Why does everyone in America want to be Irish?

Question

I read there are more Irish passport holders born in the USA than in Ireland.

Why?

I'm Irish but my Grandad is English. I don't think that makes me English and I don't have or want a British Passport!

Answer 1

gasp.....shut your mouth john campbell!

can u name one reason why people would not want to ne irish? irish people are the most fun and laid back, possibly lacking the competitiveness and confidance of our american cousiins but what ever.

americans have no real histroy as the country is so new. ireland is bloody ancient, we have fionn mc cool, st patrick, and a load of lepruchains with ginger hair running around the green fields.....amazing.

Answer 2

Well I am Irish born and bred but I have to say that I am glad I come from a country that people are proud that their ancestors hailed from.

It's wrong to say that everyone in America wants to be Irish, but if anyone is entitled to dual nationality then it is a good idea to take full advantage of it.

Answer 3

I'm from Ireland and live in Miami, several times when people have asked me where I'm from and when I say Ireland they say which Island? St Patrick's day passes here with barely a mention.  Most people think I'm English or Australian.  Ive lived in Australia, London, NY, Miami, worked out in Greece and Israel and I find the Irish to be the most laid back, sincere, generous, fun loving creatures who don't take themselves too seriously.  They're not obsessed with money or themselves, as I see so often here.  That's perhaps why many people want to be associated with that heritage.  We are not known for conquering or destroying other peoples land or countries and   rev ired for fund raising for Africa etc.  It has contributed much to the literary world, Computer  software, Crystal,  not too mention Guinness!! U2, etc ect.  Not bad for such a little island!

Answer 4

Oye, this is always the question.....Please look up the Irish Diaspora, it will explain the whole thing.

Everyone? Really? All 303,908,000 of us? Al Pacino and Morgan Freeman are claiming Irishness now? It wasn't Americans who just traced Barack Obama's heritage back to Ireland (partly).He didn't look it up himself.

The Irish government considers the children and grandchildren of Irish emigrants as Irish, even if you don't. Thus, they are entitled to citizenship and passports.

Greece and Italy have similar family passport/citizenship rules to Ireland for the children and grandchildren of nationals who immigrated. The  Japanese Americans have special names for each of their generations in the United States. The first generation of immigrants, born in Japan or Okinawa before moving to the United States, is called Issei (一世). The second generation is Nisei (二世), third is Sansei (三世), fourth is Yonsei (四世) and fifth is Gosei (五世). Only the Irish seem to complain about the concept, and  usually only if it is an American who is claiming heritage. I wonder why that is.

We don't all want to be Irish. And actually, you are Irish by birth, as I am American by birth. You have some English heritage, I have mostly Irish heritage. We are still an American and an Irish person. That's it. That is all that Irish-American means.

Having a dual citizenship provides more opportunities if wanted. It is also a way of honoring ones background as another answerer noted.

Answer 5

I'm American, and don't consider myself Irish, however, my Grandad was from Connemara, and when my wife got pregnant, I put my name in the Irish foreign birth registry.

The reason was because if I did so before my daughter was born, it would give her the chance to register as an Irish citizen, if she wants to do so, to give her the option of moving to Europe when she grows up.

Answer 6

because the Irish are amazing.

:)

It can be a huge help if you want to live in Europe someday.

It could be to remember their lineage, because so many people had to leave Ireland because of the potato famine and settled in America.

Many many many reasons.

Mainly because the Irish are amazing, though. :)

Answer 7

I am a total mutt, and everyone I have ever spoken to enjoys to pretend being something different. They'd rather try and pretend to be Spanish, Native American, or Russian than Irish.

Most people who are IRELAND happy, merely are proud of their ancestry. I am Irish, and I am glad. I am glad of every country my ancestors came from.

Answer 8

The Irish emigrated to America by the millions during the famine. They went through absolute h**l here for the most part and most Americans are proud of their heritage because of the blood, sweat and tears their forebears put into building this country. Is there anything wrong with having respect for your heritage?

Answer 9

Well I grew up in America, but I AM Irish by birth (I was born in Dublin, although moved to the USA when I was very young) with parents born and raised in Dublin as well. America is a melting pot, that's why, lots of cultures whether they're first or fifth generation. Every "American", unless they are Native, typically have descendants from another country. I had a lot of friends during school that were born in different countries (Japan, Guam, England, Iceland, etc) that were all growing up in America.

And as you know, there was a lot of immigration, millions of people from Ireland went over to America... and still do to this day (I'm proof of that) so it's quite possible everyone claiming to be Irish does have Irish lineage, no matter how recent or far back.

It's just down to people wanting to trace where their families came from, and getting to explore different cultures because of it. Ireland is much-loved in America, I don't have an accent but my parents do and always get accosted (in a positive way) by people wanting to know about Ireland. There's absolutely no reason to generalize (it's not "everyone in America"), have a problem with it, or somehow be offended by it.

Answer 10

Not really.

I'm not an American (but I kind of am cuz I talk with the accent and have American relatives) and I live in Ireland for four years now and I DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO BE IRISH. They drink a lot and theyre noisy. (But at the same time, they are one of the friendliest and liveliest bunch of people I've ever met and I love them!!).

Now, it doesn't mean everyone wants to be Irish. It's probably just the people around you who admire them. Does that make sense?

Answer 11

I live in Ireland, and I hate it. this country is a putrid swamp and the native inhabitants stink of ham and vomit.

why would anyone WANT to be Irish?

Answer 12

I think you may be English my friend because of your grandad. Dont worry. You can visit your country and learn to like it.

Answer 13

Lineage, likely. Italians and Irish immigrated here in droves a long time ago, so there's just a lot here. I guess they hear their great-whatever was Irish and think it's cool. I for one don't have a pint of Irish blood and am bloody proud.