What are Irish Twins?
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The term “Irish twins” is used to describe two children born to the same mother within 12 months of each other or born in the same calendar year. Given that it is a somewhat derogatory term, it is generally not used in print or in polite society. As is the case with many terms with derogatory origins, some people use it without thinking about the implications of the deeper meaning. Learning about the roots of these terms and the meaning behind them can help people to decide whether or not they are appropriate for common use.
The roots of the idea behind the term are actually quite old, although no one knows when, exactly, people first began to talk about Irish twins. In both England and the United States, a massive influx of Irish immigration in the 1800s led to a negative connotation with Irish people and society. This often happens when a large immigrant group begins to settle in mass numbers in a new country. The Irish were accused of being backwards and uncultured, and it was assumed that they were uneducated, dirty, and a general pox on society. As a result, the use of the word “Irish” began to be pejorative.
A number of derogatory terms incorporating stereotypes about the Irish began to emerge, including “Irish confetti” for thrown bricks and “Irish kiss” for a slap. Irish twins fits into this vernacular, and is actually insulting on multiple levels.
Firstly, the term pokes fun at the stereotypical fertility of Irish Catholic families, which traditionally do not use birth control. In addition, it implies that the Irish lack the ability to plan ahead or control themselves, having children in quick succession rather than responsibly spacing them. Finally, it suggests that the Irish do not understand the medical definition of twins, which involves two children conceived and born together.
A variation on the term is “Irish triplets,” which means three children born within three years. Parents who have Irish twins or triplets often struggle with a variety of issues, since having two or three very young children to manage can be very stressful. As the children grow up, the parents may encounter other difficulties as well, such as the simultaneous payment of astronomical college tuition fees. However, Irish twins often end up being very close and affectionate with each other, since the space between them is so small, and it intensifies the sibling bond.
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70
Just found out that my brother and I are considered Irish Twins as he was born 11 months after me.
I also never thought about the fact that we are the same age for about a month. I was the honeymoon baby. So funny and guess what? Both my parents are also identical twins. Crazy! - anon53173
69
My father was born on November 10th. His brother was born on November 10th the next year. I now have a cousin who had a baby boy on November 10th and is the grandson of my uncle. How odd do you think that is, 75 years later? - anon52214
68
I have Irish twin boys. both of my kids are Americans, but people tell me all the time that they are really Irish twins because they are nine months apart. yes, it is possible! I got pregnant with my second baby when my first baby was one month old. also, my second baby was born four weeks premature so that's why they are exactly nine months apart. So everywhere we go people always say, "Oh! look at those twins," but when i explain they are not, people say they are "Irish twins." - anon51459
67
I myself am an Irish twin. My brother and I were born 7 1/2 months apart from each other. (June 1991 to February 1992.) As it turns out we are both 50 percent Irish, and have always been called the Irish Twins. My father even said we missed the World Book of Records by a week, however I am not sure how true that is. I do not think it's insulting in anyway to be given that name. we are both perfectly healthy and normal teenagers. - meganmcl16
66
hey! i'm 15 and i'm an irish twin with my brother. we fight a lot. my dad thinks its hilarious, but we're close. but my parents have never told me about my family even related to us from ireland? - anon50087
65
This is so cool to me. i am a regular twin, born on the same day in the same year and i have always been facinated by multiples. I want to have twins when i get older in the same year with another child. They would be twins and irish triplets. :) - anon49976
64
While it may have originated as a derogatory term, it seems that those who either are Irish twins or have Irish twins (my first two children were born just under 11 months apart), don't find the term insulting. I, too, was asked if they were twins, and still at the ages of 12 and 13 they look like they could be. They like being Irish twins, except the oldest one doesn't like being the same age as her brother for a month!!! (but the younger one loves it!) I'm proud to be Catholic and I'm proud of my Irish twins. - anon49400
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my two daughters were born on 19th january 2008 and 05 december 2008 ... they are 10 months and 21 months. they are best mates already even though my eldest daughter has started nursery already before her 2nd birthday ....... they love each other - anon49383
62
what a bunch of crap. i thought this irish twin thing was a lie but yet my sister proved me wrong once again. - anon49034
