Do you think being irish helps you

RainbowRose81

Im an irish woman of 28. I would'nt say im proud to be irish, I am very proud of my ancestors who stood up for their rights to have their freedom. I am not ashamed to be irish either, It doesn't mean much really its just i was born here in this country, its my nationality. Im glad to be born here, its peaceful, democratic to a certain extent and a good living standard. Im not in to sport al all even the national sports like GAA hurling and football, sport doesn't interest me. I don't drink and i don't like going out much. Is there other women here like me? I am myself more than my nationality, Im not influenced by the thought's and opinions of others, I have my own mind and I go my own way, its who i am and how i am. The most important is the kind of person you are your character how you treat others. I remember about the lisbon treaty the way the government and the most of the people voted yes made me really think that people died for our freedom and they are giving it to europe. They threw away alot their sovereignty to europe when they had another lisbon treaty because they didn't take no for an answer. Our ancestor spent centuries fighting for us to have our own country. I am thinking is there other women that would like to share their thoughts, feelings or opinions on this. Do you think being irish makes any difference. I would be grateful to get replies

Vinta81

Paragraphs help kid!

To be honest I don't really think about my ancestors or what they fought for...I get that people can be very patriotic and all that jazz but I guess I'm not that "deep". Besides I'm not even Irish

Malari

I kind of lost your point half way through there!

Are you basically asking if being Irish (and the heritage in terms of "freedom fighting" associated with that) makes a difference...to your life? To your uniqueness? Or should it?

I've never really given a thought to my own ancestors. I think there are many more people around the world whose ancestors suffered a hell of a lot more than the Irish did. And more recently.

I'm happy to be Irish, but I'm not particularly proud of it. And I agree that I am more than my nationality. However, apart from complete indifference in GAA, I adore most sports

Nervous Wreck

Malari wrote: »

I kind of lost your point half way through there!

Ditto.

Carsinian Thau

[QUOTE=Malari;66895519I've never really given a thought to my own ancestors. I think there are many more people around the world whose ancestors suffered a hell of a lot more than the Irish did. And more recently.

I'm happy to be Irish, but I'm not particularly proud of it. And I agree that I am more than my nationality.[/QUOTE]

+1, for the most part. I don't really think about it.

Fago!

Nervous Wreck wrote: »

Ditto.

Dit-three

OP, maybe it's because I'm an idiot, but I have no clue what you're on about.

princess-lala

I got totally lost reading that :eek:

monkeyfudge

Should be more proud about being part of Europe really.

Irelands constitution is pretty backwards.

Lux23

I just happen to be born in Ireland, reckon I would be the same person wherever I lived.

Fago!

Lux23 wrote: »

I just happen to be born in Ireland, reckon I would be the same person wherever I lived.

I'd be the opposite. I'd be very different if I was Afgani.

CluelessGirl

RainbowRose81 wrote: »

Im an irish woman of 28. I would'nt say im proud to be irish, I am very proud of my ancestors who stood up for their rights to have their freedom. I am not ashamed to be irish either, It doesn't mean much really its just i was born here in this country, its my nationality. Im glad to be born here, its peaceful, democratic to a certain extent and a good living standard. Im not in to sport al all even the national sports like GAA hurling and football, sport doesn't interest me. I don't drink and i don't like going out much. Is there other women here like me? I am myself more than my nationality, Im not influenced by the thought's and opinions of others, I have my own mind and I go my own way, its who i am and how i am. The most important is the kind of person you are your character how you treat others. I remember about the lisbon treaty the way the government and the most of the people voted yes made me really think that people died for our freedom and they are giving it to europe. They threw away alot their sovereignty to europe when they had another lisbon treaty because they didn't take no for an answer. Our ancestor spent centuries fighting for us to have our own country. I am thinking is there other women that would like to share their thoughts, feelings or opinions on this. Do you think being irish makes any difference. I would be grateful to get replies

I am the exact same....I get what you mean.

I was born here but that is about it.....I have lost all passion for here really.

I suppose I am disappointed and feel let down by it as a country and nation.

I wish it was a more cultured place.....more variety......it really lacks uniqueness especially in its people......everyone seems to be programmed the same way.....

Hmmm......will have to think about it more........but i do get what you are saying and it is a very interesting topic.

Xiney

Granted I'm not Irish, but as a woman, why would I be proud of being Irish?

For all the lipservice given to de wimminz in the Irish constitution, what did the leadership of this country do for us up until recently besides take our shoes and put us in the kitchen ffs?

panda100

I'm London-Irish which is a unique brand of Irishness. Think Shane McGowan
I was very proud of my Irish heritage when growing up in London, I guess I had green tinted glasses on of what Ireland was really like.

