These stereotypes have lasted a long time; thanks for that Britain.
Ireland’s relationship to its neighbouring Island is one of a deeply rooted and similar history, and not a willing one, as most Irish people will tell you.
Alas, we do have a lot in common, which usually comes with the territory of being a former colony, and with that come jokes being thrown across the bow by both sides.
Most of these are in good faith, and some are not, put simply. Stereotypes can be one of these jokes, taken with or without context. Some of these Stereotypes have been dropped from memory, but some haven’t.
Some have stood the test of time through cultural relevance, history or being exported to other parts of the world over the decades. Here are five British-made Irish stereotypes that are still in high rotation today.
5. We all believe in leprechauns – no pot of gold here
The Leprechaun is a folk creature that has existed in Irish storytelling since at least the Middle Ages. A group of speedy, well-dressed little people who run so fast that their shoes would wear down and, if caught, can grant great fortunes.
Leprechauns nowadays have become synonymous with the Irish as a cultural icon, a little mischievous character that flies the flag for the country both here and abroad.
Leprechauns were used as part of a resurgence in Irish storytelling in the 19th century by famed poets and playwrights such as W. B. Yeats.
The Leprechaun was then used as a tool of anti-Irish propaganda by the British press, which led to it being spread around the world. We’ve since embraced the Leprechaun again, with it being one of our most famous folklore legends.
4. We’re massive drinkers – cheers to that
Like many on this list, a nugget of truth does exist here. The Irish are famous for loving a drink; from our famous pub lock-ins to our obsession with Guinness, it really is a shared cultural experience.
But that too is only to a certain extent. Ireland in the last twenty years has changed its relationship with alcohol significantly, and yet the stereotype that we’re all drunkards has stayed put.
The spread of this is in part due to The Stage Irish, or The Drunk Irish as it was also known. An English Theatre tradition that started in the 17th century as a reaction to the Jacobite War. It portrayed the Irish as fumbling drunks who are loud-mouthed and always broke.
The style existed as a means to belittle the Irish for centuries. What exists of it today is the legacy that we are a nation of drunkards, which is just not true anymore.
3. We love to fight – fists at the ready
Along with having a drink, it’s no lie that the Irish are fond of an odd scrap here and there. A good portion of our sports exports of recent times have been famed boxers such as Katie Taylor.
We take pride in standing up for ourselves, since the times of colonisation. The Stage Irish, as mentioned before, was also known as “Paddywackery,” and another feature of this was the idea that these characters loved to beat each other up.
Caricatures in British media painted Irish people as apelike figures frequently trying to fight or blow something up, much to the chagrin of the establishment.
Whilst the Irish have a fighting spirit, we certainly aren’t a fit for this existing stereotype.
2. Our love of potatoes- more than a spud
It’s a well-known fact that we love the humble spud. A vegetable of great wonder that is so versatile you could eat every day of the week and not run out of ideas.
But for the Irish, the potato has stuck as a stereotype for being the only food that we eat, and the history for this is quite dark. The Irish Potato Famine was a pivotal moment in Irish history. An estimated two million people were cut from the population, a factor still affecting us today.
This is a shared history the British were a part of, and thus the stereotype sprouted from their news media. It’s clear today that the Irish have a much wider palette and have a few native dishes, such as the great Chicken Fillet Roll.
1. We hate the English – old habits die hard
Finally, its one that, up until recent memory, carried much more weight. Ireland’s centuries-long relationship with the British Empire has been filled with lots of hardships on both sides.
Since Ireland’s independence, there’s been a slew of changes that have benefitted us both. The UK is Ireland’s biggest trading partner, and a lot of great Irish artists was able to make roots across the pond when the economy wasn’t the best here.
The stereotype of the bloodthirsty Irishman is gone with the dinosaurs and has been replaced with the craic-laden, culture-loving society that just wants peace, especially with its neighbours.
