ireland for 17 years and people still call him American!'' [Fair play to Des; he sees the bigger picture. I loved that show in which he did minimum wage jobs and often challenged the superficial one-dimensional thinking of IBABs he met].

• Gaelphoncán | Feb 25, 2012, 12:24 AM EST

  My responses to your comments will be in square brackets (not ideal but I don't know of any better way to do it)

• Gaelphoncán | Feb 25, 2012, 12:15 AM EST

  A Chiara, a chara, I appreciate your responses and wish to address some of the issues you've raised but it will probably take me a few posts to do so.

• ciaradexy | Feb 24, 2012, 11:57 AM EST

  Id love to hear Irish spoken more but it isnt and it will never be a majority language here. It has been associated with poverty for many here for centuries and it was beaten out of people and then bet into them by Christian Brothers so unfortunately thats the way it is. More people here will be learning foreign languages over the next few years as thats where the jobs lie. Being Irish is not simply having an Irish passport, its about more than that. Comedian Des Bishop made an observation a few years ago ''JFK visited Galway for 25 minutes and he was called Irish American, Des Bishop lives in Ireland for 17 years and people still call him American!'' Maybe its a generational thing, I dont know but its a common view. Its an honour, in my opinion to be Irish and that honour is not simply given because someone has an Irish passport or an Irish granny. You say you lived here for 20 years. You are very different to an American who has an Irish relative and who just visits once a year or in a lifetime. There are people on this site who insult, belittle and patronise irish people simply becuase we dont adhere to their picture postcard catholic racist view that they hold. I can give out about my family but no one else can. Its a very Irish trait and its the same in regards Ireland. I would NEVER go to someone elses country as a visitor and spend the next few years visiting again only to b1tch and moan about the country and the people there. Being Irish is about contributing to Ireland and society. its about integrating with people and becoming part of the fabric of our society. Its not god (or whoever/whatever) given.

• ciaradexy | Feb 24, 2012, 11:57 AM EST

  Gaelphoncán-Excellent post and you raise some good points. You cannot compare an American with irish parents or grndparents etc to a person born or even just brought up in Ireland. Just because some of your Irish relatives were around here at the same time as mine, does not mean we have a common bond. People raised together,educated together and brought up together will have much more in common than you and I. The Irish are a mix of Celts, Normans, Anglo saxons and Viking among others. Gaelic people came from many different places and have mixed for thousands of years so we are not a pure blood race as some on this site seem to think.

• joycean | Feb 23, 2012, 11:22 AM EST

  Gaelphoncan, I can understand that ciara would like to limit the use of "Irish" to residents, but her opinion is just an opinion, admittedly one that others share. Irish law is on your side, and there are more Irish outside Ireland than in it.

• Gaelphoncán | Feb 23, 2012, 08:37 AM EST

  The Chinese in China consider the ethnic Chinese living abroad to be Chinese, the Turkish in Turkey consider the ethnic Turkish living abroad to be Turkish, the Basques in the Basque Country consider ethnic Basques living abroad to be Basque (especially if they speak Basque), but Irish people like Ciaradexy see the ethnic Irish living abroad as total foreigners with no sense of Irishness. Why are we so full of division and self-loathing as a tribe? The ethnic Irish outside Ireland see identity in tribal terms - one is Irish by dint of belonging to the Irish tribe to which one is linked by blood/genetics. People like Ciara (the majority of IBABs?), however, see identity in purely geographical terms. If Martians landed in Ireland and a Martian couple produced a child on Irish soil, that child would automatically be Irish. It seems to me a much more arbitrary way of defining identity than by tribal affiliation. I'm Irish-American, or an American of Irish descent, if you prefer, by dint of having spent my formative years (whatever that means exactly) in the USA but my Irish passport simply labels me as 'Irish'. My home is in Ireland, I vote in Irish elections (or at least I did before I left (emigrated from?) Ireland in August – not to the USA, by the way) and I'm still paying taxes to the Irish government. I'm fluent in the 2 official languages of the ROI (tá an Ghaeilge ar mo thoil agam agus bíonn sí i mo phluc gach aon lá agus mé ag caint le mo bhean agus lena muintir). The language would be an important marker of identity in many countries in the world but not in Ireland. I've lived in Ireland for nearly two decades but I know that IBABS like Ciara (and probably Sirpeter) will never, ever acknowledge my Irishness. Even if I lived in Ireland for 50 years, I'm sure she would still consider me a Plastic Paddy.

• ciaradexy | Feb 22, 2012, 05:21 PM EST

  Youre right there SirP! 258!!

• sirpeter | Feb 22, 2012, 04:36 PM EST

  256 comments and still going.LOL.We are going to have these types of articles for the next year because it gets such a great reaction.

• ciaradexy | Feb 22, 2012, 12:00 PM EST

  Lannen:'So, a person born in Ireland to American parents is more Irish that an American born to Irish parents?!?' Yes is the answer to your question. George, the Irish are not borrowing money to pay for immigrants. The Irish are borrowing money because of reckless lending by the banks. Get that straight in your head if you can.

• Dmorgan | Feb 22, 2012, 10:33 AM EST

  The generalization of the article is rather funny and I'm irish-american. I don't take offense to the article, because that's not me. But, I can tell you around St.Patrick's Day there are alot of my countrymen and women who do act this way. But the core true irish-americans are into the preservation of their heritage, not swilling green beer. Read the title if your offended, it says some not all. On the other hand James, your not speaking for all of your country men and women either.

• kittyobitty | Feb 22, 2012, 09:00 AM EST

  If James Farrell was the first Irish person I met, I don't think I would like Irish people! I'm a person who lived in Cork for a few years with my family, and for the past 28 years bring groups over on tour. A lot of us are REPUBLICANS, but why does that matter, we are here to see your beautiful country, and where their roots came from. Yes, a lot of us know the history of Ireland, and yes Americans love "Danny Boy" Would you rather have all Americans not come to Ireland? Remember we spend money while were there. I had the time of my life while living in Cork, I had many friends and they took me under their wing!

• Lannen | Feb 22, 2012, 07:14 AM EST

  Incredible. The author doesn't want to hear irish jokes because they're "demeaning" but has no problem slapping down Irish-Americans because they were born in America despite their heritage. I am 100% Irish. I don't care what type of lopsided logic Mr. Farrell wants to use to justify his frankly arrogant outlook on Irish-Americans. So, a person born in Ireland to American parents is more Irish that an American born to Irish parents?!? Mr.Farrell, do us all a favor, pull your head out of whatever idiotic outlook you've clouded it with and grow up.

• GeorgeDillon | Feb 22, 2012, 03:03 AM EST

  curdexter: "George, your family invaded the US but our 'settlers' are here legally and work." Partially right. You invited the settlers in. Now you're borrowing money abroad in order to pay social benefits for them, give them free health care and schooling for their children. The Native Americans didn't, and in many cases resisted them. Shows that you are the spineless fools. Same with paying the debts of capitalist gangsters. Only fools pay someone else's debts, but the Irish do. The fools, the fools, the fools... Pearse was right about the Irish.

• AMWilson | Feb 21, 2012, 10:04 PM EST

  Ciara's anecdote is, unfortunately, spot on. Go to any hallowed spot in the US - Gettysburg, for example - and you'll experience the same thing. Folks, if you don't have the decency and manners to behave like big boys and girls, then do the rest of us a favor and stay the hell home.

• ciaradexy | Feb 21, 2012, 04:18 PM EST

  Joycean, the reason I wrote 'history' is because irish people do not tend to go to the US to learn about the history of that country. I know thats a generalisation but its true. George, My friend was the tour guide and he informed me of this when I met him in Doolin. Adults shouldnt need to be told how to behave on a tour. I did however, tell the crowd who were linking arms in the middle of the road to get off the road and let people passed. A woman in the pub in Doolin who was having her dinner had to ask an American tourist to stop taking photos of her. She didnt stop so I told her to stop or Id get her removed from the pub. George, your family invaded the US but our 'settlers' are here legally and work. We arent being killed by them unlike the native Americans.

• GeorgeDillon | Feb 21, 2012, 03:54 PM EST

  Joycean: Most Irish people don't know their 'history'. In fact, given the breakneck speed of the foreign settlement of Ireland, we'll soon have to refer to the inhabitants of that island as 'Irish'.

• joycean | Feb 21, 2012, 01:09 PM EST

  ciara, "Irish people dont (sic)go the US for its 'history'...but Ireland ... is rich in it...." Do you think the planet was made in pieces? The Burren is a geological formation. If you put "history" in quotation marks, you imply there isn't any. That's pretty disrespectful too.

• emer333 | Feb 21, 2012, 01:06 PM EST

  You say in your label of yourself that you are living in Dublin. Does that make you a "Dubliner"? Being Irish is innate. It is a part of who you are, if your heritage has been continued, you can be more "Irish" as an "Irish-American" than some who are born in Ireland. Key word: some. Yes, there are rude people all over with mis-conceptions of groups. I could go through your 10 reasons point by point, but, they are not worth answers. I don't know where you found your tourists, but the tour guide should set the rules as go by them. If he intends to be prompt, say so, and be. Ar amharai an tsaoil ta daimh agam le hEirinn. Na glac pioc comhairle gan comhairle ban ;)

• ciaradexy | Feb 21, 2012, 11:32 AM EST

  Ancavker:I spent the weekend in Co. Clare and the behaviour of many American tourists was a disgrace. Chatting and texting during a speech regarding the famine and the Burren. Rudeness in O'Connors in Doolin to staff and other patrons. Walking in groups in the middle of the road so cars and visitors couldnt pass by. They were given certain times to be back on the tourbus but totally disregarded these instructions and we were constantly trying to get them back onto the bus.Granted these were all between the ages of about 25 and 35 but they were still old enough to know better. The older crowd kept taking pictures of people without their consent which I found to be appallingly disrespectful and rude. Im aware that Irish people dont go the US for its 'history' but if you come somewhere like Ireland that is rich in it and take a bus tour, at least have the decency to shut up when a tourguide is telling you a story.

• ancavker | Feb 21, 2012, 09:39 AM EST

  Ni: I know quite a few Irish-Americans and others with no connection to Ireland who will never go back after the shabby treatment they received there while on holiday. Very sad. And contrary to what some might say here, Ireland needs those tourist dollars far more than America needs Irish tourist dollars.

• NiGhabhainn | Feb 19, 2012, 05:57 PM EST

  I met a young American girl the other day in a store in Cork City. When I asked her where she was from after sharing a laugh, she replied "America,but I dont know if thats ok or not". I thought how awful! Why does she feel this way? Such a nice person visiting her ancestral roots. What has been said to make her feel this way? If a poll was carried out here in Ireland outside of this article, you would find that Irish people have high regard for Americans. We need to remember our government are no different to the Bush administration...Our land is being sold off by our own people to foreign investors... Talking nonsense like this about one group of people disliking another when they are both the same. Im 100% irish with American family and love them as much as my Irish family here. I lived in America and experienced many states from East to West, North and South and I love the country.

• ciaradexy | Feb 19, 2012, 03:22 PM EST

  Oh youre gas! Youve been complaining about migrants coming to Ireland. Youre ok with yanks classing themselves as Swedish yet actual Swedes in Ireland would p1ss you off massively! When did I say I know the US? I know my cousins and friends. Ive visited many times, a bit like yourself here but unlike you I dont make lies up about the US and Americans.

• GeorgeDillon | Feb 19, 2012, 02:57 PM EST

  Curdexter: "But you dont want to hear that immigrants are in Ireland". You imbecile, curdexter, I've been posting about Mass Immigration to Ireland for months!

• GeorgeDillon | Feb 19, 2012, 02:55 PM EST

  Someone explain to Curdexter what the word "Steelers" means. I don't expect an Irish person to understand it, but this fool claims she knows the US.

• ciaradexy | Feb 19, 2012, 02:43 PM EST

  Jackieo, just like you love when the Irish go to the US and shop till they drop! ''Steelers''? Nice made up word. You hand the money over, its not stolen from you.

• jackieo | Feb 19, 2012, 10:52 AM EST

  who is the pittsburghkid???

• jackieo | Feb 19, 2012, 10:44 AM EST

  we don't like republicans in america either-irish,catholic democratic forever

• jackieo | Feb 19, 2012, 10:37 AM EST

  i know one thing, you like the american money we spend when we visit ireland-go steelers

• ciaradexy | Feb 19, 2012, 08:57 AM EST

  George, I have mates here who actually ARE Swedish! But you dont want to hear that immigrants are in Ireland. Although its ok for an American to claim to be Swedish? what sort of nonsense goes through your head!? I can understand Americans in America trying to culturally identify themselves to other Americans but here, you're just American! My Swedish friends also wouldn't consider your 'Swedish' mates from Minnesota to be Swedish!

• GeorgeDillon | Feb 18, 2012, 12:20 PM EST

  Rocknreel: A while back you wrote that Nigerians are "scroungers who use and abuse the system". Don't pretend to be all reasonable here--you're just another racist.

• GeorgeDillon | Feb 18, 2012, 12:15 PM EST

  curdexter: " Americans Do claim to be Irish." Curdexter, you truly are an utter fool. Did it never occur to whatever passes for your brain that Americans identify their ethnic heritage to each other by saying things like "My wife is Italian" "I'm Irish" "There are lot of Swedes in Minnesota" etc. They DON"T NEED to say "I'm Irish American", "My wife is Italian American" etc because it is obvious to each other and every one else that they are American. Obvious to everyone except poltroons like you.

• Sparklet | Feb 18, 2012, 10:56 AM EST

  Peterman, I know plenty of English people who love Ireland and far from laugh at "Irishness" embrace it to the point ofd trying to emulate it. Your comment is surely one based on no knowledge of the situation whatsoever. Of course there is banter between Irish and English, and some of it might be unpleasant, but no different to Scottish/English, Welsh/English, and probably Irish/American - otherwise how do you explain some of the comments on here that present-day Irish make about Irish-Americans.

• Peterman | Feb 17, 2012, 11:37 PM EST

  Ciaradexy: "My grandparetns stuck it out in ireland as did their parents so as a result, we are Irish." Good for you and your grand parents. My great grand parents boarded a wooden sailing vessel with three toddlers for a two month long, dangerous journey into the unknown rather than face starvation and disease at the hands of the English and to worship in their Catholic faith freely. They had nothing but the shirts on their backs. And to me, that took a helluva lot more balls than staying home and playing it safe. And James Farrell "the english are our best friends". You are definitely out of your mind or English yourself. If you think they don't joke about your Irishness behind your back your NUTS. Come back to reality man.

• ancavker | Feb 17, 2012, 03:16 PM EST

  Rock: I know some Irish-Americans are badly informed. And yet how many more were fully, and informed enough to be able to get former President Clinton involved in the peace process, and to be able to get so many Irish who came in the 80's legalized. All of that seems to be forgotten. And on that note I am signing off on the topic.