My feelings towards my nationality changed slightly when I moved back here at 16. I love Irish music and GAA, which really are unique to our country. Our country is absolutely beautiful and I'm so proud when I bring my non Irish friends to places like Killarney or a great Session in Dublin city.

However, as Xiney alluded to there are many aspects of my nationality I am ashamed of,such as our views on womens reproductive rights and treatment of minority groups for example. I really dislike the assumption that catholicism is part of our heritage,and inherently linked with Ireland. I will be proud to be Irish again when the states relationship with the church is completely severed.

ztoical

RainbowRose81 wrote: »

I remember about the lisbon treaty the way the government and the most of the people voted yes made me really think that people died for our freedom and they are giving it to europe. They threw away alot their sovereignty to europe when they had another lisbon treaty because they didn't take no for an answer. Our ancestor spent centuries fighting for us to have our own country. I am thinking is there other women that would like to share their thoughts, feelings or opinions on this.

What you've written about the Lisbon treaty is rubbish and would be worth taking the time to actual read up about not only the treaty and it's effects on other european treaties and also develop a better understanding of Irish history and our current position both as a state and within the european frame work. I got really annoyed with all the nationalist nut jobs ranting about us giving up the freedom we'd fought and died for in the build up to the lisbon vote, ah, go crack open a history book and stop looking at the world in such basic terms.

I'm proud of who I am and where I come from to a point but it does not define who I am. This view point of people fighting and dieing for freedom blah blah annoys me alot as most of those who spout on about have a very rose coloured glasses view of history.

When I think about being Irish, I never think about the section dealing with the English and that whole rubbish. It's a section of history, it's interesting to read about but in no way impacts on me being Irish. I met a wonderful Argentinian artist a few weeks back who described himself as being proud of being Argentinian without being patriotic and I think that sums up my views. I'm proud of Ireland for things like being the country that donated more per capita to Live Aid when we weren't a well off country, for being chessey and winning eurovision more times then any other country, I hated the whole celtic tiger I think it robbed us of our personality and we lost it, it wasn't taken by the EU. I'm proud of Ireland for all the silly things we do like putting that clock in the river Liffy for the millenium, for giving all the statues in Dublin silly nick names, for giving people directions that go along the lines of "you know that shop/farm/building that's no longer there..." There's so much to like and be proud of in this country that having people focus on on 1916 and the idoits up North is just so sad.

Having ranted all that I don't see what difference being a woman makes. Plenty of rants about how badly woman are still treated in this country.

Catari Jaguar

RainbowRose81 wrote: »

I remember about the lisbon treaty the way the government and the most of the people voted yes made me really think that people died for our freedom and they are giving it to europe. They threw away alot their sovereignty to europe when they had another lisbon treaty because they didn't take no for an answer. Our ancestor spent centuries fighting for us to have our own country.

I'd rather Europe call the shots then the ****ing muppets we currently have in power. We might even get an efficient public transport system like the Germans some day Anyways this is a nanny state where we have no freedom; head shop ban/ early closing off licences anyone? :mad:

smelltheglove

I'm proud of my heritage to an extent. I come from a family who is very 'irish', clan type family with huge interests in GAA, I love our sport and our history but there are things I am ashamed of, the greed in the country, the racism, the way this country is run, the lack of trust in our justice system, many many things but no matter what I am Irish and no matter where I go I am respectful to my country and try my best to be what other people expect of the Irish, to be welcoming and friendly.

Pittens

I'd rather Europe call the shots then the ****ing muppets we currently have in power. We might even get an efficient public transport system like the Germans some day Anyways this is a nanny state where we have no freedom; head shop ban/ early closing off licences anyone?

Headshops are rife in Germany apparently. I must go, but not past Saturday afternoon when all shops close.

RainbowRose81

ztoical wrote: »

What you've written about the Lisbon treaty is rubbish and would be worth taking the time to actual read up about not only the treaty and it's effects on other european treaties and also develop a better understanding of Irish history and our current position both as a state and within the european frame work. I got really annoyed with all the nationalist nut jobs ranting about us giving up the freedom we'd fought and died for in the build up to the lisbon vote, ah, go crack open a history book and stop looking at the world in such basic terms.

I'm proud of who I am and where I come from to a point but it does not define who I am. This view point of people fighting and dieing for freedom blah blah annoys me alot as most of those who spout on about have a very rose coloured glasses view of history.

