Am i british or irish?

Question

i'm 17 and i was born, and have always lived, in england. my parents both grew up in ireland and lived their for 20 years before moving to hackney 18 years ago. the question of nationality is always raised in my family. if i was ever to call myself british, my dad would accuse me of not being proud of my ancestry, but my family in ireland would say i'm 100% english, and that it's only my heritage that is irish. i'm not bothered either way, but would you say i'm irish or english?

Answer 1

Irish, or anglo irish.

Put it this way if your parents were in ireland when you were born you would be irish.

Shane Mcgowan was born in england to irish parents is he not irish?

Is the edge from U2 irish? born in wales to welsh parents moved to ireland when he was one year old?

Adam clayton born in england?

If that's the case then the greatest irish rock band is half british.

Its a matter of perspective.

The government recognises you as being Irish, therefore you are entitled to an Irish passport.

Just look at the irish soccer team orf italia 90, John aldridge, Mick mccarthy and other irish squad members who had irish ancestory and were proud to wear the green jersey and call themselves irish

Answer 2

You're British.

Answer 3

you r british

have a nice day :)

Answer 4

If BOTH your parents are 100% Irish, then you are Irish.

It doesn't matter where you live, it is what your parent's blood is.

Answer 5

Ethnicity - Irish

Nationality - English (or British)

We Americans have to deal with this a lot.

Everyone is an immigrant, or a descendant of one (almost everyone).

So, most people have an idea of ethnic ancestry, which is the culture their ancestors came from. But also a nationality, which is the country they are a citizen of.

I've noticed that most Europeans don't distinguish the two, though.

Also, lots of Americans have completely lost track and don't really think about ethnic ancestry - or just consider themselves 'white' or 'mixed' or something.

Answer 6

British with Irish ancestry.

Answer 7

Nobody can tell you as it's how you really feel inside. Most people would say you were British because you were born there however if you have this connection with Ireland and also Irish parents, in my opinion you are Irish. I'm kinda in the same situation. I was born in Scotland but I have Irish Grandparents on both sides of the family and I generally feel Irish. I go to Ireland on a regular basis and I'm moving there permanently with my family next year. I've got Irish blood running through my veins and my heart has always been in Ireland and therefore I'm completing the circle and taking myself and family back to where we originally came from. You may have been born in England but you are just as Irish as the rest of us.

Answer 8

British

Answer 9

Your English with Irish ancestry. You nationality refers to the country you were born in and the citizenship you hold. since your parents are Irish you could probably apply for Irish citizenships, making you and English/Irish citizen with Irish ancestry....so yeah, your English.

Answer 10

well i'm from ireland and i think your british because you weren't born in ireland i'm proud to be irish go on kerry

Answer 11

Since you've lived your whole life in Britain and were born there, you're british

Answer 12

Just be Irish.  

Answer 13

You're half and half.

You're Irish blood, but seeing as you were born and raised in Britain, that makes you a British citizen. So you are Irish by blood, but a British citizen.

My neighbours parents are British, but she was born and raised in Ireland and she calls herself Irish.

Really, it's whatever you want. You can apply for an Irish passport, my neighbour has an Irish & British I think!

Answer 14

Depends.If you where born in Ireland that would make you an Irish citizen legally.Its all a matter of the parents.If your parents are part irish that would indeed make you irish anyway.But if they were born and bred english but just lived in Ireland,then your not Irish..

although another factor is if your grandparents are Irish.

Id research your family tree just to make sure.

Answer 15

You are British, If your parents have Irish citizenship, you could find it easier to get a Irish passport.

Answer 16

I think it really is up to yourself!!

I think you could be either, but it really depends on what you are comfortable with.

Some people can be really defensive about this sort of thing!

I should know since I'm half Indian and half Irish,but even though I have lived in Ireland my entire life, some people still have a way of making me feel like a tourist in the place I call home!

Some people are so ignorant! >:[  

Answer 17

You are English by birth but you have family members living in Ireland.  I have relatives who were born in England, they have Irish parents, but they are 100% English - they have no connection to Ireland whatsoever.  If you ever wish to apply for an Irish passport it might make it easier though.

Answer 18

You are British and your parents are Irish. However, you are entitled to an Irish passport.

Answer 19

Take you pick . I know people in your situation. Some consider themselves Irish while the others call themselves British.  

Answer 20

Hey! You've got it easier than I do!

-Born In Ireland

-Moved to the US when I was 4

-Yet spent every summer back in Ireland-until I was 14 and able to get a job here in the states-I've only been able to go back a few times since then because I spend my summers working now.

My Mom's American through and through, and my dad was born and raised in Ireland. When I'm in the states, everyone says I'm Irish. When I'm in Ireland, they say I'm American. haha! I couldn't tell you what I am, but I think I reach the epitome of Irish-American.

Anyways-I would say you are English with Irish heritage/ancestry, or 'of Irish descent'. If you are born in England, raised in England, follow English culture-then I'd say you are English.

Answer 21

English of Irish heritage.'British' merely means English.

Answer 22

unfortunately you are english regardless if your parents are Irish its only because you were born in england, for example, the bee gees say they came from australia but in reality they were born in england so they really are a british band and not australian

Answer 23

English/ Irish.

Answer 24

If you feel you are British, if that's the culture and the people you identify with that's your business and no one elses.

I think speculating what other people in your family might think is a pointless exercise, my family is also a mixed bag, Irish parents with kids born in England some raised in Ireland, others staying in the UK.  We all made our own decisions about who and what we are and no one has said anything one way or the other.  

Answer 25

i'd say your British, and that your parents are Irish. It shouldn't make that much of a difference anyway like.

Good luck to ya

Answer 26

your british

EDIT: its funny that everyones saying different things, i guess your more confused now and back to square one!! haha

Answer 27

As Morrisey sings, "Irish blood, English heart".

According to the way the Census defines such things, you are ethnically Irish (which can be further broken down into White Irish, Irish Traveller and Irish-Other).

As you are entitled to claim both Irish and UK nationality, I guess you just have to try to figure out where you belong, and if you feel both (or neither) then maybe choose the nationality that will serve you best (ie, it's easier to get a green card for the US if you are Irish; depending on your career direction, some jobs in the UK (govt) are restricted to UK nationals).

Don't mind your parents. Belonging to a nation is simply that - a sense of belonging - and no one can force you to feel proud of something of which you have limited experience. If you feel Irish, you're Irish. If you feel British, you're British. One is not better than the other, except to those who have strong feelings of belonging.  

Answer 28

Two questions

What do you see yourself as?

What does your parents want you to be?

If your healthy it dont matter who you belong to

Regards

Answer 29

British.

Answer 30

I would say you are irish but that's just me.

I'm Canadian with Irish, scottish, welsh, and possibly french ancestry.  I sometimes call myself Irish as that's where most of my ancestors come from.  I know that some Europeans get offended when we call ourselves that.

As evidenced by my thumbs downs.