---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why do we like being Irish? Partly…"
description: "\"Why do we like being Irish? Partly because It gives us a hold on the sentimental English As members of a world that never was, Baptized with fairy wate..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/079/louis-macneice-13584_baptized_why-do-we-like-being-irish-partly-becaus_374937.jpg"
---

#  Why do we like being Irish? Partly because It gives us a…

![“Why do we like being Irish? Partly because It gives us a hold on the sentimental English As members of a world that never was, Baptized with fairy water” quote by Louis MacNeice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/079/louis-macneice-13584_baptized_why-do-we-like-being-irish-partly-becaus_374937.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/079/louis-macneice-13584_baptized_why-do-we-like-being-irish-partly-becaus_374937.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/079/louis-macneice-13584_baptized_why-do-we-like-being-irish-partly-becaus_374937.jpg)

> “Why do we like being Irish? Partly because It gives us a hold on the sentimental English As members of a world that never was, Baptized with fairy water”

[Louis MacNeice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-macneice/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote explores Irish identity, linking it to sentimental English heritage and mythic imagination.

**In simple terms:** Irish identity blends sentiment and myth.

Key Takeaway

Embrace cultural roots.

Themes

identity heritage myth sentiment nationalism

Mood

nostalgic thoughtful

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

- cultural festivals
- literary analysis
- personal heritage exploration
- identity formation

Key Concepts

cultural hybridity nostalgia

Questions to Reflect On

- How does myth shape your identity?
- What aspects of heritage do you cherish?

A Different Perspective

May romanticize history.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Being irish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-irish/) [Fairy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairy/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Ireland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ireland/) [Irish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irish/) [Sentimental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentimental/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/)

## Related quotes

> [“I think being a woman is like being Irish... Everyone says you're important and nice, but you take second place all the time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/i-think-being-a-woman-is-like-being-irish-everyone-says-you-re/)

[Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/)

> [“Never get mixed up in a Welsh wrangle. It doesn't end in blows like an Irish one, but goes on forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/never-get-mixed-up-in-a-welsh-wrangle-it-doesn-t-end-in-blows-like-an/)

[Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/)

> [I think being a woman is like being Irish. Everyone says you're important and nice, but you take second place all the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/i-think-being-a-woman-is-like-being-irish-everyone-says-you-re-2/)

[Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/)

> [I'd like less Irish-looking skin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronan-keating/i-d-like-less-irish-looking-skin/)

[Ronan Keating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronan-keating/)

> [No one does rebellion like the Irish. -Liam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-twilight-saga-breaking-dawn-part-2/no-one-does-rebellion-like-the-irish-liam/)

[The Twilight Saga Breaking Dawn Part 2](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-twilight-saga-breaking-dawn-part-2/)

> [If you could drink dreams like the Irish streams Then the world would be high as the mountain of morn In the Pool they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/if-you-could-drink-dreams-like-the-irish-streams-then-the-world-would/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [Irish music in the local pubs was my first exposure to musical expression, and I feel like Irish music is very close to musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-o-malley/irish-music-in-the-local-pubs-was-my-first-exposure-to-musical/)

[Rory O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-o-malley/)

> [For me, being Catholic was who I was and who I am, just like I'm Irish and Slovak. It's just so ingrained in us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-brett/for-me-being-catholic-was-who-i-was-and-who-i-am-just-like-i-m-irish/)

[Regina Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-brett/)

> [like any Irish mother, I am scar tissue to the bone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-stone/like-any-irish-mother-i-am-scar-tissue-to-the-bone/)

[Jennifer Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-stone/)

> [I said that when I looked at photographs of the firefighters who went into the Twin Towers, their faces looked to me like Irish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colm-toibin/i-said-that-when-i-looked-at-photographs-of-the-firefighters-who-went/)

[Colm Toibin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colm-toibin/)

> [Being the U.S. champion is a big deal for me. Knowing that my ancestors built this country, it's kind of like, the Irish were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheamus/being-the-u-s-champion-is-a-big-deal-for-me-knowing-that-my-ancestors/)

[Sheamus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheamus/)

> [When Coach Mike Brey at Notre Dame was recruiting me, he was like, 'There will be Irish on the front of the jersey; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-connaughton/when-coach-mike-brey-at-notre-dame-was-recruiting-me-he-was-like/)

[Pat Connaughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-connaughton/)