When I think about being Irish, I never think about the section dealing with the English and that whole rubbish. It's a section of history, it's interesting to read about but in no way impacts on me being Irish. I met a wonderful Argentinian artist a few weeks back who described himself as being proud of being Argentinian without being patriotic and I think that sums up my views. I'm proud of Ireland for things like being the country that donated more per capita to Live Aid when we weren't a well off country, for being chessey and winning eurovision more times then any other country, I hated the whole celtic tiger I think it robbed us of our personality and we lost it, it wasn't taken by the EU. I'm proud of Ireland for all the silly things we do like putting that clock in the river Liffy for the millenium, for giving all the statues in Dublin silly nick names, for giving people directions that go along the lines of "you know that shop/farm/building that's no longer there..." There's so much to like and be proud of in this country that having people focus on on 1916 and the idoits up North is just so sad.

Having ranted all that I don't see what difference being a woman makes. Plenty of rants about how badly woman are still treated in this country.

Well Im telling it like it is from my own perception. So we should have given in the britian and let them take our religion, culture and freedom and give it to them instead of standing up for our human and civil rights. Im proud of ireland for its generosity of spirit, And I think you forget Ireland has a rich culture of art, music and literature and beautiful scenery. My foreign friends said they know that ireland is a place where people drink alot, they think thats the culture, thats not much of a culture. Im ashamed at some of the small mindedness, the discrimination and racism here. I know some french, german and italians here, they are not raicst they take people for who they are. Don't all people from the north idiots, there is alot of idiots in dublin, one for every day of the week.

The_Morrigan

I'm a 29 year old female that is proud to be Irish.
I don't follow GAA (to the severe disappointment of my father) and I'm not going to bang on about those that were murdered in 1916...

I do however have a great respect for our Irish culture, language & heritage and I think these should be cherished and nurtured and not shoved down students throats, allow them to experience it, not just learn it off and then regurgitate it at a later date in a pressurised environment never to be re-called again!
I have a great resentment towards the fact that this country was held back for years by the Catholic Church.

Althought I appreciate what my ancestors did for this country, I would never fight tooth and nail to win an arguement based on the risings or the troubles. Whats done is done and there is feck all we can do about it now and resentment and hatred leads to racism and ignorance.
I would be more proud of the advancements made in the Irish and European Courts to set out our rights as Irish people.
For example, the Mcgee Case regarding contraception/right to privacy in the 70's, the contraception bill in the '79 that was brought in by Haughey in the shadow of the papal visit (tongue in cheek maybe) and the strides made in the late 80's and 90's by Norris (and others!) to fight to have homosexuality de-criminalised, the fight in the 80's to allow women to work after they got married. And even more recently the Civil Partnership bill.

I am also quite proud of the fact that we are living in a nice little country that is not savaged by natural disasters, or torn apart by war.

I do however hate, when you're in another country and some one is claiming to be Irish. I was in the states 2 years ago and everyone wanted to introduce me to this guy who was Irish, cos ya know I might know him and his family back home....the guy was a typical Irish-Amercian as shown by Hollywood - he was a cop!! He was 3rd generation to be born in the states - yet he was acting like he was only after getting off the plane in JFK from Dublin..

On the flip side - I know a lot of people who "hate" the English, based on the 800 years of occupation - and then these same people are rude and ignorant towards the foreign nationals who moved here to make a better life for themselves.
If they are so proud to be Irish, then embrace the Irish history as a lesson, do not treat those that come to our country for a better life like scum, this is what the English & Americans did to the Irish who emigrated to seek a better life.

(rant over)

ztoical

RainbowRose81 wrote: »

Well Im telling it like it is from my own perception. So we should have given in the britian and let them take our religion, culture and freedom and give it to them instead of standing up for our human and civil rights.

Well your perception is pretty wrapped. First off we invited the English in. We didn't spend 800 years or anything of the like under English rule, most of the time the English ignored Ireland and didn't spread any further then Dublin. There were several up rising over the years that had more to do with land, money and power then any idealistic notion of freedom. It was only in the second half of the 19th with the rise of socialism we started to get this fairy tale view of the whole thing. Lets not start on about human rights like we were treated like slaves in the South or Jews under the Nazi's. Yes crap things happened but blowing the scale of it up is pretty typical of Nationalists who like to make mountains out of mole hills.

Honestly wish they had taken the religion, country would have been alot better off.

RainbowRose81 wrote: »

Im proud of ireland for its generosity of spirit, And I think you forget Ireland has a rich culture of art, music and literature and beautiful scenery.

