History Main / FightingIrish

-->'''[[KentBrockmanNews Kent Brockman]]:''' Drunkenness, fighting, destruction of property: are these really the qualities we associate with the Irish?

-->'''Principal Skinner:''' Yes, Seamus, 90 minutes of watching a man drink in a bathtub. Well, I think we should try the Springfield Speaker's Bureau. [''leans out window''] Seamus, uh, we won't need you to speak anymore.
-->'''Seamus:''' What?! [''looks at Willie''] Oh, this is your doing, Willie. I'll turn your groin to pudding!
-->'''Willie:''' Oh, you speak like a poet, but you punch like one, too!
-->[''Seamus and Willie start fighting'']
** In the episode, [[Recap/TheSimpsonsS7E18TheDayTheViolenceDied The Day The Violence Died]], Bart and Milhouse watch an old ''Itchy and Scratchy'' cartoon from UsefulNotes/TheSilentAgeOfAnimation, titled [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElLxayE_Zfs "Manhattan Madness."]] The cartoon features a segment in which "Itchy runs afoul of an Irishman." Despite the narration and Milhouse's reaction, the Irishman is a subversion, greeting Itchy with a friendly handshake and not even putting up any kind of fight when [[AxCrazy Itchy]] starts maiming him, not that this stops [[TheSociopath Itchy]] from killing the Irishman anyway.
--> '''Milhouse:''' Look out, Itchy. He's Irish!

** Drunken violence is portrayed as a standard evening's entertainment when Peter travels to Ireland to find his real father.

* ''Film/Bandolero1968:'' Robbie O'Hare (the only one of Dee's men besides Mace himself to be portrayed with any sympathy) has a thick Irish brogue and doesn't shy away from combat.

* ''Film/Bandolero1968:'' Robbie O'Hare (the only one of Mace's men besides Mace himself to be portrayed with any sympathy) has a thick Irish brogue and doesn't shy away from combat.

Mosty overlaps with FieryRedhead, since Irish people are known to have red hair. A more violent, criminal version of this stereotype is TheIrishMob. Can also overlap with HollywoodNewEngland and {{Southies}} since many people from Massachusetts, especially UsefulNotes/{{Boston}}, are of Irish descent and carry the Fighting Irish stereotype.

Mosty overlaps with FieryRedhead, since Irish people are known to have red hair.

This may very slowly be becoming a DiscreditedTrope; while in the nineteenth century Irish soldiers did indeed make up a disproportionate number of soldiers in the [[UsefulNotes/TheBritishEmpire British]] and [[UsefulNotes/AmericanCivilWar American]] armies (and are still allowed to join the British Army) times have moved on even if the stereotype hasn't. [[RealityIsUnrealistic Ironically]], Ireland is one of very few countries to become independent in the 20th century to have ''never'' been in an international war. During UsefulNotes/WorldWarTwo it remained neutral and turned down a 1949 offer to join UsefulNotes/{{NATO}}. In fact, the Irish military has a good reputation as peacekeepers.[[note]]It isn't lost in places like Africa that the Irish are one of the European countries that never went out creating colonial empires, and were, in fact, colonial subjects themselves until, like many African nations, they won independence from somebody else's Empire. This gives Irish soldiers trust and respect as part of any U.N. peacekeeping forces and helps explain why Irish troops are sought after for U.N. purposes. [[/note]] The island also has a low rate of violent crime by international standards; nevertheless, do BewareTheNiceOnes.

* The title character of ''Kim'', real name: Kimball [=O'Hara=], is the son of a soldier in a fictional Irish regiment, the Mavericks. They also appear in the novel and appear to have a reputation in tune with this trope, although it really only comes to the for in one brief scene.

* Steve Rogers, better known as ComicBook/CaptainAmerica, was born to poor Irish immigrants.

This may very slowly be becoming a DiscreditedTrope; while in the nineteenth century Irish soldiers did indeed make up a disproportionate number of soldiers in the [[UsefulNotes/TheBritishEmpire British]] and [[UsefulNotes/AmericanCivilWar American]] armies (and are still allowed to join the British Army) times have moved on even if the stereotype hasn't. [[RealityIsUnrealistic Ironically]], Ireland is one of very few countries to become independent in the 20th century to have ''never'' been in an international war. During UsefulNotes/WorldWarTwo it remained neutral and turned down a 1949 offer to join UsefulNotes/{{NATO}}. In fact, the Irish military has a good reputation as peacekeepers.[[note]]It isn't lost in places like Africa that the Irish are one of the European countries that never went out creating colonial empires, and were, in fact, colonial subjects themselves until, like many African nations, they won independence from somebody else's Empire. This gives Irish soldiers trust and respect as part of any U.N. peacekeeping forces and helps explain why Irish troops are sought after for U.N. purposes. [[/note]] The island also has a low rate of violent crime by international standards.