• sirpeter | Feb 17, 2012, 01:58 PM EST

  RockNReel.A fair and balanced comment.Still given the state of the British economy and their refusal for closer fiscal union with the EU.One has to wonder if the British saw this coming 20 years back.It seems to me it was the British who allowed things to move on in Ireland.They need all the friends they can get in the coming years.

• Sparklet | Feb 17, 2012, 12:59 PM EST

  RockNReel - great post. I think you speak for the majority of decent Irish people.

• RockNReel | Feb 17, 2012, 12:32 PM EST

  I note that a lot of Irish Americans are either badly informed or else are in denial about the fact that the relationship between Britain and Ireland has never been stronger and that people on both sides have moved on from the bad old days. Thats more than I can say about some Americans who seem to think that a war is still raging on the streets of northern Ireland. The bigotry has diminished to a certain degree and since the massive welcome the Queen received in Ireland things will never go back to the way they were. Granted, there is still a tiny minority who want to keep the bitterness alive for their own agenda but it now goes without saying that there will someday be a united Ireland with the agreement of all concerned. Not anytime soon , but its inevitable now that someday it can and will happen. So, to those who are still living in the past --please get your facts right and know that Irish people no longer hate the Brits and visa versa. Theres thousands of English people now living in Ireland and they are most welcome!!

• ciaradexy | Feb 17, 2012, 11:29 AM EST

  IrelandNorth, Americans Do claim to be Irish. I have met many both here and in the US. I ask them when did they leave, Im told they never did, they are American not irish. My grandparetns stuck it out in ireland as did their parents so as a result, we are Irish. Not a retro pastiche version of what we think Irish people in 2012 should be. We are real people who contribute to Irish society while being part of Irish society. We are educated here, work here and live here. I aint leaving either! My granny is 88 and she is very glad that her grandkids are not living in the Ireland she grew up in which was ruled by the church and was misogynistic. Shes very glad for her grand daughters especially and she brought her kids up to be open, honest, respectful and emotionally free unlike how her generation was raised.

• IrelandNorth | Feb 17, 2012, 07:53 AM EST

  If James America, Irish, or Irish-American? Irish-Americans don't claim to be Irish, they are Americans of Irish descent, hence Irish-Americans, which seems to bother some northern-Irish unionist/loyalist (British?) posters. As a (left-of-centre) Leinster-Irishman from south-Dublin, Irish-Americans to me are more Irish than the Irish themselves because their emigrant-Irish forefathers were from more authentic Irish generations than modern post-republican/Free-Stater/west Brit/proto-unionist who unduly influence modern Ireland, read the designer propaganda of the 'Oirish Chimes' and Sir Anthony's [Anglo-]Irish [Co-]dependent. Irish-Ireland is infested with historical revisionists and British monarch arse lickers who are EU ridden mild colonial boys. Smart Alecs who think they know everything, and slag-off sincere Irish-Americans whose success they're bitterly jealous of. Nationalist Ireland is [not] dead or gone. Or with O'Leary in the grave. It's in Irish-America in the USA.

• sirpeter | Feb 16, 2012, 10:46 PM EST

  Sparklet.You're not wrong there.Don't use the word dogmatic though.That's a wind-up toy to them.(Irish wit)Arrogant is a better word.But really underneath it all I always get the feeling they are just afraid.Lose your job and get sick and you are in a world of sh*t.That really isn't the case in Ireland.Decent people live in tents in the US.Be very afraid if you can fall that low.

• sirpeter | Feb 16, 2012, 10:22 PM EST

  Pittsburghkid.No offense like but of course he was wrong too.It's mostly the weak emigrate from any country.If you have connections in any country you are ok.Still he told you a confidence building lie.So that makes it ok.

• Pittsburghkid | Feb 16, 2012, 05:50 PM EST

  I ask my grandfather, why the family never returned to Ireland. He replied that the strong left Ireland, and the weak stayed behind. Of course, he was Republican.

• Sparklet | Feb 16, 2012, 05:00 PM EST

  Ancavker, I don't think the problem is with identifying with your culture - it's the number of Irish Americans who seem to think they speak for the Irish on matters where they're actually poles apart. That won't apply to them all, maybe not even the majority, but those who do give them impression, are very vocal and dogmatic.

• ciaradexy | Feb 16, 2012, 04:44 PM EST

  Jaysis man, I have no issue or gripe with Americans! I have American friends and cousins! You are totally paranoid! So you have a few weeks a year here, big deal! You are the one who seems to have the issues here, not me or any of the irish! When I lived in Australia I was well aware I was a visitor there and its the same wherever I go! I am respectful, courteous, responsible and an excellent representation of my country! I dont litter, swear, fight, smoke, buy Abercrombie tat or do whatever else it is you seem to think all Irish people do! I have visited in NY, Philly, Boston, Washington, Florida, North and South Carolina, California, Arizona, Nevada, Georgia and Louisiana! I have NEVER been disrespectful to anyone I have ever met in any of these places. I have been to 1 Irish bar in all of these cities and the only reason I was there at all was because I was staying in a room above a pub in NY with mates of mine. Any one who emigrates and has contempt for the locals should be kicked out in my opinion. If a country is decent enough to let someone in then they have no right to be disrespectful to those who are already there. Just like I can complain about my family but cannot complain about yours, its the same with Ireland. Irish people have a love hate relationship with home but those of us who are still here, didnt leave and have stuck it out have that relationship even more so.

• ancavker | Feb 16, 2012, 04:29 PM EST

  Ciara: You are also ignorant. As far as telling you how the Irish are, I am Irish born!!! And I go home, yes we still call it home almost every year, not to mention when I am in England or on the continent for business I stop over at times. My spouse goes home as well; some years she goes twice a year Also I still own a house (that I now rent out) in a predominantly Irish NYC Irish neighborhood, and I am very familiar with more than a few of the Irish who came during the 80's who had nothing but contempt for Americans, Irish and otherwise. The horrific bar fights, the vomiting all over peoples side walks. Oh and get this there were certain bars that Irish-Americans were not allowed in at the risk of being beat up. I was told I could stay, but that the Yanks had to leave. I also saw the good hard working Irish who played by the rules, and understood they were guests in the U.S., and should behave. And I have relations in Ireland I would do anything for and England as well, but I have others who are ignorant and just so bitterly anti-American it is tiresome. And they like so many of the Irish in Ireland have become hostile and down right ignorant that it is appalling. The difference between you and me Ciara is that I have lived in both places and I am still intimately connected with Ireland. I have no problem criticizing and praising my own. I don't dismiss outright as you do, or simply ignore it. I also have no problem criticizing the U.S. or Americans as well, Irish and Otherwise.

• ciaradexy | Feb 16, 2012, 03:56 PM EST

  Bye now! Y'all come back now y'hear!

• ancavker | Feb 16, 2012, 03:53 PM EST

  ciara: You are not opioniated, you are obstinate!! Now I am done.

• ciaradexy | Feb 16, 2012, 03:51 PM EST

  I have given you an inch! a very small inch but you telling me how the Irish are after a visit or 2 is pretty much the same as me telling you how the Americans are after my few visits. You are commenting on how the Irish are in Ireland when this article is about how the Americans who come to Ireland come across to the Irish! If you dont like us or our ways then dont visit!

• ancavker | Feb 16, 2012, 03:48 PM EST

  ciara: I give up you won't give an inch!! So much for your open mindedness and flexibility, and give and take.

• ciaradexy | Feb 16, 2012, 03:26 PM EST

  Im sure that if the French were killed for speaking their native language, emigrated and died in their millions then the French language would have died a death too Ancavker.

• ciaradexy | Feb 16, 2012, 03:17 PM EST

  Ancavker-its sport. Its universal and people can follow whatever teams they wish to follow! Some pubs cater to the soccer fan, others cater to the GAA fan. We all usually know which pubs to go to if we want to watch a certain sport.

• ciaradexy | Feb 16, 2012, 03:15 PM EST

  Ancavker-''I love annoying some of my Irish in Ireland cousins by telling them we Irish-Americans have no problem going to a Rolling Stones concert one week, and the Chieftains the next. The look of horror on their faces is hysterical.'' Then your cousins are idiots!

• TayandCake | Feb 16, 2012, 03:05 PM EST

  Actually yes we do to all of the above mentioned, I had a row with a Murphy from Cork, who had a brother in America who was a member of the Republican party, outside me thatched cottage after a days drinking. We fought all day but stopped to say rosary and then continued on, an Englishman tried to break up the fight so we both bet him up and after that we continued beating each other up. In the end we forget why we were fighting so we went back inside and drank and sang pub songs.

• ancavker | Feb 16, 2012, 03:05 PM EST

  sparklet: I understand that the Irish in Ireland have family in England I do as well, and I don't have a problem with that. I do think the obsession with Man U is over the top. I was in a pub several years for one of the GAA qualifiers games with my cousins 6 or 7 TV's in the Pub all English football. My cousin asked to switch to the qualifier on one of the TV's; the bar man reluctantly did. Lots of stars and dirty looks and whispering, and after 15 minutes or so he comes back and says no one wants to watch that oul nonsense here and changed it back. That was shocking and sad to say the least. My whole point in the Man U thing though is simply this. If the Irish in Ireland choose to identify with Man U and English culture for real and or imaginary reasons why is not the same courtesy given to the Irish-Americans who wish to identify with Irish culture?

• ciaradexy | Feb 16, 2012, 03:04 PM EST

  Ancavker-So how was it the average Paddys fault that this recession hit? The US housing situation went insane with subprime mortgages which had a knock on effect on the rest of the world but Im not blaming Americans for it either? Why shouldnt highly qualified,innovative and motivated irish people move abroad? Its not an influx of Spaniards, they have been here as long as I can remember! Thousands of Spaniards work in cafes, restaurants, bars. I was in the tourist office on Andrews St this eve and there were Spaniards working there! One of my best friends is catalan and works for microsoft as do many people he has introduced me to. I AM very opinionated but I form my opinions from being here and living my life here! I dont need to read about Spaniards coming to Ireland, I see them and meet them all the time! I know many Spaniards here! I learn from experience and I have 35 years of experience here. Ive seen changes, some good and some not so good but we are a modern nation like many others so there is no way we can stay in a state of flux. We are modern and dynamic. People need an education and jobs. Irish people like to travel and experience the world and I dont just mean on a 2 week holiday. We are explorers, backpackers. I have an open mind which is why I understand why people move here for jobs or a new life and I accept that unlike some on this site.

• ancavker | Feb 16, 2012, 02:54 PM EST

  ciara: I have no problem with that, and understand it fully. The problem I have is the disdain that so many Irish seem to have for their own culture. I travel all over Europe, and see American/English culture everywhere. Yet I can go into a night club in Paris or Berlin and hear their pop music sung in their language. I love annoying some of my Irish in Ireland cousins by telling them we Irish-Americans have no problem going to a Rolling Stones concert one week, and the Chieftains the next. The look of horror on their faces is hysterical.

• ancavker | Feb 16, 2012, 02:47 PM EST

  ciara: Nobody is saying that the banks are not to blame, but to insist that the Irish people themselves share no fault is wrong, Sure blame the big bad European and American banks. No need for a pity party. You may know more about the Spanish community in Ireland than I do. there know there is sizable ex pat community in Dublin; some of those came to learn English, and then move on. I doubt very much there is a massive influx of Spanish into Ireland today. But yet again you miss my point the Spanish and Greeks and Italians etc. are all living with the fall out of the financial crisis and recession, and yet I have not read one article discussing them all running to other countries. As far as De Valera, I am not a fan, I just have a more nuanced view of the man after additional readings. And yes it is Judging Dev, and the series was good, but the book goes into more detail. You will actually find correspondence from the British in discussing De Valera's American birth. It appears that his American birth may not have been the main reason he was not executed. You portray yourself as having an open mind and yet you come across as extremely opinionated and inflexible. So much for give and take.

• ciaradexy | Feb 16, 2012, 02:24 PM EST

  Ancavker,There are 10s of thousands of Spaniards living and working in Ireland and they have been here since the 70s! We have always had a massive Spanish community here. The average irish person didnt realise that our banks were gambling our money and that if and when they lost their gambling money, theyd be paid back anyway! We are paying back failed American and European gamblers! This is not the fault of the average irish person, most of whom did not benefit during the boom at all! That book youre talking about is called 'Judging Dev'. it was a tv series here. After talking to my landlord who met Dev on several occassions, I'll take his and his families experiences on board. My landlords sister was married to a man who went sailing and was presumed drowned. No body was ever recovered. She had a 3 month old child. My landlord went to charlie haughey who was useless and then to Dev to beg him to help her get a widows pension. Haughey wanted a pay off for himself and Dev said she should be looked after by her own family that the irish state didnt owe her or her child anything. She was now a tainted single mother. Dev was a vile misogynist. I live in Kilaminham and I visit the Gaol maybe once a month. I have been assured by the historians there and by a friend involved in geneology and state records that Dev WAS indeed alive purely because of his passport.

• Daytonavejim | Feb 16, 2012, 02:24 PM EST

  I think James' generalizations are as bad as those he attributes to Americans of Irish heritage. I am not sure if he is ignorant, just hangs around with idiots or is just trying to agitate. 1.Americans don't go to Ireland for its urbanization, we have enough of that here.their people were not even allowewd to live in your English cities in Ireland. They are more interested in the rural life their people left to go to America. 2. I hate to think of your circle of American friends thatthink that is an accurate portrayal of Americans. 3. For centuries the Irish have been fighters, especially those who came to America. They had to fight the Anglophiles that controlled America. 4. Better check with some families with a strong "Republican" tradition. 5. Given that Ireland has had over one hundred years of socialist history this makes sense. However more and more Americans of Irish heritage are deserting the Democratic party of their fathers and becoming Republicans. 6. Good that you can speak for an entire society. I better tell my cousin that welcomed me on my last lisit with "Welcome home." 7. I know we are made fun of, just as Americans make fun of you foreigners in America. Going back to my original statement if your aim was to agitate you succeded, and if you are just a total idiot thank God there are enough here in the US I don't need to run into you in Ireland.

• Sparklet | Feb 16, 2012, 02:12 PM EST

  It's interesting to read through all the different opinions, but comments like those of that Madeliene one show how some people are still rooted in the past. She hates the English because they're cold-hearted. and if they weren't they wouldn't have sent the black and tans? Dear God, it was a different age, different attitudes - I despise those people from the past but they're gone. Haven't there recently been cases where American forces have been taken to task for their brutality in the Iraq and Afghanistan? Should we assume that all Americans are like this? Nothing winds me up more than seeing people complain about generalisation whilst doing it themselves at the same time.

• ancavker | Feb 16, 2012, 02:04 PM EST

  ciara: AS far as Irish and Brits knowing each others contemporary culture, that is simply because Irish contemporary culture is English.