I didn't forget anything, I wasn't about to start a "O Ireland how do I love thee let me lists the ways" list. Plenty of countries have strong cultures of art, music and literature and lots of beautiful scenery....nice to have, not exactly something that makes me super patriotic to be frank.

RainbowRose81 wrote: »

My foreign friends said they know that ireland is a place where people drink alot, they think thats the culture, thats not much of a culture.

Well you can't pick and chose, you have to take the good with the bad. I've plenty of friends who are super proud of the Irish image of being big drinkers and like to enforce that image both at home and when they go aboard.

RainbowRose81 wrote: »

Don't all people from the north idiots, there is alot of idiots in dublin, one for every day of the week.

Why just Dublin and not the rest of the county? Plenty of idiots to go around.

Still not seeing how being a woman makes any difference in all this.

rainbow kirby

ztoical wrote: »

Honestly wish they had taken the religion, country would have been alot better off.

Have to agree with this. Our country still has quite the hangover from the amount of power the Catholic church had in the past, and this tends to surface every now and then when any sort of socially progressive legislation is to be passed.

Latchy

CluelessGirl wrote: »

I am the exact same....I get what you mean.

I was born here but that is about it.....I have lost all passion for here really.

I suppose I am disappointed and feel let down by it as a country and nation.

I wish it was a more cultured place.....more variety......it really lacks uniqueness especially in its people everyone seems to be programmed the same way.....
Hmmm......will have to think about it more........but i do get what you are saying and it is a very interesting topic.

I highlighted your point you make there in that growing up in ireland back in the 70s and 80s I use to feel same way , as if under the doctrine of the catholic church we were unsure and insecure about ourselfs and how we coverd up our way of collective thinking by laughing at ourselfs and the world because apart form the stereotype image the world had of us , we had no other way of rerally expressing ourselfs as individuals .

But yet at same time you always felt that amoung that sameness , there was a large % the population trying to break out away from that sense of bland Irishness ie ' ' this is us warts and all , take us as you find us ' attitude .

Being Irish in the uk used to be like wearing two coats .One the one hand you were by some accounts expected to fit into an image of whatever any particular british person thought an Irish person fitted into and while we held onto what we had and have from our personall memories of growing up in Ireland and from our Irish culture , be it music ,sport ,history politics etc , one always tried to avoid being sterotyped which became tiring at times , specialy when the person who was doing the sterotyping could only fit onto the back of a stamp ( or nothing at all ) what they know about Ireland , Irish history and culture.

Thankfully times have changed and people dont revert as much to that narrow viewpoint of yore so from that point being Irish hasn't done me no harm at all . But the same ol attitudes about a lot of things are still to be found in many parts of Ireland today .

The_Morrigan

ztoical wrote: »

Still not seeing how being a woman makes any difference in all this.

It doesn't

well unless you count the Irish Mammy Syndrome that a lot of Irish women seem to be afflicted with

RainbowRose81

rainbow kirby wrote: »

Have to agree with this. Our country still has quite the hangover from the amount of power the Catholic church had in the past, and this tends to surface every now and then when any sort of socially progressive legislation is to be passed.

Its not the religion, its some of the sick and evil people who were made up of the clergy of the catholic church in ireland. Do u think all catholic countries like spain, portugal and italy were oppressed because of their religion. Its not the religion, its sick and evil people

The Big Red Button

RainbowRose81 wrote: »

Well Im telling it like it is from my own perception. So we should have given in the britian and let them take our religion, culture and freedom and give it to them instead of standing up for our human and civil rights. Im proud of ireland for its generosity of spirit,

See if we're so generous, shouldn't we be happy to give those things to them! :P

RainbowRose81

alot of clergy of the catholic church in ireland in the past misinterupted the religion. Much of them were not about God and helping people they were there not out of their own choice but they let themselves be forced to become a priest/nun because their mothers/fathers wanted them to and i think thats where evil/sickness might form from, i don't know. I don't think they catholic church in ireland today does much for people anyways. I think if Jesus was to come back to earth, He would go to the darkest placest on earth, hopless places on earth and see sick people in hospitals and prisons, and the drugs addicts,criminals, homeless people and abortion places. He wouldn't stay in the church and say what should be. How could the catholic church in this country get it so wrong and miss the point and the bottom line even my dog would have the intelligence to know that.

RainbowRose81

chatterpillar wrote: »

See if we're so generous, shouldn't we be happy to give those things to them! :P

You wouldn't give your honour and dignity away

The_Morrigan

RainbowRose81 wrote: »

You wouldn't give your honour and dignity away

Who gave their honour and dignity away?

