With St Patrick’s Day around the corner, we ask Co Wicklow TV presenter Laura Whitmore what being Irish means to her...
“To me being Irish means an open passport to anywhere in the world. I travel a lot with my work and no other nationality seems to be welcomed more than the Irish.
"I am truly proud to be Irish. I probably didn’t realise how proud until I actually left Ireland, but that’s always the way.
"I have a strong sense of Irish culture that I’m happy to educate anyone I meet on, even if it involves me singing a Christy Moore song at 3am to an unassuming Italian friend.
"In London, I have lots of friends from different countries, but I am constantly drawn to Irish people. They just get it. For such a small country we sure know how to make an impact.
"We also have an innate ability to twist someone’s arm, be up for some craic and talk our way out of any situation — a pretty impressive gift to behold!
"I’ve had people in the past try and get me to tone down my accent but to be honest I’m so proud of the way I talk, of who I am and where I come from and that’s never going to change.”
