Leave leprechaun logo home!

Easton Pa ND Fan

Easton Pa ND Fan

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Several years ago, I proudly wore my leprechaun-logo ND sweat
shirts on a trip to Ireland. I noticed people looking but not
smiling. A lady on a bus told me why.

Flashing the leprechaun is the equivalent of wearing a shirt
with an extended middle finger. The leprechaun is not a good
luck symbol, it is a mean-spirited troll to be avoided. NO
one wears the symbol in public. It is considered in bad taste
to do so.

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GreatGolson

GreatGolson

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As long as we bring our pots of gold i dont think the irish will have a problem with us
 
Irishnuke

Irishnuke

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It'll be ok. They're going to make a lot of money off of the game.
 
Irish YJ

Irish YJ

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I'm Irish (grandmother off the boat), grew up in an Irish American neihborhood in the 70s, have friends in Ireland, and had several employees there in the past. I've never heard that. Not saying it isn't true, but think that lady might be a lepre-phobe.
 
Easton Pa ND Fan

Easton Pa ND Fan

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Guide on a tour said the same thing...

Guide on a tour said the same thing...

Irish YJ said:
I'm Irish (grandmother off the boat), grew up in an Irish American neihborhood in the 70s, have friends in Ireland, and had several employees there in the past. I've never heard that. Not saying it isn't true, but think that lady might be a lepre-phobe.
Click to expand...

"Good luck to the wearer and bad luck to the viewer...and not
a thing to be worn socially." - Nan Kirk (a tour guide in
Dublin). You do not see anyone wearing it as a good luck
charm or symbol there.

We have come to accept it as a good luck icon here, but it
is not viewed quite the same way there.

I think our read on it comes from athletic teams brandishing
it against opponents or Irish immigrants using it to flaunt
local prejudice...Tom
 
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Black Irish

Black Irish

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I've heard the part about leprechauns being evil trolls rather than happy dwarves who make cereal with lots of tasty marshmallows. As far as it being bad manners to sport the image, that's news to me.
 
NDinFL

NDinFL

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Don't we have some members on this board that live in Ireland???
 
IrishBlood81

IrishBlood81

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I'm so sad...every time I read about the Ireland game I wanna cry cause I want to go soo bad, heck, when I heard about it, I just assumed somehow, I'd make it.
So can everyone just stop talking about it?! lol
 
J

jets1961

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I live in the U.K. and I have several Irish friends. They don't particularily like the "American" version of a leprechaun...actually they call it the drunken leprechaun....they do know it's the mascot of the school. As long as whoever the ND mascot is doesn't run around the streets of Dublin in costume he'll be fine. Hell they have more of an issue with the words 'Fightin' Irish' than anything. They think it makes em look like a drunken, brawling people.
 
deise mike

deise mike

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No one here will take offence. We don't like being characterised as 'stage Irish' and no one would use it here but it a team logo - so no problem. I expect the sports shops in Dublin to be full of ND clothing in the next few weeks - leprechaun included.
 
B

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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TY0WYSt7JMA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
B

BGIF

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Cali_domer said:
Was this an issue when we played their in 96'?
Click to expand...

It wasn't an issue but there were some comments from locals reported in the press about misunderstanding Irish folklore. There were mixed comments on "The Fighting Irish". Some liked it, some found it disparaging. One person thought it was in tribute to a people's 700 hundred year struggle to overthrow tyranny and slavery from a heathen invader. There was more commentary on the strange rules of American Football and why men need helmets, shoulder pads, and long pants to play a game.


Two years ago my wife and I were sitting in a pub somewhere in County Clare and got into discussion with some regulars. One noticed the ND logo on my shirt and we talked football. After a while he said, "Did you bring one of those leprechaun shirts with you?" Mrs. BGIF noted we each had one. "Well leave it in your suitcase", he suggested, "it has a different meaning here." His explanation was along the lines of what Tom was was told. So we slept in them.
 
B

Buster Bluth

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could be a crackhead, who got a hold of the wrong stuff!!
 
Irish YJ

Irish YJ

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One of my old co-workers (mid -50s from Cork) confirmed it, but said he would never go so far as to tell anyone (travelling to Ireland to see their team play) not wear a team shirt with their mascot on it. He's said it's kind of like the black cat crossing your path kind of thing. His mother on the other hand, does not want to see it.
 
dshans

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Caveats: I'm a second generation Irish American (both paternal grandparents were born in Ireland) and not what most would consider a world traveler. I've spent a few days in Germany, a bunch of time in France in the course of three trips and three weeks in Ireland. I don't really count a week in Canada, split between Montreal and Toronto.

One lesson I learned (before I even crossed the US border) is that it's best to not **** off the locals. Spend your money but don't come across as an Ugly American. Show respect and deference. In the heart of Montreal (at a time when the Parti Quebecois was very active – separatist songs were being sung by people standing on tables and flags were being waved) I made a point of ordering deux bieres and at breakfast un cafe regulier et un croissant. Trying to order eggs over easy and sausage would have blown my cover.

I don't like the characterization of the Irish as "fightin.'" Determined? Yes. Stubborn? Yes. Taciturn? That depends on the Irishman. Talkative? Again, that depends on the Irishman. I've never liked the stylized caricature of a pugilistic Leprechaun Notre Dame uses as its logo. As much because I find it ugly as I find it a bungled appropriation of a part of Irish folklore.


Yes ... someone pissed on my Lucky Charms this morning.
 
Irish YJ

Irish YJ

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Well I prefer the Fightin Irish to the "Rovers" and "Ramblers". Could you imagine if they called us the "Givin' up French" since ND was actually founded by some French dudes. And I prefer our Leprechaun to a Terrier.... Many speculate we got our name from Corby due to the Civil War tie in. I don't think it represents Ireland as much as some people may think. Anyway, think we're all over thinking this...
 
BobD

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jets1961 said:
Hell they have more of an issue with the words 'Fightin' Irish' than anything. They think it makes em look like a drunken, brawling people.
Click to expand...

I'm half Irish, my family has been fighting about this for years.


Where did they get "drunken" from? We're the "Fightin' Irish" not the "Drunken, Fightin' Irish".
 
obi wan mahoney

obi wan mahoney

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Irish fans, have fun and represent well! If the leprechaun gear is taboo, maybe only wear it on game day.
 
Fbolt

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Black Irish said:
I've heard the part about leprechauns being evil trolls rather than happy dwarves who make cereal with lots of tasty marshmallows. As far as it being bad manners to sport the image, that's news to me.
Click to expand...

Mmmmm... marshmallows in cereal.
 
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