Question about Irish stereotypes?

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slipstreamer

Just as true as all those stereotypes about Americans that people are so fond of. Which is to say - not at all.

But that was your point, wasn't it? It's funny how no one likes stereotypes about their own nationality yet they easily embrace those about others.

Hickey~*

almost no sterotypes are real, i mean just look up. how can every person in ireland be a potato farmer? stupid.

Kym R

1.prone to alcoholism- well, in general, the irish drink alot, yeah. Not everyone is an alcoholic, but we drink more than other european countries

2.have short tempers and get into fights all the time- No. I don't think so anyway. I mean, you get aggressive people in every country. I think that the Irish have a reputation as being...defiant..I suppose you'd say, but most of us don't get into fist fights! I think that when alcohol is involved though, people tend to become more aggressive...

3.are all potato farmers- hahahahahahahahaha. That's a joke, right?!

4.have red hair, pale skin and freckles- No to the red hair part. Yes, most Irish are pasty skinned, and have freckles, but we're not all covered in them!

5.all catholic and have about a dozen kids- No. There are lots of different religions over here now. True, Catolicism is the dominant one, but there are lots more coming into the country.
And No, the big families have pretty much come to a halt since contraception is now used!! The average family will have 2-3 kids.

Hope that helped!

Shiori_hime

Alcoholism -- maybe, maybe not. Somehow I doubt the entire population of Ireland is more prone to alcoholism than any other group, and it's also good to keep in mind that plenty of people other than the Irish like their alcohol.

Short tempers -- not if my host-family is any indication, they've all got quite even tempers. Actually, most of the Irish folks I've met are no more or less short-tempered than anyone else.

Potato farmers -- er...no. Plenty of people do and did farm potatoes, but these days especially it's not the living for the majority of the population.

Red hair etc. -- I've actually found a combination of brown hair (any shade) and blue or gray eyes to be a lot more common than any shade of red hair and any amount of freckles. Yeah, there are redheads in Ireland, but they're not the majority.

All Catholic with lots of kids -- again, no, though the majority of the population in the Republic claims to be Catholic (the last figure I heard was something like 95%, but that was a few years ago so the number might be different now. Also remember that this is the number who claim the faith, not the number who practice regularly). Some Irish families are still large, and Ireland has one of the few growing populations in Europe (again, last time I checked the stats), but the numbers I know of are nothing like a dozen kids per family being normal.

realmadrid024

(I listed your stereotypes 1-5 accordingly).

1) This just comes from the fact that there is excellent Irish beer, and it is part of the Irish culture to drink beer and to "hang out" in bars or taverns.
2) This probably has a lot to do with my above reply, since beer is a big part of the culture, you've got to admit that alcohol does affect you in some ways (whether it be shortness of temper or forgetfulness).
3) You can't honestly think that every Irish citizen is a potato farmer.
4) Not all Irish people have those characteristics, but yes, many do. And if you don't, it doesn't mean that you aren't Irish either. You can't take these stereotypes too easily.
5) There are many Protestants (mostly in the North though, not even technically Ireland though), and I'm sure you will find a variety of people who are single, or happily married without kids, or with one, or two, etc. etc.

There is truth to most of them, but not every single person from Ireland can be characterized by these stereotypes.

Flying mop dog

I drink about once a month and only small quantities.
I am very patient and have never been in a physical fight.
I am a historian.
My hair is brown and I don't have freckles. (Do have pale skin though).
My whole family is Protestant and I have only two siblings and no children.

chrissytimebuds

almost NO stereotypes are real:

prone to alcoholism: nope, my mom (grew up in Ireland) hates alcohol

have short tempers and get into fights all the time: hahahhahah..gave me a good laugh
absolutely not

are all potato farmers: no way!!!! there are some farmers, but not necessarily potato; others work in the city, are teachers, drs, laywers etc.

have red hair, pale skin and freckles: nope..some blue eyes, green eyes. my mom (mentioned above) doesn't have freckles; pale skin, depends on where they are from..north, sometimes, because of the climate, not really in south

all catholic and have about a dozen kids; no!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yes, most are catholic, but freedom of religion enables them to practice whatever religion they want; 12 kids????? my great grandma had 6, my grandma had 4, my mom had 4, my aunts (moms sisters) have 1 and the other has 2 and the other has 2

that guy

well actually stereotypes come about because there is some truth to them, so it is wrong to completely dismiss them altogether.

but most stereotypes are exaggerated.

yes irish people do drink alot as drink is a big part of their culture, but i dont think they are more prone to alcoholism than any one else
perhaps as a side affect of the alcohol stereotype comes the one that they all have short tempers and fight. this obviously isnt true for all, but probably is for some.

as potatoes are a food commonly associated with ireland many ppl believe theyre all potato farmers.. well its silly to think that everyone in one country has the same job. but both my grandparents were potato farmers so yes there are some.

some irish people have red hair pale skin and freckles.. but there are also many with black hair brown eyes and olive skin.

and finally, catholicism is the predominant religion in ireland and many many years ago there were many large families (my mums one of 8, my grandmas one of 13) but this is not true today.

Johnnydairishfella

the first one, nope although my brother go a bit mad when they drink, im the clever one, that dose nto drink
2nd, well you could say, but not all do
3rd, nope my grandmother was a diary farmer, lol. potatoes isnt grown much in ireland nowadays, better diet, but alot of paddys eat them though
4th nope, i have auburn hair, have anaemia, and freckles on the right side of my face under my eye.
5th, well the majority in the irish republic are, but in northern ireland, the catholics occupy more than a third.
6th, well they used to, my mother has about 8 bothers and sisters, and my father has about 4 bros and sisters, and like 7 half bros and sisters.
i have 2 brothers, most irish families have a few children, less than 4 nowadays.

ayhartlasketchup

Yes most Irish people drink a lot.
No not really
No most people live in the city
Hardly anyone has red hair, mostly pale, some freckles
The average is only 1-2 kids

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