Why do people of Irish ancestry in England identify differently?

[DasEnglischesWetter]

In England, there are many people of Irish ancestry. But, how come some of them identify strongly with the UK and say things like “ I’m English/British not Irish”?

By contrast, others do not identify as English or British and identify more strongly with Ireland and with Irish causes like Irish unification.

I know that different people would naturally have different views, but what do you think motivates or causes these different views to come about?

There is a long history between England/the UK and Ireland which hasn’t been entirely pleasant, but why would the Irish diaspora in England have these differing views?

Because Irish people don’t share one single hive mind.

Are you the person behind the weird ‘how can there be an English identity when people eat differently in Lancashire and Essex’ thread?

My own large family largely emigrated to the UK and my extensive family are largely British.

Their family members coped with emigrating at a time of extremely high tensions between Ireland and the UK in different ways.

Some became more British than the British others clung onto their Irish heritage. Also many of them emigrated before they were even adults and had to figure out these responses by themselves with little support.

Respectfully, @DasEnglischesWetter -- your questions are increasingly coming to resemble those of an alien who has just landed on earth and has some odd obsessions with whether university is like school, and Ireland, Scotland and Wales' and their possible relationships to England, not to mention a lot of odd questions about regional identities within England.

I suggest you read up on NI in general, and see if you can understand why people in NI identify as Irish or British or Northern Irish, and why they're entitled to both passports. Because I don't think you are actually asking about the Irish diaspora.

Why would we have differing views?

Maybe it's because we're all different people?

Spoiler alert: We're not all addicted to potatoes and Guinness either ☘ 🥔

Yes, same poster. And the 'Is university like six form college? Do your teachers know you, or do they not look enthusiastic when they give you a good mark because they don't know you?' poster.

One hopes they're very, very young.

And the how nice are university teachers thread, the how low do you bow when you meet Prince George and several other plain odd threads!

I have Irish ancestry. Mixed with Welsh and a bit of Anglo-Saxon.

I find it quite odd that you would expect me to share the same views as everyone else with Irish descent. Presumably you would recognise that even Irish people in Ireland will hold diverse perspectives and opinions?

Heritage is only ever one part of a person's identity and experience, and their views will inevitably be shaped by multiple factors. So your question is fundamentally flawed in my view.

I am, approximately: 1/4 Irish, 1/4 Welsh, 1/8 Scottish and the rest English. Is it okay with you that I identify as British?

Could it be a rogue AI bot asking these questions?

How many generations back are we talking here? I have some Irish ancestry, from one great-grandparent.

Oh God, it's you again. Haven't you got anything else to do with your time @DasEnglischesWetter?

DH was born in London of Irish immigrant parents. He identifies as Irish. 1) Because it’s his choice and 2) because it’s true. HTH

I don't think @DasEnglischesWetter does nuance.

God help us -- our AI overlords are total oddballs, who want to know if university lecturers recognise and are nice to their students, and whether the people of Lancashire identify with the people of Devon?

AI?

Is that Artificial Idiot?