Matthew Macklin:British or Irish or both

[Asterix]

English boxer of Irish heritage.

[Goz]

English boxer of Irish heritage.

Well that's not going to start a row is it?

[Asterix]

:P

I don't actually know. The whole nationality thing gets blown out of proportion. It only matters for legalities, nothing else. Macklin probably has a dual passport. Call him what you like; it shouldn't matter.

My Dad's side of the family used to be Irish. At some point they became English. I would say Macklin is English because he was born and grew up in England.

One of my colleagues has Bangladeshi parents, but he was born in England and has lived all his life here (and holidayed in Bangladesh). He regards himself as English, but is also proud of his heritage. The government regards him as English. I would say Macklin appears to be in the same situation (but with an Irish heritage).

[BigEars]

I reckon if you asked Macklin he'd probably tell you he's of dual nationality(and actually believe it, not just playing the Irish card).

His father is from Roscommon, his mother is from Tipperary and Macklin spent a lot of his time growing up in Ireland.
Obviously not nearly as much as he spent growing up in Birmingham mind you. He's fought for both the English and Irish titles and actually recently opened the new boxing gym in my home town(although that's just off topic really).

I'm only making an assumption but I think Macklin genuinely feels Irish rather than just proud of his heritage, but he is English too.
This is in contrast to Jamie Moore, who's proud of his Irish heritage(his mother is Irish) but is not himself Irish.
Frankie Gavin has 2 Irish parents but you can see again with him it's a case more of being proud of his heritage than being Irish.

[Counter-puncher]

Macklin is a Brummie, of Irish extraction

he's from South Birmingham where I live, which is an area basically so heavily Irish it comes across strongly in the accent.

[slapbangwhallop]

I reckon if you asked Macklin he'd probably tell you he's of dual nationality(and actually believe it, not just playing the Irish card).

His father is from Roscommon, his mother is from Tipperary and Macklin spent a lot of his time growing up in Ireland.
Obviously not nearly as much as he spent growing up in Birmingham mind you. He's fought for both the English and Irish titles and actually recently opened the new boxing gym in my home town(although that's just off topic really).

I'm only making an assumption but I think Macklin genuinely feels Irish rather than just proud of his heritage, but he is English too.
This is in contrast to Jamie Moore, who's proud of his Irish heritage(his mother is Irish) but is not himself Irish.
Frankie Gavin has 2 Irish parents but you can see again with him it's a case more of being proud of his heritage than being Irish.

Thats about right. If you asked Gavin, Moore and Macklin the same question two would say they are English, one would say they are Irish.

Anyways, its matters not because I support boxers not nationalities although the nationalities issue can add some addtional spice and tribalise events - the only thing is sometimes it gets out of hand - Hatton v Magee springs to mind.

I keep a P4P Irish top 20 and there are a number of English based or born fighters in there including Macklin, Lee and Fury but Moore and Gavin wouldnt pass the required "Oirishness test".

http://www.roscommonherald.ie/news/story/?trs=qlmhauid

[Deno1986]

Who cares?? He is an exciting fighter to watch and has fought for both Irish and British titles. British boxer with Irish roots.

[whiteboy]

Macklin is a Brummie, of Irish extraction

he's from South Birmingham where I live, which is an area basically so heavily Irish it comes across strongly in the accent.

thought he was a Solihull lad

[TerribleTerry]

Macklin is a Brummie, of Irish extraction

he's from South Birmingham where I live, which is an area basically so heavily Irish it comes across strongly in the accent.

thought he was a Solihull lad

Solihull is South Birmingham as far as I am concerned (ok, officially it is a town in it's own right but I am from there and consider myself a Brummie).

Irish workers moved into Brum in the 60s/70s and set up communities in Digbeth, Sparkhill, Small Heath etc Over the years, as they became more prosporous they moved further out of town down the Stratford, Coventry and Warwick Rds to areas such as Kings Heath, Yardley, Hall Green, Acocks Green, Solihull etc.

South Birimingham is awash with first and second generation Irish.

There are loads of Irish clubs, pubs and community centres in the City that mean lots of Birmingham born sons and daughters of Irish immigrants stay close to their Irish roots.

[whiteboy]

Suppose it depends where you are...I'm from Solihull (knowle) myself and prefer to make the distinction 8) ...as do plenty of us younger lot

Having lived and gone to college in kings heath..yep Irish everywhere

[Counter-puncher]

Suppose it depends where you are...I'm from Solihull (knowle) myself and prefer to make the distinction 8) ...as do plenty of us younger lot

Having lived and gone to college in kings heath..yep Irish everywhere

from Stirchley myself

[slapbangwhallop]

Suppose it depends where you are...I'm from Solihull (knowle) myself and prefer to make the distinction 8) ...as do plenty of us younger lot

Having lived and gone to college in kings heath..yep Irish everywhere

like rats and water - the feckers get everywhere!

[slapbangwhallop]

Best thing would be to ask him how he feels I guess.....

I suppose!

http://www.roscommonherald.ie/news/story/?trs=qlmhauid

[liamlion]

Macklin is a Brummie, of Irish extraction

he's from South Birmingham where I live, which is an area basically so heavily Irish it comes across strongly in the accent.

thought he was a Solihull lad

Solihull is South Birmingham as far as I am concerned (ok, officially it is a town in it's own right but I am from there and consider myself a Brummie).

