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?

What about the poor Irish who are viewed as thick drunken hooligans?

When abroad I abhor people mistaking Ireland for part of Britain. I will give everyone a history lesson if they dare to declare me British. It seems the opposite for other nationalities though. They only want to be called British. Weird.

**I'm kind of with your husband. Your Dad was British born so I'd call him British not Irish no matter what blood you think he has.

@Donkeytail both my parents are of Indian descent yet born in the UK - don't you think it would be thought of as strange if they referred to themselves as 'British' and not anything else?

OP, I agree with you. You're half Irish.

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

Yup.

Get your Irish passport, it is straightforward as you only need one grandparent from Ireland to qualify and it doesn't matter if it is north or south. I got mine as I wanted an EU passport, it was really busy then but I imagine it has calmed down a bit since.

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.

You must have the big Irish head on ya!

Tbh I initially thought quarter Irish too, based on the fact your paternal grandparents born in Ireland ( clearly Irish) your dad born in England, so (non scientifically!) I would have said half English/ half Irish ,you were born in England to parents born in England so I would say you are English with Irish heritage and yes maybe quarter Irish based on GPs.
Didnt know and slightly surprised you can get an Irish passport based on GPs . I think the Irish are a particularly proud of their heritage and GPs / parents make a big thing of it so it is passed down to each generation. By this definition my dad would have been half Welsh but it was never mentioned in our childhood and I only found out by doing family tree research. By contrast my cousins had Irish descent and believe me we all know about it😂

Pride and where you are from doesn't sit well with me ...
what are you proud of - the accident of your birthplace? of you parents accidental birth place?
If you look into the history of your source of pride wherever it is located - you are sure to find things you are (or ought to be) deeply ashamed of.

Your dad has never lived in Ireland, neither have you. Your actual blood is probably a mix of all sorts, probably not all that Irish at all. If you were born and grew up in England then you are English. I was born in Wales, my mum is Welsh but I grew up in England and consider myself English, although I appreciate that my relatives were Welsh and have an appreciation of Wales partly based on that.

I will give everyone a history lesson if they dare to declare me British.

Your time would be better spent taking lessons in multiculturalism tbh.

You are half Irish in terms of your blood. But are you culturally Irish? Does it matter? I don't know, some people feel very strongly about these things.

I am Irish, born there, my dh is English - my kids were born in England - they are half Irish in their blood - culturally they all English...I don't really care either way, it's all a pile of nonsense as long as they can have their EU passport that's the main thing!

One of my paternal grandparents was Scottish, one of my maternal grandparents is Irish, both of my parents were born and raised in England, I wouldn't dream of saying I was half Scottish or Irish it seems odd to me. A bit like Americans who say they're Irish because their great great uncle twice removed's dog was born in kennels on the outskirts of Longford...

@DontStandSoCloseToMe

😂🤣 I thought the OP would be American

"Pride and where you are from doesn't sit well with me .."

It's not up to you though is it. I'm proud of where I come from and your opinion of that is totally irrelevant.

If you have two Irish grandparents then you are Irish.
And you can prove it by applying for an Irish passport, which you will get in the post.
You can also feel you are half Irish and that is perfectly acceptable too regardless of your father's birthplace.

Your time would be better spent taking lessons in multiculturalism tbh.
And perhaps you could take a few on National pride.

"@Donkeytail both my parents are of Indian descent yet born in the UK - don't you think it would be thought of as strange if they referred to themselves as 'British' and not anything else?"

Not really because we've been told in recent years not to refer to people who have foreign descent by a foreign nationality if they're British born i.e. some people would say I was racist if I called your parents Indian because they have brown skin.

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. My kids get that, one black GP (obviously ancestors were from somewhere in Africa but can be traced through the Caribbean and North America) one English, 2 Irish. Where are they really from is not at all unusual.

For me this thread illustrates that mathematical precision is a bad way to look at heritage. Basically it is bollocks when you start to scrutinize it.
For most the rule appears to be look or the grandparents and take quarters. Why grandparents?
It also assumes that grandparents have a 100% simple heritage - this is highly unlikely for them or for their grandparents etc etc.

When is a complex heritage reset to 100% simple, is simply through lack of better information.
Is there a statute of limitations on Viking, Scottish, Spanish or even English heritage?

Basically it all comes down to who you support in the rugby.. 🤣

I'm Scottish, DH is Italian. DS born in Scotland, moved to Wales when he was 2 where his sister was born. DS considers himself half Italian and half Scottish but is a passionate Scotland supporter.

DD insists on supporting Wales. Mainly cos she's contrary by nature. As I keep telling her.. just because a cat has her kittens in the oven, it doesn't make them muffins!

Your dad is 100% Irish, half of your DNA comes from him, so you’re 50% Irish.

Any other conclusion is just bad maths!

See I find this weird. Both my parents were Irish, they met in England and I was born in England. I tell people I’m from a large Irish family. I have a very Irish name as well, so my heritage comes up a lot. I do put Irish ethnicity in forms etc.

But... DP is from England and we have two DDs. I would find it very strange if someone described them as “half Irish” tbh.

I can’t say shy but I think the word “half” is just pushing it too much.

You are definitely half genetically Irish - but I think an interesting question is does your dad see himself as culturally Irish - ie supports Ireland in sports over others etc - are you torn in deciding who to support? If so half Irish I say (as an Irish woman!)

• Can’t say why

@massistar As I keep telling her.. just because a cat has her kittens in the oven, it doesn't make them muffins! Oh that made me smile, brought back memories of my Irish granny saying, "Jesus was born in a stable but he wasn't a horse."

"Your dad is 100% Irish, half of your DNA comes from him, so you’re 50% Irish."

DNA tests aren't good enough to prove her father or she has Irish DNA. Your national heritage doesn't always coincide with what the DNA tests say. I don't get this argument of genetic or DNA identity.
Cultural identity through her father might make some sense, but her father was not brought up in Ireland.

If your Dad was full blooded Irish, of course your half Irish. Don’t get the quarter thing at all.