I Am

I Am Irish (1x3)

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Ask the Internet what it means to be young and Irish and the reply is a sea of stereotypes; it seems we’re a land of self-obsessed, Tayto-crunching, red lemonade-loving, leprechaun-hugging nitwits. But we are about much more than that! In this one-hour documentary we explore the true understanding of the phrase ‘I Am Irish’ for people between the ages of 15 and 34 years old. Journalist and social commentator Una Mullally helms brutally honest conversations with influential and outspoken young people. They explore the crux of Irishness through topics including justice, diversity, religion, prosperity and equality. These young influencers don’t hold back. They’re witty, they’re quirky, they’re smart and impart unique observations to dissect their national identity. Brazen in their honesty are people like Louise O’Neill, the Clonakilty-born author whose novels with her unique feminist insight reach young adult readers throughout the world; James Kavanagh, who engages his global Snapchat audience daily with his musings and former WBO middleweight world champion boxer Andy Lee who, London-born but Limerick-loving, flies the flag for Ireland when he steps into the ring. Also offering their distinct reflections are Emmet Kirwan, the actor and writer who recently engaged audiences with his show Dublin Oldschool, Jordan Casey, one of Ireland’s youngest tech entrepreneurs who lives and attends school in Waterford but addresses conferences all over the world and Lynn Ruane, the outgoing President of the TCD Students Union. While Lynn is nearing one end of the documentary’s age range, her actor daughter, Jordanne Jones, is at the other; do mother and daughter share thoughts on the question of being Irish or do they totally differ? Jamaican-born Trish Archer now broadcasts to the South-East every morning and shares her experience on becoming Irish, as does vice-president of the Secondary School Students Union, Joanna Siewierska, who discusse