# 10th generation Americans claiming they're Irish **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 5, 2003, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10th-generation-americans-claiming-theyre-irish/199736 "2003-09-05T15:55:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10th-generation-americans-claiming-theyre-irish/199736/141 "2014-05-13T04:24:36Z")
Well, basically around here, if you live in Allegheny county, you’re from Pittsburgh. That’s just how it is. People familiar with the area might ask you what part of Pittsburgh you’re from, but you’re still considered “from Pittsburgh”, even if you’re not from “dahntahn” proper. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10th-generation-americans-claiming-theyre-irish/199736/142 "2014-05-13T04:29:59Z")
> [@brainfizz](#): > > **10th generation Americans claiming they’re Irish** Irish-Americans are those whom St. Patrick’s Day is **for,** and always was; it has never been a big deal in Ireland. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10th-generation-americans-claiming-theyre-irish/199736/143 "2014-05-13T04:31:31Z")
> [@Bruce\_Daddy](#): > > My full name is Lee Duncan Bruce. Wanna guess my ancestry? I’m descended from a very famous Scotsman and for some odd reason I’m very proud of all of this. I’m also proud to be an [American!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=209244) > > Your Scottish-American friend, > **Bruce\_Daddy** But arre ye a **True** Scotsman?! ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10th-generation-americans-claiming-theyre-irish/199736/144 "2014-05-13T04:33:26Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > I’m descended from dead people. And most of them not even people. But all of them supreme badasses, including the bacteria, as evidenced by their having descendants now living. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10th-generation-americans-claiming-theyre-irish/199736/145 "2014-05-13T08:56:55Z")
For me, it’s always basically been the opposite of the OP’s complaint. I often have to mention that “I’m only one-eighth Irish, despite the very Irish last name [which you can guess].” My son is only one-sixteenth, and of course he’s hot the last name, too. Don’t get me wrong – I love Ireland. I lived there for four months, 24 years ago, just before it went from rags to riches (and then halfway back again). When I tell people this, it’s more half-apologetically, or perhaps to explain why I don’t have pale skin and blue eyes (not that even real Irish don’t come in a wide range of physical types, but you know what I mean.) ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10th-generation-americans-claiming-theyre-irish/199736/146 "2014-05-13T10:22:28Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > And most of them not even people. But all of them supreme badasses, including the bacteria, as evidenced by their having descendants now living. But how good were they at crypto ? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10th-generation-americans-claiming-theyre-irish/199736/147 "2014-05-13T10:37:24Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > [QUOTE=The Other Waldo Pepper] > I’m descended from dead people. And most of them not even people. [/QUOTE] I’ll thank you to keep my mother’s side of the family out of this. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10th-generation-americans-claiming-theyre-irish/199736/148 "2014-05-13T11:18:15Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > “I’m only one-eighth Irish, despite the very Irish last name [which you can guess].” Map? ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10th-generation-americans-claiming-theyre-irish/199736/149 "2014-05-13T11:37:50Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Map? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10th-generation-americans-claiming-theyre-irish/199736/150 "2014-05-13T12:50:02Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Irish-Americans are those whom St. Patrick’s Day is **for,** and always was; it has never been a big deal in Ireland. This is simply untrue, at least in the last century or more, it’s the national holiday for Ireland for Christ’s (or Patrick’s) sake. Its significance does seem to have been bolstered by diasporic communities but it has been celebrated with parades etc. in Irish towns and cities for many, many, years. Plus we get a day off. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10th-generation-americans-claiming-theyre-irish/199736/151 "2014-05-13T13:13:03Z")
