Ah you're a Catholic!

Yes I also want to clarify I’m a Roman Catholic of (very recent and on both sides) Irish descent, although I consider myself English.

dupe

I have to say I agree with this. As I’ve said I have Irish parents and spent a fair amount of time there- so I don’t say this as criticism but as sort of arms length observation.

Irish people have recently been infected with the same far right facism that has infected pretty much all of Europe. They’re not immune to it, and it’s growing.

irish people have always had a reputation for being incredibly welcoming, part of the reason it’s such a popular tourist destination. However, the reality was there was little immigration, particularly by refugees or asylum seekers. That began to happen when Ireland became richer, more easily accessed and had more opportunities.

it’s become clear that when they feel something is being taken, they can be as unkind and as unwelcoming as the British, French, Germans, swedes etc.

I have to say I agree with this. As I’ve said I have Irish parents and spent a fair amount of time there- so I don’t say this as criticism but as sort of arms length observation.

Irish people have recently been infected with the same far right facism that has infected pretty much all of Europe. They’re not immune to it, and it’s growing.

irish people have always had a reputation for being incredibly welcoming, part of the reason it’s such a popular tourist destination. However, the reality was there was little immigration, particularly by refugees or asylum seekers. That began to happen when Ireland became richer, more easily accessed and had more opportunities.

it’s become clear that when they feel something is being taken, they can be as unkind and as unwelcoming as the British, French, Germans, swedes etc.

I have to say I agree with this. As I’ve said I have Irish parents and spent a fair amount of time there- so I don’t say this as criticism but as sort of arms length observation.

Irish people have recently been infected with the same far right facism that has infected pretty much all of Europe. They’re not immune to it, and it’s growing.

irish people have always had a reputation for being incredibly welcoming, part of the reason it’s such a popular tourist destination. However, the reality was there was little immigration, particularly by refugees or asylum seekers. That began to happen when Ireland became richer, more easily accessed and had more opportunities.

it’s become clear that when they feel something is being taken, they can be as unkind and as unwelcoming as the British, French, Germans, swedes etc.

I have to say I agree with this. As I’ve said I have Irish parents and spent a fair amount of time there- so I don’t say this as criticism but as sort of arms length observation.

Irish people have recently been infected with the same far right facism that has infected pretty much all of Europe. They’re not immune to it, and it’s growing.

irish people have always had a reputation for being incredibly welcoming, part of the reason it’s such a popular tourist destination. However, the reality was there was little immigration, particularly by refugees or asylum seekers. That began to happen when Ireland became richer, more easily accessed and had more opportunities.

it’s become clear that when they feel something is being taken, they can be as unkind and as unwelcoming as the British, French, Germans, swedes etc.

I have to say I agree with this. As I’ve said I have Irish parents and spent a fair amount of time there- so I don’t say this as criticism but as sort of arms length observation.

Irish people have recently been infected with the same far right facism that has infected pretty much all of Europe. They’re not immune to it, and it’s growing.

irish people have always had a reputation for being incredibly welcoming, part of the reason it’s such a popular tourist destination. However, the reality was there was little immigration, particularly by refugees or asylum seekers. That began to happen when Ireland became richer, more easily accessed and had more opportunities.

it’s become clear that when they feel something is being taken, they can be as unkind and as unwelcoming as the British, French, Germans, swedes etc.

I also find these accusations of racism hilarious in the context that England is FAR more diverse than Ireland, and accepted far more immigration than Ireland before the far right lunatic marches started. Ireland already has them, despite minuscule levels of immigration and a population 10 times smaller than ours. Draw your own conclusions 🤷‍♀️

I try to think the best of people but time and time again, these ‘I just want to comment on something about English people as an Irish person…’ is just an excuse to start yet another thread having a pop at England, how racist/colonialist/imperialist we all are, how Ireland/Scotland/Wales are just better countries full of better and more enlightened people, blah blah…

Yet you all live here.