• ancavker | Feb 16, 2012, 02:03 PM EST

  ciara: The myth that De Valera was not executed because of his American birth is simply that a myth. I know you are not much into reading about Irish history, but I suggest you might read Dermot Ferriter's recent book on the "Long Fellow" he is not quite the demon the revisionists have made him out to be. And there is a section in there pertaining to the whole Dev American birth issue, including British papers etc. Long story short Dev just lucked out as by the time they were getting to his execution Ireland was in an uproar over the execution of Pearse and Connolly and the rest.

• ciaradexy | Feb 16, 2012, 02:01 PM EST

  English and American pop culture dominate the globe! there is nothing anyone can do about this short of becoming like North korea!

• ancavker | Feb 16, 2012, 01:58 PM EST

  ciara:Well it is nice to see you have respect for the men and women who fought for Irish independence, that is rare in the new and improved Ireland. However, the men and women who fought for that freedom it was all in vain, as the generations that came after made a mess of it,and that is a fact. Ireland finally appears to get it's act together with the Celtic Tiger, and they blow that too, in addition in their rush to become more English or European they threw out alot of what made Ireland good as well. Except for the begrudgery, they have kept that. In fact it is worse now than ever in my opinion. As far as running away and leaving, well here we go again, because they are doing it again. Front page of the NY Times this morning article on London's 20 % unemployment rate among the young people. Nowhere was there any talk of the English leaving to go else where. In Greece the unemployment rate is 24% and 50% in Spain among those in the 16 to 24 age group!!! Nowhere again any talk of Greeks and Spanish fleeing in droves. And yet we have the best educate generation in Ireland's history,and they are still running away.

• ancavker | Feb 16, 2012, 01:49 PM EST

  ciara: Well I beg to differ, many Irish-Americans know Ireland and know it well. I have no problem with you getting o with your English mates, My English-Irish family in England is great we go there, they come here, and we are happy to see each other, and again we don't get the lectures that the Irish in Ireland love to give Irish-Americans. As far as you having so much in common with the English now, whether you like it or not, that is simply because the mind set in Ireland is if it is English or American popular culture than it is better than anything Irish. I have seen it time and time again, and I have deep connections there.

• Sparklet | Feb 16, 2012, 01:44 PM EST

  Ancavker, a lot of Irish-Americans have never set foot in Ireland. That doesn't make their heritage any less, but you can't compare it with the Irish who support English football teams. A lot of Irish have family in England who will support an English team, so there's a link to start with. Plus a lot of Irish lads have played, or are currently playing for English clubs, so there's another link.

• ciaradexy | Feb 16, 2012, 01:25 PM EST

  The irish do not have it out for Americans! If you look at the newest article on this site its regarding Americans views of the irish. You dont see a load of Irish on there crying and bleating the same way Americans are. get over it! its a bit of banter!

• ciaradexy | Feb 16, 2012, 01:24 PM EST

  Irishtommy, yeah nice one for all the money that went into funding the drugs and arms trade. Something to be proud of. it was the men and women who stayed here who fought for independence not those who left. Dev lived in the US for the first 2 years of his life! The man had an irish education and contributed to irish society, he even had an irish accent!! The only reason he wasnt shot or hanged was because he had a US passport.

• irishtommy | Feb 16, 2012, 01:12 PM EST

  As seems usual, the irish in Ireland have it out for the American Irish, Immigrant or descendant. I am an american, my father and mother came from Ireland. I am proud of my heritage and harbor no grudges against those paddys left behind. As has been said, they owe their Republic to men like De Valera (an American) and those that sent their money home to help "The Cause". There was a time when the Irish in Ireland were begging for their Son's and Daughter's to return.

• ciaradexy | Feb 16, 2012, 01:02 PM EST

  Irish and the Brits have LOADS in common! All of my friends have English mates, we have the same sense of humour, we know about each others contemporary culture and we dont keep harping on about the past. We KNOW each other and we GET each other. Most 'Irish' Americans dont know contemporary Ireland or the Irish! There is a massive difference in our relationships.

• ancavker | Feb 16, 2012, 12:55 PM EST

  ciaradexy: No it does not make you any less a Paddy, but you missed the point. Why is it OK for Irish people in Ireland to identify with an English team in England, and yet it is not Ok for Irish-Americans to identify with Ireland, and love and support the music, language culture and have some pride in the place?? keep in mind many of these Irish-Americans are the children or grand children of Irish immigrants.

• ciaradexy | Feb 16, 2012, 12:07 PM EST

  Fawnmarie, if I can do anything to help your son or if you need me to get any info for him, please don't hesitate to let me know and I'll do what I can.

• ciaradexy | Feb 16, 2012, 12:06 PM EST

  Fawnmarie, your post in brilliant, it made me chuckle!! George, my landlord read a few of your bigoted racist posts and he said you are an embarrassment to your Irish family who emigrated from here and a hypocrite of the most despicable kind. Ancavkar, Man Utd are one of the best teams in the world and Manchester is the nearest English city to Ireland. Most of us know people who either emigrated there years ago or have friends and family there now. As far as I'm concerned the best bands in the world are from Manchester. Doesn't make me any less of a Paddy though.

• righton | Feb 16, 2012, 10:11 AM EST

  Farrell doesn't know(that) much about American politics-- for one thing, my Irish ancestors were active in Democrat politics (New York)a long time ago -- and like most Irish immigrants - it was about the time the Democrats rejected Al Smith,as a nominee for president, mostly for his Irish-Catholic heritage, they say. All the Democrats in my family turned Republican in protest. In 2012, Farrell simply shows he's a left-liberal no matter where he lives.

• fawnmarie | Feb 16, 2012, 10:07 AM EST

  Well, my great grandfather is from Cork, but I don't consider myself "Irish" nor do I consider that I have a right to say anything about Irish affairs, aside from the cultural ones that are handed down. It would be embarrassing and naive to think that ALL Irish are like ANYTHING, whatsoever. Having traveled and lived on several continents, it seems to me that there is endless variety amongst individuals in any group. That being said, why does Ireland seem to be so resistant to new immigration from decedents? I'd love to live there, but apparently I need a small fortune, rather than wit, hard work and good ideas. My son is scraping up money for his student visa. Canada would love to have us... Oh - and I've seen cottages with thatch for sale. Apparently you aren't living in them. You're selling them to sentimental tourists! :D Oh - and the rest of you Irish Americans going on about how "Irish" you are. It's embarrassing, stop it. Some of you sound like a modern African America saying 'yes, massa, i done sung dem hymns.' Christ - no wonder they won't take any of us back.

• ancavker | Feb 16, 2012, 09:51 AM EST

  ciara: I agree with George again regarding the football teams. There may be support for Italian and Spanish teams in Ireland, but it is Man U hands down, it is an obsession in Ireland. Evey where I go when I am there it is Man u this and that, ans track suits and sweat shirts and all sorts of other clothing and accessories.

• ancavker | Feb 16, 2012, 09:45 AM EST

  curtiba: I love the Irish community in England, I have family there, and find the Irish community far more welcoming in many cases than the Irish at home. And they are not always going on and on about how bad America and Americans are.

• like2tweet | Feb 16, 2012, 09:26 AM EST

  Joycean see today showing the other side what Irish dont understand about america

• joycean | Feb 16, 2012, 08:23 AM EST

  sirpeter, You are right. This is one of those highly inflammatory articles that keep coming up here. Usually any article that starts "Ten Things..." can be counted upon to cause lots indignation. I wish they would stop doing them. It's one thing to try to be informative about a different culture, but is hardly useful to simply cause rancor. There is nothing new in this article that hasn't been presented in other similar articles. Also, why are these articles so one-sided: What Americans don't know about Irish attitudes. Why not something about America that is unknown to Irish? The Irish seem to think they know all about us, but they really cannot possibly grasp such a huge, diverse place. BTW, I love you comment that Americans should start taking advantage of Ireland's social benefits. Do you think 312million would fit on your island?

• WarriorPoet | Feb 16, 2012, 07:57 AM EST

  I find it hilarious that some Irish people on here are trying to say that America had nothing to do with their independence when their leader at the time Eamon De Valera WAS AMERICAN! Learn your own history before you try to tell Americans about theirs!

• sirpeter | Feb 16, 2012, 06:34 AM EST

  Man!!Some of IC's articles are pure inflammatory.This article is like a shotgun blast of that spreads out and hits every Irish American in the hope of annoying as many people as possible.It worked very well.

• drombannaman | Feb 16, 2012, 05:19 AM EST

  As a native born Irishman with many American friends and relations I find the tone of the so-called debate around this article to be so far too deep. This is a light hearted tongue in cheek article with generaliastions. For Gods sake how did ye get to talking about who shot Michael Collins? It was 90 years ago get over it. As for fighting in the GPO there seems to have been as many people in the GPO in 1916 as there was at the Munster defeat of the All Blacks in Thomond Park in 1978. But I suppose ye won't want that foreign game mentioned either!!!!!!

• GeorgeDillon | Feb 16, 2012, 02:55 AM EST

  Curdexter: "a homogenized island with no new blood and a rapidly homogenized gene pool". This poster is one of those Irish who have such a low self-image and self-respect that they they think Poles, latvians, Angolans, Indonesians etc etc are all smarter than them, better looking, harder workers, better lovers etc. This is the kind of dirty racism that underpins the Mass Immigration fanatics like curdexter. Just what was so defective about the Irish that they needed to startd importing unlimited numbers of foreign migrants, you racist fool?

• flattop55 | Feb 16, 2012, 02:48 AM EST

  @Jamcelt: What absolute nonsense! My grandfather fought in the Easter Rising in 1916, and spent many years in English jails in Ireland and Scotland for his service with the original IRA. My family fought against English tyranny as members of Fiacha mac Aodha Ó Broin's Clan. Who is "us" that you refer to? Please don't add insult to injury by discrediting the role of Irish-Americans in achieving Irish freedom. Just because our relatives emmigrated to America doesn't give you the right to strip them and their families of their rightful place in Irish history. The "us" you refer to, is, at least in part, US, too.

• Jamcelt | Feb 16, 2012, 01:51 AM EST

  @noracoyne. Our freedom was achieved by us, not Americans. It is very mysterious why Americans seem to feel they invented and exported freedom. They did NOT.

• like2tweet | Feb 15, 2012, 11:25 PM EST

  I know James Farrell -- James Farrell is Dublin born by the way, not a communist or anything like it, actually a supporter of the Fine Gael party, he has spent two two year periods in America and considers ireland home.

• doyathink | Feb 15, 2012, 10:24 PM EST

  Gee, Mr. Farrell, you must live on another planet. I don't think I've encountered more than a handful of the Irish-Americans you describe, and thank goodness didn't run into anyone as rude and crude as you seem to be in Ireland.

• WarriorPoet | Feb 15, 2012, 10:16 PM EST

  I think everyone needs to do two google searches before they comment about Irish-Americans again. First 'NINA Laws' and second the 'Know Nothing Party.'

• noracoyne | Feb 15, 2012, 10:01 PM EST

  hi james farrell, i guess you forgot why we left.its true you hit on a few superficial things about the irish diaspora.get a life-you only have 5 million there-we are 70 plus million here(the world)if it wasnt for us you would be hard to find.we gave you the freedom to write what you wanted to,to stepdance in a more exciting way,to bring peace to Ireland,growth of the irish language,feed the poor from THE HUNGER.we could go on and on with this,there is no end to all the things we did and are doing.one last thing,we loved MICHAEL COLLINS you killed him.

• Ed.Shevlin | Feb 15, 2012, 09:56 PM EST

  It amazes me how so many American-Irish (Yanks) and so many resident native Irish know so little of substance about the political and social realities of Ireland and the U.S. So stop trying to prove how Irish you are and just be yourself! You'll be more accepted and respected for it. Most of us are proud of our Irish heritage of whatever degree. My grandparents all came from different parts of Ireland, one from Donegal by way of Scotland. When a family member questioned whether he was Irish or Scotch it was resolved by the question, "If a cat had her litter in the oven, would ye call thim biscuits?"

• WarriorPoet | Feb 15, 2012, 09:54 PM EST

  Delta19USA, Who said anything about hating the Irish? I am Irish I don't hate them... I trace my heritage to the 1300's on two grandparent sides 1500's and 1200's on the other two sides. I think you need to reread what people are writing before you jump into a conversation that you don't understand.

• njirish | Feb 15, 2012, 09:52 PM EST

  This guy is a fraud who was not even born in Ireland, a Chicago leftie who couldn't even compose a list without professing some Obama love

• WarriorPoet | Feb 15, 2012, 09:47 PM EST

  Curitiba, The United States is only part of America which includes Canada Mexico and the West Indies. The Irish sent to Canada were also prisoners. The ones sent to the United State post 1776 were indentured servants also known as Slaves sold into life long servitude. Those who ran away from their owners, faced the NINA laws, or forced military service. If they were known to be Catholic they were only allowed to be in the State of MARYland. Seriously, I haven't made a generalization about the Irish in England yet you think you are knowledgeable but are very misinformed about what life was like for Irish Americans. Lastly, Ireland didn't have a Famine, a famine occurs when a country doesn't have enough food for its people. North Africa and East Africa has Famines Ireland was producing MORE than enough food to feed its people but it was illegal to do so, based on British rule. Irish crops and animals went to English tables while Ireland starved. To call that a Famine is like saying that the slaves taken from Africa signed up because they thought it would be a lovely cruise. Slavery was forced on them unnecessarily, just like starvation was forced onto the Irish unnecessarily.

• donal1951 | Feb 15, 2012, 09:36 PM EST

  I thought I knew a great deal about Ireland until I voted a mock ballot in the elections for the Dail. Then I realized how very little I did know. The presidential election mock ballot was easier, my cousin in Dublin, originally from Galway, was voting for Higgins. I took a look at now President Higgins, liked what I saw and voted for him. When I was last in Ireland in the early 1970s, there still were thachted houses, although not in great numbers, mainly occupied by older people whose children had to emigrate to find work and sent money home to ma and da. We Americans of Irish descent _ my father hit Ellis Island in 1928 when he was 25 _ do not know Ireland like a native, any more than a man or woman from Ireland who cane to America to live permanently would know the USA. They would learn and so would we if we went to Ireland to live permanently. To the man belittling the Poles, shame on you. I worked for several years in Milwaukee and the Poles were among the hardest working folks around.

• sirpeter | Feb 15, 2012, 09:15 PM EST

  167 comments why Irish Americans have no clue about Ireland.Duh!!As Homer would say.I think ye should all come home to Ireland.We have loads of room.We are offering €705 Euros a week per family that's the rule.Plus a free house and other goodies.Free GP visits and free meds.€450 a month if you have 3 kids.€500 back to school allowance. Irish Americans might as well get in there.The Polish are.Be a capitalist take the money now while it's going and to hell with the guilt.It's the capitalist way.

• Murph46 | Feb 15, 2012, 09:07 PM EST

  Colleen McVeety thank you for your work,the facts say a lot about Farrell.He is what we called in my neighborhood a PUNK!

