Racer Many Irish left Ireland as economic migrants against their will. Their desire to return created a certain sentimentality towards the home place. This caused them to hold on to and to maintain there culture. My wife calls this 'cry in your beer syndrome.' Your english forefathers were probably left by choice and had less hankering after home imersing themselves in there new home. - Just a theory. Sir Walter Raleigh (I think) brought the potato to Ireland. I play both the banjo and bouzouki.