🤷‍♀️

(disclaimer - does not apply to all or even most Irish/Scottish/Welsh, but there is a hardcore whose entire identity seems to rely on ‘being better than the English’)

🙄

It is ignorance. In my twenties I moved to London (am from a typical English rural county town) I offended a person from NI by referring to another person from Ireland as 'proper irish'. It was a light hearted comment meaning no ill will at all. I was shocked by the reaction and didn't understand it.

Later I learned about the history and started to read more about politics. It is amazing to me now to remember that I knew absolutely nothing about any of it. How could that be? I wasn't taught, I wasn't brought up to be curious to find out stuff for myself. It is embarrassing but now I find this very useful to remember, when I wonder how people can hold certain opinions or vote in certain ways, what it is like to grow up in some places in the UK.

Hopefully education has improved a lot but I think it depends on the parents to actually have conversations with their kids and if those parents (I am 40) are ignorant like I was then those kids will perpetuate these attitudes. I think this is why we are so gullible to the uk press and whatever bull they want us to believe. There is a delightful sort of irony in English attitudes that claim a superior smug know-it-all better than everyone else attitude when the opposite is true. This thwn leads to an inclination to bully and point out difference in people.

I will be flamed so hard for this post but sick of watching you be told your experience is impossible

St Thomas was one of the apostles. He set up the church in India. There have been Christian communities in India and Asia for as long as Europe. The Roman Catholic church tried to take them over but the syro Malabar Catholic churches now often coexist with the Roman Catholic churches. I'm also ethnicity Indian with Catholic heritage. I don't live in London and the most ethnically diverse place I go is church! @Cyclebabble that's is disgusting that someone told you to leave a church!

If we are talking Armenia regarding churches then they aren't Asian.

To be fair Irish tar English people in the same way.

2021 census shows that the UK is no longer a Christian majority country (only 46.2%)

Yes every single Irish person is a catholic and lives in a Father Ted like parish.

I grew up in Glasgow where it was always assumed I was a Catholic based on my surname.

im not.

In from Northern Ireland and the majority of people's identity growing up was either you are a Catholic or a Protestant. But then our schools are either Catholic schools or state (we used to view them as protestant schools). I would presume most southern Irish people come from a catholic background (though not necessarily practicing). Obviously as times move on that is changing and evolving but I don't think it's strange to assume but probably strange to mention it.

What odd people you go out with, OP. I have never heard or made such a remark about anybody, and that includes a time when I was working and socialising with a group including quite a few Irish people. England is such a secular country, it seems to be the norm not to have any kind of religious affiliation. Just did a mental review of our social circle and I can't think of anyone who goes to church, even at Christmas or Easter.

Fascinating that this has caused debate.

The people saying that to you are fucking weird, OP.

I'm from a European country and I get some stereotyping comments as well albeit positive ones I guess (nothing to do with religion). I would just smile and say:
"No, Ellen, Not all..
french women are thin and don't wash
Italians know how to cook
Scandinavian women are blond and blue-eyed
Irish women are ginger
Asian people are muslims
Spanish women are hairy
British women are sleeping around on holidays (from another thread about stereotypes)"

They will probably then feel stupid for making assumptions ..

Even today with the numbers substantially reduced, up to 70% of the population of Ireland are Catholic. And it was higher.

It's not a particularly crazy assumption. Although after the not unreasonable assumption you probably are even though you arent, it is maybe going a little further than I would have expected with the examples you mention.

Probability-wise, since Christians are 2% of India, Hindu or Muslim are more likely guesses- but people shouldn't be guessing, if they're curious they could ask...

I don’t practice any religion and had that happen to me when I moved from the north of England to the south!! The same person said it must be nice to have in inside toilet now I was living in the south 🤷‍♀️

I am ethnically Indian. My family is Christian. People always assume I am a Hindu or Muslim. It is a bit of racial stereotyping, but I rarely find it annoying. I did have someone ask me to leave a Church once as this is “not a place for you”. I was keen to point out that there were Churches in Asia before there were Churches in Europe.