It’s all Eoin Morgan’s fault. He was the catalyst for this blog.
While reading an article about the talented “English” cricketer Eoin Morgan in the Cricketer magazine (I know, I know, I need to get a life) the Irish diaspora was mentioned in figures. Eoin Joseph Gerard Morgan was born in Dublin though when selected will bat in the middle order for England. Before we go any further I would like to say that Eoin is pronounced own or Owen, if you prefer. Don’t ask me to pronounce diaspora. Too many variables for a public schoolboy like me. Die-Asp-Or-A. Di-A-Spora. Is it something like aspirin? Och, I give up.
Anyway, It seems there are 70 million Irish diaspora worldwide, 34 million residing in the United States alone. Contrast this with the British expats that number 6 million worldwide. This means that the Irish abroad, if they had remained like the resolute second piggy and stayed at home the old country would have a population density to rival Bangladesh. The Irish that left definitely took the “Go forth and multiply” scripture to heart.
Boadicea's Chariot 
Ah, well, JW! The answer lies in the soil, innit? No decent geological substrata, not enough potatoes – to name but two small problems facing the Hibernians who, it is said, were originally Welsh folk who could swim. 🙂
It’s amazing how many American presidents can trace their roots back to the Emerald Isle, up to and including the current President O’Barmey apparently.
OZ
A bit different, though. The number of expat Irish passport holders,, as opposed to people of Irish descent, is
in the region of 2.5 Million, I think. The number (6 million) of British expats quoted are all UK passport holders.
FEEG, you’re spoiling a good yarn with FACTS again! 😉