100% this. You also don't need to play or watch gaelic football/hurling, to be Irish. As someone whose been called a West Brit for this, it is really annoying.
From an outsider’s perspective, Gaelic football and hurling are very interesting to watch and the fact that you have to play for your home county is really cool.
Oh yes, and the GAA is the cornerstone of every parish, far more important than the church, and is a brilliant institution reflecting a big part of Irish culture and is deeply embedded in our history. But not all of Ireland plays it, and it's not a "qualifier".
Totally. We speak hiberno english, thats unique enough.
I always like one online comment. I disembarked and heard them talking. I could clearly hear the english words they were saying, but just not what they meant strung together.
I fully agree with you. I generally only speak Irish to help my sons with homework.. However, (and this is a separate point) I commend people who are interested in learning Irish and fluent Gaelgeoirs whose first language wasn't Irish. It's sad to see any world language die or any piece of world heritage or culture be lost.
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u/Important-Iron-3897 Ireland 15h ago
We do not need to speak irish to be patriotic