Tropers of the Irish Diaspora UNITE! We'll get a pint or two...

So being Irish I obviously have an interest in our history, a huge part of which is emigration. And with the economy in the shitter, it's looking like I'll have to fly the coop too, at least for a while.

So I thought it would be interesting to see, given that we're always told about the massive size of the Irish diaspora, how many Irish tropers or tropers of Irish descent there are here. Post away!

Second-gen Irish troper here. Depending on how quickly the economy recovers, I might end up moving to Ireland.

My family came to the USA in the 1840s. Not sure if I count anymore.

Not sure I'd advise coming back just yet, mate. Bit of a mess at the moment. Where did your family move to?

I'm sure we'd be honoured to have you along regardless! Must've been on the famine ships your family arrived in?

I'm an eighth or so. Interested in the music and mythology. History too. I don't know much about Ireland sadly.

I'm like some part Irish, with the rest being English, Scottish, and French.

I like irish war drums.

I'm of Celtic descent, and am either 4th or 5th generation. It's a bit foggy. May I join you?

In the realm of music I've learned that my favorite sort of Irish folk songs are called sean nos. I HAVE A NAME FOR IT NOW.

All with Irish blood are welcome!

Sean nós = "The old way" or "The old style". I studied it in school, quite an interesting style alright.

@Matrix: How extraordinarily European you are!

edited 23rd Feb '11 5:52:50 PM by DanEile

I might have a drop of Irish blood? Seventh generation Aussie so it'd be pretty dilute by now, though.

My great grandpa on my dad's side came over around 1902 or so because he was thrown out of Ireland. I'm mostly of Scottish descent from my mom's side, but there's a good amount of Irish in me from my dad's side.

Nice and Gaelic then.

"Thrown out"? Do I detect a Noodle Incident?

I'm 50% of Irish blood; my mother's parents came over from County Cork to Birmingham in England during World War Two to work in the armaments factories. The UK was offering good pay to Irish people willing to come over and work, at the time.

My brother actually went and got his Irish citizenship after 9/11, which anyone who has an Irish-born grandparent can do. He was worried about travelling in certain parts of the world on a British passport, since the UK was one of the countries involved in invading Iraq.

My great-great grandfather was Irish. As for my interests, I'm interested in Ireland and Scotland way too much for my own good.

Jus sanguinis? Yeah that used to be fairly common.

Don't know that you can be too interested for your own good! Reading up on any old legends?

Third, rather. I forgot to count myself XD. One one half, anyway. On my Dad's side, my grandfather and grandmother were from one of the southern counties. On my mum's side... it gets complicated. I know that my mum's mum's mum's parents were from Ireland, and my mum's mum's dad was Irish in blood but adopted by a Dutchwoman. My mum's dad's family history is basically untraceable; changing your name and fleeing across the country tends to do that to your records.

However it all came together, we live in Ohio, which is known for a large concentration of Irishness.

edited 25th Feb '11 3:40:18 PM by Diamonnes

Dan Eile: well, I never actually learned the whole story of why he left Ireland, but I was told by one uncle that the great grandpa in question was a thief. I got conflicted stories from my dad's side of the family; some said he was thrown out, others said he fled to avoid charges.

So it's a Noodle Incident to me, definitely.

My last name is Mc Connell, so somewhere down the line we've bound to have been Irish, but f*ck me if I knew where. Whoever they are, my Irish ancestors would be pissed at me because I don't drink. The only thing I have is a bad temper and "the Irish curse".

So, what did everyone do for St.Patrick's Day?

Wore green, listened to Celtic music at work. I'm not much of a drinker...which may sound odd coming from someone of Irish descent, but the reason I haven't posted in this thread up until now is that I'm not sure my "Irish-ness" counts. That side of my family has lived in America since the country was founded, so yeah.

I don't think I actually own any green clothing.

I didn't get drunk either, unfortunately. I had to wait until the day after to do that.

I felt abad about not wearing green too. I promised myself I'd change before heading to school, but as walways I'd forgotten by the next morning.

Multiracial, but I have that distinctive skin you only see among certain Irish people. Makes me hate the sunlight where I live—when on acne medication that increases risk of sunburn, I've burned in five minutes flat. I can't drink for medical reasons, but there's been at least one drunkard in every generation of my family. I do wear green a lot, so that's something.

Descended from Pre-Famine immigrants on my mother's side.

My grandma came over in the '50s, I think. I'll check with dad when he gets home to be sure.