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Top ten reasons why some Irish have no real clue about America

If Irish Americans don’t know Ireland, these folks don’t know the USA

By
ANTOINETTE KELLY,
IrishCentral Staff Writer
Published Thursday, February 16, 2012, 7:31 AM
Updated Thursday, February 16, 2012, 10:02 AM

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“Ya I know America well, I go to New York every year shopping”
Tourist Couple in Park
Photo by LaCoppola & Meier


Our column yesterday on ‘Top ten reasons why some Irish Americans have no real clue about Ireland’ caused quite a stir among our Irish Central readers.

In response, we asked Americans  to put together a list of common stereotypes that the Irish have about America.

Here are some of the responses:

1. Drop the fake American accents after a few weeks here -- spare us.

2. No, we don’t have a false social security number or illegal job for you -- or your son or daughter back in Ireland.

3. Sorry but ...Abercrombie and Fitch---- is so over for Americans.

We don’t all shop in stores that the Irish can’t seem to get enough of, like Hollister and Abercrombie and Fitch. Most Americans stopped shopping in those over-priced stores after their adolescence.

4. “Ya I know America well, I go to New York every year shopping”

New York attracts millions of tourists every year and if you are from Ireland, you may be one of them. However, if you think you are sampling a true snapshot of American life and culture by just visiting New York, you are wrong. There are 50 states in the US.

5.  We don’t all watch Jerry Springer, fact is the vast majority of us have never sat through a whole show.
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6. No, we don’t know your cousin who went to Boston or Chicago -- thankfully, as they’d probably want to stay with us.

7. Shut up already about rugby. We could give a damn about your rugby team playing the English game with four or five other countries. Nobody here knows their names.

8. .Also glad you’ve shut up about the Celtic Tiger,  Celtic Tiger/ Things are much better/ Irish real estate is a great investment / Bad old days are gone forever--- Hello!

9. Please stop about The Great European Union  you rattle on about -- boring, falling apart, and broke.

10. No you can’t drive from New York to Arizona in a day - look at a map -- we’re a continent.

​
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155 Comments

15 - 155 | See all comments

irishpaddy | Mar 06, 2012, 02:25 PM EST
I myself have been to Ireland 3 times and plan on going back. Me I blame the English. All my great Grandparents came to the US in the late 1800. I was proud of heritage and studied it. On my 1st visit to Dublin was not to visit the Temple Bar District. It was to Glasnevin Cemetery to visit the grave of all the loyal Irish who died for Irish freedom. I have 2 children with College educations and they asked me WHY they never heard or read any thing in World History about Ireland. I had to explain there was no Ireland util recently. I tracked my family history to Clifden County Galway and I have also practiced trying to learn Gaelic..(That isn't an easy thing to do) I consider myself an Exiled Child of Ireland..I didn't ask to be born in the US. But there is a great say 'Born in the US, Irish by the Grace of God!

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ruairí | Mar 04, 2012, 06:52 AM EST
i think after reading BOTH articles its fair to say that bloated stereotypes exist in both countries.............RONPAUL2012

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Madeliene | Feb 28, 2012, 03:57 PM EST
gobdawpaddy- the Ameiricans are not too dam& smart either They ected OBama

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jamieLM | Feb 21, 2012, 11:04 AM EST
There are many regional differences in the U.S. NYC and Boston do NOT represent how all Americans live and how they think when it comes to political and social issues. Tourists who limit their visits to the NYC and Boston areas get a very narrow view of the U.S. and Americans. It's like saying that if you've been to Dublin, you know everything about the Irish and Ireland.

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joycean | Feb 21, 2012, 10:22 AM EST
faberm1, Your post is right on target. Most Irish have never seen much of the United States. Problem is that it is really too big for anyone to. Also,outside of places like Boston and NYC, you are right: our country is much more conservative than Irish can grasp. Many Americans do not share their worldview.

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joycean | Feb 21, 2012, 08:42 AM EST
gobdawpaddy, I think QE1&2 have gobbled up quite a bit of debt by buying back short term bonds. Inflation is nothing like the 1970s when it reached the teens, and briefly up to 21% under Carter, when my husband and I went into business and bought our first home. This slow period has allowed people to refinance mortgages and other debt at much lower rates and shorter terms. Many people have paid off debt and are stashing money in savings, which currently pays very little in interest. So a little increase in interest would be welcome, but isn't projected for another year or so. People on set incomes like retirees have just gotten the first COLA raise in 3 years, again, very welcome. In other wors, many Americans are actually more financially stable than they were before. Banks aren't lending, but that is partly because no one wants to borrow.

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sirpeter | Feb 20, 2012, 10:35 PM EST
Well I ain't going to argue about something I'm not all that well up on.The last 5 years have been an economic nightmare.The way Europe is and it still is a nightmare.All I can say is 5 years ago I was a signature away from losing a figure with 6 zeros after it.But I took a safer option.It still gives me night sweats.The moral of the story is when you are smart enough to make a couple of million in a way you know how and it's sitting in the bank and you are wondering what to do with it next.When your bank manager rings you every other week with some great investment ideas for MY money.It's best to tell him fu*k off.Yes!!That four letter word applies here.Take the high risk he said.Everything is booming.Lucky I'm not easily swayed.But I have a surprise for him when my money comes back.He'll need something stronger than a bottle of Dom Perignon when he is trying to explain to his regional manager how he let that kind of money walk out the door.

