Fascinating! I have long known that the British invaders cited the supposed sexual immorality of the medieval Irish people as justification for subjugation. Hell, those stereotypes remained powerful for centuries. My Irish American grandmother used to tell me about “No Irish Need Apply” signs here in the United States, and how as a girl she was taunted based on stereotypes that the Irish are drunken, dirty sexual reprobates. We Americans have finally forgotten those stereotypes. Young people here today mostly view them as a historical oddity without feeling personal connection.

But this is my first hint that gender as well as sexual mores may have played a role in negatively stereotyping the Irish. Looking forward to learning more!