ipl-logo

Irish American Culture Essay

501 Words3 Pages

After having spent nearly two months in Cork, Ireland, this semester, I have noticed striking similarities between the Irish and the Irish-American communities in my hometown. Having no Irish heritage myself, I had previously assumed the identity was mostly concerned with the consumption of Guinness and lively laughter in pubs. In part, I have come to find that it most certainly does (with the exception of Guinness being replaced with Murphy’s in Cork). However, I have also come to recognize that Irish heritage, especially in America, instead encapsulates love and acceptance largely beyond that of American culture alone. To be Irish is to welcome others, regardless of origin, and to love greatly despite setbacks. This to me is exemplified …show more content…

In Ireland, it’s normal to meet and connect with someone new everyday—on the train, in class, or even just walking along the street. It’s an atmosphere of welcomeness, and I find that is a quality that transfers to the Irish community of Holyoke, near my hometown of Chicopee. Holyoke holds a large St.Patrick’s Parade every year, and during that time, I have fond memories over the years of joining strangers for a barbecue and sharing decorations with children we had never met. I did not at the time associate this with being Irish, but now am certain that this friendliness is specific to the culture. Within the other communities in my town, it would be odd and unusual to invite a stranger into our home, regardless of the celebration. This is not necessarily negative, but certainly cultural, as I find the general American attitude toward approaching strangers is cautious to a certain extent. However, in places like Holyoke and Boston where the Irish culture is quite popular, I find it to be just the opposite. I believe that without Irish influence on my community, it would be quite an isolated one. There certainly would be no barbecues with new friends or friendly conversation in a grocery store between strangers in line; the cultural contribution that Irish immigrants have brought to America lies far beyond recipes and beer, but

Show More
Related

  • Scots-Irish Research Paper

    564 Words  | 3 Pages

    The oppressive past that the Scots-Irish faced in their home country optimalized the isolated geography of the Greater Appalachian region, as they were able to construct a society that was rooted in individual liberty as opposed to materialism. When living in Great Britain, the Scots-Irish were forced out due to a large increase in rent put upon by the landlords. As noted by a Scot-Irish in American Nations, “We having been, before we came here, so much oppressed and harassed by under landlords in our country, from which we with great losses, dangers, and difficulties came [to]... this foreign world to be freed from such oppression” (Woodard 104). Thus, as evidenced, the Borderlanders travelled to the New World in search of a life free of oppression.

    Read More

  • Irish Immigration To America Essay

    222 Words  | 1 Pages

    Many immigrants, such as the Irish, came to America for a better life. The potato famine, which started in the mid to late 1800’s, infected many Irish people. About 2,000,000 Irish men, women, and children perished during this terrible incident (document 1.) The majority of the Irish people were farmers and planted many potatoes. That meant during the potato famine, many potatoes were infected and rotten, so many farmers became poor and helpless.

    Read More

  • Irish Oppression Against America Essay

    234 Words  | 1 Pages

    Although Swift was an exceptional activist for ending Irish oppression, the horrible conditions lasted for several years. Around the time of the American and French Revolutions, the Irish were inspired to rebel against Britain; however, in 1798, their attempt at standing up for themselves was unsuccessful. In the year 1800, oppression against Ireland grew worse when they became part of the United Kingdom. During this time, anti-Catholicism had grown tremendously in the United Kingdom, making it extremely difficult for the Irish to represent themselves. Ireland’s poor conditions continued to grow worse, and ultimately they reached one of the lowest points in Irish history: the potato famine.

    Read More

  • Cajun Culture Essay

    1258 Words  | 6 Pages

    The Cajun Traditions and Co-existence with other Cultures My Grandmother, born in Lafayette, Louisiana, is African, French, and Native American. The origin of our Cajun ethnic group can be traced back to the Acadians who were mostly French Speakers coming from Acadia (Klingler, Thomas and Chantal 275). Currently, the population of Cajuns has a great social impact in Louisiana. Their presence in the community led to the interaction with other ethnic groups such as the Africans in which they shared common resources (Klingler, Thomas and Chantal 275). The result of the interaction was therefore intermarriages and the sharing of various social facilities such as churches that led to the emergence of improved cultures.

    Read More

  • Native American Culture Essay

    738 Words  | 3 Pages

    Native Americans Native Americans are very different from other tribes. They eat, live, dress and do many things differently. The things I’m going to be talking about in my interesting paper is What they eat? What they wear? Where they live?

    Read More

  • Italian Culture Vs American Culture Essay

    525 Words  | 3 Pages

    If I had the opportunity to do so, I would switch lives with a girl in Italy to gather knowledge about the culture in Italy and Europe to become a better global citizen. I believe I would gain experience in many aspects of Italian culture, including the cuisine, architecture, and artwork. Italian culture and American culture present many differences, which is why I would like to travel there to gain more knowledge about the world. The cuisine, art, and architecture of Italy differ from that of America.

