,” O’Leary admitted to hosts Brian and Katja. “When you’re in the UK, people just go: ‘Yeah, he’s Irish over there.’ With Katja joking, ‘you might get tested over here.’”
Despite these challenges, O’Leary has always maintained his Irish identity. He explained, “I’ve had that all my life… You’ve been around cousins who were — very good natured — beating me up for being English, until someone else calls me English and then they beat them up.”
Passport and Identity: A Choice Beyond Borders
O’Leary further elaborated on his decision to hold an Irish passport. “I don’t have a British passport,” he told RTÉ at the Downing Street St Patrick’s Day reception, answering questions about his identity. “It’s a very different way of being brought up Irish than over here or any second-generation identity has.”
He continued, “I always say that I’m Irish but I’m not from Ireland, which is a very unique way of being brought up with an identity… It’s never been an issue for me. It’s never been a problem.
I’ve never felt anything else other than being Irish… not in a kind of ‘wrap myself in the flag and go to bed wearing it’ way, but also not in a ‘you’re Irish but where are your family from’ kind of way — I know my history, I know my family, I love the country, but I also love living here .”
Reflecting on his journey, O’Leary’s words highlight the nuanced experience of individuals who navigate multiple cultural identities. His story resonates with many who find themselves in similar circumstances, blending different heritages and cultures.