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I guess I can consider myself to have "Irish Triplets", my first son born September 2007, my second was born Sept. 2008, and my third son was born August 2009. My husband would love to know that he can say he has Irish triplets as he is Irish. I get asked if the boys (the two older boys) are twins and when I tell them no and the boys ages they look at me like I'm crazy. But the boys are really close already and it's a joy to see them play together. I wouldn't change anything for the world. - anon47567
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My brother and I were born 5 years apart to the day, and we are Irish. not sure if that counts for anything. - anon47054
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I am a mother of irish twins. My daughter was born January, 1999 and my son was born December, 1999 in the same calendar year. I have heard different names for babies born in a 12 month period and different years is called singleton twins. I loved having my children close. They are really close to one another. I also have had people ask me if they where twins. They are 10 months three weeks apart. - anon46621
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I am the proud mother of Irish twins. My son was supposed to be born on Mother's Day, but didn't make it. He was born in May, 1996. Then when he was six months old, I found out I was going to have my daughter. She was born April, 1997. So, on my first "official" Mother's Day I had two beautiful babies. - anon45939
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I have *true* Irish Twins in my family.I have two cousins; one was born on January 10 and his sister was born on December 16 in the same calendar year. - anon45397
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I definitely have irish twins. I have two sons who were born in april. One was born april 1993 and the other in april 1994, so as anyone can see i truly have irish twins. - anon44025
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I have never heard the term Irish Twins until today. That's when I discovered that I had Irish Twins. My son was born in 1973, and my daughter was born in 1974. People used to ask if they were twins. Now I can say "yes, they are Irish Twins". - anon43408
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I am an Irish twin. My brother was born in September 1976 and when my mom went back for her six-week check up she found out she was pregnant with me. I was born in September 1977. My wife and I almost had a set as well. Our daughter was born in March 2008 and we are expecting to deliver another baby September 2009. - anon42961
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Well, my husband's sister has a daugther born in January and a son born in December 2008. My husband and I just had a baby girl in May and we just found out that we are pregnant again, which would make them 11 months apart. My husband also has older girls who are 15 months apart. I'm not Irish, but my husband is. It's really neat to see that there are so many of us out there. - anon42724
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My daughter was born in March 2009, and my next child is due in March 2010. The first one was planned, the second was an oopsie, but we'll see when we get there if they're "true" "Irish twins". - anon42658
51
Never knew it was a bad connotation, but we never had people getting on us about it. My brother is 360 days younger than me so we usually have a joint birthday in the middle two days after his, two days before mine. We just did it for the first time today in a long time. It's always been fun, and we ended up in the same grade. For us it was my being born three months early and my brother coming out four days before my birthday. Kind of funny actually. Developmentally I needed another year so we were always together and people assumed we were real twins. Was fun sometimes. Was a tomboy so they thought we were twin boys a lot. I don't mind being this close to my brother, and have never seen it as a bad thing. Makes us special, like everyone else who posted here as an Irish twin. - anon42646
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Ok everyone: an irish twin is born within a year of each other, not 13 months apart not 12 months and 1 day apart (please read the article), but within a year of each other. - anon42046
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Hi. Im an irish twin..sort of. My sister and i are 13 months apart. But we are a year, a month and a day apart. I was born sept 14 1990 and she was born oct 15 1991. We are half irish. she looks like she just got off the boat from ireland. I look polish. We are very close and i love her very much. I wouldn't have it any other way. - mary sister to lisa. - anon41899
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Two children, the oldest born April 9 and the second born Feb. 14, that makes them 10 months and 5 days apart. I think that counts for Irish Twins? - anon41030
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i have a set of identical twin girls born in december and then i had non-identical twins, a girl and a boy, in october, so i have 2 sets of twins and they both sets are also irish twins. - anon40266
46
I have Irish twins girls! I never knew the true meaning of Irish twins until now. It's great for their birthdays it's one big party in august.
