It’s not just where you’re from that matters — where you came from is important, too. There are some 50 – 80 million across the planet who have Irish heritage, which is up to 11 times as many people as live in Ireland itself.
If you’re one of them, then you’ll likely be proud of your Irish heritage, but equally, you might be a little unsure of what to do with the information. The good news is that there are plenty of fun ways to connect with your Irish heritage, and there’s a lot of value in doing so; once you have, you’ll find that you’ve unlocked another part of your identity. In this post, we’ll run through some of the most effective strategies for celebrating your heritage, ranging from eating and drinking the Irish way to planning a trip to the old country.
Research Your Ancestry
Researching your Irish ancestry is recommended for two reasons. The first is that you’ll be helping to keep your ancestors alive (we die twice: once in this world, and the second when the last person forgets us). The second is that it’s fun! You’ll need to work and think like a detective to uncover where your ancestors came from, what they did, and how they lived. Once you’re done, you’ll have a better understanding not just of them, but of yourself.
Bring Ireland Into Your Home
Being Irish isn’t something that’s limited to St. Patrick’s Day. If you have Irish ancestry, then it can and should be something that you celebrate every day — and there are plenty of ways to do so. Irish stew and colcannon are tasty and easy to make, and there’s no better accompaniment than a Guinness or post-meal glass of Irish whiskey. Round it out by playing songs from Ireland’s most celebrated musicians, such as Van Morrison and The Dubliners, and you’ll have given yourself a healthy dose of Irish culture without having to leave your home.
Connect With Others
As we said above, there are some 50 – 80 million people with Irish ancestry across the planet, which means there’s a high chance that there are others living in your area. And if you live in a major city, such as London and New York, then there’ll be a significant amount. Take a look to see if there are any Irish organisations operating nearby, and get in touch. If there’s no formal group operating, then see if there’s an authentic Irish pub; they’ll likely have bucketloads of information about where you can look, and may even be the centre of Irish life in the community itself.
Plan a Trip
Your ancestors may be gone, but Ireland lives on, so why not consider planning a trip? There’s nothing better than booking a flight to Dublin, picking up a rental car, and taking a road trip, and it’ll be all the sweeter if you visit the towns where your ancestors came from. With summer on the horizon, now’s the perfect time to start planning.
