Comment by Bean Sáirséil on February 2, 2014 at 7:31am

I think the biggest problem with the Irish stereotypes is that they stem from a campaign of hatred and bigotry from the very beginning. It was very easy to paint the Irish as slovenly, stupid, lazy and continually drunk, and then use that to promote an agenda which was very anti-Irish and completely hateful. In the 1800s, the average Londoner or New Yorker held the average Irishman with complete and utter disdain. These stereotypes were ushered in through seemingly innocuous cartoons, which parodied the entirety of the Irish race. They were made to look like apes (showing how the Irish were animalistic and crude), oftentimes holding bottles of alcohol and just laying about, allowing everyone else to do the work for them. Many of these cartoons were drawn by Thomas Nast, and helped to fuel the already mistrust of the Irish in the US. 

I do know that while most take these stereotypes in stride, many more are very offended by the continuation of such hatred. Since much of this was propagated during a very bleak time in Irish history (these cartoons by Nast were on the heels of An Gorta Mór, for example), it just seems to show a complete and utter disregard for the suffering that the Irish were having to endure during that period. In other words, the Irish are always looked at in these ways, but it's never remembered WHY these stereotypes actually came about, and why they were generally believed without question. I think many people would be shocked if they knew. 

An example of Nast's artwork:

Gaeilgeoir Comment by Bernie Joyce on February 2, 2014 at 2:05pm

Even though binge drinking is rife in other countries as Ryan says it really is considered a culture here in Ireland. It might seem quaint to say wet the baby's head or give him/her a good send off. But it just shows that drink is involved from the cradle to the grave and considered an insult if you do'nt join in. It would be OK if it was a rare occasion but drink is very much part of everyday life here in Ireland for most people. It is true stereotypes were used in history to suit the means of others and today is more a marketing ploy. But the truth is the Irish drink a lot. Not just the young but all ages. That does not mean we deserve to have racist comments or jokes made about us but until Ireland as a nation have a more healthy relationship with drink it will continue. 

It is not just the young that are doing this necknominations a lot of the 30 somethings around here are doing it to, I know people who have done it. Hopefully it will stop after the tragic deaths within the last few days. 

Comment by Ryan O'Rourke on February 2, 2014 at 2:06pm

You've summed up the situation here in Ireland well, Bernie.

Comment by jean kaniecki on February 2, 2014 at 3:02pm

Bean.  Yes.  Thomas Nast was a notorious bigot .  Although he was a German immigrant himself and supported American Indians,  the Chinese and the abolition of slavery he hated the Irish Catholics.   He particulary hated 'Boss Tweed' and Tammany Hall and maybe was responsible for Tweed's downfall. Tweed escaped from prison (fraud)and went to Spain where he was recognized by someone from one of Nast's cartoons. He was arrested and sent back to NY.  His cartoons of ape like, drunken Irish were popular in Harper's Weekly and New York Times.

Comment by Danny Alexander on February 3, 2014 at 12:18pm

Dan, Thank you for your email about Irish-American Heritage Month.  Unfortunately, UNC-TV does not produce events like you describe in your email.  I have shared your email with the producers of North Carolina Now and North Carolina Weekend so that they will know about the month and its significance.  Thank you for sharing all of this information with us. Shannon

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Shannon Vickery Director of Production University of North Carolina Center for Public Television 10 T.W. Alexander Drive RTP, NC 27709-4900 919-549-7089 919-549-7043 (fax) Don't miss North Carolina Now, weekdays at 7:30pm on UNC-TV. Thanks for watching member-supported UNC-TV!onse from our PBS system here in North carolina! Perhasps someting will come out of it! Keep you informed:

Dan, Thank you for your email about Irish-American Heritage Month.  Unfortunately, UNC-TV does not produce events like you describe in your email.  I have shared your email with the producers of North Carolina Now and North Carolina Weekend so that they will know about the month and its significance.  Thank you for sharing all of this information with us. Shannon

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Shannon Vickery Director of Production University of North Carolina Center for Public Television 10 T.W. Alexander Drive RTP, NC 27709-4900 919-549-7089 919-549-7043 (fax) Don't miss North Carolina Now, weekdays at 7:30pm on UNC-TV. Thanks for watching member-supported UNC-TV!

Gaeilgeoir Comment by Bernie Joyce on February 3, 2014 at 5:32pm

Vincent Brown on TV3 is having a debate on our cultural identity with alcohol at the moment 

Comment by jean kaniecki on February 5, 2014 at 10:36am

Ryan.  Not being adept at the computer I was unable to submit my comments on the site you suggested for the editorial.  Where els can I send them?  Jean

Comment by Ryan O'Rourke on February 5, 2014 at 10:43am

Hi, Jean.  You can email them to me at ...

(my first name) @TheWildGeese.com

Comment by Patdee Mullarkey on February 6, 2014 at 5:13am

I have twice experienced inappropriate responses to stereotyping in a professional situation. I worked in a newsroom that was highly sensitized to racism and double standards. Yet, when a St. Pat's feature on a local town included every negative stereotype of Irish people that I could think of...drunks, fighters, etc. I complained to the regional editor, who was Native American and very vocal about stereotypes, and she brushed me off. No one I complained to took me seriously. The other instance was on a continual basis. I worked with a woman of Irish American heritage and everything she said about the Irish was a heavy handed putdown. I could understand her bitterness as her immediate family experienced much tragedy. Yet, I couldn't believe the comments she said out loud in the newsroom and no one said anything but me. I am very sensitive to all ethnic groups, and I know how to tell an appropriate joke from a malicious barb. But her comments were outrageous. I always said to her, in a gentle way, that she was being offensive to not only her ancestors but my father, who was born in Ireland, and all my relatives. It never got through. The double standard is detrimental to our culture. When I think people have gone too far I let them know...in a nice way. I would never say some of the comments I hear about other peoples' families and cultures.

Comment by Ryan O'Rourke on February 6, 2014 at 5:18am

Thanks for those comment, Patdee.  That's one of my biggest gripes -- the woefully obvious double standard that very few people will recognise.  Very few folks who admit the double standard exists will show much concern about it.  It's ridiculous.  Either we should refrain from racial stereotypes of ALL KINDS, or go no-holds barred ... but the double standard is absolutely beyond comprehension.

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