• Ms.Gail | Feb 15, 2012, 08:40 PM EST

  This doesn't seem to reflect the reaction I got when visiting relatives in Ireland. This is probably just a way to get comments here on Irish Central. I know that I am not "Irish" to the people in Ireland, to them I'm a Wild Goose. But to members of the diaspora, like them, I am an American (or Austrialian or Chilian or South African, etc) of Irish descent. Most of those born in Ireland that I have experienced are people of culture, grace and courtesy. This author will probably achieve that some day.

• celticmutt | Feb 15, 2012, 08:26 PM EST

  Jimmie cracked corn!

• Knockshegowna | Feb 15, 2012, 08:24 PM EST

  If you have never set foot in Ireland, you have no business criticizng anything in this article.

• celticmutt | Feb 15, 2012, 08:22 PM EST

  Thats it! No more Lucky Charms or Irish Spring.

• roots2find | Feb 15, 2012, 08:21 PM EST

  I am a Republican/Tea Party person. My grandmother was born in Ireland and I was proud of my irish roots to my Farrell family before reading James Farrell's article! I sure hope he is not related!!!

• Delta19USA | Feb 15, 2012, 08:08 PM EST

  Warriorpoet, I feel that you need to get your facts correct and check your history. Yes, many Irish were transported to Australia but so were a lot of English people. There are a lot of Irish in England who are very hard working. Sure there are jokes made between the Irish and the English but it is all good natured. Remember also that the liasion between Ireland and England is such that no-one needs a passport to travel between the countries. How many other countries can bo9ast that one. I am English by birth but now living in the USA but come September this year, I am taking my wife on a vacation to the UK to visit friends and family however, our first stop will be Ireland for at least two weeks. Remember also that in just under a month, everyone will be wearing emerald green and wanting to be Irish for at least a day. Hate the Irish? No way pal, they are a great nation.

• Madeliene | Feb 15, 2012, 08:07 PM EST

  Farrell u r an ass. I can trace my Irish roots from my parent who were born in Kerry & Cork back to my great great granparents ( In Ireland) I am just as Irish as you are. My parents spoke Gaelic , my father was not a drunk and wore hhis Irish tie on St Patricks day with his Irish eyes smiling away. We were taught to Love America but Ireland was spoken of as "home" we sent packages for years home and money to my fathers 13 brothers and sisters who were born in a thatched cabin by the water as my granfather and his sons fished for the muscles they paractically lived on ( my uncle over there still does)as for Danny boy? We LOVE IT it is a song sung by the mother of a boy leaving that she knew she would never see again in this world - just like my father who only got to go home for her funeral-ObamaClinton? we are not all Liberals here I am a Republican and want the socialist out of out hOUSE and am glad Clinton is no longer having (not) sex under the desk in the white house. I know more of our history than you I would wager- and no we don't llike the Eglish though my fathers brother was killed in Englan in WW@ trying ton save an English woman froma bombed building!-The English are acold cold hearted people and NOT like us! or they would not have ever sent the damn "tansd" to Ireland in the fiorst place and yes I want ONENATUION aglain As Irish as you and Proud of my Irish passport! and proud to be an American Piss off Farrell!

• Madeliene | Feb 15, 2012, 07:57 PM EST

  sorry about the spelling ( others) but I am miffed

• Madeliene | Feb 15, 2012, 07:56 PM EST

  Farrell you are an ass. I can trace my Irish family, ( most of whom still live there) back to my great great grandparednt. My parents spoke Gaellic, my father was very hard working and not a drunk.We were 6 children at home and stayed mostly together so when we started school we had a brouge/ We were taughtto Love America but Ireland was Home- Danny boy? My Da did not get to see his mom before she died THAT is what the song is abput- wee sent many packages "home" and all the money we could spare for years. I am entitled to my Irish passport and I am just as Irish as you are and I bet I know more about OUR history than you. My fathers brother was killed trying to save a woman in a bombed building in Englan during WW2/ but I still think we need to be ONE Nation & I don't like the English- they are cold hearted as hell or the "tans" would have never been sent to Ireland. piss poff you are a jerk oh and I am a Republican not a liberal or a socialist so Clinton & OBama can sgtay out of our HOUSE!

• seabeetom | Feb 15, 2012, 07:48 PM EST

  Seems like they are pretty thin skinned about the whole thing, but you still have to love the IRISH.

• ColleenMcVeety | Feb 15, 2012, 07:46 PM EST

  Hello everyone, Looks like I found some information on this very sad fellow named James Farrell. He is from Chicago..he is not Irish, he was born in America. His father (or grandfather..still have some work to do) belonged to the Socialist party and he was a follower of Karl Marx. Put simply..a communist. Oh how the dots started connecting...likes Obama..who is from Chicago and a socialist. Has a strong dislike for Republicans/Tea Party people...the very ones who stand for individual freedoms in the United States. That makes all communists ill. So my friends, all have reacted to a phony today (myself included) and have actually read the words of a communist who isn't even Irish (by his own definition.) You fall quite short of your father when it comes to litterateur claims now don't you James? I do not blame you for moving to Dublin, I am sure you were unacceptable in America. I think the most disturbing part is that Irish Central decided to let a communist write on here and found it acceptable to allow America bashing. This should be known to everyone. So all on here that thought this was someone from Ireland writing such things, do not feel disheartened...he is not from Ireland at all. If this man is allowed to write such things on here again..Boston to NY (my area)..it will be known just low they have gone.

• Curitiba | Feb 15, 2012, 07:31 PM EST

  Warriorpoet, I know many Irish arrived in Australia as prisoners, but the Irish who went to America during and after the Famine were not prisoners. One of my own ancestors walked from Mayo to Cobh to catch a ship bound for America in 1848, he just missed it and saw it sail out of the harbour, upon which he walked back to Mayo again. A long way that is for sure. So I am not sure when you are talking about when you say the Irish arrived in America as prisoners, it could not have been after 1776. If you can trace your ancestors back that far you are doing very well. Also, like a lot of Irish who went to Britain in the 20th century, there was no choice about it. You had to go, or starve as there were no jobs and no social welfare. Ireland was kept alive by these brave men and women who helped rebuild Britain after the war and manned their factories and hospitals, and who sent half their wages home. That debt has never been acknowledged by Ireland. So you see, I am very well informed, thanks.

• Murph46 | Feb 15, 2012, 07:20 PM EST

  Previous high # of comments =130 ,this is #155 What do you think!

• kilgara | Feb 15, 2012, 07:12 PM EST

  Let's look at the bigger picture here. O'Dowd tells this clown Farrell to cook up something, anything that is provocative and outrageous to rile up his mostly American readership, have a lot of comments posted, and then O'Dowd shows his advertisers how popular this site is {NOT}. Amazing how many gullible people out there take this tripe seriously.By the by, the most accepted view of Irish emigration is that , with many notable exceptions, the smarter and more ambitious Irish were the ones who left for loftier goals and the ones left behind were generally the lazier and the aimless. They produce dolts like Farrell.

• Selketre | Feb 15, 2012, 06:52 PM EST

  As an American, I think the Irish have always had a special place in our hearts. That's the reason we associate them with leprechauns, four leaf clovers, the color green, music etc. It represents the affection we feel for the Irish. As a child I was envious of my cousins who had Irish blood- I am German, Scottish, English, and a little French. I remember being disappointed I didn't have any Irish,...Well, recently I discovered I infact do have A Lot of Irish heritage in me. That really made me Happy to know. However after reading Irish Central I was amazed at how our affection for you is so resented- especially at our celebrating St. Patricks Day. There are only two Holidays we actually do celebrate in this country that are attached to any other ethnic country. St.Patricks and Cinco de Mayo- and they have basically become an "excuse to drink" holidays. It's not about You drinking, it's about us drinking. I had thought about someday visiting Ireland, but now after reading Mr Farrells article I think I'll stay home and enjoy my fellow Irish Americans, who understand me. That way I'll always think of you fondly. I'll wear those silly green shirts, and sing those mushy songs that bring a tear to my eye. I think I finally understand why so many of you moved here. Should you ever come here- Welcome! I'd be proud to meet you!

• WarriorPoet | Feb 15, 2012, 06:51 PM EST

  Curitiba, I said no generalization you are an Irish-Brit you have different family traditions than Irish-Americans especially if your family left Ireland for England. Many of the Diaspora didn't have that option. We were on prison ships bound for Australia or America. Perhaps you should walk a mile in my shoes before you open your uninformed mouth...

• Curitiba | Feb 15, 2012, 06:44 PM EST

  Thanks for proving my point Ciara.

• Fearbruscar | Feb 15, 2012, 06:38 PM EST

  You are right Ciara, I ran off with that comment.

• Fearbruscar | Feb 15, 2012, 06:35 PM EST

  I think James has a headache!

• ciaradexy | Feb 15, 2012, 06:29 PM EST

  Fearbruscar-''I mo thuairimse, tá James tinneas cinn orm.'' This doesnt make any sense!

• ciaradexy | Feb 15, 2012, 06:26 PM EST

  NI is an anomaly!The Good Friday agreement has made that possible!

• Curitiba | Feb 15, 2012, 06:26 PM EST

  Excuse me Warriorpoet, but many Irish people live in England and many of us were born there. So don't do a Sean Penn and start firing off uninformed generalisations about a country you know little about. Please come and visit England if you want to know more about England and the large Irish community there.

• turzovka | Feb 15, 2012, 06:25 PM EST

  So you are telling us there is a definitive majority of people in Ireland who like Obama and Clinton and greatly dislike Bush and Reagan? Well, that's news. I did not know the Irish were so naive or self-interested only when giving an opionion? ForClinton: It's easy being president when you never have to send out troops and the economy is going along. But please, don't give Clinton credit for that. For Obama: exactly what makes you think he's of good value? I look at this man and I marvel. How could such a lightweight and a phony ever pull it off? I guess if you want nothing to do with God and his morals you might like Obama --- I never thought of it that way.

• ciaradexy | Feb 15, 2012, 06:24 PM EST

  I have met more Italians, Poles and Spanish etc who despise everything about America for reasons I dont know! I think irish people have more respect for those who stuck it out during hard times, maybe that has something to do with it but personally, I dont feel that there is any sort of a connection with a person just because their great granny was irish. Culturally I have nothing in common with my American cousins! We are very different.They are quintessential Americans and I am Irish. Theres not a lot in common going on there but we are all ok with that!

• Fearbruscar | Feb 15, 2012, 06:22 PM EST

  I mo thuairimse, tá James tinneas cinn orm. Tóg dhá dispirin agus oighear a chur ar do cheann. Is cosúil go tú beag te. Tá tú rud bocht. Tá brón orm, nach dtuigeann tú Gaeilge?

• Curitiba | Feb 15, 2012, 06:16 PM EST

  NI an anomaly. So the rule is if you are born in Ireland you are Irish, no exceptions, except if you are born in Ireland and you are British.(I am confused now) So can you be born in Britain and be Irish? Why doesn't it work both ways?

• Curitiba | Feb 15, 2012, 06:11 PM EST

  I don't think those were my exact words, Ciara. But I do recall some Irish people were of the attitude that if you're Irish, you're Irish, as long as they could correlate in their minds who your ancestors were, but on the other hand there were others who were fanatical "tan" haters who were unable to make a distinction between Anglo Saxons and the sons and daughters of Irish migrants to the UK. Ireland seems to be completely unable to recognise its diaspora. Every other country on Earth who have sent migrants to another country does, Poland, India, Italy, etc, but not Ireland. What is this collective prejudice? Is it an attempt to disassociate themselves from the shame of past mass emigrations from Ireland?

• WarriorPoet | Feb 15, 2012, 06:07 PM EST

  Irish Americans don't think Ireland hates England... Irish Americans Hate England and that is based on family traditions passed down by those who had to flee Ireland. For you to try to take that away is an insult to their personal histories. Additionally, any Irish American wwho has gone to Belfast can tell you that their are Irish persons who hate the English.

• ciaradexy | Feb 15, 2012, 06:03 PM EST

  Szardev, be careful! There are Americans on here of irish decent who dont want any foreigners in Ireland!

• ciaradexy | Feb 15, 2012, 06:02 PM EST

  Just because someone was elected doesnt make them popular, it just makes them the best of a bad bunch.

• ciaradexy | Feb 15, 2012, 05:59 PM EST

  Curitiba, Northern Ireland is an anomaly as you well know! This chap doesnt live in Egypt, he lives here so whatever the Egyptian government thinks really doesnt matter!

• ciaradexy | Feb 15, 2012, 05:56 PM EST

  So Curitiba, why did you feel you didnt fit in here? My friend is from London, her parents irish, she studied and worked here for 8 years in total and she completely fit in. Why do you think it was different for you?

• Curitiba | Feb 15, 2012, 05:55 PM EST

  Ah, so in some cases you can be born in Ireland and not be Irish, you admit that at least Ciara! I wasn't speculating whether Irish people consider this mr world (would he be from the Clann Domhan)Irish or not, the Egyptian govt would certainly not consider him Irish and no amount of pink passport waving would convince them otherwise. And rightly so.

• szardev77 | Feb 15, 2012, 05:52 PM EST

  Firstly, let me state that I am not of Irish descent. However, I have visited Ireland several times and am planning a return trip in the Spring. Why? Simply because Ireland is a beautiful country and the Irish people have always been kind and welcoming, unlike the natives of many other European countries. However it is perplexing to me why some Irish bloggers have animosity toward the Americans of Irish descent. Most Americans are within a few generations of immigrant ancestors. The values and traditions of the "old country" have been inculcated in us since we were children. Many of us grew up in ethnic neighborhoods and parishes, further strengthening our ___-American sense of self. Sure many of us may have an outdated understanding of life in the old country. They don't dance the polka in Poland, they don't say "faith and begorrah" in Ireland, and they probably don't eat lutefisk in Norway (I hope not). But we Americans all still love our Mother Country, no matter where it is. Why in god's name would you hate us for that?

• ciaradexy | Feb 15, 2012, 05:51 PM EST

  Historybuff!! Irish not Gaelic!

• cillowen | Feb 15, 2012, 05:50 PM EST

  just like the morons i met mid 1980s in tokyo only those knowing "o row she the baile bhaile" type songs were irish and as for Danny Boy and songs composed even by exiles did not fit with their stupidity. There goes the diaspora notion - from a ashamed soul of ould erin that i luckily escaped from so many years ago.

• Curitiba | Feb 15, 2012, 05:49 PM EST

  Your landlord might have despised him, Ciara, but some Irish people somewhere must have liked him because he was Taoiseach three times. Alleged financial impropriety has nothing to do with one's nationality does it?

• arx75400 | Feb 15, 2012, 05:47 PM EST

  I think you need new, Irish-American friends....

