Ah you're a Catholic!

Do they really?
I very much doubt that the CoE or association with it is the first or even the hundred and eleventh thing that would be assumed about a British person, and it is certainly well down the list of items anyone would think of in relation to Britain.

Only someone who had never bothered to look up Ireland or Ireland's history, culture, and literature would have the lazy and completely unexamined impression that the Irish are all Catholics.

I find that shocking. We are neighbours after all, and a part of the island is a constituent part of the United Kingdom.of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The rest of the island was a constituent part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until about 105 years ago.

I also find it interesting that you think people associate Spain or Italy with Catholicism. This would only be relevant to someone who came from a Reformation-influenced cultural tradition.

Well you have just confirmed what I stated you were alluding to as you think kids should be taught about Irish racism in schools presumably because you experienced it.

You are good at stirring up division I'll give you that.

You have posted about racist incidents on this thread and how the kids need to be taught about racism so I assumed you meant to educate them against racism towards Irish people otherwise why would you mention it. Do you honestly think racism is not covered in schools?

What? I was answering the thread on AIBU. Yes, I think they are being.

If we are discussing motivations I think there are many to whip up divisions and hate.

Well no, that’s not actually historically accurate - unless you are from Dublin/The Pale and were raised CoI/Jewish/other minority religion, the Catholic Church held an almighty sway on Irish society, particularly education. I too am of similar age (slightly younger) and would be interested to know what free spirited school you and so many others went to, as it simply doesn’t tally with historic reality I’m afraid.

No I haven't I was surprised about the racist incidents from kids that have the knowledge and historical appreciation to be racist towards an Irish person as you were calling for it to be tackled in schools. It is in PSHE lessons but I don't think they teach kids about racism towards Irish people. It will be about all the racist incidents that are probably to do with skin colour and islamaphobia and anti-Semitism.

@Goldenbear

What is your purpose in posting on this thread?

I have my own ideas based on your posts, but I'd like to see yours.

Why would you be so shocked, I don't get it, it's not that shocking that people relate Catholicism to Ireland like they do with Italy, Spain? People think of CofE with the UK as we have a constitutional monarchy

I'm not the OP, obv, but I am Irish, and I can say for myself that my own intense annoyance would.come from being stereotyped.

Oh you're Irish so you must be ... (fill in the blank).

Stereotyping is inherently racist.

I grew up in early 90s Ireland as a child of an Irish mother and foreign father, I was treated better back then than recently in modern day diverse England.
Being diverse does not make your country welcoming, just look at USA, a melting pot of every culture you can think of with the majority of the population coming from immigrant backgrounds yet despite it all the racism and hatred is off the scale.

My time in England it was made clear to me that being anything other than white English was unwelcome, ironically for all your diversity you're far less accepting than many nations who are less diverse.

Google racist incidents in Ireland what does it come up with?

Racist incidents of Irish people or racist incidents that are about anti-semitism, islamaphobia and skin colour?

Baby groups aren't tied to the church they are 9 times out of 10 due to having a church hall, that is completely disingenuous. You must live in a very traditional area then.

I'd just say "Thanks, but I'm not". I wouldn't be offended, flattered, or take it personally at all.

Actually, I may well ask 'em what led them to think so, given I have none of what might be standard markers for Islam. Loads of people have assumed I'm Jewish, though. I either say I'm not Jewish or say nothing. I don't care.

I think you've missed the point a PP made about the pervasiveness of Catholicism in Ireland. It's a feature of your identity, purely by virtue of having grown up surrounded by it. Therefore, perhaps, you care more about NOT being Catholic than we would.

That's what the stats state. Fair enough they don't reflect your experiences but why do you and others on this thread have this really peculiar and totally unreal notion of England, it is just not reflective of most people's experiences in cities especially, people are not shocked by diversity, it just isn't uncommon at all. I only know one person who has English heritage going back through both families.

Have you ever lived in Britain as church attendance is not high at all. Weddings and funerals are certainly not all in churches anymore.

The idea of Britain on his thread seems to be one from watching a drama set in the 50s like All Creatures Great and Small. My school and everyone I know was more like Grange Hill than Malory Towers and the area I lived in in West London was more like the comedy People Just Do Nothing with pirate radio and Garage music playing in most teenage rooms!