Xiney

...what?

Adamisconfused

ztoical wrote: »

Well your perception is pretty wrapped. First off we invited the English in. We didn't spend 800 years or anything of the like under English rule, most of the time the English ignored Ireland and didn't spread any further then Dublin. There were several up rising over the years that had more to do with land, money and power then any idealistic notion of freedom. It was only in the second half of the 19th with the rise of socialism we started to get this fairy tale view of the whole thing. Lets not start on about human rights like we were treated like slaves in the South or Jews under the Nazi's. Yes crap things happened but blowing the scale of it up is pretty typical of Nationalists who like to make mountains out of mole hills.

I usually avoid "Brit bashing" as it gets on my nerves, but the facts speak for themselves and I don't like seeing terrible deeds carried out against my ancestors being glossed over. Ireland suffered as much under British rule as other countries who fell beneath the imperial sword. The French, Spanish, Dutch, etc. did the same to other countries which is why I don't particularly hold bad feelings towards our neighbours since those times were very different and I don't believe in blaming the son for the sins of the father.
However, describing events such as the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland and the subsequent deaths of over 200,000 as a mole hill is a bit of an understatement.
Were the penal laws a mole hill? Perhaps the confiscation of the vast majority of the land was a mole hill. And was the so called "famine" a mole hill? Did everyone imagine the million plus deaths while tonnes of food were being exported from Ireland each day?
As I said, they were different times, but revisionism is a terrible thing. Did we go the way of the Aztecs? Nope, but it wasn't a free ride either. Through the centuries, millions died as a direct result of policies formulated in London and we should remember our history in the correct context and not simply pretend 'we' had a rare auld time.

ztoical wrote: »

Honestly wish they had taken the religion, country would have been alot better off.

They tried too hard and the penal laws didn't do what they had intended. After that failed, they set up the modern church in Ireland by giving significant funds to Maynooth. It's no surprise that the Irish church has opposed each and every attempt to separate Ireland for the UK.



As for the initial question by the OP. Proud mightn't be the correct word, but I do feel closer to aspects in Irish history than I do to events which happen in other states.
I'm glad to be from the country which flourished during the dark ages and played a pivotal part in preserving civilisation within Europe. I'm also particularly pleased to be descended from those who implemented the Brehon laws, which were both fair and humane. For women who find little to be proud of in Ireland due to the repressive Catholic church, it's always worth noting that in ancient Ireland, men and women were treated equally.

http://www.irish-society.org/Hedgemaster%20Archives/brehon_laws.htm

Wibbs

Adamisconfused wrote: »

For women who find little to be proud of in Ireland due to the repressive Catholic church, it's always worth noting that in ancient Ireland, men and women were treated equally.

They were also treated equally in the earliest Irish church. Quite a different church than the one Rome preached. Pity it wasnt our version that lasted. As far as ancient Ireland and equality, I would suggest you read a lot more. Breton laws are all very well, but they were rarely enough followed in practice. We had a slavery tradition second to none in Europe, before the faith, when within damn near a generation we gave slavery up as a bad thing(st Patrick was a slave so had a particular bee in his bonnet on that score). I would agree that women in the early Irish culture were more equal. You can see that in the literature that survives. The women in it have so much more of a voice than in the equivalent classical tradition. Helen of Troy may be famous, but she has feck all to say for herself. She's the prize to be fought over. The women in the Tain have much to say. Hell you can hardly shut the buggers up and they drive much of the narrative.

The notion of "Irish" today to me at least seems more a victorian notion of belonging and legend. Not unlike Zionism, which hit around the same time. IMHO its a celtic whimsy more than a reality. Coperfastened by DeValera and his aide and master, McQuaid, to create a "Catholic" state. Insular, reductive and backward. Our true heritage was far more open. Those saints and scholars absorbed everything they could get their hands on. Translated not just the religious stuff, but the secular and "pagan". They couldnt get enough of it. They translated egyptian coptic stuff, even hebrew stuff. They welcomes such refugees from the fall of rome. Then they brought it back to the world. All of it. Even stuff they felt was a bit out there. Out there enough for the curch in rome to have a hairy baby over it. That I'm proud of. Not some GAAAAAAAA /Celtic/gaelgoire cultural invention

ztoical

Adamisconfused wrote: »