their dad is irish and italian and i am German, Irish and italian. I wouldn't have it any other way. It's a great way to raise children. Also they are and i believe will always be there for each other no matter what. One thing that is odd: they are almost total oppisites. but it is great I thank god for them every day. - anon39431
45
Well it looks like a majority of people don't find ther term derogatory at all. I'm an irish twin and I'm part Irish too. Glad today's world no longer looks on the Irish in such a negative way. I always said that my parents were so thrilled with how I came out that they wanted to start again ASAP. --Marc, brother of Jeff. - anon37426
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Hi, my husband and I have 3 little girls. Our second and third little girls are very close in age. One in september 2003, and the baby in August 2004.We always said that to people about them being Irish Twins. And now have the confirmation that what we said is true. I think its kind of neat!! - anon37083
43
I have 2 kids both born in the same year,my son was born on january 9,1986 and my daughter was born december 18,1986....So i quess that makes them irish twins...I never knew this...This is wonderful..I have irish twins! - anon36501
42
on my dads side of the family there's a set of irish twins. both of my uncles are born in the exact same year only 11 months apart. one is born in january & the other is born in december which i really didnt know about that at all. well im not really suprised about that either because theres 10 boys & a girl in that family - anon36355
41
I have 2 boys that are irish twins born Oct 2006 and Sept 2007. It can be exhausting at times, but I wouldn't trade it for the world! They play together and watch out for each other. Many people say "You are lucky, they have a best friend"! - anon35956
40
My brother and I are "Irish Twins". For the month of August, we are the same age. I was born September 1979 and he was born July 1980. - anon35621
39
i have a set of "irish twins" my first one was born January 6th 2006 and the other was born January 10th 2007. i learned about irish twins when i went to my first ultrasound and the ultrasound tech told me about irish twins. it can be very hard at times, but they are very close. its like they're best friends. we wouldnt have it any other way. they are blessings from God, and our job is to take care and raise them according to His word. - anon35262
38
I have a set of Irish Twins. My son was born March 27, 2004 and my daughter Jan. 21, 2005. I first heard of Irish Twins just after I delivered my daughter. i thought it was neat I told everyone "Hey I have Irish Twins". I am half Irish and half German. - anon35110
37
I have known about the term for a couple of years, but never knew it was considered a negative one. My sister and i are born in the same year(1977), i always thought that was pretty cool, still do. An acquaintance let me know of the term and i heard it used in a movie. It sounds silly but i still love to see the look on peoples faces when i explain about my sister and i, they usually ask if we are step-siblings, but we are not. - anon34761
36
I was looking up the meaning of Irish Twins as I had met a brother and sister whom called themselves Irish Twins and when I asked them why they explained they were born less then a year apart. I had tears come to my eyes as I realized that myself and my brother were Irish Twins as we were ten and a half months apart...him December 13th 1951 and myself November 4th 1952. He was also born being with a faulty heart valve and he died when he was 9 and myself 8. I have felt lost without him...I still cry and am very sensitive about his death. With him being not healthy and my being healthy..I was always taking care and taking up with him with others. I am have tears running down my face as I am writing this. I always felt we were very closely bonded but I thought it was because I was always looking out for him. Now, I think maybe we were bonded closer than the usual siblings. I do have other siblings and I have a brother whom was born 3 months before my Irish Twin died and have always felt very close to him. Thanks for letting me share. - Patz
35
Believe it or not, I heard this expression for the first time today (used in a movie).My brother was born Jan. 19, 1955, I was born Jan. 8, 1956, and my sister was born Dec. 30, 1956. So I guess that makes us Irish triplets!!! Oh, and btw---both parents had some Irish in them! - TNmom
34
I myself and my sister were born 11 months to the day apart... Me- January 18 and her- December 18. - anon33364
33
anon24820 the words you need to read are the ones before "OR". The term “Irish twins” is used to describe two children born to the same mother within 12 months of each other "or" born in the same calendar year. - irish63
31
Well I'm a mother of soon to have Irish twins, I already have a 9 month old. She was born July 21, 2008 and my other baby is coming June 22, 2009. The first time I heard this term of Irish Twins I felt proud, even though I'm proud of being Hispanic with Guatemalan and Salvadorian blood, and I say it with a smile on my face and with honor. Oh and anybody out there has an advice for me on how to handled Irish Twins please post a comment, especially for me being a single mother. It's not that I was naive and didn't know of birth control. It's very surprising for my doctor and I to find out that I was pregnant. We both knew that I was on birth control pills. Thank you and hope hearing from you soon. - anon30759
