I Love Being Irish!

My father's people were purportedly 'black Irish'; he had black hair, green eyes and dark skin. My sisters & I are all strawberry/green eyes/fair like our mom. Unfortunately, generations ago they left Ireland in the late 1890s after the famine and came to this cursed land (my great-grannie's description).

My love is a Flynn and you know what they say about Flynns? There's so many of 'em you have to spray for 'em.

We have visited Ireland and wished we could move back there, but if we brought all our Flynns the country would riot.

ISN,T IT AMAZING THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WHO CLAIM TO BE IRISH WHETHER ITS THROUGH THEIR GRANDPARENTS OR SUCH LIKE,BUT YET THEY DONT HOLD AN IRISH PASSPORT NOR A BIRTH CERTIFICATE,SO IN ALL THATS FAIR HOW THE HELL CAN YOU LAY CLAIM TO SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TOO,REGARDLESS OF WHO YOUR GRANDPARENTS WHERE OR HOW MANY CENTURIES THEY LEFT THESE SHORES,IF YOU WERE NOT BORN AND BREED IN IRELAND YOU AINT IRISH,AND THATS WHAT MATTERS,THATS WHY THE GOBSHITES IN NORTHERN IRELAND ARE BRITISH CITIZENS AND PLASTIC PADDIES,THE WERE NOT BORN ON IRISH SOIL SO THEY AINT IRISH,PERIOD.

I would suggest that it is highly dubious that the the dark features that some Irish people have is anything to do with the Spanish Armada. In fact recent genetic studies show the extremely close similarities between the Spanish and Irish. I am sure you are familiar with the Milsean invasion of Ireland in Irish mythology. well the Milseans more than likely came from Spain. So the link between Spain and Ireland goes a lot further back.

TrueCelt....I am sorry to see that you are still trolling this story and insisting on picking a fight over everything any of us say. A few have actually PM'd or WB'd me to talk because they didn't want YOU to make comments and rip them apart. I will give this as my last warning.....do not troll this story and continue your quest to make incendiary remarks. If you continue this behavior, I have no choice but to DELETE your remarks and block your trolling from my posts. This story was meant only to give those who are close to me on EP an idea of how "my family" celebrates a holiday, but you have run those friends off and I'm fed up.

As for "playful racism" and the promoting of it.....that is the very reason it continues in its most vile and putrid forms and why so many are hurt by it. To spread such a notion is harmful and I agree with Alluneedis and AutumnFrost77...THERE IS NO PLACE FOR RACISM OF ANY KIND and the word "playful" added to it doesn't make it any less disgusting.

I will ask you just once more to desist in your attempts to cause ill-will and hurt on this post or I will delete you and all your ugly comments.

Thank you

Thanks for the story passed on from your great-auntie, unQuenched, very interesting.



Not "playful racism" at all, but I could see how you might take it that way, Truecelt. Just a playful way of saying "shame on you for not wearing green". It is a very American thing, btw.

When I was a boy, my great-aunt explained to me why we pinch people for not wearing green on St. Pat's; "It used to be that people in Ireland were hanged for the wearing of the green, on any day, so, here, in the US, on this one day, we'll pinch those who won't wear it. It is not so harsh as the English way, but it is our day, and we want it to be honored."

I don't know how much 'fact' is in that, but it seems to be a lot of 'truth.'

Why not pinch it is fun for both if done in play (and not hard) :-) well now i know how to properly celebrate, i know our beer is thick and strong regardless of color , and i would like to see Ireland some day ...

I. for one, don't need an apology, my dear. It ruffled my feathers, too, to see someone purposely troll this lovely post over and over in order to incite an argument and make you feel as though you don't know what you are talking about. As GarciaMarquez said, it's easy to google and that's what the young man should have done before calling names and insulting those who celebrate differently than him.

Now, as for the pinching.....LOL, NJ is right, I can picture you with that giggle going and pinching the daylights out of someone! Glad to hear Brook and Belle taught you the "proper Italian pinch" ;) Hugs, DM

giggles4488 may sugest a movie for u? u should check out boondock saints its a irish movie and its very good

*runs in for HUGGIES* Thank you NJ, you KNOW I think your name is so lovely...brings a smile to my face each time I speak it! Lol, yes, as Woman In Bliss and others have said, there are many stories about the Spanish and don't know what is true or not....one thing I know for sure, someone in my family thought those Spaniards where pretty hot because they married into the fam!! As for my "plastic glowing saber spoon....Tahaha, yep, I can swing that thing but as you say, that is ANOTHER story for ANOTHER time =D Now for your "lingering question"....Oh I've been known to pinch a few folks but it has nada to do with being Irish , lol, it's just a little something I picked up from my Italian sisters, Brooklynchick and Belle!!