I usually avoid "Brit bashing" as it gets on my nerves, but the facts speak for themselves and I don't like seeing terrible deeds carried out against my ancestors being glossed over. Ireland suffered as much under British rule as other countries who fell beneath the imperial sword. The French, Spanish, Dutch, etc. did the same to other countries which is why I don't particularly hold bad feelings towards our neighbours since those times were very different and I don't believe in blaming the son for the sins of the father.
However, describing events such as the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland and the subsequent deaths of over 200,000 as a mole hill is a bit of an understatement.
Were the penal laws a mole hill? Perhaps the confiscation of the vast majority of the land was a mole hill. And was the so called "famine" a mole hill? Did everyone imagine the million plus deaths while tonnes of food were being exported from Ireland each day?
As I said, they were different times, but revisionism is a terrible thing. Did we go the way of the Aztecs? Nope, but it wasn't a free ride either. Through the centuries, millions died as a direct result of policies formulated in London and we should remember our history in the correct context and not simply pretend 'we' had a rare auld time.

I didn't intend to understate anything but in context of this thread I'm bored of having people bashing the english and going on about 800 years of conquest and the like when most can't hold a decent historical conversation on the topic. Fun as it is to blame the english for the whole thing lets hold the mirror up and face facts that we kept ourselves down as well. Most of us can claim english heritage coming in with Cromwell or even further back, we share alot of history with Wales and Scotland that's unconnected and this whole attitude of hating England and the EU cus people died for your freedom, o please. Some people get so worked up about it and the funny thing is most English people haven't a clue and couldn't care less.

Eve_Dublin

I´m proud to be Irish but I´m definitely more proud when I´m not living in the country, which I haven´t done for more than a few months the past 6 years (I´m 30). I don´t know what my pride is about actually and it´s something I´m asking myself a lot recently. I was brought up in a Republican family and over the past 4 or 5 years (3 of those in the UK), I had to shake off a lot of my engrained bigotry, which was really tough. I´ve also had to knock my unquestioning defensiveness of everything Irish on the head...I wouldn´t hear a bad word said about the country in the past but now I know there´s PLENTY wrong with the place and I think acknowledging that and doing something about it is more productive than denial.

Hmmm. I´m a massive fan of GAA football. I was dragged to Hill 16 since the age of 3 by my mother....she passed away when I was 11 so maybe that has something to do with it. She lives on through it for me and I feel like I´m closest to her in Croke Park or when I wear the jersey. Silly I know. I love trad music just because I love music and got my best grade in the LC in honours Irish at school because it was the only subject besides from English that I bothered my arse in. I´m learning Spanish right now as I live in Spain but I´ll be starting Irish classes here in Madrid in September to relearn what I´ve forgotten. I love these 3 things just because I do and not to prove a point about how Irish I am. Doesn´t make me anymore or less Irish than anyone else, they´re just aspects of Irish culture that I appreciate.

You know what I love and what makes me proud? The Irish sense of humour. I´ve never laughed in my life like I´ve laughed and still laugh with the Irish. We laugh easily and we´re not precious about it. Sometimes it´s in very bad taste and I´m not keen on that but I know a lot ridiculously funny Irish people. Maybe I´m just lucky. I love the "devil-may-care" attitude we have to a lot of things and that eccentricity is valued among people over a certain age. Somebody else mentioned it but I love how things don´t always work the way they should in Ireland...if you didn´t laugh you´d cry kind of thing. I love how we like to talk and talk and talk about anything and everything and I REALLY miss that. I love how it feels like I´m living on the set of Father Ted sometimes....that comedy was so astute...funny cos it was true.

God there´s plenty I´m deeply ashamed about my country (the cover up of the Catholic Church abuses still makes me deeply, deeply depressed and ashamed) but I acknowledge that we are far from perfect and try to make amends as much as possible by being a tolerant, friendly, open individual when I´m at home and abroad. I dunno, when someone asks me where I´m from and I tell them "Ireland", people generally seem okay with that (always comment on how much we drink though) and I feel proud. Not too many people have a gripe with us so it makes it easier being abroad and Irish.

I guess my pride has no real basis but it´s just a feeling I have, logical or not as it is.

ciagr297

for me, being irish has basically allowed me a foot in the door in most cases and then its up me as a person to get the rest of the way through.

i'm not sure pride has anything to do with it really, as a race we feck up but then doesn't everybody?

K-9

Eve_Dublin wrote: »

Hmmm. I´m a massive fan of GAA football. I was dragged to Hill 16 since the age of 3 by my mother....she passed away when I was 11 so maybe that has something to do with it. She lives on through it for me and I feel like I´m closest to her in Croke Park or when I wear the jersey. Silly I know.

