The Emerald Isle

By Emily Phillips

Known to many as the “Land of Saints and Scholars,” Ireland has contained the roots of countless US citizens. As early as 1845, Irish immigrants started moving into America in search of a better life after the potato famine. Now, we enjoy sharing the cultures and traditions they brought with them.

Originally thought to be drunkards, most Irish people were given difficult, low-paying jobs, such as working on the transcontinental railroad. Later, however, Americans began to accept the Irish and even adopted some of their cultural aspects. The most popular tradition that we still celebrate with them today is St. Patrick’s Day.

Ireland is a vastly green island, deserving of the nickname “The Emerald Isle,” and its landscape consists of rolling hills, stunning cliffs, and beautiful castles. Citizens of Ireland may either live in its bustling cities, or in the many quaint villages that remain farming communities. Popular culture in Ireland remains relatively the same to ours in terms of television, music, literature, and movies.

The flag of Ireland is set into three color sections, the first being green, the second white, and the third orange, which represent the treaty/peacefulness between the Roman Catholics and the Protestants. This coexistence between cultures has granted Ireland the reputation of being extremely friendly. Common greetings including shaking hands, hugging, or kissing one another on the cheek.

Irish food, as it may shock some of you, consists of more than just potatoes. People of Ireland may enjoy Irish stew (meats, potatoes, onions, and carrots), Fry (sausages, bacon, tomato, mushrooms, egg, black & white pudding with soda bread), and Colcannon (potatoes, cabbage, and leeks). There is also Irish coffee, which is made from hot coffee, Irish whiskey, sugar and cream. Now that’s the way to start your day.

Citizens of Ireland appreciate much of the same material that we do here in America, including music and literature. Popular bands from Ireland include Aslan, The Corrs, The Cranberries, Boyzone (the original Irish boyband), and the ever-famous U2. Authors such as Bram Stoker, Oscar Wilde, James Joyce, Jonathan Swift, and William Butler Yeats are also Irish.

Many Americans will proudly proclaim their Irish heritage whenever asked about their bloodlines, and it’s only fair to say that they are most likely telling the truth.

“According to the Census, there are 34.5 million Americans who list their heritage as either primarily or partially Irish. That number is, incidentally, seven times larger than the population of Ireland itself (4.68 million). Irish is the second-most common ancestry among Americans, falling just behind German” (Kliff 1)

People in the US today can all enjoy the satisfaction of living in the “melting pot” that brings all of our heritages together. This cooperation between races and cultures is only the beginning to making our nation even greater.

Kliff, Sarah. "The Irish-American Population Is Seven times Larger than Ireland." Washington Post. The Washington Post, 17 Mar. 2013. Web. 19 Jan. 2015.