This can be [[Administrivia/TropesAreFlexible played many ways]]. A good-natured BoisterousBruiser who favors his fists is typical of many recent examples; boxing has a long history in Ireland and among Irish-Americans, and in recent years, Irish boxers have had success at the UsefulNotes/OlympicGames. Negative portrayals are more common the farther back you go. More thuggish examples will often carry a [[CarryABigStick shillelagh]], a traditional knobby cudgel that has become a symbol of Irish culture as well as its violence. Even darker examples might be remorseless {{Blood Knight}}s, tyrannical bullies, or terrorist psychopaths. If a Fighting Irishman is or was in the [[UsefulNotes/TheTroubles Irish Republican Army]] expect him to have at least a bit of the MadBomber [[IrishExplosivesExpert thrown in]].

* Chief O'Brien from ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' and ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' may be a nice guy, but he's also a war hero with a bit of a temper and he's not afraid to throw a punch to protect his friends. He and [[HeterosexualLifePartners his BFF Julian Bashir]] also enjoy holosuite programs of historical battles like the Alamo and the Battle of Britain.

* A downplayed example in ''Film/{{Sherlock Holmes}}'': The music playing during Sherlock's boxing match is a traditional Irish song performed by Irish folk band ''Music/{{The Dubliners}}''.

** ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder'' has made it into something of a RunningGag that Celtic Servants (''especially'' those from the Ulster Cycle) are insatiable {{Blood Knight}}s with a flippant attitude towards violence and death (up to and including their own), that [[OrangeAndBlueMorality no one else can quite seem to get their heads around]]. After encountering Cu Chulainn's teacher, Scathach, the protagonist goes as far as to declare that Celts are crazy by default.

This may very slowly be becoming a DiscreditedTrope; while in the 19th-century Irish soldiers did indeed make up a disproportionate number of soldiers in the [[UsefulNotes/TheBritishEmpire British]] and [[UsefulNotes/AmericanCivilWar American]] armies (and are still allowed to join the British Army) times have moved on even if the stereotype hasn't. [[RealityIsUnrealistic Ironically]], Ireland is one of very few countries to become independent in the 20th century to have ''never'' been in an international war. During UsefulNotes/WorldWarTwo it remained neutral and turned down a 1949 offer to join UsefulNotes/{{NATO}}. In fact, the Irish military has a good reputation as peacekeepers.[[note]]It isn't lost in places like Africa that the Irish are one of the European countries that never went out creating colonial empires, and were, in fact, colonial subjects themselves until, like many African nations, they won independence from somebody else's Empire. This gives Irish soldiers trust and respect as part of any U.N. peacekeeping forces and helps explain why Irish troops are sought after for U.N. purposes. [[/note]] The island also has a low rate of violent crime by international standards.

This may very slowly be becoming a DiscreditedTrope; while in the 19th century Irish soldiers did indeed make up a disproportionate number of soldiers in the [[UsefulNotes/TheBritishEmpire British]] and [[UsefulNotes/AmericanCivilWar American]] armies (and are still allowed to join the British Army) times have moved on even if the stereotype hasn't. [[RealityIsUnrealistic Ironically]], Ireland is one of very few countries to become independent in the 20th century to have ''never'' been in an international war. During UsefulNotes/WorldWarTwo it remained neutral and turned down a 1949 offer to join UsefulNotes/{{NATO}}. In fact, the Irish military has a good reputation as peacekeepers.[[note]]It isn't lost in places like Africa that the Irish are one of the European countries that never went out creating colonial empires, and were, in fact, colonial subjects themselves until, like many African nations, they won independence from somebody else's Empire. This gives Irish soldiers trust and respect as part of any U.N. peacekeeping forces and helps explain why Irish troops are sought after for U.N. purposes. [[/note]] The island also has a low rate of violent crime by international standards.

-->--''Tim Finnegan's Wake'', traditional Irish ballad

* Caleb "The Deathslinger" Quinn was an Old West BountyHunter born to Irish immigrants who had a HairTriggerTemper. Now he is a bloodthristy SerialKiller who collects "bounties" for a GodOfEvil.

* Irish-American director John Ford loved this trope, usually playing it in the lovable BoisterousBruiser variation and frequently involving alcohol.

This can be [[Administrivia/TropesAreFlexible played many ways]]. A good-natured BoisterousBruiser who favors his fists is typical of many recent examples; boxing has a long history in Ireland and among Irish-Americans, and in recent years, Irish boxers have had success at the UsefulNotes/OlympicGames. Negative portrayals are more common the farther back you go. More thuggish examples will often carry a [[CarryABigStick shillelagh]], a traditional knobby cudgel that has become a symbol of Irish culture as well as its violence. Even darker examples might be remorseless {{Blood Knight}}s, tyrannical bullies, or terrorist psychopaths. If a Fighting Irishman is or was in the [[UsefulNotes/TheTroubles Irish Republican Army]] expect him to have at least a bit of the MadBomber thrown in.