I’m not sure if you realize what a big deal it is here. It’s probably the fourth-most-observed “holiday” after Christmas, Thanksgiving and Independence Day (notwithstanding the fact that “observing” the day here basically means putting on something green and getting shitfaced, maybe with some parade watching in between.) I often wonder if Americans of British descent should start celebrating St. George’s Day by… I don’t know, neglecting some overseas possessions and drinking tea. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10th-generation-americans-claiming-theyre-irish/199736/152 "2014-05-13T13:48:14Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > This is simply untrue, at least in the last century or more, it’s the national holiday for Ireland for Christ’s (or Patrick’s) sake. Its significance does seem to have been bolstered by diasporic communities but it has been celebrated with parades etc. in Irish towns and cities for many, many, years. Plus we get a day off. I’ll take your word for that, but I’m sure it was Irish in America who first came up with the idea of making a big ethnic holiday out of St. Paddy’s feast-day. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10th-generation-americans-claiming-theyre-irish/199736/153 "2014-05-13T15:09:22Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > (And God forbid, even on these boards I once mentioned visiting my New York friend in Hoboken, I was immediately chastised and informed that Hoboken is not NYC, This board is full of pendantic anal assholes. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10th-generation-americans-claiming-theyre-irish/199736/154 "2014-05-13T15:29:48Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Irish-Americans are those whom St. Patrick’s Day is **for,** and always was; it has never been a big deal in Ireland. What period are you talking about? It has certainly been a big deal all my 43 years. [https://www.google.ie/search?q=st+patricks+day+dublin&client=firefox-a&hs=Tgv&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=sb&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=HDpyU6f3DoKq0QXXg4GoCA&ved=0CAgQ\_AUoAQ&biw=1184&bih=597](https://www.google.ie/search?q=st+patricks+day+dublin&client=firefox-a&hs=Tgv&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=sb&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=HDpyU6f3DoKq0QXXg4GoCA&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1184&bih=597) It’s a 3 day festival nowadays. > **[St. Patrick’s Festival](https://stpatricksfestival.ie/)** > > St. Patrick’s Festival, the largest celebration of Irish Culture and Heritage in the world! ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10th-generation-americans-claiming-theyre-irish/199736/155 "2014-05-13T15:33:23Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > I’ll take your word for that, but I’m sure it was Irish in America who first came up with the idea of making a big ethnic holiday out of St. Paddy’s feast-day. AFAIK you’re right. That doesn’t mean that we didn’t take that ball and run with it. Dublin shuts down for the day and hits the streets. Most of the parks in the city have events and a lot of streets are closed for events and fairground rides etc. It’s huge nowadays and not just a parade. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10th-generation-americans-claiming-theyre-irish/199736/156 "2014-05-13T18:40:51Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > This board is full of pendantic anal assholes. To be fair, I don’t think it’s a board thing as much as a New Yorker thing. The attitude exists to some extent in Chicago (I still remember the “No 708ers” tee-shirts in the mid-to-late 80s, when Chicago and the suburbs split into 312 and 708 area codes), but New Yorkers take geographic chauvinism it to a new level. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10th-generation-americans-claiming-theyre-irish/199736/157 "2014-05-13T19:05:04Z")
I don’t know how well it flies with residents, but people who gather statistics often will gather them for “the greater BigassCity metropolitan area.” Hard to tell where that kind of area stops, though, unless they provide a map. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10th-generation-americans-claiming-theyre-irish/199736/158 "2014-05-14T00:48:23Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I’m not sure if you realize what a big deal it is here. It’s probably the fourth-most-observed “holiday” after Christmas, Thanksgiving and Independence Day (notwithstanding the fact that “observing” the day here basically means putting on something green and getting shitfaced, maybe with some parade watching in between.) I realise fine, my point of issue was that it wasn’t a big deal in Ireland, it is, HUGE. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10th-generation-americans-claiming-theyre-irish/199736/159 "2014-05-14T00:58:22Z")
I thought _everyone_ was Irish on St. Patrick’s Day. My Arkansas grandmother’s maiden name was Patrick. Not sure how many generations ago they left for America, but it was pre-famine, judging by some of the gravestones I’ve seen in which they list death dates before that time. But having a Germanic surname and paternal ancestry from Switzerland, I identify more with that, but I never go around saying I’m Swiss. That would create all manner of confusion in Thailand, but I didn’t even do it back Stateside either. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10th-generation-americans-claiming-theyre-irish/199736/160 "2014-05-14T04:28:46Z")
[Oh, we’ll drink and drink and drink and drink and drink and drink Then we’ll fight and fight and fight and fight and fight and fight and fight!](https://screen.yahoo.com/irish-songs-000000345.html) Faith and Gomorrah, call 1-800-FLOTHERED! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10th-generation-americans-claiming-theyre-irish/199736.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10th-generation-americans-claiming-theyre-irish/199736.md?page=9)