How has Ireland benefited by having close ties with the US through Irish Americans?

Question

Please don't bother to answer if you are English and have an axe to grind.

Here's a first - No English need apply.

Answer 1

hi you

Ireland as benefited in many ways from it ties with the Americans the northern peace process jobs and tourism and the friendship between our two nations is as good and strong now as it ever was i know that there is a world wide down turn but i believe that with each others help we can weather the storm even doe the English still hold part of our land all side are going to resolve this in a peaceful manner and i know that in the fore front will of this will be you over there

Answer 2

At the signing of the Versailles Treaty following WW1, the provisional Government of the fledgling state sent emissary Sèan T O' Kelly (future resident of Ireland) to meet with Pres. Wilson of U.S (attending the conference) to seek U.S recognition of the new Irish State (after all the war was supposed to be for the right of small nations) Wilson rudely dismissed the Irish request.  This proved to be a decisive awakening of the Irish American influence on American internal politics.  

At the end of civil hostilities, experienced Irish fighters turned their attention to armed struggle at home in Ireland.  ..

The Irish Republican Brotherhood ...(.in succession to the Fenian intervention )  were a decisive influence .. Michael Collins of notable mention.

De Valera's fundraising in U.S. was more of fiscal as opposed to pure armament design ..  A provisional Government was not in a position to raise taxes in the face of occupation. ...

Latter day (NEW IRA) fund raising is quite distinct from the war of independence ... (regarded as the Northern Troubles)

Of more pertinence, is the role of U.S industrial investment in the Republic. Many Irish Americans Industrialists and Irish returning immigrants, brought new skills and more importantly, an entrepreneurial mind set to a new highly educated  home populace (free second level education Acts of 1957)   .. birth of the Celtic Tiger.

Answer 3

Soul Jacker and Orla C, Couldnt agree with both of you more. Soul Jacker, Kudos on the comment, was totally wanting to say what you said but you put it far more articulately than I ever could....(but hey, maybe I wasn't thought that in school!!!!)

By the way, Slipstreamer you've totally gone silent since Soul Jacker and Orla C made their comments........Wonder why!!??!!

Answer 4

Well, in monahan one of the Hanratty familys was left a legacy of 20 pounds from america, that money was used to educate the kids and now theyv all got fancie lawer jobs, thats about all i know,

In history books, it only talks about irish people immigrating to america and sending home money, nothin more

Answer 5

well to be quite honest,not much,our recent economic boom which is kind of at a lull was because of irish success in ireland and europe,nothing to do with america.

in the past,if you actually studied the irish independence struggle in-depth you would realise how little america had to do with it.

if you lived in ireland,you would realise how very little america influences any economic success or any other success for that matter.

and i don't quite like the assumption  from many irish-americans that because a distant relative was irish,that makes them irish,if you were born in america,you're american not irish.

Answer 6

What do they teach us at school over here?

Slipstreamer are you asking for Irish benevolence?  Because it certainly seems like it.

Lets step back a little bit earlier than the formation of the Irish Free State and the ROI.

The Irish flooding to America post Famine were in no small part responsible for building America up, in extremely harsh conditions.

After the abolition of slavery left America with something of a labour shortage.  The Irish Immigrants filled this shortage well.

My point being Ireland was not the only country to benefit in this relationship.

Now as for the formation of the ROI yes America did help, it did play a part but it was certainly not the only or most important part played.

The desire for independence came from the ideals of the French Revolution.  Look up Wolfe Tone, Pádraig Pearse, Micheal Collins, Daniel O'Connell and you will see the desire for self determination would never have been limited through a lack of funds.

Answer 7

Actually, in recent years Ireland has benefitted far more from being involved in the EU than the US.

We don't really think about the whole thing in the 1920s anymore, given that it's nearly 90 years ago now.

However, it would be interesting to know how Ireland's history would have been different had Michael Collins not been killed, and I'm sure you're away that there have always been rumours that De Valera was responsible for having taken him out. De Valera wasn't such a nice guy, you know.

It might also be an idea for Americans to remember just how much they owe Europeans in general, for helping them build a country, and for giving them something approaching a culture. Although in fairness we can attribute a lot of musical culture to Africa, South America and the Caribbean, as people from these places also contributed greatly to the US as it is today.

Oh, and it's insulting to assume that all Irish-Americans are linked with terrorists. Didn't anyone tell you that?

Answer 8

Don't expect any gratitude from me, woman.

Irish-American? Don't make me laugh.

Answer 9

They manage to continue their civil war with the help of

Irish Americans sending them money and guns for arms. I don't think that is anything to be proud of.

Answer 10

It hasn't in any significant way, but if it makes you happy you can exaggerate it as much as you want.