30
I have a son that was born dec. 20, 2007 and a daughter that was born nov. 29, 2008...they are Irish twins. - anon30685
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Or it could just be because the Irish used to have more kids. My Italian grandmother in Philadelphia has referred to my father and his brother as "Irish twins." If it was really that derogatory, she wouldn't use it like that. - anon30417
28
Wow, are you reading into this one! My sister and I are Irish twins, Catholic and proud of it. People are waaaay too sensitive these days. Yes, it's true that the Irish were once looked down upon in this country, but now who doesn't want to be part Irish? Times change and so do the meanings of words and sayings. I don't see anything derogatory in this phrase. - anon30073
27
It's pretty strange to read that the term "Irish Twins" is derogatory. It's also kind of funny to me, I guess. My brother and I are 363 days apart. I'm the older of the two, but his birthday is before mine. I was born May 8th, 1988, and he was born May 6th, 1989. I've never heard of Irish Triplets though. That's kind of a scary thought to me; three children within a year of one another. Then again, you learn something new every day. - anon29442
26
You know, These terms that negatively depict the Irish are rarely heard anymore. I had never heard of 'Irish Confetti' or 'Irish Kiss'. I wonder if my great grandmother (who immigrated from Ireland) felt the sting of these comments? - anon28675
25
I just now heard that term on television. This woman refers to her children being Irish twins. I found it interesting that it's a derogatory meaning. My brother and I would be Irish twins, he is Jan 65 and I am Dec 65. My other two older brothers were Nov 22, 62 and Nov 26, 63. We aren't Irish, but are Catholic. I will tell my brother that he and I are Irish twins. - anon28656
24
My sister-in-law had a 9 month old when she had her twins born, would she then have Irish Triplets? - anon28504
23
I have two sons, the first one adopted, one biological, that are 369 days apart. We surprisingly got pregnant 6 weeks after adopting our son, who was 6 weeks old at the time. We didn't think we could have a biological child, but now we do. We consider ourselves blessed to have one child each through adoption and pregnancy, and wouldn't trade either experience for anything. Of course, we love both children equally. - anon28436
22
are me and my sister Irish twins since we are only 9 moths apart? not born in the same year though. she was born in December in 1984 and i was born in September 1985. we are from the same mom. - anon27786
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My daughters are Irish Twins, Aug 23 and Aug 9... I'm currently expecting again and it will be within a year of the last. So what do I have? Two sets of Irish Twins? Or Irish Triplets? - anon25684
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Posted by: anon24820"Ok so some of you posters who say you are Irish twins aren't... in the article it says 2 siblings that are born within the same calendar year like January 25 2008 and December 2 2008 then you would be Irish twins... please do us all a favor and read the article before you post." Or it means you were born within 12 months of each other, so perhaps you should also read the article. - anon25514
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I must have Irish Quadruplets....I've had four children in less than 4 years...15, 11, and 14 months apart! - anon25413
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Ok Anon24820, Maybe you need to go back and look at the article a little closer. It says "The term “Irish twins” is used to describe two children born to the same mother within 12 months of each other OR born in the same calendar year." Let's be nice. - anon25334
17
Ok so some of you posters who say you are Irish twins aren't... in the article it says 2 siblings that are born within the same calendar year like January 25 2008 and December 2 2008 then you would be Irish twins... please do us all a favor and read the article before you post. - anon24820
16
Hi I'm a Irish twin. There are 3 sets of irish twins in my family. My sister and i are 11 months and 10 days apart, My son and daughter are 11 months and 10 days apart too, and my father inlaw and his brother are also 11 months and 10 days apart. and i love it!!!! - jerseygirl02
15
My brother and I are Irish twins. I was born Aug 13 1966 and he was born August 13 1967 exactly one year apart! we grew up close, I guess like twins.and we actually share the same Birthday - anon24496
13
I found out that my brothers were born within three years of each other! We're Irish triplets! - anon23948
12
While I am not a irish twin, I was looking up term, because here in the Detroit area, there is a mom that just had a set of twin boys---one was born a few minutes before midnight on Dec. 31, 2008, the other was born a few minutes after midnight on Jan 1, 2009. They also have another boy that was born in Jan. 2008! Thought that was interesting. Now try explaining that one to people when they get older! The new twins have were born different month, date and year. The older sibling has the same month as one of his siblings, but different year & than shares the same year with the 2nd baby, but different month! Confused???
