We hold these stereotypes because of things we see on TV, on the internet, and from the fairytales and other stories that we read. Not all Irish people have red hair--you can just as easily find blonds or brunettes. In addition, Irish people prepare and eat many varied foods, including steak, stews, meat pies, sandwiches, and foods from other countries. Potatoes are a major crop in Ireland though, and pork is frequently eaten by people. Some people know how to Irish dance, but certainly not everyone. Also, there have been many sunny days here in Dublin, but there are also many cloudy days as well. In actuality, the weather varies.
Before coming to Ireland I did not know much about its history besides the major tragedies that the country has been through such as the potato famine and the Irish War for Independence and Civil War. I had no idea how impactful these events were on Irish culture and life, and even on American culture. Many friends and families in both the Republic in Ireland and Northern Ireland are still divided due to political differences that arose during the Irish Civil War. In the U.S, many people celebrate St. Patrick's Day, an Irish holiday, and one can find Irish pubs in every major U.S. city. America's large Irish-American population is due to the mass migration of Irish people as a result of these historical events, especially the famine.
I knew that Northern Ireland was a part of the U.K., but I did not understand why it was not a part of the Republic of Ireland. This can be explained by cultural differences as Northern Ireland is predominately Protestant, and the Republic of Ireland is predominately Catholic.
