The amount of hate for anyone who claims Irish ancestry is appalling.

I can understand the animosity that an Irish born person would have. Because most Americans and Canadians claim pride and act on embarassing stereotypes. Or they claim a distant relative as being their link to Ireland.

My direct line is Irish. DF21 DNA, an ancient Irish genetic marker. My last name is Colleran. I still have family over in Mayo and we have never lost touch over the generations. My grandfather instilled Irish pride and history lessons, why we had to come here and we have sent money and help back and forth from Ireland in tough times and they have done the same for us. He even went as far to teach us Gaeilge. He never wanted us to lose that Irish identity.

I feel a great amount of pride for being Irish. But I still understand that I will always be seen as American because I was born here no matter how much connection I have with being Irish or my family over there or even knowing a good amount of the language(still learning to this day and it's a beautiful language).

My grandfather had to leave because the times were tough but he was fiercely proud. They told,him to change his name to 'Collins' to Americanize and he flat out refused.

I don't blame the Irish born for despising a lot of plastic paddies over here. But I do agree there is a lot of hostility even towards cultured Irish Americans.

/r/ireland Thread