“Irish twins” is a derogatory term used to describe two children born to the same mother within 12 months or in the same year. The term is offensive as it pokes fun at Irish Catholic families’ fertility and implies they lack planning skills. The term’s roots lie in negative connotations towards Irish immigrants in the 1800s.
The term “Irish twins” is used to describe two children born to the same mother within 12 months of each other or born in the same calendar year. Since it is a somewhat derogatory term, it is generally not used in the press or in polite society. As is the case with many terms with derogatory origins, some people use it without thinking about the implications of the deeper meaning. Knowing the roots of these terms and the meaning behind them can help people decide whether or not they are appropriate for common usage.
The roots of the idea behind the term are actually quite ancient, although nobody knows when, exactly, people started talking about Irish twins. In both England and the United States, a massive influx of Irish immigration in the 1800s led to a negative connotation with Irish people and society. This often happens when a large group of immigrants begins to settle en masse in a new country. The Irish were accused of being backward and uncultured, and were assumed to be uneducated, dirty and a general smallpox to society. As a result, use of the word “Irish” began to be pejorative.
A number of derogatory terms incorporating stereotypes of the Irish began to emerge, including “Irish confetti” for thrown bricks and “Irish kiss” for a slap. Irish twins fit this vernacular and it’s actually offensive on multiple levels.
First, the term pokes fun at the stereotypical fertility of Irish Catholic families, who traditionally do not use birth control. It also implies that the Irish lack the ability to plan ahead or control themselves, having children in quick succession rather than spacing them responsibly. Finally, it suggests that the Irish don’t understand the medical definition of twins, which involves two children conceived and born together.
A variation on the term is “Irish triplet”, meaning three children born within three years. Parents who have Irish twins or triplets often struggle with a number of issues, since having two or three very young children to manage can be very stressful. As children grow older, parents can also face other difficulties, such as paying astronomical tuition fees simultaneously. However, Irish twins often end up being very close and affectionate with each other since the space between them is so small and it intensifies the sibling bond.
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