The luck of the Irish

[WillJ]

Where does the phrase "the luck of the Irish" come from?

They were enslaved by the English, then their potatoes got diseased and so millions starved because potatoes were their main source of food, and now terrorism is a constant threat due to the Ireland/Northern Ireland conflict, yet we consider them lucky.

Heck, "the luck of the Jews" almost makes as much sense.

So where does this stereotype come from? Is this something only said in America, or is it a worldwide stereotype? If it's mostly American, is it a remnant of the immigration boom during the 19th century, when all sorts of ethnic stereotypes (the Italians are lazy, etc.) became common?

Just something I've always wondered about.

 

[cgannon64]

Perhaps its our self-deprecating humor?

(Is that even an Irish stereotype? I just made it up...)

 

[WillJ]

Perhaps its our self-deprecating humor?

(Is that even an Irish stereotype? I just made it up...)

Well, perhaps, if the phrase was actually coined by an Irishman, which I doubt.

I just remember a joke I heard about this, that all Irish people have two pairs of shoes, one good, dressy one, and one bad, casual one, and "the luck of the Irish" is stepping in a pile of dog crap and realizing you're wearing your bad shoes.

 

[Adso de Fimnu]

I would assume it's a purely American phrase. Stereotypical. However discriminated against they were in the U.S., the Irish certainly were luckier in America than in their homeland.
I've always wondered why Irish-Americans have their own national holiday (St. Patrick's Day). Is it just an excuse to get drunk? If so, why isn't there a German-American national holiday? Or a Russian-American national holiday? Is it just because we've been at war with Germany and Russia, and not Ireland?

 

[ronok]

I believe it's sarcasm.

 

[joycem10]

My grandpap told me the phrase came from early Anglo-prot discrimiantion against the first waves of Irish immigrants. An Irishman was seen as subhuman and unable to accomplish much in life on his own merit, therefore, any successfull Irishman was either lucky or a crook.

Of course my grandpap was an anti-irish conspiracy theorist so its likely BS.

EDIT:
You peaked my interest. Found this through Google. Looks a little shaky to me but...

http://www.faqfarm.com/History/Irish/4763

 

[Hitro]

Never heard about it here.

 

[joycem10]

I've always wondered why Irish-Americans have their own national holiday (St. Patrick's Day). Is it just an excuse to get drunk? If so, why isn't there a German-American national holiday? Or a Russian-American national holiday? Is it just because we've been at war with Germany and Russia, and not Ireland?

The German/American version is Octoberfest.

There isnt a real large Russian decended popluation here, so Russian cultural holidays never really caught on.

If you're looking for other national origin based holidays look to The Latin/Mexican American version, Cinco de Mayo, Columbus Day and the Feast of San Gennaro for the Italians, or Chinese new year on the west coast. Most of these holidays lose any real national flavor and become an excuse to party.

 

[Hitro]

The German/American version is Octoberfest.

What?

 

[joycem10]

What?

People dress in lederhosen listen to oompah bands and drink beer from those big steins. Happens every year at the end of September and the beginning of October. Doa google search on it. We have a decent one here in Pittsburgh thanks to alot of german immigration back in the day.

 

[Hitro]

People dress in lederhosen listen to oompah bands and drink beer from those big steins. Happens every year at the end of September and the beginning of October. Doa google search on it. We have a decent one here in Pittsburgh thanks to alot of german immigration back in the day.

Yeah, but that's hardly German.

 

[WillJ]

My grandpap told me the phrase came from early Anglo-prot discrimiantion against the first waves of Irish immigrants. An Irishman was seen as subhuman and unable to accomplish much in life on his own merit, therefore, any successfull Irishman was either lucky or a crook.

Of course my grandpap was an anti-irish conspiracy theorist so its likely BS.

EDIT:
You peaked my interest. Found this through Google. Looks a little shaky to me but...

http://www.faqfarm.com/History/Irish/4763

Hmm, that second answer of your link is pretty interesting. But as for the first, "The saying refers to the fact that the Irish people have come through such overwhelming adversity and have come out on top and kicking! It must be luck... or true perseverance," I've never liked that kind of thinking. I mean, if you get hit by a train but survive, you ain't lucky; the lucky ones are us people who don't get hit by trains. But whatever.

As for your grandpa's explanation, that actually sounds pretty plausible, considering there was quite a bit of anti-Irish sentiment in early America (due to being Catholic, I suppose).

Yeah, but that's hardly German.

Isn't there a huge annual festival in Munich?

 

[anarchywrksbest]

We are all lucky to inhabit the same island as me.

 

[Hitro]

Isn't there a huge annual festival in Munich?

Yeah, but that's hardly...

Interestingly Bavarians were usually Catholics, too, while most other Germans were Protestants. Maybe that does have something to do with preserving distinct identities (Italians are Catholics too, after all) from the "WASPs".

 

[Benderino]

I think it's the fact that they've gone threw so much, yet have come out alive.

 

[cgannon64]

I've always wondered why Irish-Americans have their own national holiday (St. Patrick's Day).

Its not really an Irish holiday, its a religious one. There are saint holidays on every day, but only certain ones are celebrated. St. Patrick is just a cool saint.

Is it just an excuse to get drunk?

Yes.

 

[Uncle Sam]

They were enslaved by the English, then their potatoes got diseased and so millions starved because potatoes were their main source of food, and now terrorism is a constant threat due to the Ireland/Northern Ireland conflict, yet we consider them lucky.

A common misconception. "Luck of the Irish" actually DOES means bad luck, for exactly those reasons and more, but the belief it means good luck is so widespread that it pretty much has come to mean the opposite of what it was intended for.

 

[WillJ]

A common misconception. "Luck of the Irish" actually DOES means bad luck, for exactly those reasons and more, but the belief it means good luck is so widespread that it pretty much has come to mean the opposite of what it was intended for.

Hmm, interesting. Do you have a source handy?

 

[Uncle Sam]

Hmm, interesting. Do you have a source handy?

Afraid not, just the backing of some of my older relatives of Irish descent, and a couple of teachers i know. Actually, i've never tried searching for anything about it on the internet, might be interesting to see what i find.