Saturday 19th 2005f March 2005
« « Whither?| The Award Winning » »St. Paddy, 2005
I didn’t make it to the parade this year, either. Unlike last year, it wasn’t snowing. It was a nice day. I just didn’t find the idea that attractive. People walking.
And it was far away, all the way up 5th Avenue at 44th Street. I started the day down at Houston, at the R* offices. I just had a couple of hours work to do to finish something I had started the day before (work continues intermittently). I left there about 12:30, and headed to the Scratcher. I bought my camera with me, with every intention of creating some kind of rudimentary photo essay, but in fact I only took three photographs, and only two of them came out. This is the first one:
It’s of Anita in the Scratcher, just after she poured me my first pint of the day at about 1pm. I had half arranged to meet up with Helen McMahon and her New-York-resident friends Anne Marie and Ciara around lunch time or in the early afternoon, but they got bogged down in Queens doing women’s things so I just hung around the Scratcher chatting to Anita and various other people who wandered in and out.
Some were Scratcher regulars who I’d met before, like Laurent. It was his birthday. In France this had not been an issue, but since he’s moved to the US it has apparently tended to become a little lost. Another guy I ended up talking to for a while – indeed, having lunch with – was a random stranger called Matt. He’s hosts a TV show on the Discovery channel, which means it could well be poised to become the new American Chopper. He didn’t try and steal anything from me.
After a while Helen and her friends settled in a bar called Vertigo which Ciara designed up around 26th Street, so I staggered up to join them. I had a pint or two more there, but they were expensive ($7!) and the music was too loud (I’m getting old). Julian, Lisa and Anne showed up. The Irish girls headed to Lunasa. I vowed to join them later, and headed with Anne, Lisa and Julian to a new bar on 28th Street and Madison called Boston 212. It was during this short walk that I took the second of the day’s pictures.
The Empire State Building, all lit up green. Julian actually has a better picture of it at his site. In my defense, Julian had taken his earlier and wasn’t nearly as drunk as me.
This was the first night that Boston 212 had opened its doors and it wasn’t quite finished, although extremely presentable. The grand opening will be on April 1st. It’s part owned by a friend of Conor’s called Charley, hence the invite. This is pretty much where I finished off the evening. I hit the wall about midnight and just had to go home. Only eleven hours of drinking! It’s official – I’m not as young as I used to be.
The whole Paddy’s Day thing is interesting. When in Ireland, I don’t really celebrate it much. As a kid I used to be taken to the parade, but nowadays it just starts too early. It’s a day off, which is nice, but the following day isn’t so there’s no real incentive to drink much. I’ve really found that the most fun to be had in Dublin on Paddy’s Day is in hanging out with Americans, to whom it really means something. This year I decided to embrace the stereotype and spend the day drinking, but it was really just an excuse. I just haven’t done that for a while.
It seems to be much more signifigant to the diaspora. The first Paddy’s Day parades weren’t in Ireland at all, they were in the US. They served a very specific purpose. They said to the community at large “We’re here, and there are a lot of us”. By comparison the festival they recently started having in Dublin doesn’t have any such history, or message – it’s really a tourist thing.
As a young(ish) freshly arrived immigrant I really don’t feel that the parade as it exists in NYC really has anything to do with me. I actually feel the opposite – turned off, excluded. Old men marching sternly. It’s not a celebration, it’s a warning. It’s not about the Irish, it’s about the Irish-Americans – an ambivalent relationship to say the least.
Any Irish person who’s travelled at all, and even most of those who haven’t, will be familiar with the surreal experience of meeting people who claim to be Irish and clearly aren’t. Usually, they’re American. At first it can be a little disorientating, and a little irritating. But they usually buy drinks for Irish people, so that’s ok. Then you can start to feel a little superior, and wish to set them straight. “No, you’re not Irish”, you say. “You’re American. I’m Irish.”