• ciaradexy | Feb 15, 2012, 05:45 PM EST

  Curitiba, if you were here, working away and integrated with Irish society then you would be considered irish! Its not about what country your passport is from. Its about the role you play in the society of the country you call home.You told me that when you were here you felt like you didnt fit in. I didnt make you feel that way. I dont know who did but obviously there is some truth in what Im saying. People from NI can call themselves Irish, Northern irish or British. Thats the beauty of NI. That Mr World chap is considered Irish in Ireland by irish people and has foreign born parents! He represented Ireland not Egypt or Italy! Irish22, there was also increased Garda presence for Obamas visit. So what?

• historybuff106 | Feb 15, 2012, 05:42 PM EST

  What a to do!!!! Let me tell you about THIS Irish-American - and PROUD OF BOTH SIDES. When I was born, my mother was not yet a citizen so I am entitled to and AM an Irish citizen. My father got his American citizenship fighting for the U.S in WWII - he VOLUNTEERED even though he was beyond the age to be recruited. He had already fought once for freedom in Ireland. We spoke Gaelic in our home, dad played the accordian for the parties, drink flowed, stories were told, songs were sung. AND, once a month a nice little check was sent to the "olde ones" in Ireland. When we finally visited, we were welcomed with open arms and we stayed in the old cottage on Achill - thatched roof and all - that my mother was born in. This was 2000!!!!! I was 38 when daddy passed and I only saw him drunk one day in my life!!!! And I was a Pioneer. Just set your American friends straight - like I do. You made some good points about the "come all ya's" but most Irish-Americans don't feel the way your friends do - we know better!!! At least my generation does - and, thankfully, my children and grandchildren as well because they were taught properly. ERIN GO BRAUGH!!!!

• Curitiba | Feb 15, 2012, 05:33 PM EST

  So you are saying, Ciara, that Ireland is a club that anyone can join, (unless of course you are Irish by descent, no, we don't want you, we only want people who have had no connection with Ireland to be Irish). The gentleman in question would be considered Egyptian by the Egyptian government, they would not recognise him as Irish just because he was born there. What about the other gentlemen I have mentioned? You do consider them Irish as well, I presume?

• irish22usofa | Feb 15, 2012, 05:32 PM EST

  Ah, yes. So the queen's visit was totally popular with the Irish? Please explain, then, the need for increased coverage by the garde. You are an idiot, James Farrell, and you should be banned from contributing any more articles. You, Sir, are pathetic and demeaning - much more so than any joke you may have heard.

• ciaradexy | Feb 15, 2012, 05:29 PM EST

  Scrivner, this article is about Americans in Ireland. No one mentioned Polish people.

• ciaradexy | Feb 15, 2012, 05:27 PM EST

  Curitiba, I was chatting to my 88 year old landlord last night about subjects similar to this. Hes from Mayo and was telling me stories his dad told him about the black and tans. This man is the most interesting person i have ever met and he assured me that Dev was despised. He even met him a few times in his demented blind years. Dev and his ilk went to the US and collected funds. These funds were meant to support the old IRA who had a function back in the day. Instead, this money went to more recent provos. My landlord told me that the 2 pubs around the corner from me, a hotel and a few other businesses were bought with the proceeds of this fund raising in the US. When the owner of these properties died, he had €3.7 million to give to each of the 7 members of his family. This money was acquired from Americans. Dev was no patriot.

• ciaradexy | Feb 15, 2012, 05:23 PM EST

  Curitiba, someone who is raised in Ireland and is integrated into irish society is considered irish! This is why people like Rory McIlroy can play for ireland or the UK! Mr World is an irish man with an italian mother and an Egyptian father (I think!) He is Irish! He doesnt have to have freckles! Hes part of irish society! Born here! Raised here! Limerick accent! Schooled here! He is Irish!

• Scrivner | Feb 15, 2012, 05:05 PM EST

  I think that I know what Mr Farrelll's problem is: 1. He is a Dubliner! Having read many posts on Irish Central that the emerald isle has been "overrun" with East Europeans (say Polish) and that ther's growing resentment of these immigrants, and immigrants usually first gravitate to the big cities, e.g. Dublin. 2. Altho Chicago has been ruled by the Daleys of County Mayo for many years, the predominent ethnic group is Polish, in fact Chicago is the 2nd largest Polish city, after Warsaw. Therefore Mr Farrell's latent racist predjudices were triggered when faced with so many Slavic people. So sad.

• Curitiba | Feb 15, 2012, 05:03 PM EST

  so, by your definition, James Farrell, Ian Paisley, Peter Robinson and such patriots(although not of Ireland) as Johnny Adair and Lennie Murphy are 100% bona fide Irish because they were born in Ireland? What about Lembit Opik? He was born there too, wasn't he? I guess James Connolly and and Eamonn De Valera were just a couple of random foreigners, were they? Does being born in the USA make you an Apache or Mohawk? Well it must, judging by your logic.

• ciaradexy | Feb 15, 2012, 04:34 PM EST

  Unicorn, the article is about how the irish view some American tourists not how Americans view Americans. I hope you realise your dream some day and manage a visit. Just leave the aran jumper, fanny pack and massive camera at home!

• ciaradexy | Feb 15, 2012, 04:29 PM EST

  Irishpjk, I dont know anyone who calls themselves European but I know plenty who want ireland out of the EU. Dont try and insult culchies by the way. It just shows you up as a bigot.

• ciaradexy | Feb 15, 2012, 04:28 PM EST

  irishpjk, I dont know any Irish people who class themselves as European and I know more who want Ireland to leave the EU rather than stay in it so your point is rubbish. Dont slag culchies either.

• unicorn | Feb 15, 2012, 04:27 PM EST

  this is for James Farrell.why are you,talking trash about two great countrys.know this iam not from Ireland,nor do i speak Irish,I am Irish catholic born here in America.and proud of both countrys.and with hopes of visiting Ireland one day.but you sir are making it sound as though I wouldent even want to go visit.my parents,parents came from,our belove'ed Ireland.I was raised,listing to Irish music.and the the fighting Irish of Notre Dame.St.patricks day.and all the other good stuff.James you make it sound like its a crime to be Irish American.or that we are all stupid americans.that we are asking to be made fun of.well James iam 54 yrs old and when and if I ever get to visit,Ireland Iam going to enjoy it to my fullest dispite what you may think or what you may know?OR WHAT!Ireland make fun of Americans?maybe a small few.remember NOT EVERYONE THINKS THE SAME WAY AS YOU DO.I think that your piss'ed off at someone or something.I still belive in rainbows and Leperchauns,and unicorns in my heart just like we americans belive in santa clause.with out dreams what is life.and what is life without dreams.I may never get to see Ireland,but at least I can dream.so dont try and take that away from us.here in the USA.well this is only my thought's.James most americans dont share or agree with your views.I know I dont.Ireland and America for ever. Love and Peace.

• irishpjk | Feb 15, 2012, 04:23 PM EST

  I was going to respond to each point, but when I realized he is a transplant from somewhere trying to act like an educated city slicker instead of the culthcie he well may be, and the last part about no more drunk jokes I realized that he is another phony, ashamed to admit who and what he is. It’s the old saying the truth hurts, many Irish today want to drop everything Irish and call themselves European , another old saying comes to mind you can paint sh%* with gold but it’s still Sh%#. There are mostly two kinds of people in the world, people who live in America and people who want to live in America.

• ciaradexy | Feb 15, 2012, 04:13 PM EST

  But Im Irish George, you dont like us using perfect English! it upsets your delicate sentiment! It shows a certain standard of lunacy with you when you start repeating what I have said to you regarding you being a liar. You are a tourist george. How long were you in Ireland for George? Youve obviously never been around when Barcelona or Real Madrid are playing. These are the best teams in the world! Irish men have played for British teams since football began which is another reason Irish people support these teams. Im a GAA supporter myself. George, seeing as you like to repeat yourself, I'll do it too. Any idiot can read books and learn languages, you have proven this over and over again. This article is about people like YOU! Its all about YOU! I have met some fantastic Americans but for every decent one there are 100 like you which is why articles like this are written. Read it and learn from it! We all know you love to do that.

• ciaradexy | Feb 15, 2012, 04:06 PM EST

  Calceltic, not many Irish people want to live in a museum. You said Ireland is a rapidly homogenising EU state, that has to be better than what we had which was a homogenized island with no new blood and a rapidly homogenized gene pool. P.S. You wouldn't get Father Ted anyway. Its not blatant American humour like 'Friends'. Its satirical, sarcastic, irreverent and ironic.

• LilPaddy | Feb 15, 2012, 04:05 PM EST

  How could this article have been published..... For shame on you Niall O'Dowd.... For Shame!!...... And YOU were seeking support to run for President of Ireland....

• GeorgeDillon | Feb 15, 2012, 04:01 PM EST

  ancavker: ----"ciara" As I told you in the past, I am Irish born". ---- The madwoman curdexter thinks you are less Irish than a Moldovan or Mongolian migrant worker who gets off the plane at Dublin Airport. I am now convinced curdexter is crazy, there can be no other explanation for her pathological lies.

• GeorgeDillon | Feb 15, 2012, 03:58 PM EST

  curdexter: "much more preferable". Kindly use proper English, curdexter. What you ought to say is "much preferable". I've noticed that the reputation that the Irish have for command of English is farcically unmerited. Your prose style stinks, curdexter. And you're a liar, curdexter, as I pointed out here before. Very few Irish people "follow British, Spanish and Italian football teams". They obsess about British teams only. I've seen the bedlam in an Irish pub when Manchester is playing Birmingham or some other combination. The air is thick with yells and curses. These Irish fools even mimic English accents when they ape (accurate word!) the English soccer songs. You're full of garbage, curdexter, you're an utter fool. But in me you're dealing with someone who knows Ireland better than you do. I'd wipe the floor with you in any test of Irish language, history, literature--you name it, you ignorant clown. Ancavker and other posters--never accept anything this woman says. She's either an inveterate liar or she is living in fantasyland.

• ciaradexy | Feb 15, 2012, 03:56 PM EST

  Channel 4 in England gave the world Father Ted. The Irish didnt.

• ciaradexy | Feb 15, 2012, 03:55 PM EST

  Rebelforce, Ernest Shackleton, Beckett,John Banville,James Joyce, Jonathan Swift, WBY, JBY,Richard Harris, Fionnula Flanagan, Brenda Fricker, Christy Brown, bob Geldof, Oscar Wilde, James Hoban,Admiral Brown, Arthur Guinness, Patrick Kavanagh, Bram Stoker, U2, Sinead Cusack,Stephen Rea,Clannad, Enya,Rory Gallagher,Phil Lynnott, Christy Moore, Van Morrison,Robert Boyle,Nick Callan,John Tyndall. Do you need me to name any more for you??

• calceltic | Feb 15, 2012, 03:50 PM EST

  Well said Rebelforce. I agree. I am a daughter of an Irish immigrant to Cailf. Have always considered myself Irish American as well as Danish American and Italian American as my mother married a man with those two nationalities. In America thit can be a way to identify and build a sense of culture that we aren't offered this naturally here. Yes some of us may romantacize Ireland, and it may be annoying. You complain yet you smile and accept tourist dollars in places like Durty Nelly's or towns and regions like Galway and the Dingle Peninsula. Don't accept our money then if we are so annoying, and when you come here? Don't play up the Irish for attention as so many do. Nostalgia for a more innocent time is understandable. One thing the author left off as well, is the rapidly changing demographics of Ireland. No longer a living museum for us to drive through but a rapidly homegenizing state of the Eurozone. Not sure I would pay money to go and see that. P. S Father Ted, the worst show I have ever seen.

• pattbaa | Feb 15, 2012, 03:45 PM EST

  Who was Nolan Ryan ? ---- Proud And Thankfull , Greenwich Connecticut

• ancavker | Feb 15, 2012, 03:43 PM EST

  ciara" As I told you in the past, I am Irish born, but that in and of itself does not make me Irish, if I do not have pride in that fact, and appreciate it. I have family in Ireland that are also quite proud of being Irish, and have been belittled for liking that old trad Sh@te. As far as learning Irish history in school, we did not get the whole story especially on the fight for independence and the famine and I will leave it at that. I know Irish people follow the English, Spanish and Italian football teams, but the obsession with Man U is a little bizarre in my opinion especially as it is an foreign team. My point in all this is it appears to be perfectly fine for the Irish in Ireland to identify with another country's culture and icons, and yet when the Irish in America identify with Irish culture the Irish in Ireland have a problem with it.

• Rebelforce | Feb 15, 2012, 03:34 PM EST

  Let's be frank, it is the Irish-Americans that have given most of us the pride we have in being Irish. From John F Kennedy to Ronald Reagan, Bing Crosby to James Cagney, Grace Kelly to George Clooney, Jackie Gleason to Jimmy Fallon, Tom Brady to John McEnroe...the list goes on and on. Thank goodness for Irish-Americans. They make being of Irish descent cool and something to be proud of. What have the Irish in Ireland given us besides "Father Ted".

• ciaradexy | Feb 15, 2012, 03:26 PM EST

  Ancavar, where did I bash george? We learn irish history in school and live as irish people in Ireland everyday. We 'see' our history and live our heritage and culture everyday. Just as the crowd on Jerry Springer arent an example of modern America, neither are the degenerates you speak of an example of modern Ireland. Irish people follow British, Spanish and Italian football teams simply because they are the best in the world. There is nothing wrong with this. Plenty of people are into irish literature simply because it is the best in the world but I dont quite get your point on the Man Utd jersey wearing irish. By the way, I have American cousins from Atlanta Georgia who now live in Venice, CA. Their parents are Irish born and raised. My cousins are very American which is much more preferable to them pretending to be irish. In America, they might be irish but here they are American and even they know this! I have a very intelligent family!

• ancavker | Feb 15, 2012, 03:14 PM EST

  ciara: There is no reason to bash George. He has a valid point there are so many Irish who know very little about their history except for what they have been fed by the revisionists over the last 35 years, which in part I blame on the disastrous Provo's campaign. Even the founding fathers of the country are vilified!!! How can you expect Ireland to be taking seriously as a country when they bash the very men and women who gave up everything they had to establish that country? Why are the Irish so obsessed about Irish-Americans calling themselves Irish, if the writer and perhaps yourself understood America you might understand why. On the east coast especially there are thousands of Irish-Americans whose parents our grandparents were born in Ireland a sense of pride in the old country and its culture was passed on their children what could possibly be so offensive about that? If so many of the Irish in Ireland have chosen to become modern sophisticated Europeans and or British, why do so many Irish care about Irish-Americans and how they self identify. You and Mr. Farrell may smirk when you see Aran clad Irish-Americans walking around the towns and villages of Ireland. Well guess what we could just as easily smirk when we see 40 and 50 year old men walking around in Manchester United track suits.

• pattbaa | Feb 15, 2012, 03:12 PM EST

  Mr Farrell , are you familiar with the Amercan author James T. Farrell whose magnum opus was the "Studs Lonigan" triology ? You much could assist us "Yanks" in the USA by defining unique Irish words and terms such a "bangers" and "rasher" .In a recent book about England for Americans , the words "lorry" , "petrol" , "dustman" and "council flat" are defined. My friends can't accept that the King's English requires an "e" to be pronounced as a "a" -- "The Kentucky DARBY??!!!"-- and the word "Bum" , as best I know , has a VERY different meaning in the BI's. Proud And Thankfull , Greenwich Connecticut

• ciaradexy | Feb 15, 2012, 02:50 PM EST

  Dwilson,Ireland has also changed in 70 years! Thats what points 1 & 4 are about!