    Read More

  • The Tain: Gender Roles In Irish Literature

    1477 Words  | 6 Pages

    Gender role is basically an arrangement of societal standards directing what sorts of practices are by and large viewed as satisfactory, suitable or alluring for a man in view of their real or actual sex. In this paper I will focus on the gender roles with reference to the mini-epic” the tain” This piece of Irish literature presents a very good distinction between the old period and the medieval time period. Formerly, men were the protagonists, leaders or the saviors in the literature. A man had to go to the wars and fights, to preserve the territory and honor (women) was their duty.

    Read More

  • How Did Sherman Alexie Contribute To The Development Of American Literature

    2084 Words  | 9 Pages

    The settlers and the native people of America have contributed a good collection of books which constitute the body of American Literature. Any book written will register the life style of people, their food habits, culture, beliefs, system of education followed, the nature of children and their history. The books written by the writers from the United States of America have registered the expectations, hopes, future predictions along with warnings their fear for degeneration of moralities and the impacts of Industrial revolutions. American Literature was acutely carved by the history of the United Nations of America. In the beginning after a great revolution for more than a century and half America became the United States.

    Read More

  • Essay On Irish Potato Famine

    1476 Words  | 6 Pages

    In 1845, Ireland was hit with a devastating blight that destroyed all of its potatoes and caused more than a million people to die of starvation and disease. The Irish Potato Famine, also known as The Great Famine, was a tragic time in Irish history, lasting from 1845 - 1849. Ireland’s poor was very dependant on potatoes, so the sudden death of the potatoes devastated Ireland’s population. Ireland got almost no help from Great Britain, so it had to help itself, but it did not have the resources to do so.

    Read More

  • American Culture Vs Vietnamese Culture Essay

    627 Words  | 3 Pages

    The culture of a country is defined by its own beliefs, its ways of life, its arts and other factors. Cultural differences are important because it distinguishes people living in a certain country from other countries. The differences between American and Vietnamese culture are striking, and they deserve rigorous examination. For example, marriage has the same meaning in both countries, which is the bonding of a man and a woman, but the wedding ceremonies are very unique.

    Read More

  • Dutch Influence On American Culture Essay

    606 Words  | 3 Pages

    Although England primarily dominated the East coast of North America, the Dutch has had a remarkable influence on American culture today. This is clearly the result the Dutch colonized on New York and the events leading up to it. The Dutch had left a strong architectural impact still in effect today. The Dutch left a cultural legacy that influences, and is being practiced today. To begin, the Dutch colonization in present day New York has shaped America today.

    Read More

  • Cultural Appropriation Essay

    1129 Words  | 5 Pages

    Cultural appropriation has been used throughout history to imply messages in both art and design. Often used in political art, satire and contempary art, this type of insinuation uses popular symbols of a culture or sub-culture (these symbols often stem from stereotypes so that they can be understood by the masses) to further layer an artwork or imply a deeper meaning by hinting towards a characteristic of said culture. The key to identifying appropriation is whether these symbols and signs are being used out of their original context. It is therefore important to understand the meaning of cultural appropriation and how it is used, to completely comprehend these works of art. This essay considers three works and how cultural appropriation was

    Read More

  • Essay On Irish Harp

    2148 Words  | 9 Pages

    Throughout the semester we have discussed many different Irish musical instruments all having their own importance in Irish history. One of the first instruments we discussed was the Harp. Over the years the harp has changed and been modified, one of the earliest versions of the harp was the small low-headed Irish Harp used from the 12th up till the 15th century. During these times the people of entertainment worked under the patronage by royal families, meaning that the royal family would pay them for their entertainment. Working for royal families allowed them to hold a high position in society the hierarchy went as follows: poet, lord, harpist and recite.

    Read More

  • Irish History: The Great Famine In America

    375 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Irish then settled down with another society, but had a few bad scenarios of crime and underage drinking.by the 19th and 20thcentury they were allowed into the ways of Americans with acceptance. Nowhere in America was there no Irish influence, especially in New York. The Irish made big with football and baseball.

    Read More

  • Corruption In James Joyce's Dubliners

    1582 Words  | 7 Pages

    James Joyce is one of the most legendary Irish novelists and poets of all time. When his novel Dubliners was published, 1914, the intertextual references were not apprehended by the majority of the readers. This is not a collection of short stories which can be read while eating breakfast. “It is a masterpiece that needs to be carefully examined” Interviewer:

    Read More

More about Irish American Culture Essay

Open Document