This can actually get to be quite heated, particularly with all the free (to you) drinks. Passports are brandished, accents compared, histories related. In one extreme case in Paris in 1997 I actually saw one young American reduced to tears by an Irish girl who refused in the strongest possible terms to acknowledge any validity at all to his claims at an Irish identity. This was about 4am, mind you. I spent quite a while comforting him. Something he said to me then really pointed up the difference between Irish and Irish-American.
One of the ways this guy asserted his Irish identity was by financially supporting the “armed struggle” in the North. He assumed that this established his bona fides, and would endear him to any Irish person. This attitude is no longer the norm from what I can see, but it goes a long way to explaining why Irish people can sometimes feel a little bit resentful and embarrassed by the way we are claimed and represented by Irish-Americans, specifically those who have never been to Ireland. There’s an image they seem to have which really isn’t current, if it ever was. This is also part of the reason for the feeling of exclusion I and other young(-ish) Irish immigrants feel from the parade. It’s celebrating a very different, unfamiliar kind of Irishness. It hasn’t been Irishness as we understand it for a long time. It’s Irish-Americanness.
But that’s ok. Frankly, we owe the diaspora more than they owe us. Paddy’s Day is celebrated all over the world. Pretty much anywhere you go as an Irish person you can find an Irish bar and a welcome based on your accent. As was pointed out to me on Thursday, there’s one day a year when the most powerful man in the world, the US President, has to meet the Taoiseach, leader of a country with a population half that of Manhattan.
This is not because we are so inherently great. This is because so many left, and organised, and started having parades to show that they were here, and that there were a lot of them. I still don’t really have any desire to go see the parade, but it doesn’t matter – it’s really not for me.
Comment ID: 2640
At 3:13 pm on Saturday 19th 2005f March 2005, Gerrysan wroteHoly cow us$7 for a pint, thats about ar$20 pesos for that I could buy 8 litres of beer or one good 8 year old wine or 10 LITRES of plonk which would still be better than most €5 bottles bought in Dublin.
Next Paddies day come down here for the weekend.
Gerrysan
Comment ID: 2641
At 9:34 pm on Saturday 19th 2005f March 2005, Gerrysan felt the urge to writeOn identity and identifying why do we want to be club members and why is the Irish club so special.!!!!!Greener grass syndrome….???????? I don’t know. The more I look at nationalism the less it moves me. On being a member of a club it is almost impossible not to be one way or another. I’m in the Tango club now before in an Aikido club, Zen club, Sound Club probably still there….....Well it’s a feeling that we are at home isn’t it? I just wonder where the idea, we weren’t at home in the first place came from.
Cheers Gerrysan
Comment ID: 2643
At 4:01 am on Sunday 20th 2005f March 2005, Frank saidGreat piece Anthony. Here at home, on the dublin/Wicklow border, I did my best to avoid the city and the celebrations. I don’t really know why, but it seems that Paddy’s day is a lot less important when you are at home (and you are Irish and home is Ireland). I like your remark, “Frankly, we owe the diaspora more than they owe us”. I hadn’t realised there was a debt involved, but it may be true.
On a different note, Crack’s back.
Frank
Comment ID: 2644
At 11:17 am on Sunday 20th 2005f March 2005, Andrew Bellware opinedLoved this blog. Don’t really have anything intelligent to say about it. But I thought it very informing.
Comment ID: 2645
At 5:43 pm on Sunday 20th 2005f March 2005, Nigel assertedThe words “in my defense” at the start of your excuse for taking a touristy looking photo seem to suggest you’re well on the way to becoming an (Irish) American yourself.
I was lucky enough to get Friday off at the last minute. Just as well. I’d have been useless anyway!
Comment ID: 2646
At 8:51 pm on Sunday 20th 2005f March 2005, Anthony wanted everyone to knowI wasn’t excusing myself for taking a touristy photograph. I was excusing myself for taking a crappy photograph!
And I think there is a debt. Wasn’t the Irish economy in the ‘fifties kept afloat on remittances?
