Why Do the Irish Hate Americans?

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Music of the Night

Big round Irish face...? Right, see that's why people don't like Americans. Not just the Irish, everyone. It's like saying "I've a Roman nose, I must be *some culture*".

I don't like Americans, especially when they go on and on about how Irish they are. Ok, so two hundred years ago your ancestors came from Ireland. I don't see a big deal there. You don't see people making a big deal about their Viking or Norman ancestry
Another reason why some people don't like Americans is their opinion on everything. Not everyone has this, but some do. The opinion is usually ill thought out and unfounded.

The Southern drawl is going to work against you. Just a word of advice, keep your opinions to yourself and don't make a big deal of any possible Irish anstery you may or may not have.

Edit: "Bible thumping Republican" - Yea, keep that to yourself.

Sshhhh! It's Podge and Rodge

Well we don't hate the Americans per se, it's just that we don't much like the US Government very much.
We could mention stuff like Cuba, Grenada, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Chile and Venezuela and the terrible things that the CIA and US Army have inflicted on these countries. We could also mention the illegal invasion of Iraq when it was the Americans themselves who built up people like Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden. We could mention the Iran-Contra affair, the pathetic attempts to destabilise Hugo Chavez, the meddling of affairs in the Middle East while you've avoided Africa like the plague because there isn't as much oil there, and finally, the only Irish American President you've ever had was shot in cold blood and his brother followed 5 years later.
We could mention the way we hate that Americans ignorantly brand all socialists as 'commies' and the heinous way that the McCarthy witch-hunts were conducted in the 1950s.

We could mention stuff like that but we're not going to.

Edit: We'll take Barack Obama from you if you take Brian Cowen from us. It's one Offaly man for another.

Why When How

interesting question. I certainly don't "hate" Americans, hate is too strong a term. I have American relatives and I certainly don't hate them.

I do get annoyed with Americans though for some strange things they do. Below are a few examples of things that can annoy me

1) IRISH AMERICANS - Unless born in Ireland, or have Irish parents or grand parents, you are NOT Irish in the eyes of Irish law, so give it up!!!
2) GUN VIOLENCE - Switzerland has the highest person to gun ratio in the world I think , yet has a much much lower gun crime than the USA.
3) 9/11 - what happened was horrific and we hope it will never happen again, but please stop doing on about it. The Irish and British and and most of the word have been bombed, but we get on with it.
4) GOD BLESS AMERICA - it's often portrayed in films and politics that AMERICA is God's Davine place - it's just a land mass of 250,000,00 people that has the same problems as everyone else.
5) Whilst American solderers were freeing jews from the horrific camps in WW2, blacks were being treated harshly into the 1960s in USA. Yet America claims its the land of the free where all men are equal
6) AMERICAN TOURISTS - I've heard American tourists berating a waitress for not taking US dollars in a restaurant in Cork Ireland. I've been asked by American if we have electricity in Ireland? etc

Jay

thers no hate at all man. the only thing there is is just us getting annoyed at americans saying there irish. we just don't agree. we feel theres a massive difference between calling yourself irish, and having irish heritage somewhere down your bloodline. i think many irish feel irish because of the lifestyle they experience through living in ireland, whereas ye consider yourselves irish because some relative further down the line from ye're parents were from ireland. i think it mainly comes out in your phrasing of it. most americans say "i'm irish too", when really the correct term is, i have irish ancestry in my family"

that along with the fact that we've all been asked a stupid question by an american tourist during the summer when they all visit but that could be more to the fact that we know the answer and why it was stupid to ask, whereas a tourist wouldn't have a clue.

So in short, theres no hate, just frustration. and as for bush, not many irish people are into politics, especially another countries politics. but we do regard him as being in a class of his own.

Also the crazy intense amount of religion that is in america kinda scares us. well, it really scares us. Religion here (for under 40's anyway) is something that people shy away from, and have a generally poor outlook on people of a young age who go to church or pray etc etc...

Don't tell my boss I'm on here

My feelings are pretty much the same as the other answerers - As a whole, I like Americans. I have never been to the USA but it is somewhere I really want to visit and can't wait until I do.

I don't have a problem with anyone claiming Irish heritage either. The only thing I hate is Americans spouting off about Ireland (usually political topics) when they have never visited and act as if they know more than me (and I have lived here all my life!)

I also hate the whole attitude some Americans have that their country is better than any other country in the world and making out Ireland is some sort of a backward third world country. Granted now, its not only Americans who do this, anyone remember the episode of Eastenders that was set in Ireland!?

Orla C

No, we don't. We just are not particularly fond of certain types of Americans, the know-it-alls who insist on singing very provocative rebel songs and who are nasty to nice English visitors who return year after year. I've witnessed this, told the guy off for being so rude, and then got a tirade about how I should be nice to him because his country was pouring money into Ireland and providing us with jobs. Just recently the news came out that Dell are relocating parts of its operations to Poland and India, I wish I could meet the same guy now down a dark alleyway somewhere ... grrr ....

However, I am happy to say that ignorant gits like that come from every country, and are few and far between.

No, we don't like George Bush. He started an illegal war on Iraq, when the guy leading Al Qaida was hiding out hundreds of miles away in Afghanistan. I know you Yanks are not strong on geography, but really, you should have checked that one out.

Better keep your bible well hidden, mate. And don't mention you're a Bush supporter. And Republican has a different meaning here, you don't want to get in with a bad crowd.

Bit of a blanket statement/sweeping generalisation to say that Americans don't like the Middle East, wouldn't you say? I am sure there are a few who love it, and would love to live there ....

Rory M

To be fair I think you'll find most countries hate America, and no it's not because we are "freedom hating commies" as one of you fellow Americans put it.

