Day four turned out to be so much fun. Our tour of Croke Park was not what I expected! Being that I am not a huge sports fan, I assumed that our tour of the park would be very boring and dull to me but I soon found out that this park is more than a place to play football or watch the Rolling Stones – it is a proud testament to Irish culture and heritage. This brought up thoughts regarding Ireland’s national identity, similar to some of the topics that Darren discussed yesterday.

From what we have observed, it seems to me that the Irish are very proud of their heritage. The whole idea of starting the GAA to me was so powerful; they understand the importance of preserving their own culture and getting out of the clutches of an oppressive culture and are making strides to strengthen their nation’s cultural identity in the years to come. The Irish are quick witted, adaptable, tough, and good spirited. They were oppressed for so long that it’s almost like the people of Ireland formed a “team” that’s gritty and ready to take on anything! The levels of personal Irish national identity vary. I imagine that some don’t consider “Irish” as a defining feature of themselves while others, like in the case of one CAPA faculty member, even go on to change their last names to reflect their Gaelic roots! As a whole, I think that Ireland has an intense national identity. It may not be the forefront of everything they do, but we have heard time and time again how endearingly the Irish speak of their little rock. To me, it seems that the Irish have accepted a rather intense national identity through thick and through thin. I think that the ways in which their national identity is displayed differs from the identity of the US. They still love to listen to Irish music, drink Guinness, and brandish their flag. They are also more deeply involved in their politics and history than most people can say in the US.

I personally do not put my national identity ahead of my other roles in life. First and foremost, I am an older sister. Moving away from home made me realize how important this role is in my life. It’s the reason I am nurturing and patient and has shaped how I interact with others. I may be quiet or shy at first which might come across as cold but no matter what, I like to think that I am very empathetic and would help anyone who needed it (even if it’s tough love sometimes). Being lower middle-class is also something that has shaped me into the person I am today. While I may not be tied specifically to that title, I think growing up and struggling with money has really allowed me to be humble, appreciate the little things, and be thrifty. I know the importance of working hard and suffering through anything to make it through to the other side. Maybe this feeds into the idea of the American dream and my national identity in that I feel that hard work pays off – you have to be able to pull yourself up from your bootstraps! I wouldn’t list “American” in my top five proudest titles/roles, but I think the American dream/ideology is still very present in my life. It may not manifest itself into red, white, and blue tshirts and cowboy hats but in a lot of ways, I think I am still very “American”. I am also proud to be somewhat of a world traveler (or brave and open to traveling at least), Christian, artist, and a foodie. Though the intensity of each role on my life differs, a blow at any of these titles would definitely elicit a strong reaction from me. I’m proud of the little titles and idiosyncrasies that I’ve picked up along the way and I’m curious to see how they transform in the years to come.