Making Ireland British: is the project nearing completion?

[DaBrow]

Agreed. Of course not.

Looking long-term, what aspects of Irish 'culture' are most likely to sustain that distinctiveness? Or has the game changed completely?

I suppose what I'm trying to get at is...are these similarities due more to the special relationship between Ireland and Britain historically, or more the result of EU homogenisation? In other words, things which every country goes through in its relationship with its larger, more influential neighbour(s). Whether it's New Zealand with Australia, Canada and the USA, Ukraine and Russia etc...

White Kiwis and Aussies are virtually the same as one another - Act, sound and play the same games virtually.

There is virtually no difference between Canadians and Americans - Given how many "Canadians" act in US Film & TV, play US sports etc that shows how different they really are. Canada the country tries to be different by being overly liberal than America................ theres a sizeable french-speaking minority in both places and they have the same native population.

Russians and Ukranians are different because of dialect mainly but still from the same linguistic-ethno family

[diy01]

Ireland has a higher number of Irish Speakers than the Native % stated

Not according to any data I've seen. What are you basing that upon?

2% is accurate for daily speakers outside the education system. In the last census, it was around 75,000. Not all of these are native speakers. Many are secondary bilinguals.

1% seems about accurate for native speakers.

[diy01]

White Kiwis and Aussies are virtually the same as one another - Act, sound and play the same games virtually.

There is virtually no difference between Canadians and Americans - Given how many "Canadians" act in US Film & TV, play US sports etc that shows how different they really are. Canada the country tries to be different by being overly liberal than America................ theres a sizeable french-speaking minority in both places and they have the same native population.

Russians and Ukranians are different because of dialect mainly but still from the same linguistic-ethno family

I imagine many Kiwis and Canadians would chafe at your comments in the same way many Irish people would react poorly if someone said "there is virtually no difference between Ireland and England."

In fact, Ireland has to deal with both heavy British AND American influence. More so than the other countries you mentioned.

There are many Irish actors who play English or Scottish people, and vice versa. This isn't unusual.

[seabhcan]

Certainly. But the voting rights of Irish citizens resident in the UK is notable.

What is Irish national identity primarily based on, in your opinion?

Firstly, there isn't really any such thing as British culture. There are a number of distinct cultural groups in the UK which are as different from each other as we are from them. The concept of "British" is a political construction, a nation myth, similar to the concept of "soviet" culture invented to unite disparate cultures in that region.

Irish culture is quite different from the culture of the south of england and the home counties, less different from North of England and Scottish culture, etc.

Irish culture is more outward looking, more inclusive, we are less focused on class position and more flexible in our goals and ambitions.

Superficially, Ireland is influenced by US TV culture - also an artificial invention with little real connection to the culture of real americans.

[Trans-Siberian]

If Ryan Tuberty had his way, we would be firmly under control of the Brithish crown. Its West Brits like him who are pushing that pro Brithish agenda here in Ireland
Not saying that there is anything wrong with been British, just that im not and like been Irish!

I do belive the British in general think we are certainly different over here.
I mean take a look at Irish characters in there soaps over the years:
They have been robbers, rapists,wifebeaters, drunks and very much the old punch magazine sterotype.

Remember the controversy when Eastenders shot an episode here some years ago.Pigs and sheep roaming the streets. ( or was that Ryan Turbery as a spooty teenager )

[DaBrow]

25% of children at Galway Irish pre-schools native speakers, 0% in Mayo | Blog na Gaeilge


"Irish is the main community and household language of 3% of the Republic's population"
Irish language - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[toxic avenger]

Sadly this is true - but is a result of the UK's disasterous education system, not culture.

I went through that education system. It's why I can tell you it's 'disastrous', without an 'e'...

[DaBrow]

If Ryan Tuberty had his way, we would be firmly under control of the Brithish crown. Its West Brits like him who are pushing that pro Brithish agenda here in Ireland
Not saying that there is anything wrong with been British, just that im not and like been Irish!

I do belive the British in general think we are certainly different over here.
I mean take a look at Irish characters in there soaps over the years:
They have been robbers, rapists,wifebeaters, drunks and very much the old punch magazine sterotype.

Remember the controversy when Eastenders shot an episode here some years ago.Pigs and sheep roaming the streets. ( or was that Ryan Turbery as a spooty teenager )

Thanks for mentioning those examples!

It proves that Britains attitude towards Ireland and the irish hasn't changed at all (Yet my mother gives out to me and mentions all the time about how Britain welcomes the Irish......... Yeah right!)

They haven't booted the colonial master mindset at all

[diy01]

Firstly, there isn't really any such thing as British culture. There are a number of distinct cultural groups in the UK which are as different from each other as we are from them. The concept of "British" is a political construction, a nation myth, similar to the concept of "soviet" culture invented to unite disparate cultures in that region.

Irish culture is quite different from the culture of the south of england and the home counties, less different from North of England and Scottish culture, etc.

Irish culture is more outward looking, more inclusive, we are less focused on class position and more flexible in our goals and ambitions.

But there are distinct cultural groups in Ireland too. Is "Irish" culture a political construction too? Are the differences between England, Scotland and Wales that great?

[Thranduil]

Remember the controversy when Eastenders shot an episode here some years ago.Pigs and sheep roaming the streets.

Ah but i think you are CHOOSING to be offended, me i think that image of farm animals roaming the streets is very quaint, very rustic and alluring like a page out of the past.

Especially when you consider how they represent their own society in that soap, alcoholic teens, pregnant slappers, drugs, gangsters, rape etc.