Much like African-American or Asian-American, Irish-Americans are Americans who are of Irish heritage.
Why doesn't Uncle Sam kiss Irish-Americans' asses like he does African-Americans? I mean, c'mon, Irish-Americans are so much sexier!
by Micheal f'ing Collins, biotches! April 25, 2005
Our brothers and sisters from across the water. Endured great hardships in the US, sent money home to help the motherland and reproduced like rabbits.
1. Individual with Irish heritage living in the US.
2. Irish individuals who become Irish Americans through naturalization.
2. Irish individuals who become Irish Americans through naturalization.
by Oisin Gallagher October 20, 2010
The second largest group in america, after the germans. Presidents Reagan and Kennedy were Irish and Bill Clinton was half-irish. Tougher than nails, they are regarded as great fighters and even greater writers. (Think Joyce, Yeats, Doyle, etc.) Once looked down upon (by the boring ass wasps..) they rose up through the ranks of American society and are now one of the most popular and successful groups in the country.
George Clooney, Harrison Ford, Sean Penn, Conan O'Brien, Tom Brady, Sharon Stone, Vince McMahon, Brian Williams, Jack Welch, Carson Daly, Nolan Ryan, Dennis Leary, Pat Riley, Dropkick Murphys, JFK, Tom Clancy, Lindsay Lohan, Jenny McCarthy, are all Irish-Americans
by BlackIrish06 October 07, 2006
A person born in America that is of Irish descent. Despite what others seem to think, an Irish-American person may have not been to Ireland, but this does not deny the existence of Irish in their blood. Millions of Irish immigrants fled to America even until the 1930's and settled thus creating families and spreading their blood lines. If ones' great grandparents or such came from Ireland, does that Irish blood not carry on to them even though they happened to born in America? Someone could easily have Irish parents and be born in Russia, or anywhere for that matter, but they are are still Irish no matter what country they happen enter the world into.
These are just a few great Irish-Americans. Ronald Reagan, James Cagney, Errol Flynn, Frank & Malachy McCourt, and many other greats.
by Rachel McVay March 26, 2007
Irish person: yea im from Ireland
'Irish American' person: OMG my moms, grandmas, sisters, dads uncle, half brothers, step dads, sister in laws, moms second husbands sisters son is half Irish!! Isn't that crazy i'm like totally part Irish!!
Irish person:.....no.
'Irish American' person: OMG my moms, grandmas, sisters, dads uncle, half brothers, step dads, sister in laws, moms second husbands sisters son is half Irish!! Isn't that crazy i'm like totally part Irish!!
Irish person:.....no.
by imirishyourenot May 08, 2011
1)Americans whose distant ancestors came from Ireland. Many contries built by immigration use hyphens to denote cultural ties, such as Canada, US, England and Australia. Mainly American, they nonetheless retain the physical and cultural characteristics of Ireland (dark or red hair, pale and thin) and are identified as Irish by the general population and sometimes suffer discrimination due to these physical traits.
2)Americans whose parents are Irish
3)Americans born in the US but raised in Ireland, see Frank McCourt,writer; Aidan Quinn,actor ; Eamon DeValera, patriot and first president of Ireland
4)The people who raised cash and weapons so that the Irish war of Independence could be fought. Without Irish American support there would be no Republic of Ireland
2)Americans whose parents are Irish
3)Americans born in the US but raised in Ireland, see Frank McCourt,writer; Aidan Quinn,actor ; Eamon DeValera, patriot and first president of Ireland
4)The people who raised cash and weapons so that the Irish war of Independence could be fought. Without Irish American support there would be no Republic of Ireland
Some Irish claim that Irish-Americans are not Irish at all, but they always lay claim the famous ones, such as Eugene O'Neill and Frank McCourt as their talents are so "Irish".
by NYC Ginger August 09, 2007
An American who clings to a false Irish hyphenated identity in an effort to dilute his/her annoying, ignorant American one. They are known as 'Plastic Paddies'. They have never set foot on Irish soil, don't know any Irish people and call Irish (i.e. Gaeilge) 'Gaelic' e.g. ''OMG speak some gaelic!''. They believe they are Irish because their grandfather's grandmother lived next to a woman whose postman was from Dublin. Incidentally, Dublin is the only Irish city they're aware of, unless they're one of the elite few who know of ''Galloway'' (i.e. Galway, pronounced Gawl-way) or Cob - H (i.e. Cobh, pronounced cove). A real Irish person is born in Ireland and grows up there and would never compromise their identity by adding 'American' onto the latter end of their title of nationality (even if s/he moved to the U.S. and lived there indefinitely). Unless you have an Irish passport, don't call yourself Irish...even if your fifth cousin's brother-in-law's dog lived in Kerry!
by CogsKB July 26, 2011