I took "the Irish" at face value, as a broadly generalized term indicative of all Irish folk, not just one family. I think that's a reasonable reading of the phrase.

My family is pretty much all Irish, all the time, with a bit of Scots and English thrown in. While I'm sensitive to Steph's point, I took Laga's comment as Kristin did.

Oops sorry for the unintentional offense. I should have said "we Irish" (or we Ulstermen) and to me, "sick fucker" is a term of endearment.

Eh, I object to insulting sweeping generalizations of any ethnic group, but particularly one that makes up part of my family. I'm fairly certain I wouldn't mis-read "The McCarthys are some sick fuckers!" as meaning an entire ethnic group is a bunch of sick fuckers.

"we Irish"

That includes me, thanks.

(or we Ulstermen)

That's cool, as long as you don't mind offending all other Ulstermen.

and to me, "sick fucker" is a term of endearment.

That's nice.

I get that Laga was being self-deprecating. Now I'm not the most Irish pride poster child that ever walked the earth but my family is quite proudly Irish American and I know that while Laga meant it light-heartedly, and Kristin and Bonny read it that way, reading the Irish being called sick fuckers was pretty shocking and offensive to me, personally.

I'm sure it's the "tone of voice on the Internet" thing, but it didn't read as joking to me on first read at all. I know it was meant as joking, but it's just something to be careful of.

I'm sorry about that. Here's the legend...

According to another myth, Ulster had at one time no rightful heir. Because of this it was agreed that a boat race should take place (possibly in Strangford Lough) and that "whosoever's hand is the first to touch the shore of Ulster, so shall he be made the king".

One potential king so loved and desired Ulster that, upon seeing that he was losing the race, he cut off his hand and threw it to the shore — thus winning the kingship. The hand is most likely red to represent the fact that it would have been covered in blood.

Thanks, Nora.

I read that in the link- definitely gruesome, but no more so than lots of other country's myths and legends. Greece, Rome, Norse, etc., etc.

This conversation, both before and after the current bit, puts me in mind of the British series "Who do you think you are."

Most especially, the David Tennant episode where he discovers that one of his ancestors was an Orange Man.

His reaction is so, very uncomfortable.