Are most Irish people of Native Gaelic ancestry & are there any Irish with English ancestry?

Question

Also does being protestant mean you're of English heritage

Answer 1

most irish would like to pride themselves on being 'pure' and of gaelic ancestry. truth is, the island's people are made up of decendents from celts, vikings, normans and british, and there are probably few families who can honestly claim to being thouroughbred 'gaelic'.  after the english plantations, many english married and settled in ireland, and their decendents might be protestant or catholic, depending on how the parents decided.  the idea of 'gaelic' ireland at this stage is largely something that is created and emphasised for tourism and for vanity.  although all children learn 'gaelige', the irish language, try taking up a conversation in the langauge with anyone over the age of 20 and you'll be hard pushed to find someone who can speak it well and with pride.

Answer 2

Most Irish are of Native Gaelic ancestry obviously there is some Irish with English ancesty.

In Ireland the majority of native people are Catholic, if you are a prodedent, it's certain or assumed you are of English heritage, there are not many prodestant churches to be found in Ireland, and the one's that are there catholic's do not go into to them or make the sign of the cross while passing them.

Answer 3

Being protestant in Northern Ireland (the occupied counties) most likely means you're of Scottish, rather than english, heritage. The people there were transplanted from Scotland after the English took their land - which explains the different religion and the different accent.

Answer 4

no it doesnt, many irish catholic families converted to protestantism,cuz basically the english told them if you convert we will feed you during the famine. and may catholic and Protestant famuilies married into one another, ireland is like any other country there is many racially and religiously intergrated family and i would be surprised if there was a family with pure gaelic roots. My family used to be sub-kings in tyrone. but even i have protestants in my family tree.

Answer 5

Hello,

        Yes of course there are, Ireland had a lot of English military living there, for years, and some Irish women were obviously taken advantage of, and the outcome would never have been accepted as being Irish...and the Church of Ireland is a protestant church, but not a lot of Irish people go there, to answer the first part of your question-: this is how it is, Yes Most Irish people are of Gaelic beginnings, and are of course Catholic. I hope this helps you,      Tony M

Answer 6

I can guarantee that within twenty-five years the ancestry of the majority of Irish people with be part Eastern European.  Because of the country's small population, the influx of other European Union nationals into Ireland has resulted in about 1 - 10 of the working population being immigrants.    But that is not so unusual, since the Fir Bulogs in ancient times, then the Celts, then the Danes and the Vikings, the Saxons and the English during Cromwell's time, there are relatively few 'pure' Gaels.

Answer 7

I think most protestant people either converted from being catholic during the time of the penal laws (look it up) or else are from Scottish decent.