This can be [[Administrivia/TropesAreFlexible played many ways]]. A good-natured BoisterousBruiser who favors his fists is typical of many recent examples; boxing has a long history in Ireland and among Irish-Americans, and in recent years, Irish boxers have had success at the UsefulNotes/OlympicGames.. Negative portrayals are more common the farther back you go. More thuggish examples will often carry a [[CarryABigStick shillelagh]], a traditional knobby cudgel that has become a symbol of Irish culture as well as its violence. Even darker examples might be remorseless {{Blood Knight}}s, tyrannical bullies, or terrorist psychopaths. If a Fighting Irishman is or was in the [[UsefulNotes/TheTroubles Irish Republican Army]] expect him to have at least a bit of the MadBomber thrown in.

[[folder: Trope Namer ]]

[[folder: Comics ]]

[[folder: Fan Works]]

[[folder: Film ]]

* ''Film/FarAndAway'': Lower-class Irish are shown to be rowdy, with a love of wrestling and fighting. The local Irish-American boss is introduced bare-knuckle boxing for fun, and Joseph Donnelly, the male lead, is a young, hot-headed Irish immigrant who brawls his brothers and ends up fighting for money. This is all contrasted with the upperclass Irish, who behave like typical European gentry.

[[folder: Literature ]]

* ''Literature/TheRavenCycle'''s Ronan Lynch, as well as his older brother Declan and father Niall Lynch, all have rough, combative streaks, raised to love sad ballads and bare knuckle fighting. At one point, Ronan observe that the only person who could beat up a Lynch brother is another Lynch brother.
* In Creator/MichaelFlynn's ''Literature/TheJanuaryDancer'', a planet that modeled itself after Oireland has this in the package.

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

* In ''Series/ThirtyRock'', Jack Donaghy ends up in a fist fight with members of his dysfunctional family in the appropriately titled episode "The Fighting Irish".

* In Paul Haggis's critically acclaimed and violent ''Series/EZStreets'', all of the prinicpal characters are Irish-American.

[[folder: Music ]]

[[folder: Professional Wrestling ]]

** "The Celtic Warrior" Wrestling/{{Sheamus}} represented the more villainous side, as he is willing to inflict serious injuries through underhanded means. After his HeelFaceTurn he's stopped using sneaky tactics and trying to cause permanent injuries, but he can still project serious menace when he wants.

* Irish Whip Wrestling, [[SarcasmMode surprisingly]], boasts an alumni that includes more than a few proud fighting men, and women, and maybe a bear. Though it also boasted its fair share of [[EvilForeigner fighting anti Irish.]]

[[folder: Standup Comedy ]]

* Creator/DenisLeary once jokingly wrote a newspaper column about how his Irish friends and relatives intended to celebrate St. Patrick's Day: by getting drunk and beating the shit out of each other. The Irish Anti-Defamation League issued a press release threatening a lawsuit for perpatuating the stereotype, but nothing more ever came of it. The reason why, according to Leary, was "They realized that all I would have to do is call NBC and request footage from '''any''' St. Patrick's Day parade since the invention of the television camera, and there would be scores of my Irish brethren, drunkenly beating the shit out of each other."

[[folder: Tabletop Games ]]

[[folder: Video Games ]]

* In ''VideoGame/TheSaboteur'', hot-headed and hot-tempered Sean Devlin (complete with hilarious Oireland accent) becomes a member of the resistance in Nazi-occupied France and solves all his problems with violence.

[[folder: Visual Novels]]

[[folder: Webcomics ]]

* Roark "Rocky" Rickaby and his cousin Calvin "Freckles" [=McMurray=] from the webcomic ''[[Webcomic/{{Lackadaisy}} Lackadaisy]]'' both show shades of this. Ethnically, they are at the very least Irish-American, with Rocky possessing a slight brogue that is mostly seen when making use of various Irish idioms and phrases in his speech. In terms of fighting spirit, Rocky is never one to turn down a challenge and is a bit...[[PyroManiac fond]] of using fire at times while Freckles is more reserved and polite....[[TheBerserker at least]] [[AxCrazy until]] [[BewareTheNiceOnes you hand him]] [[GunNut a gun.]]

[[folder: Web Original ]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

** Another St. Patrick's Day episode, "Homer vs. The Eighteenth Amendment" where Bart inadvertantly touches off a riot:

** In the episode, [[Recap/TheSimpsonsS7E18TheDayTheViolenceDied The Day The Violence Died]], Bart and Milhouse watch an old ''Itchy and Scratchy'' cartoon from UsefulNotes/TheSilentAgeOfAnimation, titled [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElLxayE_Zfs "Manhattan Madness."]] The cartoon features a segment in which "Itchy runs afoul of an Irishman." Despite the narration and Milhouse's reaction, the Irishman is a subversion, greeting Itchy with a friendly handshake and not even putting up any kind of fight when [[AxCrazy Itchy]] starts maiming him, not that this stops [[TheSociopath Itchy]] from killing the irishman anyway.