What It Means To Be Irish | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

What It Means To Be Irish

To me, being Irish means being close to your family and having music bring together people from all over.

1084
What It Means To Be Irish
Pexels

On the 17th of each March, I proudly wear green and tell people I'm half Irish. I can sing almost any old Irish song, (thanks, mom), and I celebrate every single year but what does it mean to be Irish? The other 364 days of the year when people ask me what my nationality is the first thing I say is Ecuadorian. Since middle school, I can remember feeling more connected to my Ecuadorian roots than my Irish ones. Whenever I tell people I'm from South America, I'm usually met with stares of confusion and often times people tell me, "and what else," to which I also apply a bored, "Oh, I'm also Irish."

Growing up, I was never as excited of my Irish roots as I was my Ecuadorian. My grandmother would tell me how my sister, who looks more Ecuadorian than anything, told the mailman proudly that she was Irish. While I'm sure when I was younger I was proud, as I grew older I felt like it wasn't as special because it was so common. When you see me, it's hard to pinpoint where I'm from because I can look like many different ethnicities. It wasn't until recently that I felt like I was Irish.

The weeks leading up to St. Patrick's day, I realized that I went out of my own way to look up Irish music since I'm not at home and forced to listen to it every morning with my mom. I missed the house being filled with music with the familiar tunes and catchy beats. I would find myself going to school listening to "My wild Irish rose" on my way to school. After listening to Ed Sheeran's new album, "Divide," and playing it a million times, I realized I was drawn to the Irish tunes "Nancy Mulligan" and "Galway Girl." Both songs made me feel a little closer to my Irish heritage. As St. Patrick's day drew closer, I got more and more excited. Was it because of the idea of going out or was I truly excited to celebrate my heritage? I found myself thinking of myself as more Irish than I previously thought I was.

There are so many different things that make being Irish so unique. It can mean a million different things, it just depends on who it is. To me, being Irish means being close to your family and having music bring together people from all over. Being Irish means to celebrate life and enjoy all that it has to offer. It might have taken awhile but I finally found out what being Irish means to me.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

2663
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

449180
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

21519
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Moana's Top 10 Life Tips

"Moana" is filled with life lessons that involve far more than finding true love as many other Disney movies do.

44540
Animated image of a woman with long dark hair and tattoos
StableDiffusion

1. It's easy to be fooled by shiny things.

Digital image of shiny gemstones in cased in gold. shiny things StableDiffusion

Tamatoa created a liar filled with shiny things simply for the purpose of tricking fish to enter and become his food. He too experiences a lesson in how easy it is to be tricked by shiny things when Moana distracts him by covering herself in glowing algae so Maui can grab his hook.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments