To say I'm half Irish

[Winederlust]

Just wanted to settle a petty argument between DH and I.
I was born in England. As was my mum. My dad also. However both his parents were born in ROI. They moved to the UK as young adults and met, married and settled with a family in England.
I think that, although my dad was born in England, he is full blooded Irish. Which in turn makes me half Irish. My DH reckons I'm quarter at best.
Not a big deal in the grand scheme of things but just interested in the general MN population's thoughts?

@Chinchinatti to answer your question, many Scots wouldn't identify with being 'British' or being described that way even if we are legally.

I would certainly always say I am Scottish although I might occasionally say 'British' in passing. I had this conversation with my English friend once. She said she would never say she is British, she is 'English'. I feel the same way as a Scottish person.

" many Scots wouldn't identify with being 'British' or being described that way even if we are legally."

As a Welsh person I'm the same. I will fill in British on an official form if I have to just to avoid problems, but I don't identify with it personally.

I don't get annoyed at being called British by other people though, but I do at getting called English, except if it's from genuine ignorance in the real sense of the word.

I would certainly always say I am Scottish although I might occasionally say 'British' in passing. I had this conversation with my English friend once. She said she would never say she is British, she is 'English'. I feel the same way as a Scottish person

I am the opposite! I always associate "English" with the EDL, National Front, football hooligans and drunken louts abroad in Magaluf... (I'm half joking, but I do always refer to myself as "British")

"I am the opposite! I always associate "English" with the EDL, National Front, football hooligans and drunken louts abroad in Magaluf... (I'm half joking, but I do always refer to myself as "British")"

Yes, this is more common among English people than among Scottish and Welsh people.
There's been research done on it and also with the intersections with Remain and Brexit voters, which is pretty interesting.

On last year's St George's Day I posted Happy St George's Day and tagged my English friends. A few of them answered that they're not English when they clearly are, but they obviously felt it had been tainted.

I find it weird when english people say they are british. But im irish so i am missing whatever makes people skip the closest identifier and pick a less specific one.

Id very rarely say im european. There could be context of course.

I describe myself as half Irish. Dad born in Ireland to Irish parents. Mum born in London to Irish born parents. Basically everyone bar my mum and me were born in Ireland. But you should identify how you like.

YOUR heritage is the country you were born in.
It's acceptable for you to say your father is irish I guess.
Irish people wouldnt say you were half irish, I know that for sure!

@Frankola - Irish people wouldnt say you were half irish, I know that for sure!

I'm Irish and I would describe her as half Irish 🤷‍♀️

YOUR heritage is the country you were born in.

I disagree. Heritage: 1. something inherited at birth, such as personal characteristics, status, and possessions

1. anything that has been transmitted from the past or handed down by tradition

If your tradition is from somewhere other than the country you were born in, then your heritage is not of that country.

I was born in England. My parents were born and bred in Ireland and moved back when I was 2. I can assure you that my heritage is not in any way, shape or form connected to England.

YOUR heritage is the country you were born in

I disagree too. My parents were born in the UK. My Grandparents were not. I count their birth country as part of my heritage. I wouldn't claim to be "from" there, but it's part of my families story. (and I could claim citizenship if I wanted, although I haven't). So while I may be culturally British, I feel I am also a very small part of somewhere else- even if they might not feel the same!

It's a very personal thing, though. Wars have been fought over tiny scraps of land and nationality, so it's important to a lot of people.

I would say that I'm half Scottish as my dad was Scottish. I feel a real affinity with the country too. Got married there. Holiday there, would actually LOVE to move there., But if my dad was born here, and my mum was born here, I would be 100% English.

YOUR heritage is the country you were born in

I wouldn't agree with this.

One of my grannies was born in South America to Irish/Anglo-Irish parents and moved to Ireland before her teens, spent a few years living with aunts, then was sent to finishing schools in Paris and Bavaria. She married an (Irish) Indian Army officer, and gave birth to four of her children in what was then 'India', some in what is now Pakistan. All of those people considered themselves Irish, even the Army officer who served the Crown and later joined the Sinn Fein party (post 1916). All but one qualified for Irish passports - the exception was one of my India-born uncles who through a perfect storm of 'wrong time and place to be born' found himself effectively stateless and happy to settle and work in the only country that would give passports to him and his wife (who was born in Peru to a British diplomat and his wife and considered herself English) and children (born in Argentina, Malawi, Uganda, and South Africa).

Your heritage is not the country you were born in unless your parents and grandparents and any family who shape how you live were also born there.
My DS was born in Australia to Irish parents, his heritage is Irish, he is Irish/Australian but Irish first.

YOUR heritage is the country you were born in

42 years of being the girl with darker skin than most English people tells me that many many people in this country don't agree with you!

Both my father's parents were Russian and came over to England a few years before having my father. He was born in England and had a UK passport. I do not consider myself half Russian.

You are only half Irish genetically, which is kinda meaningless
How? Would that apply to a mixed race person?

Sorry I don't think it matters that much once you are an adult.
However you COULD get an Irish passport if you felt like it.

Ultimate ‘Irishness’ deciding factor: what do you call the storage furniture where you keep cups’ plates etc?

The Press

(but actually it's the cupboard. Not for toasters.)

@Florrieboo

Your heritage is not the country you were born in unless your parents and grandparents and any family who shape how you live were also born there.
My DS was born in Australia to Irish parents, his heritage is Irish, he is Irish/Australian but Irish first.

And, out of interest, how will you respond when Irish people call him a Plastic Paddy?

YOUR heritage is the country you were born in

Really disagree with this. Depends a lot on the country we are talking about.

My DC were born in a country that does not allow citizenship based on birth rights or legal residency. Socially, they would never have been accepted as a local anyway. I think most countries around the world are similar, Western ones are more inclusive.

I’m actually now becoming a little concerned they may become too British despite not having a drop of British blood 😱

Is this a joke? A weegie?

What is it you're confused about, @ConstantlySeekingHappiness? Have you not heard the word 'Weegie' before?

As for the OP, imo her father is British and she is British.

Otherwise I'd be calling myself quarter Irish.

I'd still go for that passport though, OP

Irish people wouldnt say you were half irish, I know that for sure!

I'm Irish, I wouldn't care. We make money out of our diaspora (mostly Americans tracing roots) to get too precious about these things. If more people want to consider themselves half Irish, crack on.

Whoops - we make too much money from the diaspora to get too precious about these things!

I had no idea that I have been an Irish citizen all along purely as my dad was born there....that might have stopped some spiteful comments from the extended family...
I think it's funny my dad left in the 1950s and now there are about. ...I don't know about 20 people who could get an Irish passport because of this. That is his children and their children. Not sure about married partners. Mine came in about a week. .

No it's not the country you are born in alone.

I know someone who's mother is Jamaican father is Irish and their child was born in England. So the roots and genes would be half Irish half Jamaican and born in a British culture.