Proud to be born English

DENIS LYNCH’S letter (The Irish Post, July 17) stated that the phrase ‘plastic paddy’ was a term coined by the English themselves for one Irishman to call another if they happened to be born outside Ireland.

My understanding of the phrase refers to Irishborn folk who have deserted their homeland to live elsewhere, eg, England, and then portray themselves as ‘real Irishmen’ where more often than not they are not fluent in their own language and seem too lazy to learn it.

Their form of patriotism seems to come to fruition on St. Patrick’s Day when the pints are flowing in the cosy comfort of an English bar where their mouthings about olde Ireland and the terrible things the English did are regurgitated annually.

These ‘real Irishmen’ have no self respect, best shown by getting the often available £5 one-way air fare back to Ireland and trying to help revitalise the Celtic Tiger’s fortunes rather than seeking refuge at mother England’s economic breast.

I am one of the increasing number of English born, so-called Irish Diaspora who have wised-up and have dumped the baggage of ‘paddywhackery’ being proud to be born a Londoner, English by birth and carrier of a British passport.

D Kerney
By email