Welsh or Not?

[NoLongerATeacher]

My grandmother was born in Wales. She was Welsh speaker as were all her siblings. I therefore always thought of my dad as half Welsh and my sister and I as quarter.
Researching our family tree I have found that her parents moved to North Wales from Stevenage - so they were English.
Am I still a quarter Welsh or not really? What do you think? I so want to be 😂 My husband says no!

Who makes these rules then? You seem to think there is a genes versus birth rule? Your argument is overlapping place of birth with genetics… I never made such an argument, I personally think anyone who lives here and embraces the culture is Welsh. If they siarad Cymraeg even better.

Boris can be whatever he wants to be - but he will always a fucking idiot who handled the pandemic appalling though. It’s not my right to choose his nationality is it? Neither is it yours.

And @HudALledrith she wasn't asking for a deep dive. She was asking if she considered be a quarter Welsh. And she can. End of conversation.

@Arlanymor , as I pp, yes technically.
The conversation doesn't end on your say so.

I used to live in Stevenage. Your proper Stevenage 'Old Town' that is - not that new town monstrosity.

<misses point of thread>

The new town isn't a monstrosity although not as nice as the old town.

Carry on then.

It's not you that has missed the point!

Lewis Hamilton is from Stevenage. He is English. He has Afro-Ghanaian genes on his father's side. His mother is English.

The English novelist E. M. Forster lived in Stevenage. His mother was Anglo-Irish and his father Welsh. He presumably was 100% English because of place of birth, but also half-Welsh and half English genes. His mother was born in Ireland to English parents.

Why was he 100% English because he was born in England? I was born over the border in England but have never lived in England for even a day- I’ve lived my whole life in wales. My dad was born and bred in wales and my mum born in England and lived in England and wales - she classes herself as English. I suppose technically im half and half but I definitely wouldn’t consider myself 100% English when I’ve ever even lived there.

Thank you so much for all the replies - crikey opens a can of worms doesn’t it!

I’m running with the ‘you can claim the %’ comments and will continue to trumpet that I’m quarter Welsh and be proud of it!
My dad had a cracking singing voice which I think is further evidence we are Welsh 😂
My husband is English and has no interest at all in ancestry, whilst I find it all fascinating!
Thank you again

@Watchoutfortheslowaraf , I'd say you were British. Whether you identify as Welsh or English is up to you.

E.M. Forster was British. He was English by birth (born in England), but half-Welsh (Welsh father). He had no Irish heritage other than his mother had been born there.

My post was in response to a pp that accused me of being racist because I said the equivalent of saying that E.M. Forster had no Irish genes.

@NoLongerATeacher , I'm 100 % Welsh and can't sing for toffee.
Your DH is probably just envious of your Welsh heritage.

It shouldn't do! I don't know where all of this 'person was born here, but parents were born there' stuff is a thing. If you have any type of claim to Wales and wish to be Welsh then we will welcome you with open arms. Because we're a nice nation. You don't need a DNA test to wear a red rugby jersey!

Yes you are a quarter Welsh - my dad is tone deaf and sings every song under the sun to the tune of 'Once in Royal David's City' - but is Welsh nonetheless!

No one called you racist. You used that word yourself. Read back. No one called you racist. You have a bizarre take on this whole thread.

Also being English or Welsh is not a race anyway!!

The professor I linked in a pp is an expert in Welsh-language literature. He writes and speaks in Welsh, including in a professional capacity.

If he hadn't said he wasn't Welsh, I would not have guessed.

@Arlanymor , you seem to argue for the sake of it, and will twist anything to suit yourself.

Please do not address me in future.

I am not twisting anything - you are calling out racism insinuations where none exist. You also don't seem to understand how irony works as earlier on you told me that 'the conversation doesn't end on your say so' and now you're saying not to address you, so effectively ending the conversation on your terms. I have no interest in talking to you further after this, so please don't concern yourself.