Who are the "Black Irish"?
Most Irish people have dark brown hair, NOT red or blond. A minority are very dark even black haired, and have dark eyes and often a slightly olive complexion--these are what Americans called 'black Irish.' It's not a term used in Ireland because, as stated, they all know that the majority of Irish people are brunette and nowhere near the 'ginger' stereotype in the US. (Sometimes it is said jokingly that most of the redheads must have immigrated to the US.) The darker colouring is probably that of the earliest peoples in Ireland, who came to Ireland via the Atlantic coast thousands of years ago, from Spain and France.
Who are the Black Irish?
Most Ethnic Irish people are born with mid-brown hair, and fair freckly skin. About 10% are born with red hair and fair freckly skin. The majority tend to be blue eyed, but can literally be any colour possible in nature. My brother has dark grey eyes with flecks of brown and green.A sizable minority of Irish people have dark hair, brown eyes and the ablity to tan. Those who are referred to as Black Irish. It is not commenly used as a term in Ireland itself. I have only heard the term from Irish Americans. Grainne Seoige is a t.v. presenter who would have fairly typical Black Irish looks. The legend is that they are descended from Spanish sailors wrecked off the west coast of Ireland during the Spanish Armada. However this is untrue. There have always been dark Irish people; the Vikings used to complain about how dark and short Irish women were. (Didn't stop them from kidnapping them and taking them to Iceland though.)
Can black people be Irish?
Can black people be Irish because my mom told me my greatfather was a light light black and was Irish he had red hair and even freckles. So im also black and now my hair is mostly brown but there is red and blonde confusing right!! But I didnt come with freckles. So can someone tell me
Is it safe to live in Ireland as a black person?
Yes , unlike America we have no KKK or nazi groups so black people are very welcome among us. Dublin is one of the most multi cultural vibrant cities in the world . Nobody cares what colour you are once you are up for a bit of craic! Yes you will be slagged over being a different colour than the Irish but one is expected to slag the irish back about their pot of gold/ height or general ugliness and all of a sudden you are best friends with each other ! I think there is a bit of a kindred spirit among black people and Irish people because of their history! In the 70s British pub there were known to be signs on the door “no blacks ,no irish” or dogs allowed ” , so my father made many black friends in London drinking in the various shebeens and in the present day 2 of his black friends now live in Ireland down the road from us . These two people have never once had a racist comment said to them and were welcomed into the community as my father said they were “sound as a pound” . One even played our national game hurling. It did come as a surprise at first to see a black man run onto the field but he scored 5 points so he was carried off the field held high. Their kids are considered cool in school because they are black and they have developed a deep Tipperary accent. Hope this answers your question !
What do you call someone that is Spanish and Irish?
You're European if your ancestry is a genuine born in Spain, Europe Spanish and born in Ireland, Europe Irish. Then it depends on where in the two countries you were born in. You may have double nationality and be a European Union Citizen if born in either of those two countries. A lot of European Royalty is in that situation. If you are born in the USA then you are an American Citizen. Anybody can say they're descended from this country or that, but unless there is proof, you can also be mixed with black, indian, chinese, russian or polish, for example. Now, South American nationalities ARE NOT Spanish unless born in territories that still belong to Spain. It would be nice to sober up with the fact that south american countries are not homogenous in their populations, as there are definite divisions between the populations that immigrated there from Europe and the native indian tribes and the black populations. The mixing, truth be told, is actually a lot less than advertised. You can have a 100% european ancestry (like mixing real spanish with real irish) and be of a south american nationality or you can be another south american/north american mutt. Real Life doesn't fit the narrow definitions we want to give it most of the times. Whatever your ancestry and genes, the fact IS that you are a human being and that there is no superior race, whether by birth, by nationality or by religion.
Are people in ireland racist towards black people?
