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and you think nyc and philly and boston are like ireland? were you drunk the whole time?
My impression, and I heard someone from Ireland say this too, is that the South, or a lot of areas in the South, strangely, always reminded me more of how Ireland is than Boston. I know that doesn't make sense in terms of all the stats, etc. etc. But as far as just the general laid back relaxed attitude. And the talking.
Maybe not so much in Dublin, but in Ireland in general the way the Irish love to talk is similar to the South. Boston is not really like that in general. Maybe little pockets, or enclaves, or neighborhoods here and there, and maybe Southie was like that back in the day, but not anymore. Maybe the Irish Riviera is like that, I don't know, I live on the north shore.
I always had that impression. I then I heard someone from Ireland say the same thing once about the South. I don't know why though. Possibly the agricultural thing, or poverty, or the lingering effects of war on your own soil.
My impression, and I heard someone from Ireland say this too, is that the South, or a lot of areas in the South, strangely, always reminded me more of how Ireland is than Boston. I know that doesn't make sense in terms of all the stats, etc. etc. But as far as just the general laid back relaxed attitude. And the talking.
Maybe not so much in Dublin, but in Ireland in general the way the Irish love to talk is similar to the South. Boston is not really like that in general. Maybe little pockets, or enclaves, or neighborhoods here and there, and maybe Southie was like that back in the day, but not anymore. Maybe the Irish Riviera is like that, I don't know, I live on the north shore.
I always had that impression. I then I heard someone from Ireland say the same thing once about the South. I don't know why though. Possibly the agricultural thing, or poverty, or the lingering effects of war on your own soil.
A couple of notes about this good post.
I agree, much of Ireland is rural and very green, so it can make sense that your friend would see the less developed Southeast as more like Ireland than Boston. Especially in the winter and spring --- not so much in summer, lol.
In addition, the rural parts of the Southeast are more open farmland like Ireland. Much of New England has changed back into woodlands. However, if you walk into those woodlands you will find old stone walls dividing old farm fields just like you can find in Ireland.
Regarding the accents, I have to disagree with you. I read somewhere that the Boston/Eastern New England accent was heavily influenced by Irish immigrants. This is also true of New York City to a lesser extent. The Southern accent on the other hand has been developing for centuries.
Regarding the accents, I have to disagree with you. I read somewhere that the Boston/Eastern New England accent was heavily influenced by Irish immigrants. This is also true of New York City to a lesser extent. The Southern accent on the other hand has been developing for centuries.
Ironically, Boston and New York are examples of places that have resisted the influence of the Irish accent. American English was mostly non-rhotic (meaning "r" sounds are lightly emphasized) until the influence of the Irish accent spread across the country. Think FDR (a New Yorker) telling us that the only thing we have to fear is "feah itself," or JFK (a Bostonian) imploring us us to "ask what you can do 'foah yoah country."
The Irish (Scots-Irish if you prefer) were the first to bring the hard "r" sound to the East Cost region. You can particularly hear it in the interior South/Appalachia, where for instance someone in Asheville will be glad to tell you they live in Norrth Carrrrolina, whereas one of their fellow statemen who lives along the coast, particularly if he's over 50, might tell you he lives in "No-uth Ca-olina." The latter type of speech pattern has been gradually fading away because of the Irish influence. The Germans and Scandinavians did the same for the Midwest, and as a result the non-rhotic speech patterns that were common at the start of the 20th century are all but gone. Two of the few remaining places where you still hear it in a substantial part of the population are New York and Boston.
I actually live in cali and it's moslty mexicans (NOT IRISH).... THIS HONESLTY IS NOT a difficult question? New York is known for being mostly jewish... to be honeslty Philly doesn't really have a feel, noone talks about them other than the movie philadelphia and rocky, which means they are homosexual or italian or both... boston is the one that always comes to mind when you think of irish. i visited my friend once at college in boston, unbelievable, the entire town is white (catholic irish)... if you go to NY or Phi, you see many African Americans and a mix of everyone... if you want to actually feel moslty irish... i'd go to BOSTON
also, if you're taking total number of irish, it'll probably be california because it's the largest of everything and is a massive melting pot... but if you're talking the percentage, i'd def go to boston
I think Ireland's urbanized a great deal in the last 30 years, but might still be less urban than us. Also I think the South, as it's mentioned, does have a few heavily Irish places. An Irish-American told me Texas has some very Irish towns, but all I find are suburbs.
I think there are parts of Pennsylvania that are a bit more small-town/rural and also heavily Irish. Maybe a smaller town near Scranton.
Caliboy123, you know how many times you contradicted yourself in your posts?
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