> [I've been typecast. People don't want to take a risk or a chance. Quite a few times they've come up to me and say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adkins/i-ve-been-typecast-people-don-t-want-to-take-a-risk-or-a-chance-quite/)

[Scott Adkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adkins/)

> [There is no language like the Irish for soothing and quieting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-millington-synge/there-is-no-language-like-the-irish-for-soothing-and-quieting/)

[John Millington Synge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-millington-synge/)

> [And I be on my green like Irish Spring and Coast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupe-fiasco/and-i-be-on-my-green-like-irish-spring-and-coast/)

[Lupe Fiasco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupe-fiasco/)

## More by Louis MacNeice

> [World is crazier and more of it than we think, Incorrigibly plural.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-macneice/world-is-crazier-and-more-of-it-than-we-think-incorrigibly-plural/)

[Louis MacNeice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-macneice/)

> [“Bagpipe Music' It's no go the merrygoround, it's no go the rickshaw, All we want is a limousine and a ticket for the peepshow.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-macneice/bagpipe-music-it-s-no-go-the-merrygoround-it-s-no-go-the-rickshaw-all/)

[Louis MacNeice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-macneice/)

> [Let them not make me a stone and let them not spill me, otherwise kill me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-macneice/let-them-not-make-me-a-stone-and-let-them-not-spill-me-otherwise-kill/)

[Louis MacNeice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-macneice/)

> [“Thus were we weaned to knowledge of the Will That wills the natural world, but wills us dead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-macneice/thus-were-we-weaned-to-knowledge-of-the-will-that-wills-the-natural/)

[Louis MacNeice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-macneice/)

> [Politics: distrust all parties but consider capitalism must go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-macneice/politics-distrust-all-parties-but-consider-capitalism-must-go/)

[Louis MacNeice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-macneice/)

> [“If war is the test of reality, then all poetry is unreal; but in that case unreality is a virtue.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-macneice/if-war-is-the-test-of-reality-then-all-poetry-is-unreal-but-in-that/)

[Louis MacNeice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-macneice/)

> [“If war is the test of reality, than all poetry is unreal; but in that case unreality is a virtue.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-macneice/if-war-is-the-test-of-reality-than-all-poetry-is-unreal-but-in-that/)

[Louis MacNeice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-macneice/)

> [A city built upon mud; A culture built upon profit; Free speech nipped in the bud, The minority always guilty. Why should I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-macneice/a-city-built-upon-mud-a-culture-built-upon-profit-free-speech-nipped/)

[Louis MacNeice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-macneice/)

> [“Cradle Song for Eleanor”: Sleep, my darling, sleep; The pity of it all Is all we compass if We watch disaster fall. Put off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-macneice/cradle-song-for-eleanor-sleep-my-darling-sleep-the-pity-of-it-all-is/)

[Louis MacNeice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-macneice/)

> [A pharaoh's profile, a Krishna's grace, tail like a question mark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-macneice/a-pharaoh-s-profile-a-krishna-s-grace-tail-like-a-question-mark/)

[Louis MacNeice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-macneice/)

> [I was the rector's son, born to the anglican order, Banned for ever from the candles of the Irish poor; The Chichesters knelt in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-macneice/i-was-the-rector-s-son-born-to-the-anglican-order-banned-for-ever/)

[Louis MacNeice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-macneice/)

> [Better authentic mammon than a bogus god.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-macneice/better-authentic-mammon-than-a-bogus-god/)

[Louis MacNeice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-macneice/)

> [Dublin was a glorious name in our family and had pleasurable associations of violence …Today I am so at home in Dublin, more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-macneice/dublin-was-a-glorious-name-in-our-family-and-had-pleasurable/)

[Louis MacNeice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-macneice/)

> [So they were married-to be the more together- And found they were never again so much together, Divided by the morning tea, By the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-macneice/so-they-were-married-to-be-the-more-together-and-found-they-were/)

[Louis MacNeice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-macneice/)

> [It's no go the merry-go-round, it's no go the rickshaw All we want is a limousine and a ticket for the peepshow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-macneice/it-s-no-go-the-merry-go-round-it-s-no-go-the-rickshaw-all-we-want-is/)

[Louis MacNeice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-macneice/)

[Explore all 50 Louis MacNeice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-macneice/)