Granted the 'presidency' of George Bush hasn't helped the US's image world wide.

Americans are seen as being fat and stupid (as shown by Dara O'Briain)

It is mainly Republicans that cause people to see America as racist, arrogant, trigger happy Bible Thumpers.

This is a harsh generalisation but one that needs to be understood.

ash1

i dont hate americans...there are certain things i dislike, but i wouldnt go as far as to hate all americans because of the annoying things of a minority.
The annoying things being why george bush was voted not once but twice. He has no regard for life (apart from americans that is) or the environment. And then some liked Sarah Palin, who to me is just a female Bush.
Secondly, i cant understand all these people who claim to love God (the bible bashers) and are against abortion because it takes a life, yet these very same people also support the right to bear arms (i.e. - shoot each other) support the Iraq war, support what Israel are currently doing to the palestinians, support the killing of animals for sport etc....
Maybe not all but a lot.
I think if Americans started to care about the world outside of America, then more people would like them. The media from what i could see spouts a lot of propoganda and the people believe (which is prob why people support these wars, they should educate themselves and not rely on a biased media)..the Israel situation being a prime example of that.
All that said, ive travelled to america and i think it's a great country. I love a lot of the tv shows and the music. There are a few that give the country a bad name, but there are a lot of good people there too.

Mike L

I lived and travelled in Ireland for all of my life and I have to say I find it impossible to agree with you that Irish people hate Americans.
The problem at the moment is that your current administration is deeply unpopular here and around the world but this does not mean that people hate you just because of this. But also, just think back to the Clinton era and you will remember the great reception he always got here.
My experience is that most Irish people are very positive towards American tourists.

when the sun goes down

every american i've ever met has been very nice and i had no problems with them
it's a sweeping generalisation to assume that almost 5 million people don't like one nationality

Tid

Agree with everyone. "My great great great great great etc etc grandfather was from Offaly"...Americans who claim to be part Irish using this are about as much Irish as a grain of rice. That drives us spare.
Bible crack, we're not interested, or more so the 'younger' generation, we're realistic's.
And...only a suggestion...stop telling people to 'SHUT UP! JUST SHUT UP!' when they ask us Irish about Ireland might help

AobhrÃl

I more hate America than Americans, you see when you's colonised America you's made a very messy job of it, when invading you have two options: Kill all previous inhabitants or blend invading culture(s) with Native, obviously you's failed at that. And how you's have such scant knowledge of anything outside America is scary,And then there's the thing where you's have a ton of cultures all mixed together at the same time which has created some freaky extremist groups eg kkk, radical feminists and biblebashers, then there's the gross materialism of the place and the fact that everybody has a therapist, I take that as a sign that America has failed. And then how could you forget that it is the fattest and most enviormentally damaging place in the world, and still, STILL it is idolised and Americanization is invading every corner of the globe!
And yet when you bring most Americans back to wherever their anscestors came from or whatever they're ok, they adapt, for most the crazyness stops, they blend, but while Americans are in America they are spreading their lifestyle through the media and it scares the crap outta me. This is my personal opinion, I am not representing the Irish people

Eddie F

The Irish do not hate the Americans. George Bush has brought shame upon a once great, respected nation.

I am sure, President Obama will repair America's tarnished reputation.

Ireland has historically, always shared a special relationship with the US.

Geek In The Pink. â™¥

I don't know..
I don't hate Americans.
My mother does.
"Their tv shows are brainwashing our children!!"
Don't ask.

Some Irish, as mentioned in Jay's answer, are irritated by American people claiming to be Irish when in fact it was their ancestors who were Irish. That kind of annoys me too but I would never HATE somebody because of that.

Disney is the Devil's Spawn.
And that comes from the US.

Oh and I hate Bush. A lot of Irish do. I can't wait for Obama to come into rule!
Maybe us Irish will have a better attitude towards America now that Obama (complete with Irish roots) is coming into rule.

= )

Cub!â„¢

I'm not racist; and I hate people who say 'oh I don't like him because he's a American, or African or Asian or from where ever.' I do hate George Bush but I think its great that your nation has taken on Barack Obama. You're all amazing for doing it and its another step towards ending racism! George Bush doesn't speak for the whole of America I know that so there's no reason to hate Americans just because of one person.

gaspipe

aw man we dont hate americans but we hate your government and i dont get why every body sues one another??? and your all very religious...!

crazygirl

I do not think that most Irish hate Americans to be honest with you. We may dislike your policies at times. But that is nothing much to do with the American people. A lot of Irish like Barack Obama, Bush not so much so. And a load of Americans have Irish blood. Yes I would say a lot of other countries do not like you but the Irish, I do not think so man. Your country created a lot of jobs in the past in Ireland.
Ye never attacked Ireland or brutally insulted our country. So why would we hate ye. I actually made two good American friends; both were intelligent and very nice. Some Americans may make some stupid statements but then again people from all over the whole world does this also.

Good luck maybe you should ask this question to an other country in the world.

The Questioner

Since when? Irish people do not dislike people from the United states, remember canadians are american also. However, we do not agree with a lot of your politics, and some of your fellow countrymen and women, do give a bad impression of the United States when they travel outside of the USA. Of course the same can also be said about some Irish people etc. because no people or nation is perfect. What you are or what faith you are does not concern us, that is your own business. Have you ever visited Ireland? if not why not come over and see us, and then voice your opinions.You may change your mind when you see us and not just go by what you may have heard. Slan Leat (goodbye)

Aimee M

Omg,are you kidding me?
I love the Americans!!
I've never been there but it's my dream to go to New York.
I don't hate them,and nobody I know does either.

Americans like Irish don't they?

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