Thank you, GarciaMarquez and WIB, for your thoughtful comment. I was not feeling my best and allowed someone to drag me into his argument and I apologize for that. I only meant to relate the traditions in my family with this post, not force anyone to celebrate as I do. Bright blessings, Giggles.

Isn't Google wonderful:-



"Saint Patrick's color was blue, not green, say historians. The hue — St. Patrick's blue, a lighter shade — can still be seen on ancient Irish flags and was used on armbands and flags by members of the Irish Citizen Army, whose 1916 Easter Rising attempted to end British rule. But the use of green on St. Patrick's Day began during the 1798 Irish Rebellion, when the clover became a symbol of nationalism and the "wearing of the green" on lapels became regular practice. The green soon spread to uniforms as well. That evolution, combined with the idea of Ireland's lush green fields, eventually made blue a thing of the past."



As an Irishman, that comes as a surprise. But it means that it is perfectly possible that amongst emigrant Irish communities the association of blue with an Irish heritage survived and continues to survive long after it has died away in Ireland. This happens. On this side of the Atlantic we (or at least the older generations) criticise Americans for using 'good' as an adverb as in 'I'm feeling good' rather than 'I'm feeling well' when, in fact, good was used in this sense here until a few hundred years ago and we changed its usage. The change simply didn't catch on in North America. Now we are adopting, or reverting to, the American usage.



Sometimes things are not black and white. We need to listen very carefully to what people say and try to understand where they are coming from before we indulge in name calling. And that applies to both sides of this discussion.

Hello Giggles. I was born and raised in Ireland and I understood exactly what you were saying. Unlike truecelt, I know the national colour of my home country is St. Patrick Blue. I also had no problem understanding that you weren't saying you are the authority and we all have to celebrate as you do. You wrote a good post on YOUR traditions handed down through your Irish family. Sorry to see someone was so thin-skinned and called you a plastic paddy, that was truly uncalled for. You didn't say, far as I can see, that anything is widely practiced .... you simply gave us a look into the way you celebrate in your household. It doesn't take much to see you were writing about your own celebration. It amazes me when I see someone who professes to be well educated not be able to understand a simple yet interesting post and they decide to school you. Lol, he looks quite foolish to those of us who know our national colour. And by the way, my parents and relatives who still live in Ireland celebrate very much as you do.

*smiles at AF* He certainly gets my vote for "goon of the day on EP". I'm a lot older than either you or Giggles and my old Ma was 100% Irish. She wore St. Patrick Blue and had many of the old customs Giggles mentioned. The very young don't seem to understand that they have actually taken on the customs of immigrants to the U.S. The green beer, the dyed rivers, the wearing green would be anathema to the Old Ones. They quietly celebrated St. Patrick's Day by going to the local pub, that's true, but it was a family affair and had nothing to do with wearing green jerseys and swilling green beer. As for his name calling? How sad but I suppose that's how he gets his jollies here each day. You're right, HE IS DISMISSED!

I couldn't agree with you more, Miss Giggles!! My mother was born and raised in Ireland and her traditions she passed down to me are the same as those your Irish family passed on to you. Look at it this way (I do!)..... some people just have to show their butt and brag that we aren't really Irish and they call us the very names they are offended by and DON'T wish to be called. They are blisters on the backside of life and to be ignored. He should do a bit of searching through his own ancestry before spouting lessons and calling you names. Lol, he gets my vote for "goon" of the day on EP. Had the miscreant bothered to speak to you before commenting, he'd have understood these are old traditions passed on from our ancient ones and we honor them. He is "dismissed" as far as I"m concerned, ignore him.

plenty of black irish living in and around dublin. I was born in galway and now live in liverpool and can understand your pride in being irish, I will always be irish wherever I live. chara

Ah, but you're probably a black protestant, WiB, an expression that is all too familiar. There are various myths about Spanish sailors. One is that they raped and impregnated local women, another that they settled and intermarried. As for the Armada, I think the truth is that the sailors who were washed ashore when their ships floundered were robbed and slaughtered but I'll check that. I may be doing us an injustice.

Hi Giggles. The term "Black Irish" is not one I've heard before. You are meaning the fair skin, dark eyes and dark hair I assume? Maybe it's a term used in the USA. Here in Ireland I've not heard it used, but perhaps it's just not common around here. I from England originally but live in the West of Ireland these days (for the past six years) not far from Galway. There are lots of people with dark hair around which is always reckoned to have come from the Spanish Armada. There are quite a few people around this area who have Irish as their first language too which is interesting and it gives their English a wonderful lilt when spoken. It's a lovely part of the world ... I recommend a visit!!

Hahaha, exactly my girl !! I never try to speak a language I know nothing about cause I'd be caught in a heartbeat ;) Google translators are good, but mostly for one word here or there.

