The reason that Irish people loathe the cheap and tacky appropriation of their traditional culture, is because it's a great culture.

It is of course perfectly possible to be an Eireann-ophile (?), loving the songs and history and so-on, without degrading and demeaning traditional Irish culture with inflatable leprechauns and green hair dye.

As an Anglo-Irish person myself - who sings the odd traditional Irish song, loves the beauty in the mythology and literature and has dear memories of beloved Irish family, I know I sure as hell that I wouldn't claim 'Plastic Paddy' as in any way describing me or my relationship to my Irish heritage.