• ciaradexy | Feb 15, 2012, 02:48 PM EST

  Yeah George, Americans who can read books are waaay more Irish than people who are actually Irish. You are so clever!

• dwilson94 | Feb 15, 2012, 02:43 PM EST

  It is an insulting article. A visit to Chicago is no reason to stereotype all Americans. These same misguided people probably have wrong impressions of all the other countries outside their experience. So many people that come here to visit have the wrong impression of Hollywood and are disappointed when they come to visit. It has changed very much in the last 70 years.

• GeorgeDillon | Feb 15, 2012, 02:41 PM EST

  Dragontech64: If you're an Ugly American, speak for yourself. I've known countless Irish Americans who knew far more Irish history, myth, folklore, literature, language etc. etc. than 95% of the Irishry. If you know nothing about Ireland that's your prerogative, but stop your stupid generalizations about all Irish Americans.

• BillyFitz | Feb 15, 2012, 02:40 PM EST

  Talk about "Looking a gift horse in the mouth." I forgot you can't use that one unless you were born in Ireland. Mind you Mr. Farrell, you would still be singing God Save the Queen were it not for us. That gun money for Mick Collins and the boys didn't fall out of the sky you know.

• Dragontech64 | Feb 15, 2012, 02:28 PM EST

  It surprises me how many "Irish Americans" are pissing and moaning over this rather accurate depiction of how most Americans act when they go overseas. If you don't like the "Ugly American" label that so many have earned us, DON'T BE ONE, which your comments on here tell me, you are. America is not the only great nation. Nor are we the best in all things. And a lot of the things you guys are "bragging" about that they should be grateful to us for, were caused by our over reaching imperialism anyway. Why should they be grateful we cleaned up SOME of our mess?

• ciaradexy | Feb 15, 2012, 02:28 PM EST

  Its funny cos its true! Folks, the title says ''Some Irish Americans'' not All! Relax!

• GabrlOSullivan | Feb 15, 2012, 02:09 PM EST

  ColleenMcV I take it you were addressing me to a comment I made. I take what you say seriously and I WAS addressing myself to Mr. Farrell. I realise his words are an insult to Irish Americans (but he also insulted the Irish) and would be enough for any that read his misguided article, to keep them from visiting Ireland. He makes us sound like toffy prats who have no tolerance for people who are proud of their Irish roots or simply want to SEE Ireland. So what they may want to know about their ancestors, why not? I think that is a part of human nature to want to know ones roots and visit that place where their ancestors once lived, loved, and died. Sounds very sour grapes on Mr. F's part. So please ColleenMcV accept my apologies if you think I was not addressing Mr. F. I certainly was.

• GeorgeDillon | Feb 15, 2012, 02:05 PM EST

  Farrell's article is ignorant and insulting, but it has done a service if it alerts American readers to the ill-informed opinions of some Irish. Unfortunatley what he says is a fairly common opinion among the Irish, though they don't articulate it when they are looking for special treatment for emigration to the US. We've heard it before here anyway, we don't need Farrell. Posters curpeter and curdexter express the same view, however inarticulately they put it. As regards authenticity of Irishness, I speak fluent Irish. I bet a hundred bucks that Farrell doesn't. That makes me more more Irish than he is. He doesn't know his own language. If Farrell walks in downtown Dublin he'll be in a minority--the place is full of foreign migrants. So he's in no position to tell others who is or is not Irish.

• jcweathers | Feb 15, 2012, 01:59 PM EST

  The history and heritage is the attraction for so many of us here in the US. We love it and want to keep it alive. You sound like you hate it. Where is your Irish pride?

• GeorgeDillon | Feb 15, 2012, 01:58 PM EST

  Halfmayo: "I would have been labeled a "Free-Stater" in 1921 as long as more killing could be avoided". You might want to read a little history, halfmayo, before posting your ignorant nonsense. The Free Staters you looked to to avoid killing were guilty of hundreds of killings, including the execution without trial of 77 prisoners. Try to post about things you know something about.

• Mairin67 | Feb 15, 2012, 01:54 PM EST

  Wow, I think he has a point. While some of them may be superficial, he's pretty much on target....and I'm an Irish American! I deal with these folks everyday. I'm a bit surprised at the responses below but perhaps not really surprised...it's the typical American rant of nobody should bash us perfect Americans. It;s sickening to see how many of you responded by suggesting that we have Ireland bought because we visit their country and therefore they should owe us some...what...respect? Look in the mirror folks....this is exactly why Americans get made fun of all over the world...this superior attitude we have...I have said a million times on this site...get off your asses and go to Ireland and stop gloating about it like a stupid tourist...don't go to where the tour buses take you..venture out...experience it...get real people...stop painting your faces green on a holy day and learn a little something about Ireland...how about some genuine interest in the place and not some fantasy about rainbows and leprechauns. I would take Ireland and her people anyday simply for their genuine nature and not this contrived image that Americans insist on having.

• Mick10000 | Feb 15, 2012, 01:53 PM EST

  While it is true that many Americans have a stereotypical or romanticized view of Ireland. Those of us who know something of our heritage, really do have a clearer picture. For instance, I speak Irish, play and sing Irish music (no, not just Danny Boy and Tu Ra Lo Ra Lu Ra), Songs like "The Island", and "The Town I Loved So Well", that speak of getting past the grudge of the past and getting on with the future. I took second place in the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2004 for newly composed song in the Irish tradition. I know that the IRA got in bed with the Nazis during WW2, while my father was risking his life to defeat Hitler. I love my Irish heritage and my American citizenship. Don't burn your bridges, Mr. Farrell, we will need each other, especially in the hard times coming.

• JBRAFTREE | Feb 15, 2012, 01:31 PM EST

  The "most people" that you refer to are guessing at how Ireland actually is. The individuals you are addressing are the people that have not taken the time to see the home of their ancestors and have no idea. Many posters here are natives or have been to Ireland. Do not short-change Irish Americans. Some of us are very turned off with your attitude. Fat wallets may be turned off your tourist trade as well.

• flattop55 | Feb 15, 2012, 01:19 PM EST

  Why is it that some Irish people are so threatened by Irish Americans? Are they jealous that overall, the Irish in America (and elsewhere in the world) have done so well for themselves? That as an ethnic group, the Irish abroad have, for decades, risen higher on the social ladder than those at home? That Irish incomes, education levels, and home ownership are better than in Ireland? 70 million Irish people, by blood and heritage at least, have shown the world that we are not "shanty-town" or uncivilized louts, as we so often were portrayed when our ancestors arrived on foreign shores. We are among the most successful people, and in the case of Irish Americans, we can boast of many, many luminaries in all walks of life. Rather than bash the Irish in America, the Irish in Ireland should be proud and pleased that they, in that little and blessed island, are so well represented around the world...in numbers far greater than they are. The Diaspora is, in effect, the Irish Empire. We may not have been born in Ireland, but we share the same blood. That makes us family, notwithstanding one's place of birth. I was not born in America. I was born in Germany, but contrary to Jimmy's definition, I am NOT considered to be German by the Germans. I do, however, hold an Irish passport. So what, then, exactly IS an Irish person, and who's really to say conclusively anyway? Jimmy, it certainly isn't as simple as where a person is born or where they live at present. It has everything to do with the heart and the soul of a person. It is as deep as one's blood, and it is a personal identity that no one can take away. Certainly not you, Jimmy, or the likes of you, for that matter.

• bostonrugby | Feb 15, 2012, 01:15 PM EST

  I am all for 2,3,4,"5" big time, 6 and 10. There are enough plastic paddies in the US to sicken a crow. Visit Ireland for a holiday, not to dig up your great grandmothers second cousin twice removed.

• STLSEAMUS | Feb 15, 2012, 01:03 PM EST

  When Ireland starved, the indigenous Americans and Irish Americans sent money and food. When Ireland had no future, Irish Americans and Lady Liberty opened their arms and gave them an existence and future in America. When Ireland fought for her freedom, Irish Americans PAID FOR AND SENT rifles, machine guns, and ammunition. If anyone ever invaded Ireland today, you can bet the Irish Americans would be the first and most ferocious to come to her rescue. What would the natives do to defend Ireland? When Irish people in the occupied area were partitioned, interned, and jailed in Diplock courts during England's criminalization of the Irish, it was the Irish Americans who sent the most donations to help widows and orphans left forgotten by the Irish. And every March 17th, some Irish American gobsh*te approaches me with their family's lineage from Ireland while adorn in green, waving the Tricolour, and singing that awful mess called "Danny Boy." I say let them, and smile along with it. Their Irish and Irish American relatives earned their keep. Lean ar aghaidh.

• bluesman | Feb 15, 2012, 01:03 PM EST

  Hey Jimmy why don't you pay a visit to the states? We who have left comments would love to show you around Meet you at the airport ass!!

• seagreen | Feb 15, 2012, 12:54 PM EST

  Mr Ferrell, Of course you are above it all, being one of the "Arrived" , but for the rest of the scrubs. it would be interesting to know what your rant/smack down, has proportionately cost Aer Lingus and Irish tourism by those that are no longer interested in visiting people that harbor an attitude like yours ?

• caroled | Feb 15, 2012, 12:41 PM EST

  I am a little bit disappointed in the article.You have some valid points I'll grant you that, but you don't turn away when we spend our money in "your country" while we're on vacation.....And believe me we've spent some...

• ColleenMcVeety | Feb 15, 2012, 12:40 PM EST

  Irish Central and Mr. Farrell, I can't help but notice the large advertising for Andy Cooney at top of page. I know Andy Cooney, he is always at our theater which I help support, doing his show every March. He always opens or closes his show with GOD BLESS AMERICA. He was born here, but family from Ireland and he is so proud of his Irish heritage. I have just copied this page, highlighting the ridicule of America which this publication has allowed. I then printed responses. Andy will see these papers and it is important that he has an understanding of who he advertises with. I will also give copies to promoters. This was an anti American article, allowed to be printed on here. They really ought to see this. I am quite sure they are not going to like it at all. The world is going through a hard time right now and a publication that encourages even more division..is not a good thing. Later

• TiocfaidhArmani | Feb 15, 2012, 12:39 PM EST

  I'm Irish, only been to the USA on short visits but I find this article a little condescending. There is no greater friend to Ireland the US and Irish Americans in particular. They're not as dumb as some would believe and took our corner many times in our fight for freedom and I thank them for that and hope they continue to visit their homeland. They're the most polite and well mannered tourists, unlike the British tramps who come and get pi**ed and sing sh*t while getting sick on the street!

• NJIrishWitch | Feb 15, 2012, 12:38 PM EST

  "5. We generally don’t like American Republicans. We are much more comfortable with Barack Obama and Bill Clinton and their nuanced international world view than cowboys like George Bush and Ronald Reagan -- sorry all you Tea Party Irish." Then do us American Republicans a favor, the next time Obama or Clinton visits Ireland, keep them and let them run your country into the ground; not so much Clinton but PLEASE TAKE OBAMA. My great-grandparents were true Irish but I am an American that celebrates my Irish Heritage with the many traditions that came to America with them; however, after reading this you can KMRIPA. I perfer COWBOYS!!

• Murph46 | Feb 15, 2012, 12:34 PM EST

  jess I have brought my family twice,and if this is the prevailing attitude about Americans,I have no reason to come back which we were considering this very year.I have many other places I wish to see that people treat us a hell of a lot better-meanwhile you can have your broke country,15% unemployment,and your overlods of UK and Germany.in other words F... off!

• The Waltons | Feb 15, 2012, 12:32 PM EST

  *James Farrell is an Irish writer now living in Dublin Well that pretty much says it all. Farrell lives in Dublin but Dublin isn't Ireland. Dublin is Europe west. I've been there numerous times and in all that time, I've met only 6 people from Ireland. This guy has no clue about the rest of this country. Remember, Dublin AIN'T Ireland.

• irishmary24 | Feb 15, 2012, 12:28 PM EST

  Don't worry, Jimmy, no one in America will claim you. The people in Ireland that make their living from tourism won't claim you, either.

• ballyhip | Feb 15, 2012, 12:19 PM EST

  What a churlish little screed from Jimmy Boy. Perhaps he might remember this phrase if he passed his A levels in history:"she now seizes that moment, and, supported by her exiled children in America and by gallant allies in Europe". Yes, the 1916 Declaration. True, I sometimes wage war agaisnt the Toora Loora IA's but it is done with sympathy and understanding. I am an IA or AI who has lived and worked in Ireland and the never was a "Yank" considered a perjorative term as you seem to consider "American".

• JessNiLeacai | Feb 15, 2012, 12:19 PM EST

  hahaha I have to say the truth hurts. Fair play to the writer, it's about time someone just put it blatantly and honestly out there. Most people in general do not have a clue about Ireland and I wish they would actually visit here and see the island instead of talking absolute rubbish Btw, a visit to Temple Bar does not constitute as seeing Oireland, it's a tourist trap ffs

• BrendanDunphy | Feb 15, 2012, 12:18 PM EST

  Now let's do this in reverse: what some Irish don't understand about Irish-America: No. 1, when we refer to ourselves as being "Irish" we're not meant to be taken so literally! So please don't flatter yourself. We generally liked our grandparent's Ireland more than your Ireland anyway.

• littlejim | Feb 15, 2012, 12:16 PM EST

  You mean to tell me hollywood got it wrong. And the stories I learned from my grandmother were jus stories.Ireland sounds like a country in the 21th century.And after reading this makes me want to visit more.And I might just not make a fool out of myself during the visit

• BrendanDunphy | Feb 15, 2012, 12:15 PM EST

  I'm glad you correctly said, "what SOME Irish-Americans don't know about Ireland" instead of lumping all 40 million of us into the Plastic Paddy crowd.

• HalfMayo | Feb 15, 2012, 12:13 PM EST

  I am a 2nd generation Iris-American as all four of my grandparents immigrated from Ireland. I consider myself American by birth and Irish by heritage. Mr. Farrell is correct that I am not Irish by birth but I am Irish in my heart in that I abhor the killing done in the name of Irish "freedom". Much as I would have wanted to see the whole island under an Irish rather than foreign government, I would have been labeled a "Free-Stater" in 1921 as long as more killing could be avoided. So much of the land and industry of Northern Ireland was "transplanted" by the British over 700 years of conquest, it actually seems to be British. I applaud the efforts of the Good Friday agreement, as long as discrimination can be eradicated. I'd like to see that worldwide but that won't happen until we ALL live by the Golden Rule: "LOVE YOUR BROTHER AS YOURSELF".

