What’s the difference…read the title. Beware: If you give too many opinons, this will be moved to GD, but most likely The Pit.
Irish Catholics are normal Roman Catholics. I suspect that the term “Irish Catholic” comes from Northern Ireland, and is opposed to “Irish Protestant”.
Thanks. Thought there might be a few doctrinal differences.
Catholics in Ireland are Roman Catholics . I’ve never heard the term used here in the south or in the north . I would guess it might be a way for Irish-Americans to say what their heritage is .
There are two sorts of people in the U.S. who have Irish ancestry, and they often want to distinguish themselves. Those who (sometimes) call themselves Irish Catholic have ancestors who lived in Ireland before the Scottish immigrants came to Northern Ireland (not long after 1600). They are (or their ancestors were) Roman Catholic as was all of Ireland before 1600. The other group of people refer to themselves (sometimes) as Scots Irish. They are (or their ancestors were) Protestants, and most are Presbyterians. They are descendants of the Scots settlers in Ireland.
Hijack for a joke:
Q–What is the definition of Irish Amnesia?
Answer–You forget everything; except the grudges.
The difference?
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About two quarts…
Wherever you see four Irish Catholics, you usually see a fifth.
mipsman
Hahahahahahaha (snif…) Thanks
It can also be used in a Catholic context to distinguish between Irish Catholics, and Italian Catholics (yes, there are non-Catholic Italians)and so on. The theology’s the same, but some traditions are specific to Catholics of a particular background.For example, the Italian Catholics aren’t particularly interested in St Patrick’s Day, and I’m sure the Irish Catholics aren’t too interested in St Joseph’s Day
As a descendant of Irish stock and a Catholic, I’m offended.
Why don’t you tell some jokes about Black people or Gay folks while your at it?
I’m not—and I’m Irish Catholic, too. These are jokes told by and for Irish Catholics–at least those with a good sense of humor.
Depends on the joke. There are plenty of jokes that blacks and gays tell among themselves that are the equivilent to the harmless ones you have worked yourself up over. Go pop open a Murphy’s–you’ll feel better…
Ed:
I see your point. Hopefully you see mine. If you don’t, go to MPSIMS and start a thread called “harmless black jokes,” and see what happens.
Yes, I do. I can only mention that in my opinion, most Irish Catholics would not be offended by those drinking jokes, and in fact (more often than not) they’d be the ones telling them.
I glanced through a book called “How To Tell If You’re Ghetto” which is basically a black version of “You Know You’re A Redneck When…” It’s clearly a book written by blacks and for blacks. Still, some jokes that many blacks would laugh at would be offensive to others. For example, there are blacks who object to people of their own race using the N-word.
Still, if you have to make a judgement call, it’s safer to joke about your own people than about other groups…
Wendell hit the nail on the head. I say I’m Irish Catholic not so much to point out that I’m Irish (that’s obvious just by looking at me) but that I’m Catholic (as opposed to Protestant).
LOL, Bosda, that was a good one. I’ve got to tell my Mom that one. 
FWIW, I’m not offended by any Irish or Catholic jokes (usually I’m the one telling them).
My Sullivan, Haney, and Anderson (whoops, the last were Protestants) ancestors would all have got a kick out of any such joke and would probably buy me a pint if I had another one. I made a point elsewhere that it is probably best if ethnic/religous jokes are told about one’s own group.
My parents were both immigrants from Ireland, so I feel qualified to comment on this. Previous posters identified the main point about saying Irish Catholic – to distinguish from those Irish non-Catholics (God Save ‘em, as Gran would have said :)). There are also local traditions, such as climbing certain hills on your knees and outdoor Stations of the Cross which are not typically found outside Ireland. In addition, there are some saints which are venerated in Ireland that are not part of the traditional Church calendar. Example: my saint’s name (required at baptism) is from a saint in the south of Ireland, who you will not find mentioned in any Lives of the Saints. Research speculates she was previously worshiped as a pagan goddess, and adopted – as so often happens – by the church. St. Gobnait, also known as Abina, is very popular in Cork and Kerry, and virtually unknown elsewhere.
And even the ones that you will find in the books of saints will be venerated to different degree by different groups. Any Italians out there (or any other non-Irish) ever hear of St. Brendon, or St. Coleman?
Fine. As requested, I will now tell a gay joke.
A pirate captain is getting ready to hijack a galleon, and he’s rallying his crew. “We’ll rape the men and rob the women!” he screams. His first mate blushes and says, “Um, don’t you mean we’ll rob the men and rape the women?” From the back of the crowd a voice pipes up: “Oh, leave him alone! He knowth what he’th doing!”
Now would a black person like to contribute a black joke?
So, Sassy, you’re referring to Bridgit, no? Actually she is a Saint -of the Culdee or Celtic Christian Church. And she wasa Pagan goddess, too.