I love the GAA too. Nothing like being in Croker and your county is playing and the National Anthem is played.

I don't care if some see the GAA as a bigoted, old fashioned organisation. It is, to some degree, stuck in the past, but I don't have to apologise for that. I see what it means to communities up and down this country and that is enough for me.

SarahBeep!

I'm so proud of being Irish. I'm not gonna pretend it's because of politics or our history (which IS amazing) because that's not why I'm proud..

I love the flowers that grow in the burren and nowhere else
I love the caves in Clare Cork and Tipp
I love red lemonade
I love the excitment before a GAA match regardless of who's playing
We have some of the best actors and directors ever seen
Amazing views
I love how amazing the irish language sounds (Gaelige is gneasach )
I love the fact that wherever I go there's an irish pub
I love the craic. Seriously. Nobody else has that.
I love that my dad always spoke irish to me from a young age, not forcing it on me but giving me the option of being able to use it.
FREE 3RD LEVEL EDUCATION!! (Yes I know it's expensive but we're not paying 12k a year or more like the americans)
I love our musicians
I love our cuisine
I love our native wildlife
I love the breeze i feel on my face when walking on Banna beach in kerry or on Clonea in Waterford.
I love the sense of community between Irish people no matter how far we are from home.
I love all the old stories and legends and how when you walk in the burren or newgrange or the stone circles in county limerick I feel lost in time

I also love the fact that no matter where I am, what job I have, who I'm with or why I'm there, nobody can take away from me the fact I'm Irish

[Rasta]

RainbowRose81 wrote: »

...its peaceful, democratic

democratic, haha good joke :pac:
you nearly had me for a second there.

Eve_Dublin

[Rasta] wrote: »

democratic, haha good joke :pac:
you nearly had me for a second there.

As much as people don´t like to admit it, the people of this country voted in the government we have in power in a democratic election...we´ve no one to blame but ourselves. As far as I know no one was bribed or threatened to vote for them, unlike a lot of 3rd World countries. Relatively speaking, Ireland is a democratic country.

[Rasta]

'Relatively speaking'? - exactly, so don't lie to yourself about it. We are not a democracy.

I know most people vote for the people we have in government, but then what say do we have? none. No one gives a rats ass about what you have to say after the elections.
democratic is where people have the power, which would make Ireland an utter joke of a democracy, which it is.

'unlike a lot of 3rd World countries'
Ireland not being a 3rd world country makes it democratic and give people fair votes? Fair vote is voting for someone who cares about what the people have to say, and name someone like that for me?

Ireland sucks thats how i see it :pac:
nothing will ever change here

Eve_Dublin

[Rasta] wrote: »

'Relatively speaking'? - exactly, so don't lie to yourself about it. We are not a democracy.

I know most people vote for the people we have in government, but then what say do we have? none. No one gives a rats ass about what you have to say after the elections.
democratic is where people have the power, which would make Ireland an utter joke of a democracy, which it is.

'unlike a lot of 3rd World countries'
Ireland not being a 3rd world country makes it democratic and give people fair votes? Fair vote is voting for someone who cares about what the people have to say, and name someone like that for me?

Ireland sucks thats how i see it :pac:
nothing will ever change here

Complaining that Ireland is not a democratic country is making a mockery of other countries who are fighting everyday of their lives just to get a sniff of what we have. I spent a year in South America and listened to their experiences....met a guy who saw his neighbour get shot for supporting the opposing party to the one in power. In Argentina the poor are given a shoe and told they will get the other one if they vote for a particular party. If you want to hear more stories like these, PM me.

No, things are not perfect in Ireland...far from it but we should count ourselves lucky instead of moaning constantly and doing nothing about it. It´s getting old.

Edit: Just to add, the people of Ireland voted in a party for a second time KNOWING how riddled with corruption they were and how how completely useless they were at following through on promises. It was a democratic election....democracy doesn´t mean the people automatically know what´s best for their own country

illiop

I would say I'm proud to be Irish and I would say it has helped me.

I hate people who talk down about Ireland, sure it has it's problems but for a country that has had it's independence for less than 100 years we're not doing to badly! If there are things we don't like we should be working to make it better not sitting around moaning about it.

I do also firmly believe that being Irish has helped me to make friends and forge connections with people all over the world. I'm relatively well travelled for my age and where ever I go, mentioning the fact that I'm Irish sparks conversations that can last for hours be they about music, history, language, culture, travel, ancestory whatever! Also, knowing there's bound to be an Irish pub around somewhere always makes me feel that bit more at home!

