Irish Twins?

[bellacam]

No, I don't mean 2 pints of Guinness!! I always thought Irish Twins meant born within 12 months of each other, but someone has told me it means same calendar year such as January 15, 05 and December 30, 05. Which is it?

 

[Tiggeroo]

same calendar year or you will be the same age for at least some part of the year.

 

[transparant]

My older 2 are 11 months apart. For 3 1/2 weeks they are the same age.

 

[Poohnatic]

I've heard it as within 18 months. My mom had three sets, or more like Irish quadruplets, then Irish twins! six kids in 9 years, lol.

Suzanne

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I think within 12 months of each other.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I thought it meant they were 9 months apart.

 

[Duchie]

I was always told my sister and brother were Irish Twins, because they were born in the same calendar year (January and December, respectively). But then I was born the following November, so does that make my brother and me Irish Twins, too?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Here is what I found:

[Q] From Swami Murugananda: “I recently heard the expression, Irish twins. What does it mean and would you cast some light as to its origin?”
[A] What it means is easy enough to explain. It refers to siblings born in the same calendar year, or otherwise less than twelve months apart. It’s clearly a deeply derogatory comment about the stereotypical fecundity (and lack of contraception) of Irish Catholic families. It’s probably twentieth-century, but I can find little evidence that would help to tie it down (it may be relevant that it isn’t listed in the 1984 edition of Eric Partridge’s Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English). So far as I can tell from the places I’ve found it, all online, it’s primarily an American expression; it’s also known in Britain, but it doesn’t often find its way into print, no doubt because it is considered offensive.

Wikipedia:

Irish twins is a slang term that refers to siblings born 9 to 12 months apart - usually in the same calendar year, or who are in the same grade in school. The term is considered derogatory by some because it references the large families of Irish Catholics who did not use birth control (and thus had many children in quick succession) but is often used endearingly by the families of the "twins" themselves.

Similarly, Irish triplets means three children in three years.

 

[EltonJohn]

Irish twins is a slang term that refers to siblings born 9 to 12 months apart - usually in the same calendar year, or who are in the same grade in school. The term is considered derogatory by some because it references the large families of Irish Catholics who did not use birth control (and thus had many children in quick succession) but is often used endearingly by the families of the "twins" themselves.

Similarly, Irish triplets means three children in three years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_twins

I have never heard of this slang term until now. Guess you really do learn something new everyday!

 

[EltonJohn]

I was always told my sister and brother were Irish Twins, because they were born in the same calendar year (January and December, respectively). But then I was born the following November, so does that make my brother and me Irish Twins, too?

No you and your siblings are Irish triplets.

 

[Duchie]

No you and your siblings are Irish triplets.

Cool!

 

[ducklite]

I always understood it to be 12 months or less apart. We have a set of Irish Twins in my family, my brothers have birthdays in July and May.

Anne

 

[Tinkim]

My friend has two girls who are 12 months apart exactly to the day so they would be considered Irish twins? My two youngest were born on the same day but three years apart so no Irish twins for me . . . cosmic twins maybe?

 

[Blondie]

My two boys were born in January & December of 1990. For 21 days they are the same age!

 

[dis4me]

My dds are 10 and 1/2 months apart. I guesss they are Irish twins as well.Luckily they are in different grades though

 

[golfgal]

We always just referred to Irish or Catholic twins as babies born close together, even 13 or 14 months apart. DH's sister was born in May, DH was born a year later in June and his younger brother a year after that in July. We just said they were Catholic Triplets.

 

[mickeyboat]

My Dad's brothers are Irish twins, they share the same birthday, one year apart.

My brother and I are Irish twins, we are the same age for 11 days.

Me daughters are Irish twins, they are the same age for 6 days and are in the same grade in school.

I was doomed.

Denae

 

[bellacam]

Me daughters are Irish twins, they are the same age for 6 days and are in the same grade in school.

I was doomed.Denae

 

[coinkc]

My mom always called my brother and I her Irish twins. We are both born in April and are the same age for 6 days out of the year.

(I, being the younger "twin" loved those 6 days growing up!)

 

[Dreamer04]

Its funny how some my think this is a derogatory remark. I've only heard it from other Irish or Irish American people! LOL! For many of my generation and older, its a common occurance.