A new survey of Irish-American attitudes to a range of issues finds a strong attraction to their Irish heritage, despite the fact that the vast majority of their ancestors emigrated from Ireland more than three generations ago.
The survey was commissioned from Change Research by the Glucksman Ireland House at New York University, and Council for Irish American Relations.
It also found that religion plays less of a role in Irish-American identity than in the past. While 47% identify as either Catholic or Raised Catholic, only 12% regularly attend church, while 15 % say they were raised Catholic but no longer identify as Catholic.
19% identify as Protestant, 3% as Evangelical and 1% Jewish. 16% identify as non-religious, and 15% said other religions.
Only 1% of the sample said they had emigrated from Ireland, while 5% said at least one parent had emigrated form Ireland before they were born. But 37% said at least one of their great-grandparents had emigrated from Ireland before their grandparents were born, while 40% said earlier ancestors had emigrated from Ireland.
46% identify as American, and 40% as Irish American. Just 4% describe themselves as Irish, while 10% describe themselves as something else.
Asked what makes them feel most in touch with their Irish-American identity, 33% said family, and 18% said a sense of social justice and responsibility for each other, 8% identified faith and 3% said social life.
Given a list of things that attracted them most to their Irish heritage, 33% picked Irish history, followed by 24% who identified Irish music.
12% said positive perceptions of Irish identity in the US attracted them to their own heritage, while 11% cited travel in Ireland.
6% said Irish literature and poetry, 4% the Irish language, 2% Irish politics, and 1% each for Irish film and Irish sports.
About two thirds of the sample had some element of third level education. 26% came from the northeast, 24% from the midwest, 31% from the south and 19% from the west of the United States.
Asked where they meet other Irish-Americans, family reunions dominate with 40%, followed by cultural events and parades, at 29%. Meeting friends is at third place with 23%, while the pub is favoured by 21%, ahead of church at 15% and Irish organisations at 12% (the same as social media).
Online Irish groups were the most popular groups for membership, at 15% , followed by Irish music groups at 4% and the Ancient Order of Hibernians at 3%. 72% were not a member of any of the organisations listed, which included the GAA and the Emerald society.
54% had attended Irish themed concerts, 46% Irish theatre or dance events and 20% Irish art exhibitions.
Asked what were the most important issues for American politicians to address in relation to Ireland, the top issue was support for peaceful Irish unification, which was chosen by 31%.
29% picked two-way trade an investment between Ireland and the USA. 6% said support for the Good Friday Agreement.
4% picked visas for new Irish immigrants, while another 4% said visas for undocumented Irish in the US. 20% said they did not know enough to say.
When asked what Ireland can do the strengthen Irish-American links with the old country, especially with the young generation, 52% said Ireland should provide more opportunities for young Irish Americans to study, volunteer and work in Ireland.
14% said Ireland should provide more support for Irish studies in American colleges, 8% said lobby for immigration reform for Irish migrants to the US, while 6% said Ireland should give the vote in presidential elections to Irish citizens overseas. 20% were not sure.
Asked what came closest to their image of modern Ireland, 28% said a progressive, modern state while 26% said a friendly and fun place to visit. 13% thought Ireland was too liberal, and should go back to the values it has historically had. 11% thought Ireland is too conservative, with an emphasis on family values. 22% said they did not know enough to say.
37% of the sample identified as Democrats, 29% as Republicans. The sample of 736 Irish-Americans was asked which party aligned most closely with their views on a range of issues.
The sample was socially liberal, but more conservative on gun rights, crime and national security, with a net 10% supporting the Republican view on gun rights.
A net 25% support the Democrat view on marriage equality and LGBTQ rights. The Democratic party scored a net 29% on climate change, a net 27% on gender equality and a net 24% on labour rights.
Participants were closely split on immigration with 40% selecting the Democrats and 37% the Republicans. The sample broke 43% Democrat and 37% Republican on the economy and jobs.
Chair of the Council for American Irish Relations Brian O'Dwyer said the survey was "designed to increase our understanding of Irish Americans and how to better engage them in their ethnic heritage and with Ireland".
President of the of the Advisory board of Glucksman Ireland House Ted Smyth said: "In the relative absence of surveys of Irish Americans, I hope that this will be the first of many for researchers and Irish organisations to better understand trends in the values and priorities of Irish American identity.
The polling was conducted between 24 and 28 January, and the margin of error is 3.8%.