I think everyone should have some sort of pride in where they come from...perhaps pride is the wrong word, as it's not really something you've achieved, maybe love is more appropriate.

[Rasta]

Im not complaining about Ireland not being a democratic country. Im just saying its stupid calling Ireland a democracy when its not.

Why do you have to constantly compare Ireland to the third world? You are just as bad as those people who 'moan' about the democracy. You just say 'ya ya get over it, as long as we are not as bad as the 3rd world be happy...'
That kind of a viewpoint is just as sad as doing nothing and moaning.
It doesnt make you any bit better.

How can all your heartbreaking stories of south america change things here? As far as I can see they cant, it just makes people believe, oh yea we are better off than them, thats all that counts. That attitude stops people believing in anything better than what they have. Instead of constantly looking at people who are off worse, look at yourself and think, hmm maybe we should fix our complete rubbish ways and set an example. But no lets just stay like this and say we are better.

beks101

This is an interesting topic, and something I've been thinking about recently, as I am soon to emigrate to Canada.

A recurring thought I've had recently is, do I really belong here? Could I be happy settling down in Ireland, building a career for myself, maybe raising a family, settling into my social life, reading all the same stories about the government's shortcomings, the inadequate health service, the lack of vital funding etc in the paper every day, putting my hypothetical children through the Irish education system...I don't know. I really don't.

There's a lot that dismays me about this country - the health service would be high up on the list and I honestly dread the day myself or someone close to me runs into serious health problems, because personal experience and anecdotal accounts have left me with zero confidence in the system to provide the necessary support and treatment.

The anti-English brigade who wheel out 700-years-of-oppression and 1916 arguments to justify their 'patriotism' at any opportunity; the begrudgery; the health service, our dysfunctional drinking culture...as a single woman the disconnect between the sexes when it comes to dating is another dismay. The legacy of systematic abuse and absolute horror that the Catholic's Church has left in its wake - equally, the bitterness, disgust, intolerance and utter disregard so many Irish people have for religion as a result. While justified, it makes a mockery of the actual upstanding religious followers (my mother being one of them) who hold firm onto their beliefs in good faith and benefit from them.

None of these things help me; they only hinder and slightly disgruntle me.

However, I've lived abroad for brief periods in the past - the longest being a year-long stint in California, and the fact remains...I missed 'Irishness', whatever that is.

I missed our self-deprecating sense of humour and ability to make light of serious situations; our sarcasm and wit. It's unique to us, in my (albeit limited) experience.

I missed the 'familiarity' that I think is inherent to this country. Bumping into an old classmate in the queue at the bank; meeting someone you went to summer camp with as a child in the jacks of a night club (last weekend!); finding out the guy you're seeing went to school with your cousin; the girl you work with knows your flatmate....it's suffocating, awkward and yet somewhat comforting, and you only realise that when you're lost in an anonymous crowd in one of the world's biggest cities and realise you're another faceless number and no-one knows who you are.

The landscape, too - every country has its treasures but to me, there is nothing as breath-taking as the view of Galway Bay at sunset on a quiet prom or a drive through the Burren during Spring, or even that old familiar sight of green fields emerging through clouds as you're descending into Ireland on a plane. There are some spots in this country that are unspoiled, untouched and make you realise what brings the tourists here, and back, year on year.

I also love the legacy of travel that we have, as Irish people - it's important to most of us and there are few places on the planet you can go to that don't have an Irish contingent. I love the general warm reception you get when you bump into a fellow Irish person overseas, the banter, the sense that you've met 'one of your own' - this isn't as common among other nationalities, in my experience.

I love the musicality of this country - you can even see this through the myriad of beautiful and ridiculous (!!) accents across the country, which vary from county to county.

In general I think at the moment our identity is somewhat muddled - the Ryan Report etc, the Celtic Tiger and the recession...they've all confused us somewhat. It's hard to know what 'Irish' is when for so long we defined it by our defiance - what we 'weren't'...i.e British, or secular, or whatever our causes have been historically.

But while I don't think being born Irish is this mystical, magical gift that automatically makes life easier, or more fulfilling than if you were born elsewhere...I do think it has influenced my outlook on life, my attitude and my world view.

It has helped me and it has hindered me (what was it Freud said about us... :rolleyes:) but I'm not part of the accident-of-birth brigade and I do believe being 'Irish' is part of, while not my whole, identity.

Phew! Longer than planned :o

beks101

Edit: didn't mean to double post...ignore this please! :-)

the_syco

Love the humour, and that most of the people here can laugh.