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?

Nah...to me, your parents are English and so are you.

It boils down to you, as a white person, not having to listen to ‘but where are you REALLY from’ after being in the country for three or four generations.

That's the point I'm making. People with Irish ancestry tend to go back generations to claim Irish ancestry. Whereas other nations, with the exception of the Scots and the Italians, DEMAND to be known as being British! They seem keen to utterly deny their heritage.

And what the fuck has the colour of my skin got to do with the price of shit?

I'd say you were English with Irish heritage, I would say the same for your dad too :)

You should watch the Rose of Tralee sometime. Then you'll realise how proud people are of their Irish roots.

Whereas other nations, with the exception of the Scots and the Italians, DEMAND to be known as being British! They seem keen to utterly deny their heritage.

What? Scottish are generally fiercely proud of their roots, ditto Italians.

Tatiana - re-read please.
That is exactly what I stated.

Frankly, OP, identify as Irish if you like, just as long as you don’t demonstrate, as I would hope you don’t, the entrenched ignorance about and stereotyping of, Ireland and Irish people that I encountered depressingly often in the 20 years I spent living in England.

That's the point I'm making. People with Irish ancestry tend to go back generations to claim Irish ancestry. Whereas other nations, with the exception of the Scots and the Italians, DEMAND to be known as being British! They seem keen to utterly deny their heritage

And what the fuck has the colour of my skin got to do with the price of shit?

A white second generation immigrant, or even first generation with an English accent, can navigate the country and never be questioned on where they’re from.

An Asian or black immigrant will never be read the same way, they’ll always be asked where they’re REALLY from, even if where they’re ‘really from’ is flipping Wapping.

If someone demands to be called British, it’s because they’re sick of people telling them they’re not.

The fact you can’t seem to understand this proves my point.
You get to be flash and proud of your immigrant ancestry when it suits you, and when it wouldn’t, you could just fade into the background.

The fact you can’t see how this dynamic plays out makes you very ignorant indeed

I hadn’t finished my post... As are my friends of Indian, Pakistani, Russian, Lebanese, Indian, French descent.

Well, Tatiana - ChurchofWoke would tend to disagree with you.

Which is exactly the point I'm making.

Just suppose that all your grandparents were English and that your parents happened to be in eg Australia when you were born, that would not make you Australian

How does anyone aside from Aboriginal people ever become Australian then?

Well, Tatiana - ChurchofWoke would tend to disagree with you

I definitely don’t disagree with Tatiana.
Just because people claim proudly that they’re British, doesn’t mean they’re ashamed of where their ancestry is from.
Which is what you implied.

I’d say you were English of Irish descent.

It's actually quite meaningless. My son's father is German, born in Germany to German parents. My son was born in the UK and holds a UK and a German passport. But he's English in his eyes. What does half German even relate to? Half of what?

You're either proud to declare your heritage or you're not. I couldn't give two fucks if you claimed to be a Marsian, with Jupiterian descent. It's benign curiosity.

What I have noticed is that people are very quick to declare their Irish heritage, but other countries will simply parrot that they're British.

If You can't see the difference, then you're the ignorant one.

You can be proud of your heritage and still be a British citizen.

It’s tedious to have to listen to the ‘not really British’ line.

What I'm saying is that even the OP, with quite lose connections to Ireland really, wants to declare her Irish roots.
You ask other nations where they're from and they'll declare that they're English. Full stop. Fair enough. If you are not proud enough to declare where you're from, that's your problem. Certainly not mine.

@Chinchinatti I’m not the ignorant one. It’s perfectly possible to have a different heritage and nationality.

You can be proud of your heritage and be a British citizen at the same time.

You're either proud to declare your heritage or you're not. I couldn't give two fucks if you claimed to be a Marsian, with Jupiterian descent. It's benign curiosity

You’re one of the ‘where are you REALLY froms’ aren’t you?

It’s not benign. At all.

You sound like you do give a fuck.
You sound like you’re very proud of your pride, and how superior it is to those Indians, who are clearly Indian in your eyes as you can tell by their skin, but are deluded enough to call themselves British.
I would say I’m gobsmacked by your attitude, but I’m not. It’s so utterly predictable.

You can be proud of your heritage and be a British citizen at the same time.
Then why get antsy when you're asked where your heritage is from?

You’re not half Irish, you’re English. Your dad wasn’t even born in Ireland 🤦‍♀️

It’s a tricky one. Genetically I’m 100% Irish because my parents, grandparents, great grandparents etc were all Irish but I was born and raised in England and have always lived here. I don’t consider myself English but I’m not Irish either. My husband is in the same position but has no ambivalence at all, he considers himself to be Irish and has the passport to prove it.

Our DC were all born in England too but a few years ago my DH completed the process of getting them Irish citizenship so legally they are now also Irish and I am now the only member of my family to hold a British passport.

Then why get antsy when you're asked where your heritage is from?

No-one can possibly be that ignorant so I will assume it’s disingenuous.

You're English of Irish descent.
That's what I consider myself to be. The Irish ancestors are two generations back.
I'm an English Irish Catholic - it's a particular heritage. There are lots of us around.
It's interesting as many people over the years have asked me if I'm Irish on first meeting me. I don't know why really.