Comment ID: 2647
At 10:38 pm on Sunday 20th 2005f March 2005, Gerrysan was inspired to addWere we alive then?
Comment ID: 2648
At 4:29 pm on Monday 21st 2005f March 2005, Anthony postedIreland’s current prosperity and place in the world is due in part to the many who left. I’m not saying we owe them cash, Gerry – it’s just something to think about.
Comment ID: 2650
At 6:19 pm on Tuesday 22nd 2005f March 2005, Julian was compelled to shareWhere is Hans? You did not even mention Lisa’s friend who was hanging out with us. And I know that there was an excellent picture of him!
Comment ID: 2653
At 12:43 pm on Thursday 24th 2005f March 2005, Tom wroteThat was a great piece. It reminded me of an argument I heard at my favorite pub in Minnesota. The two owners were Irish immigrants who spent hours at the “office”.
I remember seeing them at a table with a guy who apparently was visiting fro Ireland. This guy’s voice kept getting louder and louder as he talked about the “Yanks” who thought..x and the “Yanks” who thought y..and how they just need realize that they’re not Irish..
At this point, the younger of the two owners picked this guy up by the arm and tossed him out the door. I can still remember him standing there, shouting out the open door.
“These yanks pay my fookin’ bills!”
Later I found out it was the guy’s cousin that got evicted.
Comment ID: 2654
At 2:45 pm on Thursday 24th 2005f March 2005, lisa was inspired to addHorrible news!!! From Gawker:
I saw Bob Saget at the Scratcher bar on 5th street at 1:00 am on Friday night. He was with two girls in their late 20s.
yikes. maybe you need a new hangout—and tell anita to run for cover!
Comment ID: 2655
At 10:28 am on Friday 25th 2005f March 2005, Anthony blurtedShould I be worried because Bob Saget goes there or because Gawker does? Who is Bob Saget? Off to Google for me…
And Tom, I feel for everybody in that story. It really is aggravating to hear Americans talk about being Irish. What do they know about it? If they’re Irish, what do they think we are? Because we’re certainly different. Irish Americans tend to be pretty conservative, whereas actual Irish people are, well, European.
It’s an interesting relationship.
Comment ID: 2656
At 12:26 pm on Friday 25th 2005f March 2005, Babs opinedBob Saget is evil. Trust me.
I always joke about being a ‘plastic paddy’ and all that, but for as much as we were raised ‘plastic’ the Old Man made sure we knew we were American. Which really confused me this one time I’d gone out with a dude from Offaly who insisted on calling me Irish-American even though I know I’m bloody well not. And he wouldn’t listen to me when I said I wasn’t.
The twit.
Mind you, I love that damned parade.
Comment ID: 2657
At 12:32 pm on Friday 25th 2005f March 2005, Anthony was inspired to addA Biffo? You want to stay clear of Biffos.
Comment ID: 2659
At 4:26 pm on Friday 25th 2005f March 2005, Babs blurtedI knew about his being a biffo but refrained from saying such as to give the appearance that I’m actually polite cough
VBFITW said the same thing when I told him about the biffo date.
Being polite, I won’t mention that VBF may have called him an ignorant culchie, too lol
Comment ID: 2674
At 6:47 pm on Tuesday 29th 2005f March 2005, Proud Irish American statedMy grandparents & parents, aunts, uncles, etc, (Donegal, Mayo – Bellina, Castlebar) would’ve smacked me upside the head if I EVER hesitated or even slightly denied my being Irish. Americans that deny their heritage would be laughed at, by other Americans.
If you have children in this country, teach them to be proud of their heritage or you will be doing them a grave injustice, (my opinion). I for one would look down on someone who denied their families’ legacy.
...oh yeah, and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand.
Comment ID: 2675
At 7:26 pm on Tuesday 29th 2005f March 2005, Anthony wanted everyone to knowYou consider yourself Irish American, according to the way you signed yourself. Do you think there’s a difference between being Irish and Irish American? I think that’s what can be a little irritating. I don’t believe anybody thinks being aware of your heritage is a bad thing, but surely it’s good to acknowledge that it is heritage, and doesn’t have a lot to do with modern Ireland.
