Celebrating Irish American Heritage Month: Beyond Green Beer and Beads

Toss the green beer and delve into the richness of authentic Irish culture.

March, in the U.S., is Irish American Heritage Month, and this past Tuesday was St. Patrick's Day. As an American of Irish ancestry (all of my great-grandparents were from Ireland), these two things fill me with tremendous pride, some sadness, a lot of frustration, and a bit of anger. Why? I feel proud because I know the Irish who immigrated here have contributed significantly to this country in many ways. Also, I delight in my Irish cultural heritage. I've studied Irish history, literature, music, language, and folklore. I'm proud of what the Irish have contributed to the world.

At the same time, I get so frustrated that each year "Irish culture" is depicted here (especially on St. Patrick's) as green beer, Mardi Gras beads, and partying and getting drunk. Admittedly, there might be some actual traditional Irish music and even some authentic step dancing here and there, but most of what is displayed is a bunch of racist ethnic tropes. There are cards and t-shirts with slogans such as "An Irishman walks out of a pub. No, really. It can happen," "Shut up liver. You're Irish," or "You can't scare me. My wife is Irish." Actually, I kind of like the last one, but it's still a stereotype.

Then there is the leprechaun who very much resembles a drunken gorilla--a picture that used to be used in anti-Irish political cartoons and on magazine covers in mid-1800s America as part of a campaign to depict the immigrants from the famine as sub-human and justify a push to rid the U.S. of the Irish (primarily the Catholics and their descendants).

Now, it seems this gorilla-leprechaun is supposed to be humorous. Unfortunately, many people who call themselves Irish Americans think it is. Likely, they're unaware of the history behind the picture. They also don't seem bothered by the frequent implication, demonstrated by the t-shirt slogans, that being Irish automatically makes one an alcoholic. That makes me sad. And angry.

But I don't mean for this post to be an angry rant. My purpose is to celebrate Irish culture. So, below are links to a number of posts I've written over the years. The topics vary from Ireland's co-patron saints, Patrick and Brigid, to faeries, folklore. and superstitions, to wedding traditions, and a bit about the Irish-speaking areas of Ireland (the Gaeltacht). Also, Irish Americans curious about Ellis Island and what immigrants went through there, click here to read about the experience.

On Tuesday, April 14th, I’ll have a post on Ireland Before the Celts. The island has been inhabited for thousands of years, and Irish mythology tells of the people who lived there before the human Gaels (a branch of the Celtic family) arrived. They lived, loved, fought, and left their mark on the Emerald Isle’s landscape. Their presence haunts the island to this day, shaping it and the people who we know today as the Irish. Their stories are a vital piece of Irish cultural memory, and they add to the rich fabric of what it means to be Irish (or Irish American). So, I look forward to sharing it with you.

In the meantime, here are the links to the posts I mentioned:

     Saint Patrick’s Day Questions, Trivia, and Folklore

  Blarney-Busting After St. Patrick’s Day

 Why Brigid? The New Irish Holiday and Ancient Celtic Lore

  My Five Favorite Faeries from Irish Folklore

  Irish Faerie Origins: The Tuatha de Danann

  Irish Superstitions for a Fun Friday

 Irish Spirits: Ghost Stories from the Emerald Isle

   Listen for the Cuckoo: Irish Wedding Traditions

  Irish Spoken Here: The Gaeltacht

And there’s more! I’ve written a lot about Irish folklore, culture, history, and even a little about the language. Just click on the drop-down menu “Irish Faeries” at the top of the webpage or simply type “Irish” into the search section.

I hope you enjoy exploring Irish culture and folklore through these posts. But as one t-shirt I saw said, “Everyone’s Irish on St. Patrick’s Day. Except the Scottish. We’re still Scottish.” As the granddaughter of two Scots, I totally love that. Please note that I also write about Scottish and Welsh folklore. So, if you’re tired of all this Irish stuff, check out the drop-down menu “Scottish and Welsh Faeries,” or put the word ("Scottish" or "Welsh") in the search.

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this post and any of my others you check out. Please LIKE and SHARE.  To SUBSCRIBE for FREE, just click on the “Sign Up” button in the upper right of the page.

    All artwork for this post (except for the Ukrainian flag and the GIF) by Christine Dorman via Bing Image Creator.

Go raibh maith agat! Slain go foil!

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