Irish workers moved into Brum in the 60s/70s and set up communities in Digbeth, Sparkhill, Small Heath etc Over the years, as they became more prosporous they moved further out of town down the Stratford, Coventry and Warwick Rds to areas such as Kings Heath, Yardley, Hall Green, Acocks Green, Solihull etc.

South Birimingham is awash with first and second generation Irish.

There are loads of Irish clubs, pubs and community centres in the City that mean lots of Birmingham born sons and daughters of Irish immigrants stay close to their Irish roots.

Thats exactly right.

Im a Hall Green lad myself, my ma's from Derry and my dad's from Limerick (who lived together in Sparkhill before moving). Macklin's the same age as me and all the lads I grew up with were the same, lads born in south brum but with Irish parents. Like my mates and cousins from Brum, Im certainly not an English man, even though I was born and bred here... its just the culture and community that youre brought up in.

Its like this, when i was young lad all the family (aunties, uncles, cousins - all Irish) would come around ours and watch the Republic play in the world cups. The whole house and area would be cheering on Big Jack and the boys. Any sporting or notable worldwide event involving an irish person we would take a great interest and be massively proud - quite a distinct trait from the English. Any holidays we had were always spent with the family in Ireland.

It would be awful strange if one day I came home with a british bulldog tattoo on my arm and started singing Rule Brittania. Youre effectively shitting on the family if you dont acknowledge that youre Irish.

[TerribleTerry]

Solihull is South Birmingham as far as I am concerned (ok, officially it is a town in it's own right but I am from there and consider myself a Brummie).

Irish workers moved into Brum in the 60s/70s and set up communities in Digbeth, Sparkhill, Small Heath etc Over the years, as they became more prosporous they moved further out of town down the Stratford, Coventry and Warwick Rds to areas such as Kings Heath, Yardley, Hall Green, Acocks Green, Solihull etc.

South Birimingham is awash with first and second generation Irish.

There are loads of Irish clubs, pubs and community centres in the City that mean lots of Birmingham born sons and daughters of Irish immigrants stay close to their Irish roots.

Thats exactly right.

Im a Hall Green lad myself, my ma's from Derry and my dad's from Limerick (who lived together in Sparkhill before moving). Macklin's the same age as me and all the lads I grew up with were the same, lads born in south brum but with Irish parents. Like my mates and cousins from Brum, Im certainly not an English man, even though I was born and bred here... its just the culture and community that youre brought up in.

Its like this, when i was young lad all the family (aunties, uncles, cousins - all Irish) would come around ours and watch the Republic play in the world cups. The whole house and area would be cheering on Big Jack and the boys. Any sporting or notable worldwide event involving an irish person we would take a great interest and be massively proud - quite a distinct trait from the English. Any holidays we had were always spent with the family in Ireland.

It would be awful strange if one day I came home with a british bulldog tattoo on my arm and started singing Rule Brittania. Youre effectively shitting on the family if you dont acknowledge that youre Irish.

Its a small world mate - your experience exactly mirrors mine (and Macklins to try and stay on topic!).

Irish parents (Cavan and Mayo) who lived in Sparkhill when they first came to Brum (near The English Martyrs Church on Evelyn Rd).

When I was little we moved out to Hall Green and eventually further up the Stratford Rd to Solihull.

I know Macklin and his mates and they are all the same as me and you - sons of Irish parents who grew up in the Irish community and often went to Ireland for the duration of the school holidays.

It might seem strange to some but the tight Irish community in South Birmingham means that many of the kids born there would support Ireland ahead of England in the football (I know I would..)

[slapbangwhallop]

It might seem strange to some but the tight Irish community in South Birmingham means that many of the kids born there would support Ireland ahead of England in the football (I know I would..)

i'm about the same age as you as well - I've been here (England) and New York since I was 17. Lived in other strong Irish communites outside of Manchester - Northwest London, West London, Luton - Woodside and Sunnyside, Queens. Its pretty much the same story everywhere you go - and its a good thing I think. However, they (2nd and 3rd gen Irish) are far more comfortable with their Irishness in America than in the UK - for obvious reasons I suppose

[JamesH]

I was born in London and have always lived in England but would always opt for Ireland above England. I was the in the first generation born over here but as my Dad used to say, being born in a stable doesnt make you a horse.

Macklin used to play minor hurling for Tipperary, that was enough for him to be Irish to my lot

[moorser]

I was born in London and have always lived in England but would always opt for Ireland above England. I was the in the first generation born over here but as my Dad used to say, being born in a stable doesnt make you a horse.

Macklin used to play minor hurling for Tipperary, that was enough for him to be Irish to my lot

my da was born and bred peckham boy but moved here when he was 13

his ma and da always told him he was irish not english

funny thing was when they moved back to dublin he was bullied for being "english"

he soon lost the accent

[slapbangwhallop]

I was born in London and have always lived in England but would always opt for Ireland above England. I was the in the first generation born over here but as my Dad used to say, being born in a stable doesnt make you a horse.

Macklin used to play minor hurling for Tipperary, that was enough for him to be Irish to my lot

my da was born and bred peckham boy but moved here when he was 13

his ma and da always told him he was irish not english

funny thing was when they moved back to dublin he was bullied for being "english"

he soon lost the accent

happens with a lot of kids - including my own cousins who have "moved home" - and if I am not mistaken the Lee brothers.