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gobdawpaddy | Feb 20, 2012, 09:12 PM EST
Peter in your recent post you display a fairly decent understanding of the US debt situation. The only area that I would disagree with you on is the USD. The USD has been relatively robust for quite some time. It fell to just short of 1.51 versus the EUR in October of 2009 and has since traded as strong as 1.19. IT is currently trading around 1.32. Its status as the principal reserve currency has been underscored in recent times during the european crisis and the conflict in Libya in particular. Every time uncertainty arises and there is an aversion to risk, global markets still seek the security of the USD and US treasuries. I didn't check today but reckon 10 year yields are probably around 1.95%. Gold's upside is running out of steam, in my opinion. The increase in the trade deficit is not necessarily a bad short term development as my interpretation of it displays a growing confidence in the US recovery by americans. Oil imports are falling as the domestic supply improves, although globally we don't know what will happen with Iran. It will be interesting to see the US jobs reports a week from friday to see if recent reductions in unemployment and increases in NFP will be sustained. Personally would be happy to see an unchanged unemployment level of 8.3%, indicating that the recovery is holding its own. Of course a reading of 8% and I will be breaking out the Dom Perignon.

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RockNReel | Feb 20, 2012, 08:45 PM EST
Shows how little some people know about Irish Politics. Cowan was NOT elected by the people of Ireland. Instead he was nominated by Dail Eireann to replace Bertie Ahearn who was forced to step down and Cowan was elected by the the president later the same day !! He brought Irish politics to an all time low with scandal after scandal and he arrived at live chat programmes half twisted-if you know what I mean ?

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sirpeter | Feb 20, 2012, 06:35 PM EST
Gobshite I am a bond holder.5 year English bonds.But they a secure bonds.Maturing this year.Ulster Bank.Well the feds keep printing and the Chinese keep buying.As of January 2011, foreigners owned $4.45 trillion of U.S. debt, or approximately 47% of the debt held by the public of $9.49 trillion and 32% of the total debt of $14.1 trillion.A high debt level may affect inflation, interest rates, and economic growth. A variety of factors are placing increasing pressure on the value of the U.S. dollar, increasing the risk of devaluation or inflation and encouraging challenges to dollar's role as the world's reserve currency.The debt ceiling keeps rising.The debt ceiling was raised once more on January 30, 2012,to a new high of $16.394 trillion.The fact is imports exceed exports in the US.That will at some stage lead to big trouble.Playing with paper is not the way forward.Manufacturing is.

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seanomelb | Feb 20, 2012, 05:42 PM EST
taid Seoirse cheann bioran.

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kinvara7 | Feb 20, 2012, 03:28 PM EST
So, to sum up: (1) You’ve said that I hate the Irish language even though you have seen my Irish messages before. That makes you a liar. (2) You call others liars when you get upset and you state that you hate liars. That makes you a hypocrite. (3) You said there was no offensive language in Joyce’s work, when clearly there is. That makes you look like a fool. The really funny thing is this list could go on and on! Don’t get me wrong, George, IC wouldn’t be the same without you. Sure every village must have someone like you! Oíche mhaith agus codladh sámh.

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kinvara7 | Feb 20, 2012, 03:15 PM EST
@George: You’re a character there is no doubt about it! Thank you for all those lovely messages in English. Once again you are showing your ignorance for spoken Irish and Irish idioms (I want to test your knowledge by using such phrases; it also confuses google translator). Clearly you have a great deal to learn about the treasures of Irish, in the meantime you shouldn’t insult it. If you insult the parts you don’t know then what does that say about your claim to love Irish? Perhaps you just say that because it makes you feel more Irish, but in truth your ear does not love the language. I hope that is not the case. You are certainly no expert –you didn’t even know the word calbh! Never mind your other mistakes. I think this is the fourth time that I tried to speak Irish with you, but to no avail. Oh and could you tell us when Brian Cowen was elected Taoiseach by the Irish people? Cad é mar a rinné tú sin amach? Ní dhlífinn a mhalairt díot. Is bréagach thú agus tá tú ag cur dallach dubh ort féin. Chuir mé ceist ort faoi na leabhair atá á léamh agat. An bhfuil tú ag léamh aon litríocht na Gaeilge? (Is fada mé á rá sin leat). Cén freagra atá air sin agat? Cuir scéala chugainn le do thoil. Oh, agus abair as Gaeilge é…

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GeorgeDillon | Feb 20, 2012, 12:25 PM EST
Gobdaw: Ignore kinvara's inanity about Cowen not being elected by the people. Of course he was. Just like the British Prime Minister is elected by the people, even tho the Queen of England actually appoints him/her. This kind of Irish nitwit tries to seem smart by being picky on points that are of no consequence. But kinvara sure ain't no Einstein! You might say he's a few million atoms short of a molecule!

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GeorgeDillon | Feb 20, 2012, 12:21 PM EST
kinvara: "Measaim gur ceart é a iarraidh ar." Is this Klingon? It sure ain't Irish!

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