• kerrydan | Feb 15, 2012, 12:10 PM EST

  I wonder where Mr Farrell lived before Dublin. Were you born in Ireland, Mr Farrell? Odds are that, like me, you were not. If this is the case, you are a hypocrit. If, indeed you were born in Ireland, you are not typical. But you may be a typical Dub. I don't often hear Irish locals speaking negatively about Americans or Brits, or anybody traveling in Ireland (and spending lots of cash). Mostly what you hear is positive. I do occasionaly still hear negative remarks about those lovable "best friend" Brits that you refer to. I've spoken to many Brit friends who report vandalism and general damage to their Brit Reg. cars when traveling in and around Dublin. That doesn't sound so friendly bf-ish to me. As a Dub you should appreciate that you are living in a "special" Irish place distinctly different from the rest of Ireland. Interestingly enough, American and English visitors have commented to me that their only real negative experience when visiting Ireland was from their time spent in Dublin. That's unfortunate. Maybe you do hear a lot of Yankee bashing in Dublin. You just don't hear it out in the country, though. Lastly, you can be thankful, that whether you think we are Irish or not, we still KNOW we are and we probably out-number those who subscribe to your brand of Irish BS.

• RockNReel | Feb 15, 2012, 12:00 PM EST

  The article is 100% correct Wonder why my last comment is not being published ?

• ColleenMcVeety | Feb 15, 2012, 11:59 AM EST

  JGleason.. I thought the same thing. Mr. Farrell sounds like he is British..NOT Irish. Jonit... I am with you. It is so sad that Irish Central allowed this man to publish such a thing. I now wonder about who the publishers are. Thankfully though, one can still 'find' Ireland outside of the city limits. I am also a landowner in Ireland. If they turn much more socialist, I most likely will sell. Thankfully it is in an area that the IRISH still live. I can remember for many years staying in the B&B's, the money from tourism from America kept them going for a long time. Indeed...this was one sad , hateful, bias article.

• mhichil | Feb 15, 2012, 11:52 AM EST

  I guess my grandfather was right:" ya don't want to go back there , they eat their own".. thanks J. Farrell!

• citizen69 | Feb 15, 2012, 11:50 AM EST

  Good article, most of it is accurate. Although i believe IrishCentral.com is also guilty of promoting these misconceptions among its mostly American readers.

• jetsnoone | Feb 15, 2012, 11:47 AM EST

  Over there, Ye like the blarney of an Obama, but he is for the killing of babies via abortion. Half of them killed are baby girls, so don't call it a woman's issue.

• BillyFitz | Feb 15, 2012, 11:46 AM EST

  Wow James, kinda biting the hand that feeds on this one, wouldn't you say?

• JoniLBoone | Feb 15, 2012, 11:42 AM EST

  I used to want to visit Ireland because so many of my ancestors came from there. People with surnames like Carey and Mayo. However, after reading Mr. Farrell's article... I'm not so sure I want to now. In my opinion, this piece of writing is demeaning and rude to all of us "Irish" Americans. Especially number 6 on the list. I have Irish ancestry. I have Irish blood. I am proud of that. I find it insulting of Mr. Farrell to tell me I am not Irish. One day, maybe, I will get the opportunity to visit Ireland. If I DO go, I'd like to believe I would be welcomed for more than my pocketbook. Also, and I'm really not quite sure why, I feel hurt and sad after reading this article.

• JGleason | Feb 15, 2012, 11:40 AM EST

  I think the author needs to get outside of Dublin just a little more often. It is Obvious he is more brit than Irish!

• ColleenMcVeety | Feb 15, 2012, 11:39 AM EST

  Siling...your sarcasm was ever so funny. I am wondering why you feel so poorly about yourself that you have such a need to write such things. I know times are tough..but they are tough everywhere. Yes..you do still eat lots of potatoes..so do I as that is what my Irish family fed me. It is my favorite food...so don't pick on potatoes. Your steaks do however stink. I avoid them there at all cost. I have never heard of an Irish person being dirty...have you? As you know, much turf is still cultivated up in the Donegal area. I love the scent, but can only bring a few blocks home due to it's weight. Sarcasm is just that..sarcasm. Try to rise above it.

• pilib04 | Feb 15, 2012, 11:37 AM EST

  Sounds like Farrell had Tabasco on his porridge this morning. This article uses the same stereotypes about American Irish that the Farrell complains about. Perhaps there are some "Ugly Americans" and quite possibly they are Republicans or Tea Partiers. However, most American Irish return "home" because they really do enjoy the Irish landscape, people and culture. Yes, we return to make contact with relations. Yes we return to see the old homestead or in most cases the approximate location. Do we lift a pint, certainly. However, we aren't the ones who cheer wildly when the Irish Tenors sing Danny Boy! Nice song, but loved on both sides of the pond. I can understand since Farrell lives in Dublin that he probably is westBrit or at least influenced by the large number of Dub westBrits. No problem with that. To each their own. The Aran sweaters are quite nice, but usually Dubliners have no interest in them. You have to be from Connaught or west Ulster to appreciate them. Understandably if you are not born in Ireland, you are not Irish. However the terms Irish American and American Irish are used interchangeably and often. Finally, who the hell are you to say WE! Dubliners have the least claim to Ireland. They are completely out of touch with the rest of the country and are responsible for the economic disaster that has befallen our land.

• SeamusMor | Feb 15, 2012, 11:32 AM EST

  There are 70 million Irish, of whom fewer than a tenth live in Ireland. Do not presume to judge our identity based upon your self centered, parochial notions.

• bob40wil | Feb 15, 2012, 11:27 AM EST

  Yes Mr. Farrell, Americans can be too loud and are definatly proud, not just the Irish Americans you demean but other Americans of other nationallities. They all celebrate where thier ancestors came from. Your writing is very short sighted.

• Silling | Feb 15, 2012, 11:22 AM EST

  The Irish are the same, we eat more potatoes now than ever and when we like something " It's very tasty ". We hardly ever wash. We hate successful people, which is why they all leave. Bob Geldof was not permitted to have a concert in the 80s at L.Town racecourse. The worst coffee in Europe is in Ireland. We still knight our steaks ( Sir-Loin). We drive on the wrong side of the road. The burning of turf and the smoking of bacon has kept the Irish in a state of euphoria for centuries. We have the highest proportion of stopped clocks per national capita in the world. We are afraid of change. James Farrell is spot on.

• ColleenMcVeety | Feb 15, 2012, 11:22 AM EST

  Well...let us see what kind of man James Farrell is. Will he write an apology? If not, surely this should be reported to Irish Central. It is upsetting enough that they even published such a thing. We now must wonder....is this their position as well? All should give this much thought.

• ReturnedYank | Feb 15, 2012, 11:17 AM EST

  What a mean-spirited rant!

• johnshiel | Feb 15, 2012, 11:15 AM EST

  whiney AND presuptuous... nice work, james farrell!!

• greengurl | Feb 15, 2012, 11:11 AM EST

  The first of my Irish ancestors to land on America's shores came here pre-Revolution. He fought in the Revolution and then went west right after the Revolution where he raised his family in a still fairly remote section of the mid-west. My maiden name was his last name. I have a friend from Dublin who used to complain about Americans referring to themselves as Irish. I tried to explain that America is a melting pot and most Americans hold on to their heritage. He still didn't understand. Then one day he did something silly and I said, "That'll learn ya, eejit." I didn't think anything of it. He got very quiet and then asked where I'd heard that before. I asked what he meant. He asked where I'd heard "that'll learn ya" and "eejit". I said I'd heard those my whole life and everyone back home says those things. He tells me those are very Irish things to say and he can't believe that our remote little part of very rural America would still be saying things like that. I said we have always been proud to be Irish Americans and you'll never change that. Also, you'll be happy to know that I have a tee-shirt that says Danny Boy on it with the International NO symbol across it. I can't stand the song either.

• Murph46 | Feb 15, 2012, 11:09 AM EST

  If those are all the things,then don't take our money when we visit you,and don't condescend to tell me about our politics as your are in a shambles ,and we take care of not only ourselves but are the largest provider of aid to poor countries in the frickin universe!

• shannontravers | Feb 15, 2012, 11:07 AM EST

  #6 Should be the standard for all countries. But there are many Americans with Irish heritage and very proud to claim so. Americans...with Irish roots! There are many Americans who have differing heritages, none-the-less born here you are American and not a Hyphenated amercian. If you feel you need to be African-American, German- American of even Jewish American then by all means go back to the homeland. You all came here for a reason. I look at the whole article as "all in fun" type of thing. Americans are just as arrogant as others.

• jetsnoone | Feb 15, 2012, 11:05 AM EST

  The English plan is to bring in your moslem, your afro, and your chinese and soon the Irish will be a minority in their own country.

• ColleenMcVeety | Feb 15, 2012, 11:03 AM EST

  Goldenblade...PLEASE...BBC Ireland is your most watched news source. Best to state differently to those who have never been there. I am so thankful for the peace now with the UK. However, you lost yourselves. Now jump off the anti-American wagon and be Irish. A good, honest and hard working people. You are a treasured part of America....don't be influenced.

• ColleenMcVeety | Feb 15, 2012, 10:56 AM EST

  WYALUSINGJOHN, What you wrote is so true. The Irish ..to me..were a grand people..most still are. They are however no longer Ireland...even the Republic is now owned my the EU/UK. If anyone would have EVER told me they would become a socialist nation..I would not have believed it. So many of our greatest patriots WERE Irish. Freedom fighters..hero's. Now...socialism has taken it's hold and they are no longer free. They are owned. It shall remain though, other than my home country, the USA, the dearest country in my heart. You have done a great disservice to your people Mr. Farrell...an apology is in order. I do hope you are man enough to do it. I somehow have my doubts.

• goldenblade | Feb 15, 2012, 10:54 AM EST

  This is the funniest article every - and so true! Even funnier is the offense taken at the article - and assertions that we all watch the BBC News - hilarious!

• 74viking | Feb 15, 2012, 10:51 AM EST

  James, It looks like most of the folks here have reviewed your article quite accurately. I feel as if I lost some of my IQ reading such bunk. Get beyond your childish view of the Irish American's view of Ireland. I was born in Ireland and have lived in the states for 48 years. Ireland is many things to many people. If I want to sing the Wolfe Tones or watch the "Quiet Man" I will. All these things bring the American dollar to Ireland and without America, Ireland would be in a much different siituation. You might even be speaking German.

• antoman | Feb 15, 2012, 10:47 AM EST

  Most Americans I see are old and CIA retiree's. Seen a bunch of them in the English Market in Cork. And despite being indoors they still wore dark glasses.

• SyndiLiaHolmes | Feb 15, 2012, 10:46 AM EST

  Thank you for number 5!!!!!! Loved your comments.Children of the Diaspora tend to recall a Ireland of long ago, I believe and often do not reognise the constantly changing nature of the country. I am also tired of talking with Irish-Americans who refer to those living in Ireland as "those" people.

• wyalusingjohn | Feb 15, 2012, 10:40 AM EST

  These little lists are becoming quite boring and this one verges on insulting. I am quite sure that Mr. Farrell more comfortable with the socialist policies of Mr.Obama and we will see how the Irish like having the French and Germans dictate monetary and budget issues to them now that the Celtic tiger has lost its voice. I have spent a month in Ireland every year for the past fourteen years and I have never heard anyone fake an accent and many of us are tired of young Irish person (and others) overstaying their visas and then crying about it when then are sent packing.

• arialgirl | Feb 15, 2012, 10:39 AM EST

  The writer's attitude is why I decided after 2009 that after 5 trips to Ireland, enough was enough. There are soe "ugly" Irish-Americans out there; however, Ireland is not free of "ugly" Irish. Bottom-line, if your country is so great stay there. Please don't emigrate to the US. I am sure you'll find opportunities at home. I recently found my great-grandfather's naturalization certificate. He was proud to foreswear allegiane to the old country in 1895 and become a US citizen. I am proud of his decision.

• ColleenMcVeety | Feb 15, 2012, 10:35 AM EST

  Carrickcourt... In reference to your last comment. They see the Republican party /candidates in that light due to the fact that their major news source is the BBC. The BBC only quotes and gets their news information from the New York Times. It is as simple as that. The BBC is the most biased news agency in the world. They have yet to hire ONE Conservative journalist..not one. Therefore, you can not believe a word said. There must be two views..ALWAYS.

• jetsnoone | Feb 15, 2012, 10:29 AM EST

  The Irish born in Ireland don't get the concept of the "Irish Race" --- which is alive and well and growing (60 million)in America....."Irish Race", or any race talk, is defined by blood. Blood talk scares liberals; they associate such talk with fascism. Cop on to yourself, Harps, not all Irish people speak with a brogue.

• CitizenWhy | Feb 15, 2012, 10:26 AM EST

  The writer does not sound rude, just exasperated. But when I visited Ireland I had a relative living in a lovely, large thatched cottage. She could afford it, only the affluent can. She also burned peat in the fire. Her heating bills were minimal. Apparently workers must be imported from the North to keep the thatch properly maintained. So I assume there are still a good number of thatched cottages in the North. My relatives may not be typical of the Irish, I wouldn't know, they drink at home only with guests, and only occasionally, but to be social they will visit the pub regularly and have a pint or two. My Irish born and raised parents used to make fun of Irish-American songs, but with affection. They also made fun of the all the rebel songs and "come all ye's" even though both were active in the Irish War of Independence. Like many Irish, they were emotionally open but not sentimental. But they did not hold sentimentality against people.

• carrickcourt | Feb 15, 2012, 10:24 AM EST

  Loved Mr. Farrell's frank comments. So many Irish-Americans have romantic ideas about the old sod. I remember giving my second cousin a fast family history tour of Ireland in 2005 I think Cousin Nancy was a bit disappointed with the Ireland I showed her, especially because where our common ancestors were from in Co. Cavan and Co. Monaghan were not tourist oriented places. I remember when Nancy and I visiting two Irish farmer cousins and Nancy waxed romantic about the ancestors buried in the churchyard over the wall behind our Irish cousins house. Cousin George told Nancy that when he died he would just have to be pitched over that wall to be buried. Nancy did not say a word in response to Cousin George's witty comment. After spending time with me Nancy did take a bus tour of Dublin and visited an old castle near the Shannon airport, which met her expectations of Ireland more then the Ireland I showed her. I noted more 'brilliant' Socialist comments here. A likely cousin of mine in Northern Ireland has commented to me in an email how he is amazed about the Republican candidates for USA President. Cousin Ian asked me how from such a large populous country as the USA why there are not better quality candidates running for USA President for the Republican Party.

• ColleenMcVeety | Feb 15, 2012, 10:23 AM EST

  Gabri, You owe the responses to Mr. Farrell. He just made a major insult to the American people. Both sets of my grandparents were from Ireland. Therefore many of us have a very strong attachment to Ireland. They are WHO I AM. Mr. Farrell is not your friend. Any of you who are living in Ireland now, should demand an apology from Mr. Farrell and then it should be posted on this site.

