Those using the term ‘native Irish’ should be honest and say what they really mean – which is a white person with an Irish accent, Kieran Cuddihy has claimed.

The Hard Shoulder host received a message from a listener of the show today saying that migration should be a major issue this election.

'I just wish that people who talk about the ‘native Irish’ would be honest and say what they really mean - which is white and an Irish accent.'@kierancuddihy calls out this texter's 'native Irish' checklist@TheHardShoulder pic.twitter.com/XNSIgQjLDD

— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) November 8, 2024

“Migration has to be one of the major issues in the upcoming election,” said Tom from Ennis.

“It is adding greatly to the housing and accommodation crisis that needs to be controlled and streamlined properly.

“Otherwise we – the native Irish – will be like how Éamon de Buitléar described the threat to the native red squirrels – strangers in their own land.”

Kieran asked the texter to clarify what he meant by ‘native Irish’ before responding.

'Irish' surnames

One qualifying factor the listener included was that a person needed an Irish surname.

“So, the original text referenced someone called Éamon de Buitléar,” Kieran said.

“De Buitléar is a Norman name, so from northern France.

“So, anybody with the name Butler or de Buitléar, you're not a native Irish person."

Main image is a file photo of gravestones at a cemetery in County Kerry. Image: Clearpix / Alamy Stock Photo

Another factor the texter listed was that a ‘native Irish’ person should have at least five generations of their family buried on Irish soil.

Kieran said this eliminates a ‘great swathe’ of the population.

“You've got 32 great, great, great grandparents,” he said.

“If one of your 32 great, great, great grandparents moved to England and died there, you're not Irish now."

Irish speaker

Third on the list was that a ‘native Irish’ person must also be a native Irish speaker. Kieran noted that, according to the census, this eliminates about 70% of the population.

Finally, the listener said that to be considered ‘native Irish’, a person must have DNA proving that their family have been in Ireland for a thousand years and must also not formally be a citizen of any other country.

“I think what we've kind of established here – according to this listener – is that the population of this country would be about 3 people and a couple of chickens if you were to apply that logic,” Kieran said.

“I just wish that people who talk about the ‘native Irish’ would be honest and say what they really mean – which is white and an Irish accent."