## More Baptized quotes

> [I take thee at thy word: Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized; Henceforth I never will be Romeo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-take-thee-at-thy-word-call-me-but-love-and-i-ll-be-new-baptized/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [If I was to ask you tonight if you were saved? Do you say 'Yes, I am saved'. When? 'Oh so and so preached,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/if-i-was-to-ask-you-tonight-if-you-were-saved-do-you-say-yes-i-am/)

[Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/)

> [I don't want to say I drank the Kool-Aid because I'm definitely not religious and I don't buy into any religion at all. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ladyhawke/i-don-t-want-to-say-i-drank-the-kool-aid-because-i-m-definitely-not/)

[Ladyhawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ladyhawke/)

> [I was baptized a Baptist, but I'm just Christian, as far as I'm concerned. I could go in any church, doesn't matter if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/i-was-baptized-a-baptist-but-i-m-just-christian-as-far-as-i-m/)

[Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/)

> [When Jesus stepped into the waters of the Jordan and was baptized by John the Baptist, he did so not because he was in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/when-jesus-stepped-into-the-waters-of-the-jordan-and-was-baptized-by/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

> [“By all of your beauty I am so inspired. Your love has baptized me by fire.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/india-arie/by-all-of-your-beauty-i-am-so-inspired-your-love-has-baptized-me-by/)

[India Arie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/india-arie/)

> [Church membership was so important that Paul and Silas baptized the Philippian jailer into the membership of Christ's church at midnight with Paul's back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-adams/church-membership-was-so-important-that-paul-and-silas-baptized-the/)

[Jay Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-adams/)

> [I taught what was clear in Acts 11:26: SAVED = CHRISTIAN = DISCIPLE, simply meaning that you cannot be saved and you cannot be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kip-mckean/i-taught-what-was-clear-in-acts-11-26-saved-christian-disciple-simply/)

Kip McKean

> [“mk.16.15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. mk.16.16 He that believeth and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/mk-16-15-and-he-said-unto-them-go-ye-into-all-the-world-and-preach/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Never to read another book that was born and baptized (with ink) at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/never-to-read-another-book-that-was-born-and-baptized-with-ink-at-the/)

[Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/)

> [All I know is that after 10 years of being sober, with huge support to express my pain and anger and shadow, the grief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/all-i-know-is-that-after-10-years-of-being-sober-with-huge-support-to/)

[Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/)

> [I have not come to seek place, nor to interfere with the business and calling of those men who have borne the burden since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-cowdery/i-have-not-come-to-seek-place-nor-to-interfere-with-the-business-and/)

[Oliver Cowdery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-cowdery/)

> [I was baptized alongside my mother when I was 8 years old. Since then, I have tried to walk a Christian life. And now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-griffith/i-was-baptized-alongside-my-mother-when-i-was-8-years-old-since-then/)

[Andy Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-griffith/)

> [“I adhere to the fact that I am baptized, not to my life and my vocation, but to the Man called Jesus Christ. Through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/i-adhere-to-the-fact-that-i-am-baptized-not-to-my-life-and-my/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [“In 1857 a revival swept over this country in the east and on to the western cities, clear over to the Pacific coast. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-l-moody/in-1857-a-revival-swept-over-this-country-in-the-east-and-on-to-the/)

[D.L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-l-moody/)

Browse all 199 Baptized quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Why do we like being Irish? Partly because It gives us a hold on the sentimental English As members of a world that never was, Baptized with fairy water",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Louis MacNeice"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-macneice/why-do-we-like-being-irish-partly-because-it-gives-us-a-hold-on-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Baptized"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-macneice/why-do-we-like-being-irish-partly-because-it-gives-us-a-hold-on-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/079/louis-macneice-13584_baptized_why-do-we-like-being-irish-partly-becaus_374937.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/079/louis-macneice-13584_baptized_why-do-we-like-being-irish-partly-becaus_374937.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/079/louis-macneice-13584_baptized_why-do-we-like-being-irish-partly-becaus_374937.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Why do we like being Irish? Partly because It gives us a hold on the sentimental English As members of a…” — Louis MacNeice",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Louis MacNeice",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-macneice/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Why do we like being Irish?...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-macneice/why-do-we-like-being-irish-partly-because-it-gives-us-a-hold-on-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-macneice/why-do-we-like-being-irish-partly-because-it-gives-us-a-hold-on-the/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