- anon23758
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My brother and I are Irish Twins. I was born January of 1972 and he was born December of 1972. We are 10 1/2 months apart. - anon23205
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I just found out that my brother and I are Irish Twins! He was born August 24, 1990 and I was born August 13, 1991, we are 11 months and 11 days apart. I was super excited when i found out, i would have never guessed that me and my brother would be considered twins! - spotochic
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I have two boys that are Irish twins. They are 11 months apart. I never new of the term until my doctor told me. I loved reading the comments. I learned that I'm not the only one that gets asked if they are twins. Almost every day! I also use the term freely. I never knew that it is politically incorrect. I will still tell people that they're Irish twins with a smile. - mande724
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Hi, I'm nearly 50 and am an Irish Twin. Yes, i was teased as a child and teenager, then one day I woke up and thanked my mom and dad for even having me. I concluded that it was a blessing I was even here. My parents had several options with three small children already and a fourth one on the way just nine months after my brother. He was born in January of 1959 and I was born in November the same year. To this day people question if we are twins. I can imagine it was very very difficult for my mother who was young herself (24). However, I wish I could say I was closer to my brother. I don't consider it derogatory at all, I consider it a blessing from two parent who cared. - anon20338
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I have Irish twin Boys. They are 10 months and 11 days apart. It is a lot like having regular twins. But there is definitely a difference in age developmentally. They are almost 4 and 5 now and they are the same wight and height. I get asked constantly if they are twins and when I explain to them they are Irish twins the majority of people have never heard of the term. The boys have a normal sibling relationship and I don't believe they feel each other's pain like you hear normal twins do. - Cegtalk2u
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My sister and I are one hour to be a year apart. She was born September 27, 1986 and I was born September 26, 1987. Everyone confuses us of being twins. We love it. We're inseparable when were together and love celebrating our birthdays together. We love being the same age for one day.. - anon16154
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my brother was born on august 26 1990 and i was born on august 26 1991. does this make us irish twins? i wasnt really sure because i had never heard this term until the other day and when i looked it up it said that irish twins were born less than 12 months apart but we are exactly 12 months apart so i wasnt sure if it was the same or if it was something different - stargirl4
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My sister and I are Irish twins as well as my younger brother. we are Irish triplets. - momof2
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My sister and i share a birthday. She is younger than me and she was born in the morning. I was born at night and so on our birthday we are twins for the day. i love my sister and i am not insulted by being called irish twin by other people, neither is she. I think of it as im irish and i have a sister that looks like my twin. - anon14818
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Hi my name is stephanie and i'm 16 years old and i also have a brother born the same year and i just recently found out were irish twins which is weird but funny and some facts are actually true we are so close we do everything together, we even hang out together in lunch weird but yea and we both can't do anything with out the other but i think the most difficult part is were both juniors and are graduating next year and we both are planning for college and it will be hard especially since we both play basketball for our high school lol - anon11836
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My sister and I are Irish twins as well as my two older brothers. My family descended from Ireland and well, we're one big Catholic family. I couldn't be closer to my sister and this article was right about the poor planning. My poor mother. :) She already had to pay for both my brothers schooling at the same time now she is currently paying for both my sister and I.
If anything, I wouldn't change anything. We are happy, close and it couldn't be better. - anon11365
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Last Modified: 19 November 2009
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