HUGS AND SMILES ......YOU'RE PRETTY AWESOME YOURSELF ;)

Love you!!!!!

*giggle-giggle at the first comment* Sounds like something I'd try, but would feel too stupid if caught out. =P

You're so awesome, Mom! =D

Lol, Miss Dragon, you just never know, I could be a bit Transylvanian. I often feel like Dracula came to dinner and stayed! You know I will help in any way that I can. I love researching through family histories!!!



Miss AE, YIPPEE, I love history lessons and this was great. Yep, I have read the same about the "tiny" Britons, Scots, and Irish..... I got an EXTRA dollop of "shortness" out of the deal!! The search for the Celts spans across the globe it seems. I know that Miss AF is Spanish Celt. To the north in Spain was a fairly large congregation of them by all accounts from archeologists. Teehee.... I figure that's why I am soooooooo attracted to the Butterscotch of it all..... must be a couple of them in the fam.



Thank you both for your comments and Bright Blessings to you!

Despite our disparate backgrounds, my sisters, our commonality seems to be Ireland! My maternal great grandmother was from Gallway and as I research it looks like my Dad's people were from the north, probably Ulster Co. Hence, my parents perpetual bickering, lol! I think that Katfather's comments are probably true as the research I have done says that the native Britons and Irish and Scots were all small and dark....splains why we're so small, MsG! The ever wandering Celts were the light-skinned, light-haired and light-eyed people that wandered onto the islands and decided to settle. Some of my research states that the Celts originated in central Europe around what is now Austria but there has been some archeological evidence that has placed them in central Asia as well. The Celts had a unique burial style and of course the red hair gives them away. There are Celtic burials in as far away as modern day Ukraine. Archeologists are trying to determine whether the Celts originated there and were known as the ancient Scythians or whether they traded along the Silk Road. Little history lesson for the day, lol! :)

The last comment tickled me, you are the fairest of the fair! If I didn't know better, I'd say you were "Transylvanian" little Giggles ;) You must help me with my search for my Irish ancestors, you know so many paths to reach back for information and I'd so appreciate it. My daughter and I , of late, wish to know my mother's family. Bright blessings and love, DragonM

Lol, Smurfymurfy, no offense was taken. I think, perhaps "Black Irish" is more of a common term here where I live in the U.S. My Grandmother came from County Clare in Ireland and I've traced our lineage back to find Spanish names (hence the term Black Irish).... we have the dark hair and dark brown eyes of the Spanish but the fair complexion of the beautiful Irish. Blessings for your day and thank you for your comments ;) Giggles

Oh sorry you said above that you have "a fair complexion" i was wondering there for a minute, thought I missed an entire sector of our population, yeah the Irish ethnicities can be so easily traced that I'm sure you have found exactly where you have come from, Before this post I've never heard of the expression "Black Irish" though....learn something new everyday! xo

When you say 'black Irish' do you mean you are black?! I don't mean this in a racist way or anything, I'm the furthest thing from a racist I'm just confused as to what you mean? What part of Ireland are you from exactly? I have yet to meet a black person who's lineage goes back that far within Ireland, and I'm born and bread here.... xo

Thank you so much for your comment, I love it when I meet someone else who has studied their heritage and knows something besides "leprechauns and wearing green", lol. Like your Dad, my Dad and his brother looked very Spanish when summer rolled around. I have the dark hair and eyes, but I have the fair Irih complexion and don't tan at all!

I was fascinated by them dying their skin purple to go to war.... hmm...I would imagine that was a scary sight! Thanks for sharing this "Cousin" :) beannaithe ort ....

My father was as Black Irish as they come. Many a time while working in Mexico he was mistaken as a native with his dark skin and deep black hair.

While I do believe a small amount of the Black Irish come from the Irish's ever love of the five finger discount and the supreme ''sale'' taken advantage of in 1588, my own research suggest that most of them come from a lot earlier. My families recorded history goes back a very long ways and even in the 1400s my family members are described as ''dark skinned'' (of course, they're also described as ''dark hearted'' too, but I haven't the time to talk about that here..Thank God.) When the modern Celt came to Erie, according to their legends, an older people were already there (yes, besides the Leprechauns). we know now that's true, and they are known now as the ''Picts'', a race of people who lived at one time all around the Mediterranean. I, like many other historians, believe that the Black Irish dark skin comes mostly from them, since they were described as a ''Dark people'' (Sometimes even darker. When going to war, they used to dye their skin purple. Guess they were too scared of being misplaced if they did green) This seems very possible to me. Lord knows we screwed everybody..

Thank you for your story ''Cousin''

Thank you newfriend1, I will be sure to look him up :)

one of Ireland fav sons is a soccer player call Paul Mc Grath known as the "black peal of Innochior" the man is a ledgend in Ireland. Look him up