I’m really back and forth on this issue. Does it show?
Comment ID: 2677
At 10:17 pm on Tuesday 29th 2005f March 2005, Proud Irish-AMERICAN opinedWhen an American says they are “Irish” or any other nationality their is usually an understanding that is means “Irish-American”. It’s part of the culture and meant to be innocuous.
————————
Back track to grade-school (early 70’s)
Me: Hey, man what are you?
Student #2: I’m Italian-American
Me: Ohhhhh!!!! Ohhhh My Goddddddddddd!!!!!
You’re Italian-AMERICAN!!! Wow I never could have figured that out – you fucking stupid weenie. Let me
give you a wedgie for being so stupid.
Student #2: (Duh… )
The only time I say I’m Irish-American is when I hang out with my bona fide Irish brethren, lest I hurt their wee feelings.
Comment ID: 2678
At 10:30 pm on Tuesday 29th 2005f March 2005, Anthony blurtedAaaaahhhh… See, that’s not always clear when you meet Americans abroad. It’s like they’re claiming to be Irish, but I guess they’re not. They’re just afraid of getting a wedgie.
Well, nobody likes that. And it’s true, our feelings are wee.
Comment ID: 2707
At 11:22 am on Tuesday 05th 2005f April 2005, elenamary channelledThis was wonderfully written. Thank you. I often wonder if the Irish laugh so hard they pee or just chuckle when they see Irish-Americans. I had heard (and it might not be at all true—nut still funny) that more Americans claim to be Irish then possible could be. Which too me is odd becuase my Irish grandfather and Irish-American father think that the Irish are still persecuted in the US, what a joke!
Comment ID: 2708
At 5:16 pm on Tuesday 05th 2005f April 2005, James attestedThis is the first time I ever heard the term “Plastic Paddy”. My last name is Irish, and although my heritage includes many other countries, my most direct family is English, and Irish. I don’t consider myself a “Plastic Paddy”, simply because I know I’m American before anything else. Whenever someone here would ask about being Irish on St. Patrick’s day, I would say: “Yeah, I’m part Irish” (My one Irish great-gradnfather was the Police-Chief in a City south of where I live). Whenever I travel abroad and someone asks where I’m from, or what I am, I say: “I’m American”. Seriously, are there Americans who travel abroad, who when asked what they are, say “Irish”? I mean, my relatives worked so hard on becoming accepted as American’s when they came. Why would any O’Irish be ashamed to say they are American when traveling abroad? I am a fan of the Irish Football Team, and I am truly proud of my Heritage, but I never once for an instant doubted my Americanism (lol, if that’s even a word).
Comment ID: 2709
At 6:30 pm on Tuesday 05th 2005f April 2005, Anthony wroteThey don’t introduce themselves as Irish necessarily, but when they realise you are they say “me too!”, as if this forms some kind of instant bond. Hell, I don’t even bond with actual Irish people when I’m travelling. I’d be much more interested in meeting an American. I have encountered this a lot. A lot.
Thank you, Elanamary. I must say I haven’t felt particularly discrminated against – the opposite if anything! Maybe that’s just New York.
Comment ID: 2713
At 1:51 pm on Thursday 07th 2005f April 2005, elenamary attestedAnthony, I think for the most part the Irish aren’t discriminated against anymore in the US. I can only think of one such place where that isn’t true and is with old-money english protestant families but even that is rare.
Comment ID: 2717
At 2:27 pm on Sunday 10th 2005f April 2005, Anthony channelledOh, well they’ll discriminate against anybody.
Comment ID: 5699
At 1:08 pm on Saturday 31st 2005f December 2005, The Donegal Express » YIR — March 2005 stated[...] An Irishman’s first St. Patrick’s Day in America. [...]