London Irish
Well-known member
UK SUFFERS FROM `PLASTIC PADDY SYNDROME'
By Sarah Stack, PA
A third of people living across the United Kingdom suffer from ``plastic paddy syndrome''.
Irish is the number one wannabe nationality, with new evidence revealing many claim Irish connections - including having Irish ancestors ``somewhere``, ``knowing someone Irish``, and simply ``wanting to be Irish``.
In the independent survey commissioned by Rankin Selection Irish Breads, nearly half of all English, Scottish and Welsh people questioned said they would prefer to be Irish, after their own nationality.
Welsh emerged as the least popular with only 13% choosing it, while English was just in front with 14%. Scottish came second with a modest 29%.
A mutual love between the Irish and Scottish was also revealed with 58% of Scottish people choosing to be Irish and 72% of Irish people opting to be Scottish.
Biggest fans of Ireland were the younger generation, with 52% of 16-24 year-olds nominating Irish as their preferred nationality, compared to 36% of 55+ year olds.
The survey which was conducted across Great Britain and Ireland, also revealed that 80% of respondents put St Patrick's Day ahead of their own patriotic days, as part of what the survey commissioners branded ``plastic paddy syndrome''.
In England just 13% nominated St George's Day as most important, while St Andrew's and St David's Days got 5% and only 3% respectively.
end
141840 MAR 06

By Sarah Stack, PA
A third of people living across the United Kingdom suffer from ``plastic paddy syndrome''.
Irish is the number one wannabe nationality, with new evidence revealing many claim Irish connections - including having Irish ancestors ``somewhere``, ``knowing someone Irish``, and simply ``wanting to be Irish``.
In the independent survey commissioned by Rankin Selection Irish Breads, nearly half of all English, Scottish and Welsh people questioned said they would prefer to be Irish, after their own nationality.
Welsh emerged as the least popular with only 13% choosing it, while English was just in front with 14%. Scottish came second with a modest 29%.
A mutual love between the Irish and Scottish was also revealed with 58% of Scottish people choosing to be Irish and 72% of Irish people opting to be Scottish.
Biggest fans of Ireland were the younger generation, with 52% of 16-24 year-olds nominating Irish as their preferred nationality, compared to 36% of 55+ year olds.
The survey which was conducted across Great Britain and Ireland, also revealed that 80% of respondents put St Patrick's Day ahead of their own patriotic days, as part of what the survey commissioners branded ``plastic paddy syndrome''.
In England just 13% nominated St George's Day as most important, while St Andrew's and St David's Days got 5% and only 3% respectively.
end
141840 MAR 06