• rhegarty | Feb 15, 2012, 10:23 AM EST

  These kind of articles tend to pop up as we approach Saint Patrick's day and I can certainly appreciate Mr.Farrell's annoyance with stereotypes, just as every American doesn't necessarily own a handgun or that we see celebrities everywhere we go. However, Mr. Farrell should be educated on the Irish American perspective as well. America is a unique country and being American is unique in that we don't have a national identity, a collective heritage as it were. Our country is founded on immigrants from all over the globe and thus we cling to our Irish ancestry as part of our identity. We probably annoy "real Irish" but we our proud of where we came from, we feel connected to that land whether justified or not, it provides an anchor. Mr. Farrell probably can't appreciate what is like for an American go to Ireland and see where one's surname began...a connection to a time long ago, a family tie that has played a part of who we are. So while Americans can go overboard with Aran Island Sweaters, shamrocks, leprechauns, and the likes. It is out of a love for something much deeper. A desire to unite with a land and a people that was part of our beginning. I hope that helps.

• arialgirl | Feb 15, 2012, 10:23 AM EST

  Some Irish Americans have made bad impressions; but the irish have not been too shabby either. It is why as a proud Irish-American prefer to visit England and spend more hard-earned dollars there. The people are friendlier. I last visited Ireland in 2009 and I see no reason to go back. Many experts blame the famine for the mass exodus of Irish to America and other places, perhaps it was the nasty attitude at home that made them leave. I just came across my great-grandfather's US Naturalization cert. He landed in 1891 and foreswore allegiance in 1895. Smartest thing he ever did.

• lecorri | Feb 15, 2012, 10:20 AM EST

  Frankly..I could care less what the Irish think of us. They were only ever our friends when they were getting something from us like M-O-N-E-Y. My personal experience with them (my ex is a Kerryman) is that as a rule they drink ENTIRELY too much and lie quite a lot. Talk about becoming British..hardly any dif these days.

• Dee | Feb 15, 2012, 10:16 AM EST

  Fair enough, Mr Farrell. How about what Americans have to deal with from the Irish..... 1. Not all Americans live on a ranch ala Dallas. 2. No, we don’t know your cousin from Boston or Chicago. 3. Yes, we would like to get to know real Irish people, but are most often given the “tourist” version whenever we do go out to the pubs. 4. There is more to the States than the East Coast. 5. We don’t all wear checkered shorts with black socks and sandals in the summer. 6. No, we don’t all watch Jerry Springer or know any of the people who were on his show. 7. No, you can’t drive from Chicago to Tucson in one day. 8. We at least know that Budweiser is crap beer. 9. No, I can’t get you a fake SSN. 10. My father, uncle, grandfather was not a police officer or a firefighter.

• GabrlOSullivan | Feb 15, 2012, 10:12 AM EST

  As an Irishman, I found this article insulting. It demeans us as a people to visitors of our lovely country and makes us seem like a small minded, mean spirited lot. That simply is not true.

• rgray222 | Feb 15, 2012, 10:11 AM EST

  A little sensitive it seems. So be it if people wish to have a more romantic view of where they believe their roots are! That may very well be a healthy thing, even for the "real" Irish that were "born" there. After living in Ireland for many years it was my impression if you started a conversation saying we love Bill Clinton or Barack Obama than you had a room full of democrats. If you said we love Reagan and Bush than you had a room full of republicans. Some things never change.

• mclichte | Feb 15, 2012, 10:11 AM EST

  I don't believe in Irish fairies either... but they're there...

• irishamerica46 | Feb 15, 2012, 10:11 AM EST

  I find the author rude, insulting and very judgemental. He sounds like he has a lot of issues of his own that he needs to deal with.

• racallahan | Feb 15, 2012, 10:10 AM EST

  As I have always said, Americans that visit Ireland for the first time are always shocked that the Irish don't think like we do. They are Europeans and that's the way they think!Let's face it, what our Irish "cousins" truly love about us is out dollars we spend in their stores and pubs. As far back as my first visit in 1983, there was always the feeling that as friendly as the Irish truly are, they find Americans really annoying but are willing to put up with it when we open our wallets. I spent my second evening on that first trip in a pub in Kenmare. At least a third of the people in the pub were a visiting group from Manchester. The only people in the pub that had a problem with all the "Brits" hanging out in the pub were the Americans. The Ireland we grew up hearing stories about doesn't exist and hasn't existed for a very long time. HAVING SAID ALL THAT, I still love the people and the country and still urge others to go.....just understand that Ireland is NOT America!

• ColleenMcVeety | Feb 15, 2012, 10:10 AM EST

  Mr. Farrell...Do you not have the most pubs per ca-pita than every country in the world? You have made quite a fool out of yourself today. Oh wait..you are a new reformed Irishman. Let me tell you a secret..perhaps it will help you the next time you write such a thing. TO TRY AND MAKE YOURSELF LOOK BIGGER BY TRYING TO MAKE OTHERS LOOK SMALLER...MEANS YOU HAVE ISSUES! Jealousy is such a horrible thing..do try and get over it. Now..stop bringing shame to your country.

• Daithi | Feb 15, 2012, 10:07 AM EST

  I would like Mr Farrell to understand that while some of what he says is true an equal amount is not true. He seems to be guilty of what he says Irish Americans are guilty of only in reverse. AS gar as England and the Queen goes, I guess he did not see all the protests, barricades and police to keep to keep people far away from her. To say that Eire and England are best friends now is a joke. Shame on IrishCentral for allowing Mr Farrell to paint everyone with the same broad brush. I would guess that Mr Farrell is also one of those revisionists who wants to rewrite Irish history to fit into his view of the Brits were nice to them and Micheal Collins was a bad guy and they should not have run the nice Brits out etc etc.

• kam | Feb 15, 2012, 10:06 AM EST

  This is insulting! Is this really what you think all Irish Americans think of Ireland? I am fully aware of all of the above, plus more. My friends who are children of Irish Immigrants as well would probably agree that this is an incredible generalization. All Americans who have a connection to Ireland are not equal.

• Borderboy | Feb 15, 2012, 10:06 AM EST

  Ah come on, you delay my comment while correcting the grammatical errors I noted in it.

• kkkkT3973 | Feb 15, 2012, 10:05 AM EST

  Shame on you! I am crushed. It is only fear of the banshees that have kept me on the straight and narrow all these years..you've undone all of my mother's good works!

• TheOldPerfessor | Feb 15, 2012, 10:03 AM EST

  We travelled to Ireland 4 times since 2003. If there was an Irishman anywhere who could stand George W. Bush, we didn't meet him. I remember many times when the tension went out of the room when we admitted our political leanings and they could talk to us without putting on a mask.

• joycean | Feb 15, 2012, 10:02 AM EST

  THis article is a list of stereotypes Irish people have about Americans. When I was in school, we were taught not to stereotype but to see people as individuals. To even publish such a list is in bad taste, and the fact that he Irish apparently don't know that and think that tittering behind the back of American visitors is okay, shows what vey rude people you are.

• Borderboy | Feb 15, 2012, 10:00 AM EST

  So here’s how you’ll recognize us: 1. We make silly grammatical errors such as calling ourselves ‘a urbanized society’; 2. We do say ‘going forward’ and make fun of other real Irish accents; 3. We like to drink but it’s you Irish Americans who get picked!; 4. We use teenage girl expressions such as the ‘visit was totally popular’; 5. We don’t like Irish Republicans either because we’re way to cool for that; 6. We don’t think anybody else is really Irish unless they think exactly like us; 7. We prefer to murder ‘old traditional’ sentimental songs such as The Fields of Athenry (written in the 1980s); 8. We prefer to speak in mid-Atlantic accents while wearing T-shirts; 9. Most of us have never been to ‘the Cork’. 10. Only we can decide which Irish drinking jokes are not pathetic or demeaning.

• christilcaugh | Feb 15, 2012, 09:59 AM EST

  No, you don't. But you are especially kind to travelers who need help (I know) and have been the most welcoming to those of us who love the rain (Yes, I love it!) the food, the warm beer (I was raised on that in Michigan!), and the many things to enjoy in your country for the incredible history and beauty. Carol, some of those of us who travel on tour buses are in awe of the beauty of the history, the people and all that is the true Ireland. I want to go back again and again because it is nothing like any place I have ever visited - and so beautiful in every way. I could change everything I am in the States and love the solitude and beauty of the people and it's land.

• Yerffac | Feb 15, 2012, 09:56 AM EST

  I agree with all ten. Irish is Irish and Irish Americans are Americans. I hate "Danny Boy" and all those slobbering "come-all-yes's." I hide on St. Patrick's Day when so many of the Irish Americans turn the streets of New York green (with vomit). And stop asking me where I come from.

• jamieLM | Feb 15, 2012, 09:55 AM EST

  Oh, pu-leese. My friends and I are Americans (NOT Irish) with Irish ancestry who are neither loud nor too proud. We're not experts on Ireland, but there's NOTHING on this silly list that any of us haven't always known or applies to us. None of us expect the Irish to say "faith & begorrah" and we don't believe in the Hollywood version of Ireland. Most of us have been to Ireland and when visiting, we haven't asked about the Murphys or Sullivans, requested "Danny Boy", or told stupid Irish drinking jokes in phony Irish accents in Aran sweaters. About #4 - "best friends"? - there are still Irish who have bitter feelings, to varying degrees, about the British and their legacy in Ireland. You're also generalizing about the Irish to say that "we don't hate the British anymore." The Queens' visit was NOT "totally popular," according to some of the Irish posters on this site and the Irishman who put up the sign above his pub. Not all Americans are as uneducated about all things Irish as your friends. You might want to enlighten them.

• loveapint | Feb 15, 2012, 09:53 AM EST

  Mr. Farrel can like Dems or Repub. his choice, but to say he and the Irish prople like President Obummer who is a Sociaist/Liberal is typical of people with blinders on. Look at what is happening in the US and all over Europe from Socia;ist Governments, they are all broke

• hooligan6a | Feb 15, 2012, 09:52 AM EST

  I am pretty sure I know a little more about the Ireland, then about half of the people I saw in Dublin on my last visit. They didn't look very Irish to me. Why don't you write an article about how much an Irish- Pakistani knows about Ireland? Why do you always have to pick on Americans? Don't you realize that we are your bigget fans? Oh, by the way, I don't care what you think about my president or which political party you like or dislike. That's none of your damn business.

• ColleenMcVeety | Feb 15, 2012, 09:52 AM EST

  I have read some pretty insulting articles on here, but you James Farrell take the cake. I am an Irish American who has spent the month of May in Ireland for the past 30 years. Ireland is not Ireland anymore ..you are England. You lost who you are by taking their money ...they now own you. Please stop using as your main news source the BBC. I love England, but this is the exact same ridicule I often hear from them about America. Let me make one thing clear Mr. Farrell, before you took the money from the EU and then money from the UK..it was the American tourist that kept you all afloat through all the many hard times. That IS A FACT. So do not insult us, that we do not understand Ireland. In Dublin, so many stores are now owned by the Middle East...good luck in finding an Irish store owner. Good luck in finding Irish food anywhere. Don't tell us who you are, especially me, as you are no more a country of great Irish culture...you are England. Stop the insults. If you would like to go head to head..let me know!

• Dublinborn | Feb 15, 2012, 09:48 AM EST

  with the exception of # 5 I have to agree. Educated Irish people know that you cant tax your way to prosperity as Obama is doing. The Irish American problem started in the Republic when the Dept of Foreign affairs gave out Irish Passports to every Tom Dick and Paddy. The problem is made worse every year when your political leaders fly over here every St Patricks day with their Shamrock and their platitudes that confirm all the stereo types.

• ozman51 | Feb 15, 2012, 09:47 AM EST

  It'd be a shame if someone who calls themselves an "Irish American" would actually not know all of the statements above. If you call yourself an "Irish American" you should actually know what happens in Ireland. Knowing your Irish heritage should be part and parcel to claiming your Irish heritage. James, your statement about be being best friends with the English...not completely true, you only need to look as far as 6 Nations rugby...always the most meaningful/spirited fixture of the rugby calendar.

• Ajreaper | Feb 15, 2012, 09:46 AM EST

  I find it interesting that a column to debunk stereotypes Americans have of the Irish and Ireland is full of stereotypes about Irish Americans. While loud and proud may be how the Irish see Irish Americans that is far better for Ireland then silent and could give a dang. Loud and proud is why they go to Ireland which = big bucks for tourism. Have to take the good with the bad I suppose. But having traveled to Ireland, both the Republic and the north, I did not see a single example of what you mentioned- not to say it does not happen just that it is not as common as you'd like us to believe.

• carollover | Feb 15, 2012, 09:43 AM EST

  I agree completely...I've had the pleasure and good fortune of traveling to Ireland nearly 20 times, and it embarrasses me to see the behavior of some Americans. At the hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses they expect everything to be like America. They complain about the rain, the food, they can't get ice, only four TV channels in the bedroom, not enough water pressure in the shower, yada yada. The worst are the tour buses.

• ConnieCobe | Feb 15, 2012, 09:43 AM EST

  Although I was born in the USA,I still have to agree with the above sentiments. Oftentimes I've wondered what the Irish truly think of us Irish Americans. I can understand the laughter you all have once we board the plane and leave Ireland behind.(I have to wonder at some of my fellow travelers thoughts and statements I've heard) I have met some very nice Irish citizens while there and I hope they have enjoyed our time together as I have. I strive to be 'me' and am hopeful I have seen the real 'them'.

• Niamhaine | Feb 15, 2012, 09:41 AM EST

  Amen, brother from this American who lives in Ireland 6 months out of the year. I am ashamed at the behavior of any number of Americans when we encounter them on their Irish tour. Stop feeding the coffers of the IRA and singing their praises. Stop your bragging and listen to the native people. They are wonderful, warm, and charming. No need to try to make your point that you are the more intelligent/better drinker etc., etc. I am ashamed and disgusted to say I am an American when I encounter this type of behavior.

• AndersonBrown | Feb 15, 2012, 09:38 AM EST

  This article is far more ignorant and obnoxious in its condescension and hostility towards Americans than anything that would justify it. Leprechauns? Drinking? Farrell is a provincial twit. How about some editing?

• cmccloskey56 | Feb 15, 2012, 09:37 AM EST

  So totally true! The American press of the last century mythologized the Ireland that the famine emigrants left. Can we open our eyes and see contemporary Ireland? Perhaps we don't want to, lest it be too much like us (America) and therefore less interesting.

• DLW12183 | Feb 15, 2012, 09:35 AM EST

  I'm not susprised at #5 since they have the European Socialism the conservative republicans in America are against. ..and look at the great human interest stories that are written in this publication about the medical treatment that the American's have provided to Irish children. Some Sullivans I met in Kerry were shocked when I told them our unemployment had a time limitation when Ireland's did not. It's called capitalism vs european socialism but I do love to visit and they seem to like my money no matter what they may say behind my back.