I'm an African-American professional living in Ireland for a few years now. I'd say that your decision would not be the best one. In a work setting, people overall see me as American, because that's what I am and what I present. So, when people know you, they accept you. The problem is that you won't know most people you deal, and that THEY are the problem. During booming times, I'd hear racial slurs in the open, on broad daylight, or be insulted in a subtle way I wouldn't have understood if I wasn't a native English speaker, etc. Strangers either talked to me as if I was a tax-sucking refugee getting a free ride, or a freedom-hating Muslim against all their Catholic beliefs. And lots of stares. During recession times, i.e. now, they are becoming intolerant towards anyone perceived to be an outsider. I've been told several times that they "don't mind me", but that they generally feel that "other" non-EU people should be sent back home and give the jobs to Irish-born people. There are new labour regulations in place to enforce this public desire. Another issue on this is knackers / skangers / scumbags. This is a class of 'people' that if you stand out from the crowd (like a person of colour) they will be very tempted to throw stones at you, insult you, steal from you, or gang-attack you. Areas where they live should not be entered. While this is a general problem in Irish society, and they are a minority, they are a loud minority, and they tend to target coloured people more. In answer to your question, Irish are not racist towards black people as much as they are racist towards non-White people that they do not know. I should stress, not everyone is like this, but a minority that is too strong to my liking. I'm respected by my co-workers, it's the strangers that I have a problem with. Therefore, I can't recommend that you come here, no matter how the North-American stereotype portrays the affable and gregarious Irishman, it's generally a myth.
Half Irish Half black? What does that make me?
To start off I'd like to say that I love black culture(or what it used to be) and think that black people have so much soul and such an amazing history. I also love Irish culture and their music and dance and....beer ;). So I live in the USA and obviously people here are a little backwards when it comes to race compared to other countries like Canada or England or even Germany. I live in Boston and so there are a lot of black people and Irish people here. My Irish grandmother and cousins always tell me to take pride in being Irish and call me Irish, yet black people seem to get really pissed off at me when I say i'm half Irish, they just say things like "n***a you black"(not all black people only the uneducated ones). I guess my question is what would I be considered IN THE 21st century NOT THE SLAVE DAYS OR THE CIVIL RIGHTS ERA, I consider myself mixed isn't that correct because I technically am just as black as I am white? Also I don't look black or White like I have brown hair with red highlights in the summer(but a lot of mixed people do) and I have green eyes but besides that **** I literally look 50 percent in-between its pretty odd. Stupid question I know, but recent incidents had me wondering? Also if you are a white supremacist or black panther type person please don't bother responding because I will delete your comment.
I'm Irish but I've never been to Ireland please answer?
Ok I will start of by just by saying I hope you're not getting upset with any of the answers, they are just trying to tell you how it is... Firstly the Irish don't hate the Americans , that is rubbish, their just isn't anything in that, people may not have liked Bush that much but we don't take it out on ordinary people. Nearly everyone speaks English as first language. Some Gaeltacht regions in the West speak Irish but you shouldn't worry about it. To people in this country you will be considered an American of Irish descent at best, if you simply say you're Irish you probably won't get yelled at or anything but it will definitely create a roll the eyes moment. This country has alot changed from being all about green fields and pubs, it won't be all like that, you'il get areas that will satisfy your curiosity for something that you would consider stereotypical Ireland, but don't expect it all to be like in the movies, because it really isn't. I suggest you should head for Galway city in the West or somewhere on the outskirts and then everynow and then go to Connemara because I'm guessing you will love it. In fact travel around Galway, Mayo, Kerry and Donegal it I think you would like it. This country isn't really dangerous , especially the rural regions its quite peaceful
Does any Irish person know anyone called 'Veronica Clougherty'?
Veronica Clougherty may have been born in Dublin, but if Clougherty is her married name, then she was born with a different surname. Assuming she married another Dublin person I looked in the 1911 census but found no Cloughertys in Dublin. I tried a few different combinations based on her age in 1911, but without knowing when she died, I can't know if she would even have been in the 1911 census. We have to wait nine years more until the 1921 census is available. Of course, Veronica may have been born in Dublin but married someone from some other part of Ireland. There were Cloughertys in Galway and Cork in the early 1900s and possibly in other places too. If you can provide some dates and ages, some of us may be able to have another look.