There’s a new trend afoot on TikTok – the ‘We’re Irish Catholic’ trend, and it has caused quite a stir.
If you’ve been on TikTok recently, you might have scrolled through a few videos in the ‘We’re Irish Catholic’ trend.
The trend has sparked quite a debate. Some people think the videos are cringey and silly, while others are getting downright offended by it.
Well, I thought I’d give my two cents about why the ‘We’re Irish Catholic’ trend has me cringing a little bit after every video I scroll by. Here’s why.
‘We’re Irish Catholic’ trend – causing quite the stir
TikTok is constantly on the go with new trends, and one that’s doing the rounds at the minute is the ‘We’re Irish Catholic’ trend.
The trend basically involves American people of Irish descent talking about things that make sense because of their Irish Catholic backgrounds. For example, “I’m Irish Catholic, of course I have 40 first cousins”.
However, some of the claims are more outlandish and seemingly disconnected from Irishness, like “We’re Irish Catholic, of course we have a bar in our basement”.
With sentiments like, “I’m Irish Catholic, of course I’m a city worker”, or “I’m Irish Catholic, of course I married the guy who lives down the street”, I have to agree that the trend is cringe.
Only because, as an Irish person born and raised in Ireland, I don’t see the relevance of 90 per cent of the statements made in this trend, and I don’t agree that it relates to you being Irish Catholic, but rather Irish American, perhaps?
Due to the nature of putting these traits down to religious background and Irishness, the trend has caused quite a stir among Irish people and Irish Americans. Here’s why.
Why it has sparked debate – Irish identity
Many people have taken issue with the fact that the people who are primarily carrying out this trend have very clear American accents.
Irish Catholics would generally be from Ireland, and the issue that has arisen seems to be about people claiming to be “Irish Catholic” rather than “Irish American”.
Various detractors on TikTok have thrown around the words “entitled” and “inconsiderate” as these users attribute their habits and quirks to Irishness despite being American.
They claim that many of these people, some of whom have never stepped foot in Ireland, are taking a privileged standpoint by attributing their Irish background to the way they have been raised.
This is despite potentially not knowing a thing about what it is or was like being Irish Catholic in Ireland.
However, is this horrified Irish response warranted to protect Irish pride, or is it an overexaggeration and display of identity gatekeeping?
Irish pride or gatekeeping identity? – maybe a bit of both
Many Irish Americans, or Irish Catholics in America, have clapped back at the backlash. They outline that these “We’re Irish Catholic” videos serve merely as a way to express pride in their Irish heritage, not to offend or ruffle any feathers.
While I agree that the trend is cringe, I have to say that some people out there ought to get a grip and stop gatekeeping Irishness to the point of arguing with strangers on the internet.
People are allowed to be proud of their Irishness, and if they aren’t hurting anyone, then who are we to stop them?
Many Irish Americans have taken to TikTok in defence of the trend since many of the Irish people who emigrated to America due to the Great Famine came from Catholic backgrounds.
Dr Catherine Healy, Historian-in-Residence at EPIC, The Irish Emigration Museum, gave her thoughts on the matter to IrishStar.com.
She said, “It is understandable that people of Irish descent still identify with their Catholic roots.
“Catholics made up the vast majority of Irish emigrants to America in the decade after the Great Famine, and many of them retained a strong allegiance to their faith in the face of nativist hostility”.
She points out that while religion might be a less important factor today, Catholic traditions still act as “an important cultural touchstone for members of the diaspora”.
While I understand the sentiment of Irish people protecting Irish identity, considering the history and cultural context, Irish Americans, or Irish Catholic Americans, are some of the proudest people in the world.
They love to celebrate their heritage and links to Ireland, whether they have stepped foot on Irish soil or not.
If people have connections to the land and a sense of pride in it, then more power to them. Let people celebrate their history and lineage, no matter how far it goes back, without fear of persecution from half of Ireland on a social media app.
