Getting pale skin sunburnt on day one of a holiday is the most Irish thing you can do, a new survey revealed today.
Almost half (47%) of people quizzed here confirmed the age-old theory that fair Irish skin and warm sunshine are not easy bedfellows.
The survey asked respondents about the things that make us quintessentially Irish ahead of St Patrick’s Day.
The weather was easily found to be the biggest daily talking point and conversation starter in the country by a massive 86% of 1,000 people polled.
Meanwhile, 46% of men and women stressed that wet and windy weather is the most synonymous with Irish living, according to the Applegreen study.
Other notable research findings revealed that breakfast rolls were crowned the ‘most Irish’ roll with three quarters of votes.
The sausage, bacon and black pudding filled delicacy received 75% of the vote, streets ahead of the humble sausage roll (12%).
The study also revealed what we don’t want in our roll – with 61% of people insisting cheddar cheese does not belong, while 20% said brown sauce is a major no-no.
Applegreen’s Marketing Manager, Kate O’Shaughnessy said: “Our research is mainly a bit of fun, but it does show that our breakfast rolls have a special place in Irish people’s hearts.
“We take that seriously and we strive to always meet the highest standard by using only the best quality, Irish-sourced ingredients in our famous breakfast rolls.
“We won’t be able to celebrate St Patrick’s Day in the usual way again this year, but our doors will be open on March 17 and we look forward to serving our customers and giving them a taste of Ireland on the special day.”
An estimated 80 million people worldwide claim some Irish descent with 36 million of those living in the United States.
US President Joe Biden has strong roots here but he was beaten to the title of ‘the most Irish’ president of the USA by John F Kennedy.
The four grandparents of America’s first Irish Catholic president were all children of Irish immigrants and the Kennedy family left New Ross, Co Wexford in 1849 for the US.
JFK, who famously visited Ireland months before he was assassinated in Texas in November, 1963, received 60% of the vote and finished well ahead of Mr Biden on 28%.
