7. The Irish diaspora is a source of pride

As of the year 1890, 40% of people born in Ireland lived abroad in a wide variety of countries. By the 21st century, over 80 million people around the globe claimed Irish ancestry, including over 36 million Americans who claim Irish as their primary heritage. This diaspora, and the success of many Irish descendants, is a huge source of pride for Ireland. Most famous among them, the Kennedy family is often in Ireland and deeply loved and revered by the Irish. If you tell anyone in Ireland that have any Irish heritage, they will quickly and easily greet you with “Welcome home!” And even if you don’t, they’re famous for saying, “You’re all very welcome here” rather than a simple, “Hello.” It really is one of the most welcoming countries in Europe.