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Bros, I'm looking at a map of Europe as we speak and I just can't figure out why Ireland, a homogenous nation safe from land invasions has made absolutely little to no impact on world history. No great inventions, no empires, always the colonized rather than the colonizers. Nearly all comprehensive IQ tests give them the lowest average IQ in Northwestern Europe, and one of the lowest IQs in Europe in general. The "Celtic Tiger" is the result of British/EU investment, and even today wealth is being squandered and we can only guess when Ireland will revert to the desolate wasteland it is always destined to be. Remember, if you confiscate an Irishman's potatoes, you might as well be committing genocide.
It wouldn't be so perplexing if Scotland, which is separated by a tiny body of water and considered to be a "culturally kindred" nation has managed to completely eclipse its Celtic brother in pretty much every way. Though they haven't had an empire of their very own, Scots and their diaspora have made tremendous impacts on the world that is totally out of proportion to their general population. Scotland also shared a land border with mighty, "oppressive" England unlike Ireland but has still managed to score impressive victories for their people in all aspects of human endeavor. Meanwhile, Ireland has a huge diaspora but everywhere they went they were considered universally undesirable (unless they were getting shipped off to Australia to do work in a prison camp, so the regrettably criminal but more intellectually sturdy Britons could have a break). Paradoxically, Irish and their diaspora are some of the most obnoxiously patriotic and proud people, despite literally having nothing to warrant those feelings; in fact it should be the opposite.
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Ok, aside from the harsh jests, I srsly want to know what accounts for this meager output of excellence within Ireland compared to other Europeans, especially neighboring ones. I do like Ireland and it's landscape/culture, but I know nothing about Irish history, so I would honestly like to understand the reason. Is it the hajnal line? I don't think so because Austria is also outside the hajnal line but for a long time was more prestigious than it's northern German brothers and boasts brilliant individuals. And no, I don't want to hear about some "famous" Irish "poet" or "inventor" that some Irish diaspora spouts about to cope with the seethe. I don't care to read an essay or book by some butthurt Irish-Murican about how Irish monks "saved" civilization. I want a tangible discussion with good points that could account for these sad shortcomings from the green island.
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