1 definition by SmartColin
Americans who realise (or not)that everyone else in the world thinks they are retards and so desperately try to cling onto some other form of identity. Their surname is Irish thus almost proving that about 5 generations ago they must have had an Irish relative. They are therefore at least 1/32th Irish - the other 31/32th's are irrelevant - only the surname counts. Irish-Americans have most likely never been to Ireland and display no Irish traits and to anyone else would appear only American. However, they are still Irish and you should address them as such. The fact that most white American blood is that of the dastardly English is irrelevant.
Just about every American I've met described themselves as Irish-American, and I lived there. If it's not Irish then it's German, Swedish, Scottish etc. etc. Never ever English.
by SmartColin March 21, 2006